EP0856416A2 - Device, method and an equipment for thermally transferring an image onto an article - Google Patents
Device, method and an equipment for thermally transferring an image onto an article Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0856416A2 EP0856416A2 EP97122847A EP97122847A EP0856416A2 EP 0856416 A2 EP0856416 A2 EP 0856416A2 EP 97122847 A EP97122847 A EP 97122847A EP 97122847 A EP97122847 A EP 97122847A EP 0856416 A2 EP0856416 A2 EP 0856416A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- ribbon
- article
- image
- receiver
- roller
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
- B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
- B41M5/382—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes
- B41M5/38207—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes characterised by aspects not provided for in groups B41M5/385 - B41M5/395
- B41M5/38221—Apparatus features
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
- B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
- B41J2/325—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J31/00—Ink ribbons; Renovating or testing ink ribbons
- B41J31/05—Ink ribbons having coatings other than impression-material coatings
- B41J31/08—Ink ribbons having coatings other than impression-material coatings the coatings being superimposed on impression-transfer material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J33/00—Apparatus or arrangements for feeding ink ribbons or like character-size impression-transfer material
- B41J33/14—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms
- B41J33/40—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J33/00—Apparatus or arrangements for feeding ink ribbons or like character-size impression-transfer material
- B41J33/14—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms
- B41J33/40—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction
- B41J33/44—Ribbon-feed devices or mechanisms with arrangements for reversing the feed direction automatically
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
- B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
- B41M5/382—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes
- B41M5/38257—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes characterised by the use of an intermediate receptor
Definitions
- the present invention relates to devices for the thermal transfer of images onto articles.
- images is intended in a broad sense to mean a text, a drawing or a logo, a barcode, or any other two-dimensional graphic representation.
- the invention relates in particular to a device for the thermal transfer of images onto articles, of the type defined in the introduction to Claim 1.
- a device of this type is known from European patent application EP-A-0 572 999 in the name of the same applicant.
- This known device comprises a roller pad rotatable about an axis fixed with respect to a support plate, in contact with a heating roller which is freely rotatable.
- the roller pad is driven to rotate by means of a transmission comprising a belt passing over two return pulleys carried by the support plate.
- This latter can assume a raised position, in which the said belt is clamped between a return pulley and a wheel driven to rotate by a stationary motor to cause rotation of the roller pad and the heating roller in heat exchange relation.
- the support plate is lowered in such a way as to displace the roller pad towards the article.
- the belt transmission is uncoupled from the motor and the roller pad turns by friction with a moving ribbon which carries the image to be transferred to the article.
- An object of the present invention is to provide an improved heat transfer device.
- the invention further relates to a process and an apparatus for printing images onto articles the characteristics of which are defined in the attached claims.
- a device 20 comprises a support casing 21.
- this casing has a substantially inverted U-shape with two facing side walls 22 and 23. Between these walls, in the upper part of the support casing 21, there is mounted a drive roller 24 rotatable about an axis X-X fixed with respect to the casing.
- This drive roller is constituted, at least in its outer parts, by a thermal insulation material, preferably a high hardness elastomeric material.
- a pulley 25 which can be connected to an electric drive motor by means of a belt or chain.
- This heating roller has an essentially tubular form and comprises an inner hub 27 of hard metal, such as nitrided steel, and an outer annular element 28 of material having a high thermal conductivity, preferably aluminium anodised on its outer surface.
- the inner hub 27 of the heating roller 26 is rotatably mounted, substantially without radial play, about a heating device generally indicated 29 and comprising an outer cylindrical cladding 30 of hard metal material, for example nitrided steel fixed about a heater element 31 of type known per se, including within its interior one or more resistors.
- a heating device generally indicated 29 and comprising an outer cylindrical cladding 30 of hard metal material, for example nitrided steel fixed about a heater element 31 of type known per se, including within its interior one or more resistors.
- the inner surface of the hub 27 and the outer surface of the element 30 are lapped for the purpose of reducing the friction between them and ensuring an optimum transmission of heat from the heater element 31 to the outer heat conductive element 28 of the heating roller 26.
- the ends of the heater element 31 are mounted with radial play in corresponding apertures positioned in the side walls 22 and 23 of the support casing 21.
- the heating roller 26, which is rotatably mounted about the heater element 31, is thus rotatable about an axis Y-Y which is movable relative to the support casing 1.
- the heating roller 26 is disposed between a pair of rollers 32 and 33 of thermal insulation material freely rotatably mounted about respective axes which are fixed with respect to the support casing 1.
- a roller pad Beneath the heating roller 26, between the side walls 22 and 23 of the support casing 21, is mounted a roller pad generally indicated 34.
- this roller comprises a shaft 35 on which is fixed a cylindrical layer 36 of thermal insulation material clad by a thin layer 37 of thermally conductive material.
- the thermal insulation layer 36 is constituted for example by a, preferably soft, elastomeric or plastics material.
- the thermally conductive surface layer 37 of the roller pad 34 is constituted for example by a thermally conductive silicone material.
- ends of the shaft 35 of the roller pad 34 extend into corresponding lower slots 38 and 39 of the side walls 22 and 23 of the support casing.
- the diameter of the roller pad 34 is such that it is held in contact with the heating roller 26 without the ends of its shaft 35 engaging the bottom of the associated slots 38 and 39 of the side walls 22 and 23 of the support casing.
- the roller pad 34 is therefore rotatable with respect to the support casing 21 about an axis Z-Z parallel to the axes X-X and Y-Y, this axis Z-Z not however being fixed with respect to the support casing 21.
- the drive roller 24 In operation, when the drive roller 24 is driven to rotate by means of the associated pulley 25, it causes rotation of the heating roller 26 about the heating element 31.
- the heating roller 26 in turn drives the roller pad 34 to rotate. Since the drive roller 24 is (at least superficially) made of thermally insulating material it absorbs almost no heat from the heating roller 26. This latter on the other hand transfers heat to the surface layer 37 of the roller pad 34. This latter can then be applied to an article, with the interposition of a ribbon which, on its face facing the article, carries the image of thermofusible ink, to transfer this image thermally onto the article.
- roller pad 34 To cause application of the roller pad 34 onto an article to achieve the thermal transfer thereto, various arrangements can be adopted.
- FIG 3 there is shown an arrangement in which the support casing 21 of the device 20 described above is connected to a supporting structure 50 so as to be movable in an essentially vertical direction with respect thereto.
- the support casing 21 of the device 20 is connected to the supporting structure 50 by means of a pair of articulated arms 43 in such a way as to form an articulated parallelogram.
- the support casing 21 is connected to the rod 44a of a fluid pressure cylinder 44 the body 44b of which is pivotally connected to the supporting structure 50.
- the pulley 25 connected to the drive roll 24 is coupled by means of a belt 45 to a pulley 46 driven to rotate by an electric motor 47 fixed to the supporting structure 50.
- the axes of the pulleys 25 and 47 preferably lie in a plane parallel to the arms 43.
- FIG 4 there is shown a variant embodiment in which the supporting structure 50 is mounted slidably along one or more guides 51 and is connected to a belt or chain 48 passing over two pulleys 49 one of which, in a manner not illustrated in Figure 4, has a drive motor associated therewith.
- roller pad 34 For a good printing of an image onto an article it is convenient that the speed of rotation of the roller pad 34 is suitably controlled as will be described hereinafter.
- FIG 5 there is shown a printing station for the thermal transfer of images from a ribbon 4 to an article A, in which the thermal transfer of the image takes place with the ribbon 4 stationary, whilst the article A is stationary.
- the transfer of the image takes place with apparatus of the type previously described with reference to Figure 4.
- an electric motor 52 which, via a control unit 15 is synchronised with the motor 47 which, via the rollers 24 and 26, drives the rotation of the roller pad 34. Synchronisation between the motors 52 and 47 is such that the tangential velocity of the roller pad 34 in the image transfer phase is substantially equal to the speed of advance of the supporting structure of the device.
- Figure 6 there is shown another station for printing an image from a ribbon 4 onto an article A in linear motion on a belt or strip conveyor 53, driven by a motor 52'.
- the printing apparatus of Figure 6 is substantially of the type previously described with reference to Figure 3, with the supporting structure 50 stationary.
- the apparatus of Figure 6 comprises a control unit 15 arranged to synchronise the motors 47 and 52' in such a way that in the thermal transfer phase of an image from the ribbon 4 to the article A the peripheral tangential velocity of the roller pad 34 is substantially equal to the linear velocity of displacement of the article A.
- Figure 7 there is shown a similar apparatus for printing an image from a ribbon 4 to an article A disposed rotatably on a pair of rollers 54 and 55, at least one of which is driven to rotate by a motor 52''.
- the apparatus of Figure 7 comprises a device of the type previously described with reference to Figure 3, with the supporting structure 50 stationary.
- the motors 47 and 52'' are synchronised by a control unit 15 in such a way that during thermal transfer of an image from the ribbon 4 to the article A the peripheral tangential velocity of the roller pad 34 is substantially equal to the peripheral tangential velocity of the article A.
- the device for the thermal transfer of images according to the invention in the various embodiments described up to now can be utilised in a final station of apparatus for printing onto articles images preliminarily provided on a ribbon according to one of various known methods, for example according to one of the methods known from European patent application EP-A-0 572 999 or according to one of the procedures which will be described hereinafter.
- the reference numeral 1 generally indicates a printing machine for performing a method according to the invention.
- an inked ribbon 2 is unwound from a roll 3 and a receiver ribbon 4 is unwound from a roll 5.
- the inked ribbon 2 comprises a substrate 2a for example of mylar or polyester, on one face of which is applied a thermofusible ink layer 2b.
- the receiver ribbon 4 comprises a substrate 4a, also constituted for example by a film of mylar or polyester, to one face of which is applied a coating or layer 4b of a substantially transparent material.
- the layer 4b is thermofusible at a temperature greater than that of the ink 2b of the inked ribbon 2.
- the material of the layer 4b of the receiver ribbon 4 can be a wax, for example a paraffin wax, or a resin.
- the ribbons 2 and 4 arrive at a first station 6 in which they pass in juxtaposed relation between a thermal print head 7, for example of the dot matrix type, and a counter-roller 8.
- inked layer 2b of the inked ribbon 2 faces the transparent layer 4b of the receiver ribbon 4.
- the thermal print head 7 causes selective transfer of ink 2b from the inked ribbon 2 to the transparent layer 4b of the receiver ribbon 4 in such a way as to form on the receiver ribbon a positive mirror image of the image which it is desired to print onto an article.
- This positive mirror image is indicated 9 in Figure 8.
- the thermal print head 7 is made to operate at a temperature such that it is able to cause selective transfer of ink from the inked ribbon to the receiver ribbon, but lower than the temperature at which the transparent layer 4b separates from the substrate 4a of the receiver ribbon.
- the receiver ribbon 4 is in contact with the counter-roller 8 which "absorbs" a significant quantity of heat maintaining the receiver belt at a lower temperature than that of the inked ribbon 2 which is however in direct contact with the thermal print head 6.
- the receiver ribbon 4 Downstream from the station 6 the receiver ribbon 4 then reaches a further station 10 in which the positive mirror image is thermally transferred onto the surface of an article A carried for example by a conveyor belt 11.
- the station 10 is for example of the type shown in Figure 6.
- the receiver ribbon 4 is now heated by means of a heat transfer device of type previously described, to a temperature such as to cause the transfer onto the surface of the article A both of the image and of a portion 4c of the transparent layer 4b with which the receiver ribbon 4 is coated.
- the contact surface between the ribbon 4 and the article A is relatively rather more extensive than the surface (line of dots) of contact between the head 6 and the ribbon 2 in the station 6.
- there is a transfer of a "mass" of heat to the receiver ribbon 4 which encourages a good transfer onto the article of the image and of part of the transparent coating of the ribbon 4.
- the portion 4c of the transparent material transferred onto the article A provides an effective protection for the image.
- This arrangement allows an easier reloading of new ribbons.
- the transparent layer 4b of the ribbon is thermofusible at a higher temperature of that of the inked layer of the inked ribbon.
- FIGS 10a and 10c there is illustrated an embodiment of the printing machine according to the invention in which real time printing of an image having predetermined characteristics is made possible.
- the positive mirror image is then transferred onto an article A at the station 10, again in the manner previously described with reference to Figure 8.
- the ribbons 2 and 4 are made return, by an amount substantially equal to the distance travelled by the receiver ribbon 4 between the first station 6 and the second station 10, as is shown in Figure 10b, until these ribbons are brought back to the position illustrated in Figure 10c, in which the transfer of ink from ribbon 2 to ribbon 4 commencing from portions of these ribbons utilized for the preceding image print can be recommenced.
Abstract
Description
Claims (20)
- A device for thermal transfer of images onto articles (A), comprisinga support structure (21),a heating roller (26) and a roller pad (34) mounted rotatably in contact with one another, andmotor means (24, 25, 45-47) operable to cause rotation of both the heating roller (26) and the roller pad (34);
characterised in thatthe said motor means comprise a motorized drive roller (24) rotatably mounted about an axis (X-X) which is fixed with respect to the said structure (21), in contact with the heating roller (26);the heating roller (26) and the roller pad (34) being mounted rotatably about respective axes (Y-Y; Z-Z) which are movable relative to the said structure (21); the roller pad (34) being associated with resilient means (41, 42) tending to urge it against the heating roller (26) towards the drive roller (24); the heating roller (26) being associated with lateral guide means (32, 33) operable to retain it between the drive roller (24) and the roller pad (34). - A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the drive roller (24) is constituted, at least in its radially outermost zone, by a thermal insulation material, preferably an elastomeric material.
- A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the roller pad (34) comprises a radially inner portion (36) of thermal insulation material, provided with a coating (37) of thermally conductive material, preferably a silicone.
- A device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the heating roller (26) comprises a tubular body (28) of thermally conductive material, preferably aluminium or an alloy thereof, rotatably mounted about a tubular casing (30, 31) of thermally conductive material containing at least one heater resistor.
- A device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the said guide means comprise two rollers (32, 33) freely rotatable about respective fixed axes with respect to the support structure (21); the said guide rollers (32, 33) being disposed on opposite sides of the heating roller (26).
- A device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it includes a supporting structure (50) to which the said support structure (21) is connected so as to be movable along a predetermined direction; between the said structures (50, 21) there being provided actuator means (44) operable to cause displacement of the support structure (21) with respect to the supporting structure (50).
- A device according to Claim 6, characterised in that the support structure (21) is coupled to the supporting structure (50) by articulated quadrilateral connection means (43).
- A device according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, characterised in that the said drive roller (24) is coupled to a motor (47) fixed to the said supporting structure (50).
- A device according to any preceding claim for thermal transfer of an image onto a stationary article (A),
characterised in that the said support structure (50, 21) is associated with second motor means (52) operable to cause a displacement in a predetermined direction, substantially parallel to the surface of the article intended to receive the image; control means (15) being provided to control the said first motor means (47) and the said second motor means (52) in such a way that during transfer of an image the peripheral tangential velocity of the roller pad (34) is substantially equal to the speed of displacement of the support structure (50, 21) along the said direction. - A device according to any of Claims 1 to 8 for the transfer of an image onto an article (A) in linear motion in a predetermined direction; characterised in that it comprises control means (15) adapted to control the said motor means (47) in such a way that during transfer of an image onto an article (A) the peripheral tangential velocity of the roller pad (34) is substantially equal to the speed of displacement of the said article (A).
- A device according to any of Claims 1 to 8 for the transfer of an image onto an article (A) in rotary motion about an axis;
characterised in that it comprises control means (15) operable to control the said motor means (47) in such a way that during the transfer of an image onto the article (A) the peripheral tangential velocity of the roller pad (A) is substantially equal to the peripheral tangential velocity of the article (A). - Use of a thermal transfer device according to one or more of the preceding claims for printing images onto an article (A).
- A method of printing an image onto an article (A) includinga first phase of selective thermal transfer of thermofusible ink (2b) from a flexible inked ribbon (2) to a face of a flexible receiver ribbon (4) in such a way as to form on the receiver ribbon (4) a positive mirror image (9) of an image to be printed onto the article (A), anda second phase in which the positive mirror image (9) is thermally transferred from the receiver ribbon (4) to the article (A) by means of a device according to any of Claims 1 to 11, in such a way as to form a desired image on the article;the receiver ribbon (4) having a coating or layer (4b) of a substantially transparent material on the face intended to receive the positive mirror image (9);the positive mirror image (9) being transferred onto the said coating or layer (4b) of the receiver ribbon in the first phase (4);both the image and a portion (4c) of the said coating or layer (4b) of the receiver ribbon (4), which covers the said image, being transferred to the article (A) in the second phase.
- A process according to Claim 13, characterised in that the coating or layer (4b) of the receiver ribbon (4) is thermofusible at a higher temperature than that of the ink (2b) of the inked ribbon (2).
- A method according to Claim 13 or 14, in which the inked ribbon (2) comprises a supporting substrate (2a) on which is applied an ink layer (2b) with the interposition of a layer of a first release agent and in which the receiver ribbon (4) comprises a substrate (4a) on which the said substantially transparent coating or layer (4b) is applied with the interposition of a layer of a second release agent;
characterised in that the layers of release agents on the inked ribbon (2) and the receiver ribbon (4) are formed in such a way that in the first phase the inked ribbon (2) can yield ink to the receiver ribbon (4), and in the second phase the receiver ribbon (4) can yield to the article (A) the ink (9) received in the first phase and a portion of the said substantially transparent coating or layer (4b). - A method according to any of Claims 13 to 15, characterised in that the inked ribbon (2) and the receiver ribbon (4) are unwound from a single coil onto which they have previously been wound in juxtaposed condition.
- A method according to any of Claims 13 to 15, characterised in that the inked ribbon (2) and the receiver ribbon (4) are unwound from separate rolls or coils (3,5).
- A method according to any of Claims 13 to 17, in which for printing an image in real time the positive mirror image (9) is formed, in the first phase, on the receiver ribbon (4) at a first station (6), then at least the inked ribbon (2) is caused to advance whilst the first station (6) is deactivated, to transfer the receiver ribbon (4) to a second station (10) at which the said second phase is performed; after the said second phase has been performed the receiver ribbon (4) is caused to retract by an amount substantially equal to the distance previously travelled from the said first to the said second station (6; 10), to allow the subsequent transfer of ink from the inked ribbon (2) to the receiver ribbon (4) at the first station (6) substantially starting from portions of such ribbons immediately upstream of the portions utilized for the printing of the preceding image.
- Printing apparatus for performing the method according to one or more of Claims 13 to 18, comprising a first station (6) operable to perform a selective thermal transfer of thermofusible ink (2b) from a flexible inked ribbon (2) to a face of a flexible receiver ribbon (4) in such a way as to form on the receiver ribbon (4) a positive mirror image (9) of the image to be printed on an article (A), and a second station (9) operable to effect thermal transfer of the positive mirror image (9) from the receiver ribbon (4) to the article (A) in such a way as to form the desired image on it; the machine being characterised by the fact that the second station (10) comprises a device according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, is able to apply to the receiver ribbon (4) a higher temperature than that applied to the inked ribbon (2) in the first station (6) in such a way that both the image and a portion (4c) of the said coating or layer (4b) of the receiver ribbon (4) are transferred to the article (A).
- Apparatus according to Claim 19 for the performance of the method according to Claim 18, characterised in that it comprises means (15) operable to cause a reversal of the displacement of the inked ribbon (2) and the receiver ribbon (4).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITTO961098 | 1996-12-30 | ||
IT96TO001098A IT1289818B1 (en) | 1996-12-30 | 1996-12-30 | PROCEDURE, EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS FOR THE PRINTING OF AN IMAGE ON AN ARTICLE. |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0856416A2 true EP0856416A2 (en) | 1998-08-05 |
EP0856416A3 EP0856416A3 (en) | 1998-10-07 |
EP0856416B1 EP0856416B1 (en) | 2003-03-12 |
Family
ID=11415169
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP97122847A Expired - Lifetime EP0856416B1 (en) | 1996-12-30 | 1997-12-24 | Device, method and an equipment for thermally transferring an image onto an article |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0856416B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69719718T2 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2193322T3 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1289818B1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11292278B2 (en) * | 2016-08-02 | 2022-04-05 | Eidos S.R.L. | Machine for printing images on articles by means of a thermal transfer roller |
Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS59214666A (en) * | 1983-05-19 | 1984-12-04 | Mitani Denshi Kogyo Kk | Thermal transfer recorder |
EP0419236A2 (en) * | 1989-09-19 | 1991-03-27 | Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha | Composite thermal transfer sheet |
EP0585852A2 (en) * | 1992-08-31 | 1994-03-09 | Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. | An image transfer device |
EP0610894A1 (en) * | 1993-02-09 | 1994-08-17 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Thermal transfer systems having delaminating coatings |
US5342818A (en) * | 1991-09-18 | 1994-08-30 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Thermal dye transfer printing method, intermediate media and transfer media therefor |
JPH06255080A (en) * | 1993-03-04 | 1994-09-13 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Press roller and gripping feed roller device |
JPH07227956A (en) * | 1994-02-22 | 1995-08-29 | Toppan Printing Co Ltd | Printing pressure emergent release device of thermal transfer card printer |
EP0680835A2 (en) * | 1994-04-05 | 1995-11-08 | Michiharu Tohdo | Method and apparatus for thermal transfer type printing |
US5549401A (en) * | 1993-11-13 | 1996-08-27 | Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Continuous form printer |
JPH08278669A (en) * | 1995-04-05 | 1996-10-22 | Tec Corp | Image forming device |
-
1996
- 1996-12-30 IT IT96TO001098A patent/IT1289818B1/en active IP Right Grant
-
1997
- 1997-12-24 ES ES97122847T patent/ES2193322T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-12-24 DE DE69719718T patent/DE69719718T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1997-12-24 EP EP97122847A patent/EP0856416B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS59214666A (en) * | 1983-05-19 | 1984-12-04 | Mitani Denshi Kogyo Kk | Thermal transfer recorder |
EP0419236A2 (en) * | 1989-09-19 | 1991-03-27 | Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha | Composite thermal transfer sheet |
US5342818A (en) * | 1991-09-18 | 1994-08-30 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Thermal dye transfer printing method, intermediate media and transfer media therefor |
EP0585852A2 (en) * | 1992-08-31 | 1994-03-09 | Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. | An image transfer device |
EP0610894A1 (en) * | 1993-02-09 | 1994-08-17 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Thermal transfer systems having delaminating coatings |
JPH06255080A (en) * | 1993-03-04 | 1994-09-13 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Press roller and gripping feed roller device |
US5549401A (en) * | 1993-11-13 | 1996-08-27 | Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Continuous form printer |
JPH07227956A (en) * | 1994-02-22 | 1995-08-29 | Toppan Printing Co Ltd | Printing pressure emergent release device of thermal transfer card printer |
EP0680835A2 (en) * | 1994-04-05 | 1995-11-08 | Michiharu Tohdo | Method and apparatus for thermal transfer type printing |
JPH08278669A (en) * | 1995-04-05 | 1996-10-22 | Tec Corp | Image forming device |
Non-Patent Citations (4)
Title |
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PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 18, no. 653 (M-1720), 12 December 1994 & JP 06 255080 A (FUJI PHOTO FILM CO LTD), 13 September 1994 * |
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 9, no. 87 (M-372), 17 April 1985 & JP 59 214666 A (MITANI DENSHI KOGYO KK), 4 December 1984 * |
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 95, no. 11, 26 December 1995 & JP 07 227956 A (TOPPAN PRINTING CO LTD), 29 August 1995 * |
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 97, no. 2, 28 February 1997 & JP 08 278669 A (TEC CORP), 22 October 1996 * |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11292278B2 (en) * | 2016-08-02 | 2022-04-05 | Eidos S.R.L. | Machine for printing images on articles by means of a thermal transfer roller |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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ES2193322T3 (en) | 2003-11-01 |
EP0856416B1 (en) | 2003-03-12 |
EP0856416A3 (en) | 1998-10-07 |
DE69719718D1 (en) | 2003-04-17 |
IT1289818B1 (en) | 1998-10-16 |
ITTO961098A1 (en) | 1998-06-30 |
DE69719718T2 (en) | 2004-02-05 |
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