EP1980405A2 - Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung und Bilderzeugungsverfahren - Google Patents

Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung und Bilderzeugungsverfahren Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1980405A2
EP1980405A2 EP08154229A EP08154229A EP1980405A2 EP 1980405 A2 EP1980405 A2 EP 1980405A2 EP 08154229 A EP08154229 A EP 08154229A EP 08154229 A EP08154229 A EP 08154229A EP 1980405 A2 EP1980405 A2 EP 1980405A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
data
image
transparent film
recording medium
data generating
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
Application number
EP08154229A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1980405A3 (de
EP1980405B1 (de
Inventor
Tsutomu c/o Ise Works Of Shinko Electric Co. Ltd. Inagaki
Yoshikazu c/o Ise Works Of Shinko Electric Co. Ltd. Hirai
Shinya c/o Ise Works Of Shinko Electric Co. Ltd. Orimo
Jun c/o Ise Works Of Shinko Electric Co. Ltd. Ichii
Takayuki c/o Ise Works Of Shinko Electric Co. Ltd. Toba
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sinfonia Technology Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Sinfonia Technology Co Ltd
Shinko Electric Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2007138649A external-priority patent/JP2008279741A/ja
Application filed by Sinfonia Technology Co Ltd, Shinko Electric Co Ltd filed Critical Sinfonia Technology Co Ltd
Publication of EP1980405A2 publication Critical patent/EP1980405A2/de
Publication of EP1980405A3 publication Critical patent/EP1980405A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1980405B1 publication Critical patent/EP1980405B1/de
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B41J2/35—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 providing current or voltage to the thermal head
    • B41J2/355—Control circuits for heating-element selection

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method, in particular, using a laminate technique.
  • a sublimation type thermal transfer printer is known in which color inks of yellow, magenta, and cyan are made to sublimate by heat of a thermal head to form a color image on a recording medium.
  • laminate techniques are known in which the surface of a recording medium on which an image has been formed is coated with a transparent film in order to protect the image formed on the recording medium against moisture and oil to keep the quality of the image for a long time.
  • Such techniques are categorized into gross finish in which a transparent film is transferred to the whole surface in an even pattern; and mat finish in which a transparent film is transferred to the whole surface in an uneven pattern.
  • Japanese Patent No. 3861293 discloses a technique concerning mat finish.
  • uneven pattern data for the transparent film is sent from a host computer to a printer, and stored in a laminate memory provided in the printer.
  • the pattern data to be stored in the laminate memory is not for the whole surface of the recording medium but partial data.
  • the pattern based on the partial data is repeated in a sub scanning direction to form an uneven pattern on the whole surface.
  • the laminate memory stores therein not data for the whole surface of the recording medium but partial pattern data as described above, the capacity of the memory can be reduced in comparison with the case of storing the data for the whole surface.
  • a dedicated memory for storing pattern data for transparent film lamination must be provided in the printer. There is a problem that the cost can not be reduced due to the provision of the memory.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method, wherein there is no necessity of providing a dedicated memory for storing pattern data for transparent film lamination.
  • An image forming apparatus comprises a conveyance mechanism that conveys a recording medium; a recording head that records an image in accordance with image data on the recording medium being conveyed by the conveyance mechanism, and transfers a transparent film on the recording medium on which the image has been recorded; a data generating unit that generates data concerning a transfer pattern of the transparent film; and a controller that controls the recording head so that the transparent film is transferred on the basis of the data generated in the data generating unit.
  • An image forming method in which an image is recorded on a recording medium in accordance with image data and a transparent film is transferred onto the recording medium on which the image has been recorded, comprises a data generating step of generating data concerning a transfer pattern of the transparent film; and a controlling step of controlling the recording head so that the transparent film is transferred on the basis of the data generated in the data generating step.
  • the data concerning the transfer pattern of a transparent film is not externally sent and stored in a memory but generated in the data generating unit. Therefore, there is no necessity of providing a dedicated memory for storing the data, which is advantageous in cost.
  • the data generating unit preferably repeatedly generates data concerning a partial transfer pattern of the transparent film to be transferred onto the whole surface of the recording medium.
  • data concerning a partial transfer pattern of the transparent film to be transferred onto the whole surface of the recording medium is repeatedly generated.
  • the generating process of the transfer pattern data can be simplified and the time for the process can be shortened.
  • the data generating unit preferably repeatedly generates data of one line.
  • data of one line is repeatedly generated.
  • a color controlling unit that controls colors of the image to be recorded on the recording medium preferably has the function of the data generating unit.
  • the color controlling unit to be used in image recording in accordance with image data can be used for lamination, there is no necessity of adding a new component.
  • the data generating unit may include an image processing unit, and the data concerning the transfer pattern generated by the data generating unit may be processed by the image processing unit.
  • the data generating step may include an image processing step, and the data concerning the transfer pattern generated in the data generating step may be processed in the image processing step.
  • the data concerning the transfer pattern can be image-processed, a wide variety of mat prints can be realized.
  • the data concerning the transfer pattern is random pattern data
  • the change in the unevenness of the random pattern can be made smooth; or a mat print having a three-dimensional appearance (a feeling of roughness) can be made by enhancing the difference in the unevenness.
  • the image process may be any known process such as embossment or edge enhancement. Concretely, it is made by means such as an MTF filter or an unsharp mask.
  • the recording head may be a thermal head that transfers inks carried on an ink ribbon to record an image on the recording medium, and transfers a transparent film carried on the ink ribbon subsequently to the inks onto the recording medium on which the image has been formed with the inks.
  • a thermal transfer printer 100 includes a paper holder 140, a paper conveyance mechanism 110, an ink ribbon conveyance mechanism 150, and a thermal head 130.
  • the thermal transfer printer 100 is connected with a host computer (not shown), and performs image recording on the basis of image data sent from the host computer.
  • the paper holder 140 can hold a rolled long paper 141.
  • the paper 141 held by the paper holder 140 is conveyed through a paper conveyance path 116 to the paper conveyance mechanism 110.
  • the paper conveyance mechanism 110 includes, in the order from the upstream of the paper conveyance path 116, a feed roller 111 and a pinch roller 112; a platen roller 113 disposed so as to be opposed to the thermal head 130; and a discharge roller 114 and a pinch roller 115.
  • the paper 141 taken out from the paper holder 140 into the paper conveyance path 116 is pinched by the feed roller 111 and the pinch roller 112; passes between the thermal head 130 and the platen roller 113; and is pinched by the discharge roller 114 and the pinch roller 115.
  • the paper 141 thus conveyed is properly cut by a not-shown cutter disposed further downstream.
  • the feed roller 111, the platen roller 113, and the discharge roller 114 are driven to rotate by a paper conveyance motor 119 (see FIG. 3 ) such as a stepping motor.
  • a paper conveyance motor 119 drives the feed roller 111, the platen roller 113, and the discharge roller 114 to rotate clockwise, the paper 141 is conveyed in the direction of an arrow F.
  • the motor 119 drives the rollers to rotate counterclockwise, the paper 141 is conveyed in the direction of an arrow R.
  • the ink ribbon conveyance mechanism 150 includes a feed roller 121, guide rollers 123 and 124, and a take-up roller 122. Both end portions of an ink ribbon 120 are wound on the feed roller 121 and the take-up roller 122, respectively.
  • the take-up roller 122 is driven to rotate by an ink ribbon conveyance motor 129 (see FIG. 3 ) such as a DC motor. When the take-up roller 122 is rotated clockwise, the ink ribbon 120 is conveyed in the direction of an arrow f with being taken up on the take-up roller 122.
  • the ink ribbon 120 includes a long base film 120a; and dye layers 120Y, 120M, and 120C for colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and transparent films 120F for lamination, applied on the base film 120a.
  • the dye layers 120Y, 120M, and 120C and the transparent films 120F are repeatedly arranged longitudinally of the base film 120a in that order.
  • the dye layers 120Y, 120M, and 120C are made of dyes that sublimate by heat, so that gradation printing in which the printing levels are changed can be performed by temperature control of the thermal head 130. Thus, a high-quality color image is formed on the paper 141.
  • a transparent film 120F is transferred by heat of the thermal head 130 onto the paper 141 on which a color image has been formed, and thereby lamination is performed to protect the surface of the paper 141 from moisture and oil.
  • the transmissivity of the transparent film 120F may be various.
  • the thermal head 130 includes a substrate (not shown) and a plurality of heating elements (not shown) disposed on the substrate.
  • the thermal head 130 is vertically moved by a head drive motor 139 (see FIG. 3 ) to be pressed onto and separated from the platen roller 113.
  • a head drive motor 139 see FIG. 3
  • each color dye of the ink ribbon 120 is transferred onto the paper 141 to form a color image.
  • a peeling plate 131 is provided to peel off the ink ribbon 120 from the paper 141.
  • the peeling plate 131 comes into contact with the upper surface of the ink ribbon 120 from which dyes have been transferred onto the paper 141 by the thermal head 130.
  • the peeling plate 131 then separates the ink ribbon 120 from the paper conveyance path 116.
  • the thermal transfer printer 100 includes frame memories 21Y, 21M, and 21C; a color controlling DSP (digital signal processor) 22; a head signal converting ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) 24; a CPU (central processing unit) 10 for controlling the operation of each part of the thermal transfer printer 100; a ROM (read only memory) 11 storing therein a control program to be executed by the CPU 10 and data to be used in the control program; and a RAM (random access memory) 12 for temporally storing data in execution of the program.
  • DSP digital signal processor
  • ASIC application specific integrated circuit
  • the frame memories 21Y, 21M, and 21C store image data of one frame for the respective colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, sent from the host computer. Under the control of the CPU 10, the color controlling DSP 22 performs control such as correction for data of each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan, sent from the frame memories 21Y, 21M, and 21C.
  • the color controlling DSP 22 includes a random pattern data generating module 23 that generates random pattern data to be used for transfer of a transparent film 120F.
  • the random pattern data generating module 23 includes a random number generating section 23a, a tone data obtaining section 23b, and a transferring section 23c. The functions of those sections 23a, 23b, and 23c will be described later in detail with reference to the flow of FIG.
  • the head signal converting ASIC 24 has therein buffers for two lines, and data for two lines transferred from the color controlling DSP 22 are written in respective line buffers 1 and 2.
  • the CPU 10 reads out the data written in the line buffers 1 and 2.
  • the CPU 10 sets a voltage to be supplied to a heat sensitive element of the thermal head 130.
  • the CPU 10 controls the head signal converting ASIC 24 so that the voltage data is supplied to the thermal head 130 at a predetermined timing.
  • the thermal head 130 transfers onto the paper 141 each of the dye layers 120Y, 120M, and 120C on the ink ribbon 120 to form a color image.
  • the thermal head 130 further transfers a transparent film 120F onto the paper 141 on which the color image has been formed, to perform lamination.
  • the random number generating section 23a of the random pattern data generating module 23 generates a pseudorandom number (S1).
  • the tone data obtaining section 23b obtains tone data corresponding to the pseudorandom number generated in S1 (S2).
  • the transferring section 23c transfers to the head signal converting ASIC 24 the tone data obtained in S2 (S3).
  • the tone data is constituted by four values of "0", “1", “2”, and “3", one of which is determined for each dot.
  • the voltage increases that is to be supplied to the heat sensitive element of the thermal head 130, so as to increase the thickness of the transparent film 120F to be transferred.
  • the processes of S1 to S3 are performed for each dot, and tone data of each dot of one line is sequentially written in one of the line buffers 1 and 2.
  • the data concerning the transfer pattern of a transparent film 120F is not externally sent and stored in a memory but generated in the random pattern data generating module 23. Therefore, there is no necessity of providing a dedicated memory for storing the data, which is advantageous in cost.
  • the generating process of the transfer pattern data can be simplified and the time for the process can be shortened.
  • the color controlling DSP 22 to be used in image formation by each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan includes the random pattern data generating module 23, and therefore the color controlling DSP 22 can be used in lamination, there is no necessity of adding a new component.
  • the image forming apparatus of this embodiment is the thermal transfer printer 100 having the thermal head 130.
  • the problem that a dedicated memory must be provided for storing pattern data for transparent film lamination is particularly remarkable in such a thermal transfer type image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, therefore, because the problem is dissolved, a more practical effect is obtained.
  • a color controlling DSP 32 includes a random pattern data generating module 33 that generates random pattern data to be used for transfer of a transparent film 120F.
  • the random pattern data generating module 33 includes a random number generating section 33a, a tone data obtaining section 33b, an image processing section 33c, and a transferring section 33d. The functions of those sections 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d will be described later in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 .
  • the random number generating section 33a of the random pattern data generating module 33 generates the same number of pseudorandom numbers as the number of pixels of one frame (S11).
  • the tone data obtaining section 33b obtains tone data corresponding to the pseudorandom numbers generated in S11 (S12).
  • the image processing section 33c applies image processing to the tone data of one frame obtained in S12 (S13).
  • image processing in this step any of various known image processes, such as embossment and edge enhancement, may be performed.
  • the transferring section 33d transfers to the head signal converting ASIC 24 tone data of one pixel to which image processing was applied in S13 (S14).
  • the tone data of one pixel transferred to the head signal converting ASIC 24 is written in one of two line buffers (the line buffers 1 and 2). When the one line buffer becomes full, the subsequent tone data is written in the other line buffer. Thus, the tone data is alternately written in the two line buffers.
  • the data concerning the transfer pattern of a transparent film 120F is not externally sent and stored in a memory but generated in the random pattern data generating module 33. Therefore, there is no necessity of providing a dedicated memory for storing the data, which is advantageous in cost.
  • the color controlling DSP 32 to be used in image formation by each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan includes the random pattern data generating module 33, and therefore the color controlling DSP 32 can be used in lamination, there is no necessity of adding a new component.
  • the tone data generated in the random pattern data generating module 33 is processed with embossment or edge enhancement by the image processing section 33c. Therefore, a wide variety of mat prints can be realized.
  • the tone data is random pattern data as in this embodiment, the change in the unevenness of the random pattern can be made smooth; or a mat print having a three-dimensional appearance (a feeling of roughness) can be made by enhancing the difference in the unevenness.
  • the thermal transfer printer 100 records an image in accordance with image data sent from a host computer (not shown).
  • the present invention is not limited to that.
  • the thermal transfer printer 100 may record an image in accordance with image data read out from a memory card via a memory card interface.
  • a random pattern is used for the transfer pattern of a transparent film 120F.
  • a pattern may be used in which unevenness is regularly formed at regular intervals (for example, a checkered pattern).
  • a transparent film 120F may be transferred not in an uneven pattern but in a uniform thickness.
  • fixed tone data may be used.
  • lamination may be performed not over the whole surface but only part of the surface of the paper 141.
  • the thermal transfer printer 100 may have an operation panel operable by an operator so that a transfer pattern of a transparent film 120F is determined in accordance with an input through the operation panel.
  • the random pattern data generating module 23 repeatedly generates data of one line.
  • the random pattern data generating module 23 may generates data for the whole surface, a half surface, or the like, of the paper 141. On the other hand, generated data may be repeatedly used.
  • the color controlling DSP 22 includes the random pattern data generating module 23.
  • the present invention is not limited to that.
  • the electrical constitution shown in FIG. 3 is by way of example, and it can be variously changed.
  • Image formation apparatuses according to the present invention are never limited to thermal transfer printers, and also applicable to inkjet printers and so on.
  • the present invention is not limited to such printers, and also applicable to facsimiles, copying machines, and so on.
  • the paper is not limited to a wound long paper, and cut papers cut in advance into a predetermined length may be used.
EP20080154229 2007-04-09 2008-04-09 Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung und Bilderzeugungsverfahren Not-in-force EP1980405B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2007102087 2007-04-09
JP2007138649A JP2008279741A (ja) 2007-04-09 2007-05-25 画像形成装置及び画像形成方法

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1980405A2 true EP1980405A2 (de) 2008-10-15
EP1980405A3 EP1980405A3 (de) 2009-07-22
EP1980405B1 EP1980405B1 (de) 2012-12-26

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EP20080154229 Not-in-force EP1980405B1 (de) 2007-04-09 2008-04-09 Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung und Bilderzeugungsverfahren

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EP (1) EP1980405B1 (de)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5589869A (en) 1991-09-18 1996-12-31 Tektronix, Inc. Systems and methods for thermal transfer printing
GB2317367A (en) 1994-06-14 1998-03-25 Eastman Kodak Co Thermal dye transfer printer having lamination area determined by image data
EP0988982A2 (de) 1998-09-24 2000-03-29 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Bilddruckdatensteuerverfahren für Thermotranferdrucker
JP3861293B2 (ja) 1996-04-25 2006-12-20 ソニー株式会社 印画装置、印画方法、画像形成装置及び画像形成方法

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE69133524T2 (de) * 1990-05-07 2007-05-10 Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. Bildaufzeichnungsverfahren und Bildbaresobjekt

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5589869A (en) 1991-09-18 1996-12-31 Tektronix, Inc. Systems and methods for thermal transfer printing
GB2317367A (en) 1994-06-14 1998-03-25 Eastman Kodak Co Thermal dye transfer printer having lamination area determined by image data
JP3861293B2 (ja) 1996-04-25 2006-12-20 ソニー株式会社 印画装置、印画方法、画像形成装置及び画像形成方法
EP0988982A2 (de) 1998-09-24 2000-03-29 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Bilddruckdatensteuerverfahren für Thermotranferdrucker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1980405A3 (de) 2009-07-22
EP1980405B1 (de) 2012-12-26

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