JP2000103176A - Transfer sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a transfer sheet in which a cassette of the same shape can be used in different printers of high-order models, low-order models, of different manufactures and the like, discrimination thereof is possible, and not narrowing a transfer area. SOLUTION: A plurality of units 12 of a plurality of different function transfer areas 12Y, 12M and 12C are formed, and sensing marks 13 are formed in respective units 12 on the transfer areas, and sensing marks of two kinds or more of different sensing methods are provided in the units 12, for example, a sensing mark 13D is for optical sensing, a sensing mark 13E is for sensing magnetic sensing and a sensing mark 13F is for electrical sensing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transfer sheet suitably used for an ink ribbon of a thermal transfer printer.
In particular, the present invention relates to a transfer sheet having improved detection marks.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-96307 discloses a ribbon-shaped ribbon, a plurality of ink areas provided at different positions in the longitudinal direction of the ribbon, and a ribbon at an end of the ink area of the ribbon. And a different number of lines indicating the colors of the ink areas provided at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the color ink ribbon.

[0003]

The above-described conventional ink ribbon has been improved even if the performance of the printer is improved.
Cassettes containing the ink ribbons often have exactly the same shape for reasons such as upward compatibility. Here, even if the cassettes are the same, there is a higher-level function that cannot be used by a lower-level printer, so there is a request to put a different detection mark. In addition, if the ink ribbon cassette can be shared by printers of different manufacturers or the like, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. However, if the positions of the detection marks are different, there is a problem that the ink area must be narrowed.

The present invention provides a transfer sheet which can use the same shape cassette for different printers such as a higher model, a lower model, and a manufacturer, and which can identify the cassette without reducing the transfer area. The task is to

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of sets of a plurality of transfer areas having different functions are formed, and at least one set of the transfer areas is provided.
A transfer sheet on which a detection mark is formed for each one area or for each set of the transfer areas, wherein the set includes two or more types of detection marks having different detection methods in the set. It is a sheet.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the transfer sheet according to the first aspect, the detection mark is any one of an optically detected mark, an electrically detected mark, and a magnetically detected mark. A transfer sheet, wherein two or more kinds are provided in the set.

[0007] The third aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect.
Wherein the detection marks are arranged side by side in the width direction or length direction at the same position, or are formed so as to overlap in the thickness direction.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of sets of a plurality of transfer areas having different functions are formed, and detection is performed for at least one of the transfer areas or for each set of the transfer areas. A transfer sheet on which marks are formed, wherein two or more types of detection marks having different detection characteristics are provided in the set.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the transfer sheet according to the fourth aspect, the detection marks are marks having different light absorption wavelengths.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the transfer sheet according to the fourth aspect, the detection mark has a different transmittance or reflectance from an optical sensor used for reading the detection mark. It is a transfer sheet.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of a transfer sheet according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (A) is a plan view and FIG. 1 (B).
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. The transfer sheet 10 of this embodiment includes a base sheet 11, a thermal transfer layer 12,
A detection mark 13 and the like are provided.

The base sheet 11 serves as a carrier of the transfer sheet 10 and may have a predetermined heat resistance and strength. For example, paper, a plastic sheet such as PET,
Metal foil or the like can be used. Its thickness is 0.
It is 5 to 50 μm, preferably 3 to 10 μm.

The thermal transfer layer 12 is formed on the base sheet 11 and has a transfer area 1 for each color of yellow, magenta and cyan.
One set is formed in the order of 2Y, 12M, 12C,
Each set is provided in plurality in the longitudinal direction. Thermal transfer layer 12
Is a layer made of a resin containing a dye that migrates by melting or sublimation by heating, and the dye is preferably a heat-sublimable disperse dye, an oily dye, or a basic dye, and has a molecular weight of Is from 150 to 800, preferably
310 to 700. From among these, it is selected in consideration of the thermal sublimation temperature, hue, weather resistance, solubility in the ink composition or in the binder, and the like. The thermal transfer layer 12 is formed by dissolving the selected dye together with a resin using a solvent to form an ink composition, and then printing it to a thickness of 0.3 to 2 μm by an appropriate printing method such as gravure printing.

The detection mark 13 is a mark for detecting information relating to the thermal transfer sheet 10 and may be made of any material as long as the presence of the mark can be confirmed by optical, electric or magnetic detection means. It may be formed. Information on the thermal transfer sheet 10 includes, for example, the distinction between the front and back of the thermal transfer sheet 10, the recording start position, the distinction (direction) between the head and the tail, the type, the grade, the number of frames that can be printed on one thermal transfer sheet, the end notice, and each color. Of the thermal transfer layer, or the name of the manufacturer, the version of the printer, and the determination as to whether or not the product is genuine.

The detection mark 13 is, for example, a mark made of a composition containing a pigment or dye which can be distinguished by a light source to be used in relation to the detection means and which is optically detected, or a metal powder. A mark made of a conductive resin or metal foil containing carbon or carbon in the resin and electrically detected, a magnetic composition containing a magnetic metal or a compound or a mark formed by a deposited film of a magnetic metal and a magnetic mark , Etc. to be detected. As the detecting means, any means can be used, but those which can be simplified as a device are means for optically detecting.

When the thermal transfer layer 12 of each color and the detection mark 13 overlap in the same area and the dye or pigment in the detection mark 13 has a general hue, it is necessary to use an appropriate color filter. Is the thermal transfer layer 12
If a dye in the infrared transmission is selected as the dye therein and the detection mark 13 is detected by infrared rays as a mark for shielding the infrared rays, detection can be performed regardless of the hue of the thermal transfer layer 12.

The infrared light-shielding mark can be formed by a composition containing an infrared light-shielding substance in a resin, and the most suitable infrared light-shielding substance is carbon black, which absorbs infrared rays most easily. As the resin containing the infrared ray shielding material, polyurethane resin, polyamide resin, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer resin, or vinyl chloride / acrylic copolymer resin, cellulose acetate butyrate, and the like are suitable. They can be used alone or as a mixture. These resins may be further crosslinked with a polyisocyanate compound.

When an infrared light shielding material is used, the weight ratio of the infrared light shielding material to the resin in the detection mark is 1/10 to 10/1, and the thickness is
It is about 0.5 to 5 μm. The configuration of the device for detecting the infrared light shielding detection mark 13 is, for example, an infrared projector such as an infrared light emitting diode disposed on one surface of the running thermal transfer sheet 10, an infrared sensor, and the other of the thermal transfer sheet 10. It comprises a reflector disposed on the surface and a computer connected to the infrared sensor, and instructs the printer to perform various operations based on signals from the infrared sensor.

The wavelength is 900 to 2500 nm, especially 900
If an infrared projector capable of emitting infrared rays of ~ 1000 nm and an infrared sensor sensitive to the same wavelength range are used, the dye in the thermal transfer layer 12 does not absorb infrared rays in this wavelength range. The infrared rays penetrate through the thermal transfer layer 12, and the detection efficiency of the infrared light shielding detection mark 13 can be increased. Therefore, as the dye in the thermal transfer layer 12, it is preferable to select and use a dye that substantially transmits infrared light having a wavelength within the above range. The detailed composition of each part of such a thermal transfer sheet is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-220491 proposed by the present applicant, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1B, the detection mark 13 has a different detection characteristic at the head of each set of the transfer area, specifically, a transmittance (or reflectance). Two different detection marks 13a and 13b are formed side by side in the length direction.

The different detection marks 13a and 13b are
The transmittance (or reflectance) of the optical sensor used to read the detection mark 13, here, the infrared sensor, is different. In addition, when the measurement wavelength of the infrared sensor is 800 to 950 nm, the detection mark 13 is a portion where the transmittance (or reflectance) is the most different, and is 10%.
The following is preferable without erroneous detection. The detection marks 13a and 13b having different transmittances can be formed by changing the depth of the gravure printing plate described above. In addition, detection marks 13 having different transmittances or the like can be used.
The width and the number of a and 13b can be set as appropriate, and the information can be detected by the width and the number of pulses at the time of detection. The detection of the different detection marks 13a and 13b may be performed by adjusting the reading sensitivity of the mark to a portion having the lowest transmittance or the like, and detecting the mark at that portion. For example, when judging a genuine product, it is difficult to determine the transmittance or the like by visual observation, so that it is easy to make a judgment with a complicated pattern.

According to the present embodiment, since two detection marks 13a and 13b having different transmittances (or reflectances) are provided as the detection marks 13 of each set in the thermal transfer area, more information on the thermal transfer sheet 10 is provided. Can be recorded. In addition, for example, when used in a printer of a different version, or when a cassette of a non-genuine transfer sheet is installed, the detection mark is different from the conventional one type of detection mark. Can be eliminated. Note that the method of detection on the printer side is described in detail in Japanese Patent Publication No. 221951, and the description thereof is omitted here.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a second embodiment of the transfer sheet according to the present invention. In each of the embodiments described below, parts that perform the same functions as in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted as appropriate. As shown in FIG. 2A, the transfer sheet 10A of the second embodiment is formed by arranging different detection wavelengths having different absorption wavelengths in the length direction as in the first embodiment, as the different detection marks 12c and 12d. It is. For example, the detection marks 12c and 12d are made of an ink containing an infrared absorbing agent or carbon which has a sensitivity in an infrared absorption region, a pigment or a dye having a sensitivity in a visible light region, an ultraviolet light having a sensitivity in an ultraviolet region. It can be formed using an ink containing an absorber, a fluorescent whitening agent and the like.

(Third and Fourth Embodiments) FIG. 3 is a plan view and a side view showing third and fourth embodiments of a transfer sheet according to the present invention. The transfer sheet 10B of the third embodiment is similar to the transfer sheet of FIG.
As shown in (A), a detection mark 13e to be optically detected and a detection mark 13f to be detected magnetically are arranged side by side in the width direction at the same position at the head of the set of thermal transfer areas. According to the third embodiment, double information can be recorded by providing two optical and magnetic sensors in the printer. Further, it can be used as a common ink ribbon for a printer having an optical sensor and a printer having a magnetic sensor.

The transfer sheet 10C of the fourth embodiment is similar to that of FIG.
As shown in (B), similarly to the third embodiment, a detection mark 13g for optical detection and a detection mark 13h for magnetic detection are formed, but are arranged not in the width direction but in the thickness direction. It is. According to the fourth embodiment, a common ink ribbon can be used for a printer having an optical sensor and a printer having a magnetic sensor, but the sensor positions of the printers are the same. Can also be used.

(Fifth and Sixth Embodiments) FIG. 4 is a plan view showing fifth and sixth embodiments of the transfer sheet according to the present invention. In the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, a detection mark 13D that is optically detected is provided for each thermal transfer area.
, A detection mark 13E for detecting magnetically and a detection mark 13F for detecting electrically. With this configuration, the information indicating the start of each area and the information of each color can be detected at the same time, and the detection of each color being shifted due to erroneous detection such as skipping a mark is eliminated.

In the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, similarly to the fourth embodiment, a detection mark 13D to be detected optically, a detection mark 13E to be detected magnetically, and The detection mark 13F to be detected is used. The detection mark 13D to be optically detected is the head of each set, the detection mark 13E to be magnetically detected is a blank on both sides in the longitudinal direction, and the detection mark 13F to be electrically detected is , At the head of each color. In this way, more information can be recorded.

(Modifications) Various modifications and changes are possible without being limited to the above-described embodiments, and these are also within the equivalent scope of the present invention. For example, the different portions of the detection mark have been described as portions having different transmittance or reflectance for the optical sensor. However, the characteristics (conductivity) for the electric sensor and the characteristics (permeability) for the magnetic sensor may be different. It may be. Further, the transfer sheet can be applied to a sheet having an OP (surface protective layer) layer or a receiving layer. Further, the detection mark may be a barcode, which may have a lot of information.

Further, each of the above embodiments can be appropriately modified or combined as long as no inconsistency arises. For example, the examples of FIGS. 3A and 4 can be applied to marks having different transmittances and absorption wavelengths. Further, the example in FIG. 4 may be configured by any two of the detection marks 13D, 13E, and 13F.

[0030]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, since a plurality of detection marks having different detection methods and detection characteristics are provided, a larger number of detection marks can be obtained without changing the size of the transfer area and the detection marks. There is an effect that information can be recorded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of a transfer sheet according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 (A) is a plan view and FIG. 1 (B).
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a second embodiment of the transfer sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing third and fourth embodiments of a transfer sheet according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing fifth and sixth embodiments of the transfer sheet according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Transfer sheet 11 Base sheet 12 Thermal transfer layer 13 Detection mark

Claims (6)

[Claims] A plurality of sets of transfer areas having a plurality of different functions are formed, and a detection mark is formed for at least one of the transfer areas or for each set of the transfer areas. A transfer sheet, comprising: two or more types of detection marks having different detection methods in the set. 2. The transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the detection mark includes one of an optically detected mark, an electrically detected mark, and a magnetically detected mark in the set. A transfer sheet provided with two or more types. 3. The transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the detection marks are formed side by side in the width direction or the length direction at the same position, or are formed so as to overlap in the thickness direction. Transfer sheet. 4. A plurality of sets of a plurality of transfer areas having different functions are formed, and a detection mark is formed for at least one of the transfer areas or for each set of the transfer areas. A transfer sheet, comprising: two or more types of detection marks having different detection characteristics in the set. 5. The transfer sheet according to claim 4, wherein the detection marks are marks having different light absorption wavelengths. 6. The transfer sheet according to claim 4, wherein the detection mark has a different transmittance or reflectance from an optical sensor used to read the detection mark.