JP2002193498A - Thermal transfer printer, thermal transfer recording method and thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll, and a thermal transfer recording method and a thermal transfer printer using this capable of providing a thermal transfer printed object having superior image quality and inexpensively preparing a thermal transfer image receiving sheet without much labor and without using a feeding core when using the roll shaped thermal transfer image receiving sheet by attaching it to the thermal transfer printer. SOLUTION: The thermal transfer printer is provided with a housing part for the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll wound without using a core by fixing a winding start portion of the roll to a winder at a portion contacting a winding start, and a thermal transfer recording part performing thermal transfer recording by attaching two cap members having elastic pieces inserted in hollow parts of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll and contacting and pressurizing outer circumferential faces of the hollow parts to the hollow parts on both sides of the image receiving sheet roll, arranging a gear to at least one of the cap members, driving the gear, and rotating the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll in association with the cap members.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat transfer image receiving sheet which is used in a roll form and is mounted on a heat transfer printer without using a supply core, at low cost and without any trouble. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll capable of obtaining a thermal transfer print having excellent image quality, a thermal transfer recording method and a thermal transfer printer using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various thermal transfer methods are known. In this method, a thermal transfer sheet having a colored transfer layer formed on a base material is used. Is heated in the form of an image for each color such as yellow, magenta, and cyan, and the colored transfer layer is thermally transferred to the surface of the material to be transferred.
This thermal transfer method is roughly classified into two types, a sublimation transfer type and a hot-melt transfer type, depending on the configuration of the colored transfer layer. The sublimation transfer type uses a thermal transfer sheet in which a dye that sublimates or migrates by heat with a suitable binder, and is supported as a colored transfer layer on a base material, and is heated from the back by heating.
The dye in the colored transfer layer is transferred to the surface of the transfer material by heat. However, the receiving material surface is provided with a receiving layer on which dye is easily dyed. On the other hand, the heat-melt transfer type uses a heat-transfer sheet that has a colored transfer layer that can be easily softened and melted and transferred by heating on a substrate, and the surface of the material to be transferred is colored by heating from the back. This is for transferring the transfer layer. Both types are capable of forming mono-color and multi-color images, and in the case of multi-color images, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan and, if necessary, a three- or four-color thermal transfer sheet of black. A color image can be formed by preparing and thermally transferring each color (various types) to the surface of the same material to be transferred.

In such a thermal transfer method, a large number of thermal transfer image receiving sheets, which are transfer materials, are stacked and supplied to a printer, or a continuous continuous image receiving sheet is wound up. It is supplied to the printer in the form of a roll. In particular, recently, there are many uses for performing thermal transfer recording in a large amount, and a roll-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is used. The roll-shaped thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is generally wound on a supply core (bobbin), and the end of the wound image-receiving sheet is adhered to a winding core (bobbin) to be rolled up or thermally transferred. After recording, it is cut into sheets and discharged.

[0004]

The roll-shaped thermal transfer image-receiving sheet as described above requires a supply core. After the image-receiving sheet is used up, the core is discarded or the core is reused. Or However, in order to uniformly wind the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet without wrinkles, a core having high dimensional accuracy is required, and the cost of the core is accordingly high. In order to reduce the cost of the above-mentioned core, if the material is made of paper pulp instead of plastic, so-called "paper tube", when rotating the image receiving sheet roll in the printer, the paper tube and the printer side To the drive unit. However, due to friction between the paper tube and the drive unit during rotation of the image receiving sheet roll, paper dust is generated from the paper tube and scatters in the printer, which also leads to deterioration of image quality such as pinholes in thermal transfer prints. . In addition to purchasing the supply core, when storing the core and winding up the image receiving sheet, it takes time to attach the core to the winding machine, store the core member, and take up the work of winding up. It is a problem.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet in the form of a roll is mounted on a thermal transfer printer and used, a supply core is not used and the cost is reduced. In addition, a thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll that can prepare a thermal transfer image receiving sheet without taking time and obtains a thermal transfer print having excellent image quality,
An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer recording method and a thermal transfer printer using the same.

[0006]

According to the thermal transfer printer of the present invention, the winding start portion of the winding is fixed to the winding at a portion in contact with the winding start without using the winding core, and the winding is performed. The heat transfer image receiving sheet roll is inserted into a hollow portion of the heat transfer image receiving sheet roll, and two cap members each having an elastic piece that is brought into contact with and pressurized against the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion are transferred to the image receiving sheet roll. A thermal transfer recording unit which is mounted in the hollow portions on both sides, a gear is arranged on at least one of the cap members, and the gear is driven so that the cap member and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll rotate in conjunction with each other to perform thermal transfer recording. It is a configuration provided with. It is preferable that at least one of the cap members has a flange that comes into contact with an end surface of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll. If the cap member is not provided with a flange, the gear can come into contact with the end surface of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll to perform the function of the flange.

The two cap members are hollow portions of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll, and the shaft of the other cap member enters one of the hollow portions of the cap member, and the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion of the image receiving sheet contacts the outer cap member. The pressing force is preferably increased, and the mounting of the cap member and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll becomes strong. Further, an intermediate member is inserted into the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll, and on both sides of the intermediate member,
It is preferable that the two cap members are attached to increase the contact and pressurizing force between the outer peripheral surface of the image receiving sheet hollow portion and the intermediate member, and the attachment between the cap member and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll is strengthened. It is desirable that a slit is provided in the elastic piece and / or the intermediate member of the cap member, and the amount of deformation before and after the elastic piece and / or the intermediate member of the cap member is mounted on the hollow portion of the image receiving sheet roll increases. It can be easily mounted on the image receiving sheet roll, and the fixability after mounting is improved. By inserting the free end between the leading end of the winding start portion of the winding and the fixed portion into the slit, the mounting of the cap member and / or the intermediate member and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll can be further strengthened. ,preferable. If the cap member is rotated, the mounting of the cap member and the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll becomes strong, which is preferable.

In the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention, the winding start portion of the winding is fixed to the winding at a portion in contact with the winding start without using the winding core, and the wound thermal transfer image receiving device A sheet roll and two cap members having elastic pieces that are inserted into the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll and contact and press against the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion are attached to the hollow portions on both sides of the image receiving sheet roll. Then, a gear is arranged on at least one of the cap members, and the gear is driven to rotate the cap member. In conjunction with the rotation of the cap member, the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll rotates to perform thermal transfer recording. It is characterized by doing. It is preferable that at least one of the cap members has a flange that comes into contact with an end surface of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll.

In the recording method described above, the two cap members are hollow portions of a heat transfer image receiving sheet roll, and the shaft of the other cap member enters one of the hollow portions of the cap member.
It is preferable that the contact and pressurizing force between the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion of the image receiving sheet and the outer cap member be increased. Also, an intermediate member is inserted into the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll, and the two cap members are mounted on both sides of the intermediate member, so that the outer peripheral surface of the image receiving sheet hollow portion and the intermediate member are brought into contact with each other and pressurized. preferred that the increases. A slit is provided in the elastic piece and / or the intermediate member of the cap member, and a free end between a leading end of a winding start portion of the winding and a fixed portion is inserted into the slit to form a cap member. It is preferable and preferable that the mounting of the intermediate member and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll be strengthened.

The thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll according to the present invention is characterized in that the winding start portion of the winding is fixed to the winding at a portion in contact with the winding start without using a core, and the wound thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is wound. In the roll, inserted into the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll, contact the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion,
Two cap members having elastic pieces to be pressed are attached to the hollow portions on both sides of the image receiving sheet roll, a gear is arranged on at least one of the cap members, and the gear is driven,
The cap member rotates and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member to perform thermal transfer recording.

In the thermal transfer printer of the present invention, the winding start portion of the winding is fixed to the winding at a portion in contact with the winding start without using the winding core, and the roll of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll is wound. Two cap members each having an elastic piece that is inserted into the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll and that contacts and presses against the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion are attached to the hollow portions on both sides of the image receiving sheet roll. A gear is arranged on at least one of the cap members, and the gear is driven so that the cap member and the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll rotate in conjunction with each other to perform a thermal transfer recording section for performing thermal transfer recording. . And at least one of the cap members,
It is preferable to provide a flange in contact with the end surface of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll. Further, the two cap members are a heat transfer image-receiving sheet roll hollow portion, and the shaft of the other cap member enters one of the cap member hollow portions, and the outer peripheral surface of the image receiving sheet hollow portion contacts the outer cap member.
The pressing force is increased, or an intermediate member is inserted into the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll, and the two cap members are attached to both sides of the intermediate member, so that the outer peripheral surface of the image receiving sheet hollow portion is The contact force with the member and the pressing force can be increased. In this way, a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll can be prepared inexpensively and without any trouble without using a supply core as a member, and a thermal transfer print having excellent image quality can be obtained.

[0012]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a thermal transfer printer of the present invention. The thermal transfer printer 1 includes an image receiving sheet roll storage unit 3 in which an image receiving sheet roll 2 is installed, and a core without using a core. The winding start portion of the winding is fixed to the winding at the portion that comes into contact with the winding start, and inserted into the rolled-up heat transfer image receiving sheet roll hollow portion to contact the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion. Two cap members 10 having an elastic piece to be pressed and a flange 12 contacting the end surface of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll are mounted on hollow portions on both sides of the image receiving sheet roll 2, and a gear 20 is arranged on the cap member 10. The cap member 10 and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll 2 are rotated in conjunction with each other by driving the gear 20, and the thermal transfer recording section 5 performs thermal transfer recording, and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet cutting section 9.

The thermal transfer image-receiving sheet starts with the image-receiving sheet roll storage section 3 as a starting point, and the image-receiving sheet is a roll 17 (referred to as a transport roll, the upper roll is referred to as a pinch roll, and the lower roll is referred to as a grip roll). Thus, the printing is performed while the image receiving sheet roll 2 is rewound (in the direction opposite to the arrow) by reversing the rotation of the roll 17 by pulling in the direction indicated by the arrow. The tension is applied to the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet between the cap member 10 and the roll 17. The forward and reverse rotation of the roll 17 mainly controls the transfer of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, and the cap member 10 rotates the roll 17. The image receiving sheet roll 2 is rotated in conjunction with the movement to assist the conveyance of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet. Therefore, it is preferable that the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll 2 and the cap member 10 are not fixed to each other without slipping. However, there is no problem if a slight slip does not affect the image receiving sheet such as breaking or wrinkling. The printing is performed such that the back side of the thermal transfer sheet 16 is in contact with the thermal head 14, and the transfer layer side (opposite to the back side) of the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving surface of the image receiving sheet are overlapped. The platen roll 15 is placed at a position in contact with the back side of the sheet (the side opposite to the image receiving surface). During thermal transfer recording, the thermal head 14 descends in the direction of the arrow, and the color material is image-formed from the thermal transfer sheet 16 onto the image receiving sheet. Is transferred to

Although not shown, a guide member is provided between the image receiving sheet roll storage section 3 and the thermal transfer recording section 5 along both sides of the image receiving sheet width to prevent the image receiving sheet from meandering in the width direction. Is preferred. Further, it is desirable that the guide member can change the distance between the two guide members according to the width of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet. For example, in the part where each guide member on the printer side is attached,
A pin and a die that mesh with each other are attached, a plurality of dies are attached to one member in advance, and the member provided with the pin and the member provided with the die can slide freely in the image receiving sheet width direction. A pin may be fitted into a die at a position corresponding to the dimensions of the die. Thus, the end of the image receiving sheet being conveyed comes into contact with the guide member, and the guide member regulates the movement of the image receiving sheet in the width direction, thereby preventing the image receiving sheet from meandering. Although the illustrated thermal transfer printer cuts the sheet at the cutting section 9, it is also possible to supply a wound thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll and wind it to finish after thermal transfer recording.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view for explaining that a cap member is mounted on the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll of the present invention. FIG. 2A shows a state before the cap member 10 is inserted into the hollow portion 8 of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll. The cap member 10 has an elastic piece 11 having a tip open outward. Is provided with a slit 18 and has a divided shape. When no external force is applied, the elastic piece 11 has a diameter c of a circle formed by the tip thereof.
Is larger than the inner diameter d of the image receiving sheet roll formed by the outer peripheral surface 13 of the hollow portion 8 of the image receiving sheet roll. The cap member 10 has a configuration in which the elastic piece 11, the flange 12, and the gear 20 are provided. Then, the cap member 10 is attached to the image receiving sheet roll hollow portion 8.
When the elastic piece 11 is inserted into the elastic piece, an external force is applied so that the elastic piece 11 opened outward is narrowed in the direction of the arrow and the diameter c of the circle formed by the tip of the elastic piece is reduced.

With the leading end squashed as described above, the cap member 10 is moved in the direction indicated by the double arrow, and the leading end of the elastic piece 11 of the cap member 10 is inserted into the hollow portion 8 of the image receiving sheet roll. . Then, the cap member 10 is further inserted into the hollow portion 8 and moved until the end surface 4 of the image receiving sheet roll comes into contact with the inner surface of the flange 12, thereby completing the mounting of the cap member 10 on the image receiving sheet roll. (Refer to FIG. 2B.) However, FIG. 2 describes that the cap member 10 is attached to one end face 4 of the image receiving sheet roll 2, but the other end face of the image receiving sheet roll is also provided in the same manner as described above. A cap member is attached. The cap member attached to the other end face of the image receiving sheet roll has an elastic piece and a flange, but the gear need not always be attached.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the cap member 1
The elastic piece 11 and the outer peripheral surface 13 of the hollow portion are brought into contact with each other and pressurized, and the elastic piece 11 is changed from the state in which the tip is narrowed to the original shape (the shape when no external force is applied). ) Is made of an elastic material that exerts a force to return to (). Once the cap member 10 is attached, the cap member 10 is prevented from easily coming off the image receiving sheet roll 2.
The material of the resilient piece and the shape of the resilient piece are adjusted so that the friction and the pressure between 0 and the image receiving sheet roll 2 become appropriate.
As a result, the cap member 10 and the image receiving sheet roll 2 rotate integrally, and the thermal transfer recording is performed. It is preferable that no slip occurs between the cap member 10 and the image receiving sheet roll 2, but there is no problem as long as a slight slip does not affect the print.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view for explaining the mounting of a cap member and a hollow member on the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll of the present invention. FIG. Is shown before the two cap members 101 and 102 are inserted into the hollow portion 8 of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll. When the intermediate member 23 is inserted into the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll hollow portion 8, the outer diameter when no external force is applied to the intermediate member 23 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the image receiving sheet roll, so the width of the slit 18 of the intermediate member 23 is reduced. Thus, the outer diameter of the intermediate member 23 is reduced and inserted. Although not shown, a free end between the leading end of the winding start portion of the winding and the fixed portion is inserted into the slit 18 to mount the intermediate member and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll. It is desirable to be strong. At that time, when inserting and mounting the two cap members on both sides of the intermediate member, the free ends interfere with each other so that no trouble occurs.
It is preferable that the width dimension is narrowed and tapered from the fixed portion of the free end to the tip end so that the free end does not come into contact with the cap member.

As shown in the elastic pieces 111 and 112, both of the cap members 101 and 102 have no slits, and the outer diameter g of the tip of the elastic pieces 111 and 112 is determined by changing the outer diameter g of the image receiving sheet roll with the intermediate member. e, the cap member 10 is inserted into the hollow portion 8 containing the intermediate member 23.
1 and 102, the elastic pieces 111 and 112 are easily inserted,
Also, flanges 121, 1 at the roots of the elastic pieces 111, 112
If the diameter f at the position in contact with 22 is slightly larger than the inner diameter e and the outer edges of the elastic pieces 111 and 112 are inclined, the adhesion between the elastic pieces 111 and 112 and the intermediate member 23 is improved. That is, as shown in FIG. 3B, the elastic piece 111 of the cap member 101, the elastic piece 112 of the cap member 102, and the outer peripheral surface 24 (end face side) of the hollow portion of the intermediate member 23 contact and apply. As a result, the width of the slit 18 provided in the intermediate member 23 is pushed by the elastic pieces 111 and 112 of the cap members 101 and 102 from h when no external force is applied, and the width is increased. ,
i, the adhesion between the intermediate member 23 and the outer peripheral surface 13 of the hollow portion 8 of the image receiving sheet roll increases. Intermediate member 2
3 denotes elastic pieces 111, 1 of cap members 101, 102;
12 is inserted, the hollow portion 8 is positioned at the end of the intermediate member 23.
Acts in the direction in which the width of the slit 18 increases in response to the force for expanding the size of the slit 18. And the cap member 101,
When the elastic pieces 111 and 112 of 102 are removed, the force applied to the intermediate member 23 is eliminated, and the elastic member is made of an elastic material such that the slit width returns to the original dimension h. Then, the cap members 101, 102 when the intermediate member 23 is used,
In particular, the elastic pieces 111 and 112 are selected from relatively hard materials having little dimensional change with respect to external force.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view for explaining that a cap member is mounted on the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll of the present invention.
FIG. 4A shows a state before the cap members 101 and 102 are inserted into the hollow portion 8 of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll, and the outer diameter j of the circle formed by the tip of the elastic piece 111 of the cap member 101 is the image receiving sheet. The elastic piece 111 may be provided with a slit 18, which may be smaller or larger than the roll inner diameter d. For example, if the tip of the elastic piece 111 is narrowed, the elastic piece 111 of the cap 101 can be easily received. What can be inserted in the back of sheet roll hollow part 8 is preferred. Then, the end face 4 of the image receiving sheet roll is
1 until it comes into contact with the inner surface. Then, the cap member 10 is inserted into the hollow portion 8 of the image receiving sheet roll on the end face side opposite to the end face side of the image receiving sheet roll into which the cap member 101 is inserted.
2 is inserted, the shaft (elastic piece) 25 of the cap member 102 enters the hollow portion 26 of the cap member 101, the contact force between the cap member 101 and the cap member 102, and the pressing force increase. The contact and pressurizing force between the outer peripheral surface 13 and the outer cap member 101 increases. (See FIG. 4B)

Therefore, when the two cap members 101 and 102 are combined with each other in the image receiving sheet roll hollow portion 8, the elastic piece 111 of the cap member 101 is pushed by the shaft 25 of the other cap member 102, and The degree of contact and pressurization with the outer peripheral surface 13 of the hollow portion increases. Thus, the cap members 101 and 102 and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll 2 are integrated, and a gear (not shown) having a rotational driving force from the printer side is provided.
And, the gear having the cap member meshes, the cap member rotates, and in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member,
The thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll rotates. Cap member 10
In order to make it easier for the shaft 25 of the cap member 102 to enter the hollow portion 26, the elastic piece 111 of the cap member 101 is used.
Is preferably flattened. Elastic piece 11
Numeral 1 is made of an elastic material that exerts a force that returns from a state in which the tip is narrowed or spread to an original shape (a shape when no external force is applied). The material of the elastic piece and the elastic piece are set so that the cap member 10 once attached does not easily come off the image receiving sheet roll 2 and that the friction and pressure between the cap member 10 and the image receiving sheet roll 2 become appropriate. Adjust the shape. As a result, the cap member 10 and the image receiving sheet roll 2 rotate integrally, and the thermal transfer recording is performed.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an embodiment which is a heat transfer image receiving sheet roll of the present invention. FIG. 5 (a) shows an end of a winding start portion 6 of winding without using a core. The thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll 2 wound and fixed at the portion 7 that comes into contact with the winding start 6 without being protruded from the portion along the outer peripheral surface 13 of the image-receiving sheet roll hollow portion 8, It is cylindrical. FIG. 5 (b) shows a thermal transfer image receiving sheet which is wound without using a winding core, where the winding start portion 6 of the winding is separated from the end 27 by a portion 7 which is fixed to the winding. The free end 19 of the roll 2 from the leading end 27 to the portion 7 to be fixed is provided.

FIG. 6 shows that the free end of the winding start portion of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll of the present invention is passed through a slit provided in an elastic piece of the cap member, and the cap member and the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll are mounted. It is a schematic diagram explaining strengthening. A slit 18 is provided in the elastic piece 11 of the cap member 10, and a free end 19 between the leading end 27 of the winding start portion and the fixed portion 7 is inserted into the slit 18 so that the cap member 10 10 and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll 2 can be firmly mounted. In the illustrated thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll 2, the winding start portion 6 of the winding has an end 27.
At the part 7 spaced from the
The free end 19 extends from the end 27 to the part 7 to be fixed.

As described above, the free end 19 projects from the portion along the outer peripheral surface 13 of the hollow portion 8 of the image receiving sheet roll. The cap member 10 is inserted into the hollow portion 8 of the image receiving sheet roll so that the free end 19 is inserted into the slit 18 provided in the cap member 10. Cap member 1
Although the slit 18 is provided in the elastic piece 11 of the elastic piece 11, the shape of the portion which is in contact with and pressurized with the outer peripheral surface 13 of the hollow portion 8 of the elastic piece 11 is as shown in FIG. The outer edge is inclined, or the shaft 25 of the cap member 102 in FIG.
In this case, the adhesion between the elastic piece 11 and the image receiving sheet roll 2 can be improved. Further, the flange 12 of the attached cap member 10 comes into contact with the end surface of the image receiving sheet roll, thereby preventing the winding deviation during rotation of the image receiving sheet roll. Cap member 10 shown in FIG.
When the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is fixed, the free end 19 extends from the leading end portion 27 of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll to the portion 7 to be fixed. It is preferable that perforation and streaking be performed in advance at the position of the image receiving sheet 7 so as to be folded from the portion and rise up toward the center, so that the portion is easily broken at that portion.

In the present invention, contact between the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll, the elastic piece of the cap member, and the intermediate member does not cause mutual slippage, and a slight slippage does not affect printing. Therefore, it is important to securely fix the material, and the material of the contact portion between the two will be described.
The thermal transfer image-receiving sheet used in the present invention is preferably provided with a receptor layer conventionally used for receiving and fixing a color material from a transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet on a substrate. As the base material used for the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, various papers, synthetic papers, plastic sheets and the like may be used, and the receiving layer may be formed directly or via a primer layer. In order to obtain high image quality without white spots, it is preferable to provide a layer having fine voids. As the layer having fine voids, a plastic sheet or synthetic paper having fine voids inside can be used. Further, a layer having fine voids can be formed on various supports by various coating methods. As a plastic sheet or synthetic paper having fine voids, a polyolefin, particularly polypropylene, is mainly used, and a polymer incompatible with an inorganic facial and / or polypropylene is blended, and these are used as a void formation initiator, and a mixture thereof is used. Is preferably a plastic sheet or a synthetic paper formed by stretching.

The above-mentioned plastic sheet or synthetic paper may itself be a single layer containing fine voids, or may have a multilayer structure. In the case of a multi-layer configuration, all of the constituent layers may contain fine voids, or a layer having no fine voids may exist. Then, a white pigment may be mixed into this plastic sheet or synthetic paper as a concealing agent, if necessary. In order to increase whiteness, an additive such as a fluorescent whitening agent may be provided. As the layer having fine voids, it is also possible to form a layer having fine voids on a support by a coating method. As plastic resin to be used, polyester, urethane resin, polycarbonate,
Known resins such as acrylic resin, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate and the like can be used alone or in combination of two or more. The support may be a conventionally known one, and is a high quality paper,
Various types of paper, such as coated paper, art paper, cast-coated paper, and glassine paper, synthetic paper, nonwoven fabric, and plastic sheets such as polyethylene terephthalate, acrylic, polyethylene, and polypropylene can be used.

As the substrate, various papers, synthetic papers, plastic sheets and the like may be used, but it is preferable to provide a fine void layer on the support as described above. In this case, when the fine void layer is a plastic sheet or synthetic paper, it can be bonded to a support with an adhesive layer. As a bonding method, for example, a known laminating method such as dry lamination, non-solvent (hot melt) lamination, and EC lamination method can be used.

Next, the cap member (particularly, the elastic piece portion)
And when the intermediate member is mounted on the hollow portion of the image receiving sheet roll, the member is inserted into the hollow portion in a pursed state, and after mounting, the original shape of the member (when no external force is applied) An elastic material that exerts a force to return to the shape of (a) is used. For example, polystyrene, vinyl chloride,
It can be molded using an injection molding resin such as polycarbonate and polyester. When the cap member and the intermediate member are used together, the material of the intermediate member is selected to be harder than the material of the cap member, that is, a material having a small amount of deformation when an external force is applied to the member. It is preferable that the piece easily exerts a force for expanding the outer diameter of the intermediate member. Further, the two caps are the image receiving sheet roll hollow portion, and the shaft of the other cap member enters one of the cap member hollow portions, and the outer peripheral surface of the image receiving sheet hollow portion and the outer cap member come into contact with each other and pressurize. In the case of fixing, the material of the cap member located on the outside in the hollow portion is softer than the material of the cap member located on the inside, that is, the material having a relatively large deformation amount when an external force is applied to the member. It is desirable that the elastic piece of the outer cap member has a stronger, contacting and pressing force on the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion of the image receiving sheet roll.

In the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention, the rolled thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll is fixed without using a core and fixing the winding start portion at the portion in contact with the winding start. And, inserted into the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll, with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion, two cap members having elastic pieces to contact and press, mounted on the hollow portion on both sides of the image receiving sheet roll, A gear is arranged on at least one of the cap members, and the gear is driven to rotate the cap member. In conjunction with the rotation of the cap member, the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll is rotated to perform thermal transfer recording. . It is preferable that at least one of the cap members is provided with a flange that comes into contact with the end surface of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll. Further, the two cap members are a heat transfer image-receiving sheet roll hollow portion, and the shaft of the other cap member enters one of the cap member hollow portions, and the outer peripheral surface of the image receiving sheet hollow portion contacts the outer cap member. A method of increasing the pressing force can be employed. Moreover, by inserting the intermediate member in the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll hollow section, on both sides of the intermediate member, by mounting the two cap members of the, pressure contact, pressure between the outer peripheral surface and the intermediate member of the image receiving sheet hollow force Can be adopted. Further, a slit is provided in the elastic piece and / or the intermediate member of the cap member, and a free end between a leading end of a winding start portion of winding and a fixed portion is inserted into the slit, A method of firmly mounting the cap member and / or the intermediate member and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll is preferably performed.

In the above recording method, the cap member 1
The conveyance control of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is mainly performed by the rotational movement of the intermediate member 23 as 0, and the cap member 10 rotates the image receiving sheet roll 2 in conjunction with the rotational movement of the roll 17, The transfer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is assisted. Therefore, it is preferable that the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll 2 and the cap member 10 are not slipped, but there is no problem even if the image-receiving sheet has a play that does not affect the image receiving sheet even if it slightly slips. . At the time of thermal transfer recording, for example, when forming a full-color image using three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, the color material is transferred from the yellow transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet to the image receiving sheet by heating the thermal head from the end of the printing area to the other end. It is transferred according to the image. At that time, the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving sheet are integrated and advance by the length of the print size in the flow direction. (The return direction may be used.) Then, the thermal transfer sheet is fed so that the next magenta transfer layer to be transferred is located at a position corresponding to the thermal head. The image receiving sheet advances in the direction opposite to the printing direction so that the printing start point of the yellow printed portion is located at a position corresponding to the thermal head.

Next, the color material is transferred from the magenta transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet to the image receiving sheet according to the image by heating the thermal head from the end of the printing area to the other end. And
Through the same steps as above, the color material is transferred from the cyan transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet to the image receiving sheet according to the image by heating the thermal head from the end of the print area to the other end, and a print of a full-color image is obtained. It is discharged in the discharge direction, and when finishing with single wafer, it is cut and discharged.

As described above, in the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention, the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is placed under the thermal head.
A reciprocating motion is performed, in other words, when viewed from the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll, thermal transfer recording is performed by a motion in a forward rotation direction and a reverse rotation direction. In a case where a multicolor image such as a full-color image is transferred in a superimposed manner, if a transfer position of each color is shifted, a so-called printing register shift occurs, and the image quality is deteriorated. Therefore, by using the recording method and the recording apparatus of the present invention, and further using the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll, the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll comes into contact with the elastic piece to be pressed and the end surface of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll. Two cap members each having a flange are mounted in hollow portions on both sides of an image receiving sheet roll, and a cap member in which a gear is disposed in at least one of the cap members and, if necessary, an intermediate member are added. Due to the contact with the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion of the roll, the rolls are hardly displaced from each other, and the rotation of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll can be reliably controlled.

[0033]

As described above, according to the thermal transfer printer of the present invention, the winding start portion of the winding is fixed to the winding at the portion in contact with the winding start without using the winding core, and the winding is performed. The two cap members having the elastic pieces that are inserted into the storage portion of the taken-out thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll and inserted into the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll and contact and press against the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion are received. Attached to the hollow part on both sides of the sheet roll,
A gear is disposed on at least one of the cap members, and the gear is driven, and the cap member and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll rotate in conjunction with each other to provide a thermal transfer recording section for performing thermal transfer recording.

[0034] At least one of the cap members may include:
A flange that contacts the end surface of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll can be provided. Further, the two cap members are:
In the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll hollow portion, the shaft of the other cap member enters the one cap member hollow portion, and the contact between the outer peripheral surface of the image receiving sheet hollow portion and the outer cap member, so that the pressing force is increased, or The intermediate member is inserted into the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll, and the two cap members are mounted on both sides of the intermediate member, so that the contact between the outer peripheral surface of the image receiving sheet hollow portion and the intermediate member and the pressing force are increased. I can do it. In this way, a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll can be prepared inexpensively and without any trouble without using a supply core as a member, and a thermal transfer print having excellent image quality can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing one embodiment of a thermal transfer printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating that a cap member is mounted on the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating that a cap member and a hollow member are mounted on the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating that a cap member is mounted on the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an embodiment which is a thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an example in which mounting of a cap member and an image receiving sheet roll having a free end between a leading end portion of a winding start portion and a fixed portion of the winding is strengthened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal transfer printer 2 Thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll 3 Storage part 4, 41, 42 Image receiving sheet roll end face 5 Thermal transfer recording part 6 Winding start part 7 Fixed part 8 Thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll hollow part 9 Cutting part 10, 101, 102 Cap member 11, 111, 112 Elastic pieces 12, 121, 122 Flange 13 Outer peripheral surface of hollow portion 14 Thermal head 15 Platen roll 16 Thermal transfer sheet 17 Roll 18 Slit 19 Free end 20 Gear 23 Intermediate member 24 Outer peripheral surface of hollow portion (Intermediate member) 25 Shaft (Cap member) 26 Hollow portion (Cap member) 27 Tip (end)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C060 BA04 BC02 BC04 BC12 BC15 2H111 AA42 CA11 3F052 AA01 AB05 BA02 BA16 BA19 CA01

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A storage section for a roll of a thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll, wherein a winding start portion of the winding is fixed to the winding at a portion in contact with the winding start without using a winding core. The two cap members having elastic pieces that are inserted into the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll and contact and press against the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion are attached to the hollow portions on both sides of the image receiving sheet roll. Arrange the gear in at least one of the
A thermal transfer printer, comprising: a thermal transfer recording section for performing thermal transfer recording by driving the gear to rotate a cap member and a thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll in conjunction with each other. 2. A thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said cap members is provided with a flange that contacts an end face of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two cap members are a heat transfer image receiving sheet roll hollow portion, and the shaft of the other cap member is inserted into one of the cap member hollow portions. 3. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the contact and pressurizing force of the heat transfer increases. 4. An intermediate member is inserted into the hollow portion of the heat transfer image receiving sheet roll, and the two cap members are mounted on both sides of the intermediate member, so that the outer peripheral surface of the image receiving sheet hollow portion contacts the intermediate member. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force increases. 5. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein a slit is provided in the elastic piece and / or the intermediate member of the cap member. 6. A cap member and / or an intermediate member and a thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll are inserted by inserting a free end between a leading end portion of a winding start portion and a fixed portion of the winding into the slit. 6. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 5, wherein is further strengthened. 7. A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet roll, wherein the winding start portion of the winding is fixed to the winding at a portion in contact with the winding start without using a winding core, Two cap members having elastic pieces that are inserted into the hollow portion of the roll and contact and press against the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion are attached to the hollow portions on both sides of the image receiving sheet roll, and at least one of the cap members is attached. A heat transfer recording sheet, wherein the gear member is driven, the gear is driven, the cap member is rotated, and in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member, the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll is rotated to perform thermal transfer recording. Method. 8. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said cap members is provided with a flange which is in contact with an end surface of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the two cap members are a heat transfer image receiving sheet roll hollow portion, and the shaft of the other cap member is inserted into one of the cap member hollow portions. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 7, wherein the contact and pressurizing force of the heat transfer increases. 10. An intermediate member is inserted into the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll, and the two cap members are attached to both sides of the intermediate member, so that the outer peripheral surface of the image receiving sheet hollow portion comes into contact with the intermediate member. 9. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 7, wherein the pressing force increases. 11. A slit is provided in an elastic piece and / or an intermediate member of the cap member, and a free end between a leading end of a winding start portion and a fixed portion is inserted into the slit. 11. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 7, wherein the mounting of the cap member and / or the intermediate member and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll is strengthened. 12. A winding start portion of the winding is fixed to the winding at a portion in contact with the winding start without using a winding core,
In the rolled thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll, two cap members having elastic pieces that are inserted into the hollow portion of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet roll and contact and press against the outer peripheral surface of the hollow portion are attached to the image receiving sheet roll. Attached to the hollow portions on both sides, a gear is arranged on at least one of the cap members,
A heat transfer image receiving sheet roll characterized in that the gear member is driven, the cap member rotates, and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member to perform thermal transfer recording.