JP2003311835A - Apparatus and method for laminating - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and a method for laminating which can always well laminate by simply and surely correcting the position of a film in the moving route of the film, provided with a heating means and a pressure roller. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus for laminating pressurizes the laminating film 2 while moving the film 2 between a thermal head and a platen roller 5, and then conducts one time or more a series of operations for removing the pressurization. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium, wherein a recording medium and a film are superposed and passed between a heating means and a pressure roller to heat at least a layer formed on the surface of the film. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a laminating device and a laminating method for press-bonding to. More specifically, the present invention relates to a laminating apparatus and a laminating method capable of eliminating skew and wrinkling of the film by setting the film in the laminating apparatus and then correcting the position of the film in the initialization sequence of the laminating apparatus.

As the film, there can be used a film for laminating treatment in which a protective layer for protecting a recorded image of a recording medium is laminated on a substrate, and the laminated film is heated on the recording surface of the recording medium. By press-bonding, the recorded image on the recording medium can be protected.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to protect a recorded image in an output print (recording medium) of an electrophotographic or ink jet recording apparatus, a resin layer of a transparent resin coated on a base material is thermocompression-bonded to the output print. A method of obtaining a completed print without peeling or peeling the substrate has been widely used so far. When the base material is peeled off, for example, JP-A 06-
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 091767, assuming that the base material coated with the protective layer is continuous in the feed direction (length direction), the widthwise dimension of the base material is determined from the dimension of the print (recording medium). Also increase. Then, the portion of the protective layer adhered to the print is peeled off from the base material together with the print.

As a means for applying the protective layer on the substrate, a method of applying a coating material in which a polymer is dissolved in a solvent or a method of applying a coating material in which polymer particles are dispersed as an emulsion in a solvent and drying it is generally used. Is.

In order to reduce the cost of a film for laminating (hereinafter also referred to as "laminating film") as a consumable item in which a resin layer is formed on a substrate, or to reduce the size of a laminating apparatus, As the base material of the laminate film, a material that is as thin as possible is used. The laminate film having the protective layer formed on the substrate is usually wound in a coil shape, and is wound from the unwinding core toward the winding core along with the laminating process. The laminate film and the print sheet (recording medium) are heated and pressed in the film moving path between the cores, the protective layer of the laminate film is adhered to the print sheet, and the base of the laminate film is wound on the winding core. Being rolled up.

In order to convey such a thin film between the unwinding core and the winding core and to adhere the thin film cleanly to the entire surface of the printing sheet, 3 gf / It is necessary to apply a back tension of about mm to 6 gf / mm. If the back tension is too small, heating causes wrinkles on the film, and the wrinkles remain on the recorded image on the printing sheet. On the other hand, if the tension is too high, the tension stretches the film to cause vertical wrinkles, and the vertical wrinkles also appear on the recorded image on the printing sheet. Therefore, a torque limiter is also provided on the film winding side to limit the upper limit of the tension applied to the film so that the tension of 6 gf / mm is the upper limit.

The torque limiter and the back tension applying mechanism act with a certain strength on the core shaft or on the rotating shaft connected to the core shaft via a gear or the like. Therefore, when the outer diameter of the coil-shaped film changes, the tension applied to the film changes. For example, when the outer diameter of the coiled film doubles, the tension changes twice.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory views of the relationship between the outer diameter of the coil-shaped film and the tension applied to the film.

Reference numeral 20 is a coil around which the film 2 is wound, and is wound from the unwinding core 10a to the winding core 10b. Depending on the winding amount of the film 2, the outer diameter of the film on the side of each of the cores 10a and 10b changes in a related manner. A tension of 6 gf / mm or less is applied to the film 2 in each of the cores 10a and 10b, and a back tension of the unwinding core 10b side is 3 gf / mm.
In order to secure at least mm, the core shafts 10a and 10b
A torque limiter of a predetermined Jkgf · cm and a torque load are arranged on the top. At the beginning of winding the film 3, as shown in FIG. 8A, the winding force (Jkgf) is larger than the load (J / 2 kgf) on the unwinding side, and the film 3
It is possible to wind up. However, at the end of winding the film 3, the winding force (J / 2 kgf) becomes smaller than the load (Jkgf) on the winding side, and the film 3 cannot be wound only by rotating the winding core 10b. However, in an actual laminating apparatus, since the printing sheet and the laminating film are conveyed by the platen roller (pressure roller) during the laminating process, the film 3 can be wound.

[0010]

If the thickness of the base material of the film is increased so that the film does not extend even if the tension on the winding side is increased, the cost of the film increases. Further, in order to change the load on the unwinding side in accordance with the film winding diameter, a sensor for detecting the film winding diameter and the unwinding core 10 so that the tension applied to the film is 3 gf / mm.
When the powder clutch capable of electrically controlling the load applied to the shaft of a is provided, the size and cost of the device are increased.

On the other hand, in the case of an apparatus structure in which the film is wound by sandwiching the film by a platen roller (pressure roller), both the film and the apparatus can be inexpensively constructed. However, the film sandwiched between the platen rollers is
There is no freedom to shift the position in the width direction, and it is difficult to correct the position in the width direction. In fact, when a new film is set, the position where the film is attached to the winding core often shifts in the width direction with respect to the unwinding core. cm Wind up on a winding core,
It is necessary to correct the widthwise position of the film on the winding core. However, in the case of an apparatus configuration in which the film is wound by sandwiching the film with a platen roller, the film cannot be wound to correct the position of the film in the width direction due to the above-mentioned restrictions.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laminating apparatus provided with a heating means and a pressure roller, which can simply and surely correct the position of a film in a moving path of the film and always perform a good laminating process. It is to provide a laminating method.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A laminating apparatus of the present invention comprises a heating means and a pressure roller in a film moving path until a film wound on a first core is wound on a second core. And a recording medium is superposed on the film, and is passed between the heating means and the pressure roller to heat at least the layer formed on the surface of the film to press-bond it to the recording medium. In the apparatus, the film is pressurized while moving only the film between the heating unit and the pressure unit, and then a series of operations for releasing the pressure is performed one or more times.

In the laminating method of the present invention, a heating means and a pressure roller are provided in the film moving path until the film wound on the first core is wound on the second core. A laminating method in which a recording medium is superposed on the recording medium and is passed between the heating means and the pressure roller to heat at least the layer formed on the surface of the film to press-bond the recording medium to the recording medium. It is characterized in that a series of operations for releasing the pressurization is performed one or more times after pressurizing while moving only the film between the pressurizing means and the film.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, a constitutional example of a laminating mechanism for providing a thermocompression / transfer process of a protective layer and a printing sheet (recording medium) will be described.

In FIG. 1, a portion I surrounded by a chain double-dashed line
P is 2400 dpi in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction.
This is a serial scan type inkjet printer unit that records at the resolution of. H is an inkjet recording head that reciprocates in the front and back directions (main scanning direction) of the paper surface in FIG. 1 to perform recording, and PL is a printing sheet (recording medium) P.
Is a platen that regulates the position of the recording surface of the. As the recording head H, an inkjet recording head that includes an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy for foaming ink and that ejects ink from the ink ejection port by utilizing the foaming energy of the ink can be used. . Also,
As the recording head H, recording heads of various systems such as a thermal transfer system other than the inkjet system can be used. The point is that the print head can print an image on the print sheet P. LF is a line feed roller for conveying the printing sheet P by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction, and R
Reference numeral 1 is a pressure roller for bringing the printing sheet P into pressure contact with the line feed roller LF. Further, S is a spur roller that gives tension to the print sheet P, and R2 is a pressure roller that presses the print sheet P against the spur S. Further, the printer unit IP is not limited to the serial scan type, but may be, for example, a full line type including a long recording head extending in the width direction of the printing sheet P.

Reference numeral 10a denotes an unwinding core for a roll 20 of a laminating film (hereinafter also referred to as "laminating film") 2, and has a torque in the CCW direction in the figure (3 gf / mm to 6 gf / mm in the CCW direction). The back tension is applied to the film 2 by the rotational load corresponding to the film tension of (1). As will be described later, the film 2 has a resin protective layer releasably adhered to a base material, and is wound with the protective layer on the outside to form a roll 20. Reference numeral 3 is a thermal head (heating means), which is divided in the width direction of the film 2 (front and back direction of the paper surface in FIG. 1) into head portions having a width corresponding to 72 dpi. Heat generation of each head is controlled individually. The thermal head 3 is pressed against the platen roller (pressure roller) 5 by the pressure spring 25 on the back side thereof, and can heat and press the film 2 and the printing sheet P. A linear pressure of 50 gf / mm is applied as the pressing force. A rotary encoder 4 monitors the amount of rotation of the platen roller 5.

The film 2 and the printing sheet P are pressed against each other between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 5 and then pass through the peeling bar 8. At that time, due to the difference in rigidity between the printing sheet P and the film 2. The protective layer of the film 2 pressure-bonded to the printing sheet P is separated from the base material of the film 2 together with the printing paper sheet P. Reference numeral 10b is a winding core of the laminate film 2, which is in the winding direction (C in the figure).
Tension in the CW direction is applied. The driving force transmission system of the winding core 10b is 3 gf / mm to 6 gf /
A torque limiter equivalent to a film tension of mm is provided. Reference numeral 11 is a guide for the print sheet P, 12 is a photo interrupter forming a paper passage sensor, 13 is a photo interrupter forming a paper discharge sensor, and 14 is a discharge tray for the laminated print sheet P.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the laminate film 2. The laminate film 2 has a structure in which a protective layer (also referred to as a “surface layer”) 2b and an adhesive layer 2c are sequentially laminated on a heat resistant substrate 2a. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a printing sheet (also referred to as “ink image receiving paper”) P to which the laminate film 2 is adhered. The ink receiving layer 100b is formed on the base paper 100a. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a completed printing sheet in which the laminate film 2 is adhered to the printing sheet P and then the base material 2a of the laminating film 2 is peeled off.

Heat-resistant base material 2 of laminated film 2
The a, the protective layer 2b, and the adhesive layer 2c can be configured as follows, respectively.

(Substrate 2a) As the heat-resistant substrate 2a,
The shape can be stably maintained under pressure-bonding conditions when forming the protective layer 2b and further heating and pressurization, and the transparent protective layer 2b is adhered onto the ink receiving layer 100b of the printing sheet P. Any material can be used as long as it can be easily peeled off from the protective layer 2b at the given stage. For example,
Polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate / isophthalate copolymer, polyester such as polybutylene terephthalate, polyolefin such as polypropylene, polyamide, polyimide resin, triacetyl cellulose, polyvinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride / vinyl chloride copolymer resin, acrylic resin, polyether sulfone It is possible to use a film or sheet made of the above materials. The thickness of the base material 2a is, for example, 5 μm in consideration of economy.

The heat-resistant base material 2a may be subjected to a surface roughening treatment such as embossing or sandblasting or a surface roughening treatment with a resin layer containing powder particles on the surface on which the protective layer 2b is formed. Good. If you do not roughen the surface,
After laminating the laminate film 2 on the printing sheet P, the base material 2a of the film 2 is peeled off to obtain a gloss image having the protective layer 2b. But,
By performing the roughening treatment, a semi-glossy or matte image can be obtained.

(Protective Layer 2b) The resin material (polymer material) forming the protective layer 2b of the laminate film 2 has a function as a protective layer in a state of being laminated on the image on the printing sheet P, and also serves as an image. A material capable of forming a layer having characteristics such as light transmittance required for viewing is used.
As such a material, for example, a resin material containing a polymer substance such as an acrylic resin, a styrene resin, a vinyl chloride resin, or a vinyl acetate resin can be used. The thickness of the protective layer 2b is, for example, 1 to 2 μm.
m.

(Adhesive Layer 2c) The adhesive layer 2c of the laminate film 2 can also be formed by applying a coating liquid containing an emulsion of a polymer substance and drying. In particular, a material that is sufficiently softened or has fluidity during thermocompression bonding and that conforms to the surface of the printing sheet P is preferable.

As the polymer substance which can be used as the adhesive resin material constituting the adhesive layer 2c of the laminate film 2, acrylic resin, vinyl acetate resin, vinyl chloride resin, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer resin, polyamide resin are used. Polymer materials such as polyester resin, polyurethane resin, and polyolefin resin can be mentioned. Depending on the case, carnauba wax, paraffin wax, etc. may be blended. The thickness of the adhesive layer 2c is, for example, 1
~ 2 μm. Furthermore, in order to impart high light resistance to the laminate, at least one layer of the protective layer 2b or the adhesive layer 2c may contain an appropriate amount of an ultraviolet absorber.

The printing sheet P is sandwiched between the line feed roller LF and the pressure roller R1 and is sandwiched between the platen PL.
Sent to the top. The head H moves 1 in the main scanning direction.
An image is recorded in the entire recording area of the printing sheet P by being conveyed in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined amount each time scanning is performed. The printing sheet P on which the image is recorded is sent onto the guide 11 by the spur roller S and the pressure roller R2.

The control unit of the laminating apparatus uses the printing sheet P.
Is sent to the guide 11 and the paper passage sensor 12 detects the printing sheet P and generates a “present” signal, the thermal head 3 presses the film 2 against the platen roller 5. That is, by driving an eccentric cam motor (not shown) and rotating the eccentric cam 26 about the axis O, the thermal head pressing holder 30 is moved from the non-pressurizing position of FIG. 7 to the pressing position of FIG. Let Further, the control unit controls the platen roller 5 and the winding core 10b by CC in the figure.
Rotate in the W direction. Platen roller 5 is 30 mm / s
The peripheral speed of the winding core 10b is controlled so that the outer speed of the film does not fall below 30 mm / s at any time. Thermal head 3
The pressure of 50 gf / mm applied to the platen roller 5 of the thermal head 3 and the base material 2 of the laminate film 2
A friction force is generated between the adhesive surface 2c of the laminate film 2 and the platen roller 5 and between the adhesive surface 2c of the laminate film 2 and the printing sheet P when the printing sheet P is sandwiched. To do. These frictional forces are converted to a torque limiter provided in the drive system of the winding core 10b, that is, 3 to 6 gf / mm in terms of film tension.
Exceeds the holding power of the torque limiter that slides with the force of. Therefore, the torque limiter always works, and as a result, the film 2 is wound around the winding core 10b at 30 mm / s.

Each head portion of the thermal head 3 generates heat when a pulse is applied. Depending on the amount of heat,
The adhesive layer 2c of the film 2 is melted and the platen roller 5
It is adhered to the surface of the printing sheet P by the action of the pressure between and. After that, the adhesive layer 2c is cooled by the time it reaches the peeling bar 8 and adheres to the surface of the printing sheet P.
This fixing force is stronger than the adhesive force between the protective layer 2b and the base material 2a. Therefore, when the film 2 passes through the peeling bar 8, the film 2 is rapidly bent, so that the protective layer 2b fixed to the printing sheet P having high rigidity is peeled from the base material 2a, and the film 2 in FIG. Go straight down. The rotary encoder 4 detects the printing sheet P from the rotational position of the platen roller 5 when the paper passage sensor 12 changes from the detection of “presence” of the printing sheet P to the detection of “absence”.
Platen roller 5 until the rear end is located on the peel bar 8
To monitor the rotational position of. Then, under such monitoring, after the film 2 is fed by the length required for the peeling of the printing sheet P and the completion of discharging, the feeding is stopped.
The paper discharge sensor 13 detects an abnormality in the transport system by measuring the timing of paper discharge. After the feeding of the film 2 is stopped, the thermal head pressurizing holder 30 is retracted to the non-pressurizing position as shown in FIG. This operation of the thermal head pressure holder 30 is to prevent the rubber forming the platen roller 5 from being deformed.

Next, the laminating operation will be described.

Normally, as the printing sheet P, a sheet having a width desired by the user is selectively set. As the laminate film 2, for example, a printing sheet P having a width of 210 mm
The width is 216 mm so that it can cover the entire surface. After the image is recorded on the printing sheet P by the inkjet printing unit IP, the leading edge of the printing sheet P is the first
3 m when the leading edge of the printing sheet P reaches the heating / pressurizing nip portion (nip portion between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 5) when detected by the paper passing sensor 12 of
Before m, the thermal head 3 is brought into pressure contact with the platen roller 5 and the platen roller 5 is rotated. The paper width sensor (not shown) provided in the inkjet printing unit IP is
The width of the printing sheet P (hereinafter, also referred to as "paper width") is detected. The control unit of the laminating apparatus turns on the heater of the head unit of the thermal head 3 corresponding to the range of the length (paper width + 3 mm) obtained by adding 3 mm to the detected paper width, and causes the head unit in the range to generate heat. After that, when the paper passage sensor 12 detects the trailing end of the printing sheet P and when the trailing end of the trailing end advances 3 mm ahead of the heating / pressurizing nip portion, the heater of the thermal head 3 is turned off. As a result, the laminating film 2 is heated over the range of 3 mm outside the periphery of the printing sheet P, and the adhesive layer 2b of the laminating film 2 is surely adhered to the entire surface of the printing sheet P.

By the way, the print sheet P may be skewed or positioned, and the base material 2a of the film 2 may be expanded or contracted due to humidity. For the amount of expansion and contraction,
The 3 mm margin in the width direction between the heating range of the film 2 and the peripheral edge of the printing sheet P is not necessarily large. If the amount of positional deviation in the width direction of the film 2 is large, there is a possibility that a portion that is not laminated on the printing sheet P may occur. In particular, care must be taken when initially setting the unwinding core 10a and the winding core 10b in the laminating apparatus.

Further, when the unwinding core 10a on which the film 2 is wound and the winding core 10b on which the tip of the film 2 is pasted are paired to form a laminated film core, the unwinding core 10a. The positional accuracy of the film with respect to the winding core 10b is controlled by the factory and is set to an error of ± 0.5 mm or less. However, when the laminated film core is set in the laminating apparatus, the position of the outermost film 2 on the roll 20 becomes indefinite. When the film 2 is wound in the unstable state, the film 2 immediately appears at the controlled position on the unwinding side of the film 2, but the film 2 is wound on the winding side of the film 2.
The film 2 cannot be moved to the regular position unless there is a correction mechanism or a correction force for correcting the position. Providing such a correction mechanism in the laminating apparatus newly leads to increase in size and cost of the apparatus.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the positional deviation of the film 2 is corrected by using a mechanism for bringing the thermal head 3 into contact with and away from the platen roller 5. The process of correcting the positional deviation of the film 2 will be described below.

(Position Displacement Correction Step) This correction step is carried out in the initialization sequence when the new laminated film 2 is replaced and when the film cores 10a and 10b are set again after the jam processing. In the following, a case where a new laminated film 2 is replaced will be described as an example.

The laminated film 2 has its base end side wound around the unwinding core 10a, and its leading end wound around the winding core 1a.
It is pasted on 0b and provided to the user. The cores 10a and 10b form a laminated film core that makes a pair. The user sets the laminated film core in the device. The core detection sensor 23 is arranged to detect the presence or absence of the unwinding core 10a.
Further, the encoder 24 that detects the rotation of the unwinding core 10a is coupled to the unwinding core 10a by a coupling (not shown).
connected to a. When the film 2 is removed and the base end thereof is separated from the core 10a, the absence of the pulse output of the encoder 24 detects that the film 2 is lost. After setting the flag of no film, the control unit informs the user that the film 2 has run out and a request for loading a new film by a display (not shown) or the like. When a new laminated film core is set and the core detection sensor 23 is turned on,
The control unit presupposes that the film 2 is loose, and the platen roller 5 and the thermal head 3 make the film 2
Before the nip is sandwiched (before the nip), the winding core 10b is rotated by about two rotations to remove the looseness of the film 2. At this stage, the positional deviation of the film 2 in the width direction is ± 2 m.
It is corrected to m or less.

Next, the thermal head pressing holder 30 is moved to the pressing position as shown in FIG. 1, and the film 2 is nipped between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 5. Then, the platen roller 5 and the winding core 10b are rotated in the CCW direction while the film 2 is nipped, and the pulse output of the encoder 24 is confirmed to recognize that a new laminated film 2 has been set.

Then, the following correction operation is performed.

5 (a), 5 (b) and 5 (c) are explanatory views of the principle of the straightening operation, in which the position of the film 2 relative to the unwinding core 10a, the winding core 10b, and the platen roller 5 is changed. Is showing. In these drawings, the unwinding core 10a, the winding core 10b, and the platen roller 5 are linearly arranged, and the other parts such as the peeling bar 8 in the apparatus are not shown.

In this straightening operation, the thermal head pressing holder 30 is moved to the pressing position, the film 2 is nipped between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 5, and then the film 2 is wound by the winding core 10b. Perform the winding operation. The unwinding core 10a rotates and the film 2 between the unwinding core 10a and the platen roller 5 is rotated.
When (hereinafter, also referred to as "the film 2A on the unwinding side") is fed out for about one round of the core 10a, the film 2 at the position wound on the core 10a in the factory is exposed.
The operation after that situation will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 5A, when the film 2 on the platen roller 5 is displaced from the regular position in the width direction, the film 2A on the unwinding side is positioned inside the film 2 from the regular position. The edge on the side that is offset (in the case of this example, see FIG.
The tension T is generated in the left side portion in (a), and the edge portion on the opposite side (in the present example, the right side portion in FIG. 5A) is loosened. Although the axial component Ta of the tension T in the axial direction of the platen roller 5 (the width direction of the film 2) acts as a correction force for correcting the positional deviation of the film 2 in the width direction, the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 5 are not separated from each other. Due to the strong nip force at 1, the correction of the displacement of the film 2 due to the correction force is prevented.

On the other hand, with respect to the film 2 between the take-up core 10b and the platen roller 5 (hereinafter, also referred to as "the film 2B on the take-up side"), the axial direction of the platen roller 5 (the width direction of the film 2). ), The axial component Sa of the tension T acts. As a result, during the operation of nipping and winding the film 2, the edge portion of the film 2 on the winding core 10b is corrected from the position U1 to the position U2, and the edge portion and the edge portion of the film 2 on the platen roller 5 are Become parallel.

In this way, the film 2 is nipped to exert a correction force on the film 2A on the unwinding side and the film 2B on the winding side, and then the nip of the film 2 is released. As a result, the axial direction component Ta of the tension T corrects the movement of the film 2 on the platen roller 5 toward the normal position. In the case of this example, the position is corrected from the position Q1 to the position Q2. At this time, the winding angle α of the film 2 with respect to the platen roller 5 (see FIG. 5C) is
In order to reduce the frictional force that acts as a resistance during the straightening movement of, it is desirable that it is smaller.

If the film 2 is conveyed and the film 2 is taken up when the nip of the film 2 is released, the film 2 may be unnecessarily taken up by the action of the torque limiter or the back tension applying mechanism. is there. Therefore, when the nip of the film 2 is released, the film 2 is conveyed by the rotation of the platen roller 5,
It is desirable to stop the winding of the film 2 by the winding core 10b.

According to the experiment, the film 2 was moved about 50 mm in the film moving path on the platen roller 5, wound on the winding core 10b, and then the nip was opened once. Repeated more than once. As a result, the platen roller 5 and the take-up core 1 with respect to the film position on the take-up core 10a.
The film position on 0b was corrected to ± 0.5 mm or less even if it was initially set ± 5 mm with respect to the geometrically parallel position.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the laminating apparatus in this example.

The control unit 100 includes a worm memory 100A and a non-volatile memory 100B as memories, and includes a paper passage sensor 12, a paper discharge sensor 13, a platen roller encoder 4, an unwinding core encoder 24, and an unwinding core sensor 23. Input the detection signal. 102 is a motor for rotating the eccentric cam 26, 103 is a motor for rotating the platen roller 5, 105 is a motor for rotating the line feed roller (LF), and these are as described above. And is controlled by the control unit 100. Further, the control unit 100 controls the thermal head 3 and the inkjet recording head H via the drive circuits 105 and 106. The inkjet printer unit IP (see FIG. 1) is controlled based on the recording data input to the control unit 100.

This example has been described by taking the thermal head 3 as an example of the heating means. However, as a heating means,
For example, it may be a heating roller having a halogen lamp inside, or a flat plate heater, as long as the film 2 can be nipped and released from the platen roller.

In the process of correcting the positional deviation of the film 2, the printing sheet P is not laminated, but only the film 2 is moved. Further, in the straightening step, it is not necessary to heat the heating means.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, a series of operations for pressing the film while moving only the film between the heating means and the pressurizing means and then releasing the pressurization is performed once or more. By doing so, the position of the film in the moving path of the film can be corrected easily and surely. As a result, skewing and wrinkling of the film can be eliminated, and good laminating processing can always be performed, without complicating the structure of the laminating apparatus and increasing the price.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram when a film is pressed in a laminating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a laminate film used in the laminating apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a printing sheet used in the laminating apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view after the printing sheet of FIG. 3 is laminated.

5 (a), (b) and (c) are explanatory views of a film position correcting process in the laminating apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block configuration diagram of a control system in the laminating apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram when releasing film pressure in the laminating apparatus of FIG.

8A and 8B are explanatory views of a film winding process in a laminating apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Laminated film (film) 2a base material 2b protective layer 2c adhesive layer 3 Thermal head (heating means) 5 Platen roller (pressure roller) P print sheet (recording medium)

Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2H086 BA01 BA02 BA05                 4F211 AD08 AG01 AG03 AP04 AP19                       AR04 AR09 TA03 TC02 TD11                       TH06 TJ13 TJ14 TJ15 TJ30                       TN02 TN07 TN43 TN49 TN50                       TQ03

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A heating means and a pressure roller are provided in a film moving path until a film wound on a first core is wound on a second core, and a recording medium is superposed on the film. A heating device and a pressure roller, wherein at least the layer formed on the surface of the film is heated and pressure-bonded to the recording medium by passing it between the heating device and the pressure roller. A laminating apparatus characterized in that a series of operations for releasing the pressurization is performed at least once after the pressurization while moving only the film between and. 2. The laminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the film is tensioned between the first core and the second core. 3. The laminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the film is moved in the film moving path, the second core is rotationally driven in a winding direction of the film. . 4. The laminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressure roller is rotationally driven when the film is moved in the film moving path. 5. The movement of the film in the film movement path is stopped when the pressure of the film between the heating means and the pressure means is released. The laminating apparatus according to any one of the above. 6. The film comprises a base material, a protective layer formed on the base material in a peelable manner and adhered to the recording medium to protect a recorded image of the recording medium, and a protective layer of the protective layer. The laminating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an adhesive layer formed on the recording medium, the adhesive layer being capable of adhering to the recording medium. 7. The laminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is a thermal head capable of controlling a heat generation area. 8. A heating means and a pressure roller are provided in a film moving path until the film wound on the first core is wound on the second core, and a recording medium is superposed on the film. The heating means and the pressing means in a laminating method in which at least the layer formed on the surface of the film is heated and pressure-bonded to the recording medium by passing the heating means and the pressing roller. And a pressure is applied while moving only the film, and a series of operations for releasing the pressure is performed one or more times.