JP2004174945A - Re-transfer printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a re-transfer printing apparatus which peels a card at the time of cooling in the case of re-transfer and stably feeds the card when the card is fed without re-transfer. <P>SOLUTION: In the re-transfer printing apparatus, an image transferred to a film is re-transferred to the fed card and the film is set under tension so as to be successively passed through the gap between a heat roller 101 and a card feed passage and the gap between a feed roller (upper side) 105 on an outlet side and the heat roller 101. In the case of re-transfer, the film is heated/pressed by the heat roller 101 and subsequently fed in the state brought into contact with the card under pressure to be held between the feed rollers 105 on the outlet side. Thereafter, when the film is peeled from the card at the time of cooling by the start of the taking up of the film at a peelable point by a film taking-up roller 108, the film is folded back to be taken up by the film taking-up roller 108 through the nip between the feed rollers 105 on the outlet side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a retransfer printing apparatus that forms a print image once on a film and transfers the print image from the film to a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, cards with a face photograph have been issued for the purpose of enhancing security. In general, when issuing such a card, a retransfer printing apparatus such as a sublimation type card printer capable of obtaining a high-quality print image is used. Hereinafter, a schematic configuration and an operation of an example of a conventional sublimation type card printer for issuing a card will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0003]
A conventional sublimation type card printer includes a recording unit 710 that winds a film 702 around a platen roller 701, superimposes an ink ribbon 703, applies pressure by a thermal head 704 and applies thermal energy to form an image on the film 702, A re-transfer unit 720 for pressing and heating between the heat roller 721 and the pressure roller 722 to re-transfer the image formed on the film 702 to the card 705 while the image receiving surface faces the card 705; It comprises a roll 730, a film take-up roll 740, an ink ribbon supply roll 750, and an ink ribbon take-up roll 760.
[0004]
As shown in FIG. 8A, the film 702 is provided with a frame positioning mark 2a for determining a head position for forming an image. As shown in FIG. 3B, the film 702 has a three-layer structure including a base sheet 2b, a release layer 2c, and a transparent image receiving layer 2d. And the base sheet 2a are separated from the transparent image receiving layer 2b.
[0005]
As shown in FIG. 9, dyes of three colors (yellow, magenta, and cyan) (or four colors including black) are applied to the ink ribbon 703 in a plane-sequential manner. Mark 3a is provided.
[0006]
Next, the operation of the conventional sublimation type card printer will be described. In response to an output command of a host computer (not shown), the printer rotates the platen roller 701 to perform frame cueing of the film 702, and drives the take-up roll 760 of the ink ribbon 703 to cue yellow.
[0007]
Next, the thermal head 704 is pressed against the platen roller 701 and recording is performed while rotating the platen roller 701 clockwise. When the recording of the first color (yellow) is completed, the thermal head 704 is separated from the platen roller 701 and the platen roller 701 is rotated counterclockwise, and the film 702 is stopped at the same position as the cueing of the first color. Thereafter, the same operation as that for the first color is repeated to transfer magenta / cyan to form a color image. During these recording operations, the film 702 is conveyed while controlling the driving units (not shown) on the supply side and the winding side of the film roll while giving an appropriate tension to the film 702.
[0008]
When the recording on the film 702 is completed, the platen roller 701 is rotated clockwise, the film 702 is conveyed to the film take-up roll 740 side, the frame is caught in front of the heat roller 721, and the card supplied from the card hopper 723 is supplied. The transparent image receiving layer is re-transferred to the card 705 by aligning the transfer surface 705 with the heat roller 721 and the pressure roller 722, pressing and heating. The retransfer temperature is usually 160 ° C. to 200 ° C., depending on the material of the card, and heat energy is applied to the extent that the surface of the card is softened.
[0009]
The thermocompression bonded film 702 and card 705 are peeled after they are sufficiently cooled (below the softening point) (such peeling is called cold peeling). This is because if the film 702 and the card 705 are peeled at a high temperature, the films on both end surfaces of the card are not peeled but remain.
[0010]
A technique for realizing such cold peeling is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 below. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing details of a mechanism for realizing cold separation in the retransfer unit 720 according to the publication.
[0011]
As shown in the figure, film guides 1001 and 1002 are disposed before and after the heat roller 721, and after the film 702 and the card 705 are thermocompression-bonded by the heat roller 721, the card 705 is conveyed for a predetermined time. In order to maintain the press-fit state between the film 702 and the card 705 during the interval, the retransfer unit is configured so that the conveyance path of the card 705 and the position where the film 702 is stretched overlap for a certain section (section A). . With this configuration, after the film is sufficiently cooled (that is, after the card is transported to the position of the film guide 1002), the film is wound up and separated from the card. In addition, a guide 1003 is provided below the section A in order to further stabilize the press-fit state between the film 702 and the card 705.
[0012]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-141727 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the apparatus having the retransfer unit described in the above-mentioned conventional example, there is a problem that if the card is transported without the retransfer operation, the film is transported together with the card, causing a jam.
[0014]
This problem will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, when the retransfer operation is not performed, the film 702 is not pressed and heated by the heat roller 721 because the heat roller 721 is at the raised position. Since the transport path of the card 705 and the position where the film 702 is stretched (the winding path of the film) are overlapped, the film 702 comes into contact with the card 705, and the film 702 is transported together with the card. Would.
[0015]
As described above, in the case of the apparatus having the retransfer unit that realizes the cold separation, it is difficult to stably convey the card without performing the retransfer operation.
[0016]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can be normally peeled at a cold time during a retransfer operation, and can stably convey when a recording medium is conveyed without a retransfer operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a retransfer printing device capable of performing the following.
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a retransfer printing apparatus according to the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
A film to which an image has been transferred is pressed by heating the recording medium to be conveyed with a heat roller while heating, thereby retransferring the image on the film to the recording medium.
With respect to the heat roller, a pair of rollers disposed on the output side of the recording medium in the conveying direction, and nipping and conveying the front and back surfaces of the recording medium,
With respect to the conveyance path of the recording medium, a winding means for winding the film, which is located on a side where the heat roller is arranged,
The film passes between the heat roller and the transport path, and passes between the heat roller and a roller of the pair of rollers located on the side where the heat roller is disposed with respect to the transport path. It is stretched to pass,
In the case of retransfer, the film is pressed while being heated on the recording medium by the heat roller, then conveyed in a state of being pressed against the recording medium, and nipped by the pair of rollers. When the take-up means starts the take-up at the position and is peeled off from the recording medium at a cold time, the recording medium is folded and passed between the pair of rollers and taken up by the take-up means. And
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
[First Embodiment]
FIGS. 1 to 6 are diagrams showing only the configuration of the retransfer section 720 of the conventional retransfer printing apparatus described with reference to FIG. 7 and the periphery thereof. The other configuration is the same as that of the conventional retransfer printing apparatus, and the description is omitted.
[0020]
<Retransfer part>
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a heat roller connected to a motor (not shown), which presses in a heated state toward a pressure roller 102. Thereby, the film on which the image has been transferred to the card 100 transported between the heat roller and the pressure roller in the direction of the arrow (the direction of the arrow described above the “transport direction” in the drawing) is thermocompression-bonded, Retransferred. A card position detection sensor 103 detects the entry of the card 100 on the entrance side in the transport direction.
[0021]
Reference numeral 104 denotes an entrance-side transport roller that transports the card by sandwiching the front and back surfaces of the card from above and below with a pair of rollers. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the entrance-side conveyance roller 104. Reference numeral 104-1 denotes an entrance-side conveyance roller (upper side), and reference numeral 104-2 denotes an entrance-side conveyance roller (lower side) connected to a motor (not shown). .
[0022]
The entrance-side transport roller (upper side) 104-1 and the entrance-side transport roller (lower side) 104-2 convey the card by sandwiching the end of the card from above and below so as not to damage the card surface during card conveyance.
[0023]
Return to FIG. Reference numeral 105 denotes an exit-side transport roller which, like the entrance-side transport roller 104, transports the card by sandwiching the front and back surfaces of the card from above and below with a pair of rollers. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the outlet-side transport roller 105, in which 105-1 indicates an outlet-side transport roller (upper side), and 105-2 indicates an outlet-side transport roller (lower side) connected to a motor (not shown). .
[0024]
The exit-side transport roller (lower side) 105-2 has a structure in which only the end of the card contacts the card so as not to damage the card surface during card transport, while the exit-side transport roller (upper side) is heated. In order to stably maintain the crimped state of the crimped film, it has a width larger than the width of the film (W1> film width).
[0025]
Returning to FIG. Reference numeral 106 denotes a film guide, which is disposed at a position where the peeling direction of the film at the time of peeling the film is at an acute angle with respect to the card surface (that is, it determines the winding path for winding the peeled film when winding the film). ing).
[0026]
Reference numeral 107 denotes a film take-up timing sensor. In order to realize peeling at a cold time, it is necessary to wait for a take-up operation until the card on which the surface of the film has been thermocompression-bonded reaches a predetermined position. This sensor is provided to determine the start of the picking operation, and detects whether the card 100 has reached the cold peelable position. Reference numeral 108 denotes a film take-up roller, which is connected to a motor (not shown) and starts film take-up when receiving a take-up start command from a control unit (not shown).
[0027]
In the re-transfer printing apparatus having the above-described re-transfer section and its peripheral configuration, the distance (roller pitch L2) between the entrance-side transport roller 104 and the exit-side transport roller 105 is set to a card length in order to stably transport the card 100 It is designed to be shorter.
[0028]
As is clear from FIG. 1, the exit side transport roller 105 is disposed on the exit side of the card 100 in the transport direction with respect to the heat roller 101. Further, the film take-up roller 108 is located on the side where the heat roller 101 is disposed with respect to the transport path in which the card is transported.
[0029]
Further, the film passes between the heat roller 101 and the transport path, and is one of the outlet-side transport rollers located at the side where the heat roller 101 is disposed with respect to the transport path (that is, the exit-side transport roller ( It is stretched so as to pass between the upper side) 105-1) and the heat roller 101.
[0030]
<When performing retransfer processing>
4A and 4B, an operation of each unit when performing a retransfer process in the retransfer printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description, the time chart of FIG. 5 is also referred to.
[0031]
FIG. 4A shows a state in which the card 100 to be retransferred has entered the retransfer unit. When the card position detection sensor 103 is turned on, the entrance side transport roller (lower side) 104-2 starts normal rotation operation, and the exit side transportation roller (lower side) 105-2 starts normal rotation operation (FIG. 5, 501 to 503).
[0032]
FIG. 4B shows a state in which the leading end of the card 100 has been transported to the thermocompression bonding position. At this time, since the card has already passed through the entrance side conveyance roller 104, the entrance side conveyance roller (upper side) 104-1 is also performing the normal rotation operation.
[0033]
Further, the leading end of the card reaches the thermocompression bonding position after a lapse of a predetermined time since the card position detection sensor 103 is turned on. For this reason, the timer operates after the card position detection sensor 103 is turned on, and when a predetermined time is counted, the heat roller 101 starts the descending operation and the normal rotation operation (504 to 505 in FIG. 5).
[0034]
FIG. 4C illustrates a state in which the heat roller 101 presses the card 100 while heating the film.
[0035]
FIG. 4D shows a state in which the card 100 on which the film is thermocompression-bonded is further transported. Since the film is thermocompression-bonded to the card from the leading end of the card 100 to the thermocompression bonding position, the film is transported together with the card 100.
[0036]
(E) of FIG. 4B shows a state in which the card 100 on which the film has been thermocompression-bonded has reached the exit-side transport roller 105. When the card reaches the outlet side transport roller 105, the outlet side transport roller (upper side) 105-1 also starts the normal rotation operation (506 in FIG. 5). Between the leading end of the card and the thermocompression bonding position, since the film is thermocompressed to the card, the film is transported together with the card, but the portion of the film closer to the film take-up roller 108 than the leading end of the card is Since it is not thermocompression-bonded to the card, it passes under the exit-side transport roller (upper) 105-1 and reaches the film take-up roller 108 via the film guide 106 in a state of being folded back from the card tip.
[0037]
(F) of FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a state in which the card on which the film has been thermocompression-bonded has reached the peelable point H. The peelable point refers to a position where the temperature of the thermocompression-bonded film is sufficiently reduced and the film can be peeled off in a cold state.
[0038]
The leading end of the card reaches the peelable point H a predetermined time after the film winding timing sensor 107 is turned ON (507 in FIG. 5).
[0039]
When reaching the peelable point H, the film winding roller 108 starts a normal rotation operation (508 in FIG. 5), and starts winding the film. When the winding of the film is started, the film guide 106 rotates accordingly.
[0040]
In addition, the exit-side transport roller (upper) 105-1 that has been rotating in the normal rotation direction along with the transport of the card is started by the winding of the film, so that the winding direction of the film (ie, It starts to rotate in the reverse direction (509, 510 in FIG. 5).
[0041]
It is assumed that the winding speed of the film winding roller 108 is synchronized with the card conveying speed (see (g) of FIG. 4B).
[0042]
FIG. 4B shows that the position at which the film actually peels off from the card (peeling point) falls within a certain range by synchronizing the winding speed of the film winding roller 108 with the transport speed of the card. FIG.
[0043]
When the film winding speed is higher than the card conveying speed, the peeling point moves upstream in the conveying direction. If the film winding speed is lower than the card conveying speed, the peeling point moves downstream in the conveying direction.
[0044]
Since the film and the card need to be sufficiently cooled, the peeling point needs to be located downstream of the peelable point, and desirably falls within a predetermined range (peeling point variation range D). For this reason, the film winding speed must be synchronized with the card conveying speed.
[0045]
(H) of FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the film is completely peeled off from the card 100 and the card is carried out. When the rear end of the card 100 passes through the film take-up timing sensor 107 and the sensor is turned off (511 in FIG. 5), it is recognized that the card has passed through the retransfer unit, and the entrance side transport roller (lower side) The operation of the 104-2, the heat roller 101, and the exit side transport roller (lower side) 105-2 is stopped (512, 513, and 514 in FIG. 5). After the rear end of the card has passed the film winding timing sensor 107, the heat roller rises and returns to the original position (515 in FIG. 5).
[0046]
On the other hand, even after the rear end of the card has passed the peeling point, the rotation of the film take-up roller 108 is continued and the film is taken up, so that the exit side transport roller (upper) 105-1 and the film guide 106 take up the film. Continue rotating in the direction.
[0047]
When the film winding operation is completed, the film winding roller 108 stops, and the rotation of the exit side transport roller (upper) 105-1 and the film guide 106 also stops (516 and 517 in FIG. 5). As a result, the state returns to the state shown in FIG.
[0048]
As described above, the re-transfer unit of the re-transfer printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the components (the heat roller, the entrance-side transport roller, the exit-side transport roller, the film guide, and the film take-up roller) that constitute the re-transfer unit. Has the above-mentioned or illustrated arrangement, and after the card is conveyed to a predetermined position (peelable point) after retransfer, the film take-up roller 108 takes up the film. Is started. By such an operation, cold separation at the time of retransfer is realized.
[0049]
<When not performing retransfer>
The operation of each unit when retransfer is not performed in the retransfer printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0050]
As is clear from FIG. 6A, according to the retransfer unit of the retransfer printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the heat roller 101 is at the raised position, the film is transferred to the entrance side transport roller ( On the upper side of the upper side 104-1 and on the upper side of the film guide 106, and below the heat roller 101, it is stretched around the film take-up roller 108. In other words, the position where the film is stretched and the transport path of the card are completely separated. Therefore, even when the card is transported without retransfer, the card and the film do not come into contact with each other as in the related art, and no jam occurs.
[0051]
When the card 100 enters and the card position detection sensor 103 is turned on, the inlet side transport roller (lower side) 104-2 and the outlet side transport roller (lower side) 105-2 start normal rotation.
[0052]
FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the card is passing directly below the heat roller 101. When retransfer is not performed, the film is not pressed against the card 100, and the card 100 can be transported without contacting the film. FIG. 6C is a diagram showing a state in which the card has passed just below the heat roller 101. Thereafter, the rear end of the card passes through the film take-up timing sensor 107, and when the sensor is turned off, it is recognized that the card has passed the re-transfer section, and the entrance side transport roller (lower side) 104-2 and The exit side transport roller (lower side) 105-2 stops the normal rotation operation.
[0053]
As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to normally peel off at the time of cold during the retransfer operation, and when transporting the card without the retransfer operation, the card and the film It is possible to stably convey the card without touching.
[0054]
In order to achieve the object of the present invention, for example, in a conventional retransfer printing apparatus (see FIG. 10), an elevating mechanism is added to the film guides 1001 and 1002 to move up and down in conjunction with the up and down operation of the heat roller. Although this may be done (that is, it may be lowered at the time of the retransfer operation and raised when the retransfer operation is not performed), in this case, it is necessary to provide a new elevating mechanism, The cost is high. That is, the retransfer printing apparatus according to the present embodiment has the merit that the number of modified portions can be minimized as compared with the conventional retransfer printing apparatus, and the object of the present application can be realized at low cost.
[0055]
[Second embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the film winding timing sensor 107 is provided to detect the passage of the leading end portion and the trailing end portion of the card. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The card position detection sensor 103 may be used instead. That is, the timer may be set after the card position detection sensor 103 is turned on or off. Further, the installation positions of the card position detection sensor 103 and the film winding timing sensor 107 are not particularly limited to those described in the first embodiment.
[0056]
In the first embodiment, the film guide 106 is provided. However, the object of the present invention can be achieved without the film guide 106. In the first embodiment, the role of the film guide 106 is to pull the film at an acute angle to the transport direction of the card when peeling the film from the card.
[0057]
That is, when the film is taken up by the film take-up roller 108, if the film guide 106 is not provided, the film is pulled along the outer periphery of the exit side conveyance roller (upper side) 105-1. It has been experimentally found that the film can be stably peeled when the film is pulled at an acute angle with respect to the card conveying direction.
[0058]
Thus, in the first embodiment, the film guide 106 is installed to maintain a predetermined acute angle, and the pulling direction (the winding path of the film) is adjusted. However, the film guide 106 is not provided. However, peeling is possible.
[0059]
The rotation start and stop timings of the inlet-side transport roller (lower side) 104-2, the outlet-side transport roller (lower side) 105-2, and the heat roller 101 are not limited to those in the first embodiment. Anything that can realize smooth card transport may be used.
[0060]
Further, the rising timing of the heat roller 101 is not limited to the above-described first embodiment.
[0061]
In the first embodiment, a motor is connected to the inlet-side transport roller (lower side) 104-2, the outlet-side transport roller (lower side) 105-2, the heat roller 101, and the film take-up roller. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a motor may be connected to other parts (the pressure roller 102, the film guide 106, and the like) so as to be drivable.
[0062]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform normal cold separation during the retransfer operation, and to stably convey the recording medium when conveying the recording medium without the retransfer operation. Becomes possible.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 101 heat roller 102 pressure roller 103 card position detection sensor 104 entrance side conveyance roller 104-1 entrance side conveyance roller (upper side)
104-2 Inlet-side transport roller (lower side)
105 Outlet-side transport roller 105-1 Outlet-side transport roller (upper side)
105-2 Exit side transport roller (lower side)
106 Film guide 107 Film winding timing sensor 108 Film winding roller [Brief description of drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a retransfer unit and its periphery in a retransfer printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an entrance-side transport roller constituting a retransfer unit of the retransfer printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an outlet-side transport roller constituting a retransfer unit of the retransfer printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an operation of each unit when performing a retransfer process in the retransfer printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating an operation of each unit when performing a retransfer process in the retransfer printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating operation timing of each unit when performing a retransfer process in the retransfer printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of each unit when the retransfer processing is not performed in the retransfer printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional sublimation type printer.
FIG. 8 is a plan view and an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a film.
FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of an ink ribbon.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing details of a mechanism of a conventional retransfer unit.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing details of a mechanism of a conventional retransfer unit.

Claims (7)

A film to which an image has been transferred is pressed by heating the recording medium to be conveyed with a heat roller while heating, thereby retransferring the image on the film to the recording medium.
With respect to the heat roller, a pair of rollers disposed on the output side of the recording medium in the conveying direction, and conveying the recording medium while sandwiching the front and back surfaces thereof,
With respect to the conveyance path of the recording medium, winding means for winding the film, which is located on the side where the heat roller is arranged,
The film passes between the heat roller and the transport path, and passes between the heat roller and a roller of the pair of rollers located on the side where the heat roller is disposed with respect to the transport path. It is stretched to pass,
In the case of retransfer, the film is pressed while being heated by the heat roller on the recording medium, then conveyed in a state of being pressed against the recording medium, and nipped by the pair of rollers. When the recording medium is separated from the recording medium at a cold position by starting winding by the winding means at a position, the recording medium is folded and wound around the winding means through the pair of rollers. Retransfer printing equipment. The retransfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when retransfer is not performed, the film is not pressed by the heat roller, and the recording medium can be transported without contacting the film. 2. The retransfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined position is a position where the film pressed on the recording medium can be separated from the recording medium. 3. 2. The retransfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the winding unit controls a winding speed such that a position where the film is peeled from the recording medium is within a predetermined range. 3. 2. The retransfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the winding unit starts winding the film based on an output from a sensor that detects a transport position of the transported recording medium. 3. 2. The retransfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a width of one roller of the transport unit located on a side where the heat roller is disposed with respect to the transport path is larger than a width of the film. 3. . Of the pair of rollers, between the heat roller and the roller located on the side where the heat roller is disposed with respect to the transport path, further comprising a film guide to guide a film winding path,
The retransfer printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the film is stretched so as to pass between the film guide and the heat roller.

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