JP2004188938A - Heating transfer roller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heating transfer roller which is free from the fear of transfer failures by making a heating distribution uniform to follow a longitudinal direction. <P>SOLUTION: The heating transfer roller 16 which has a heat-resistant elastic body 161 coated around the circumferential face of a hollow cylindrical body 162 to be heated re-transfers a printing image to a card from a film having the printing image transferred thereto. A ratio between thicknesses of the hollow cylindrical body 162 and the elastic body 161 is set to make the elastic body 161 thicker from the end side of a roller body to a central part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a heat transfer roller used for retransfer printing or secondary transfer printing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
According to a thermal transfer type thermal printer that performs thermal melting type recording or thermal sublimation type recording, a recording ribbon in which ink is applied is arranged on a recording surface of a recording medium such as photographic paper, and conveyance of the recording medium and the recording ribbon are performed. A predetermined printing pressure is applied to the recording surface of the recording medium while supplying and winding the ink, and printing is performed by a thermal head.
[0003]
In such a thermal printer, when the recording medium is flexible, such as glossy paper, the printing pressure uniformly acts on the recording surface, and good results can be obtained.
However, when the recording medium has rigidity such as a plastic card, it is difficult to uniformly contact the heat-generating portion of the thermal head that is in contact with the card recording surface via the recording ribbon. Record cannot be made.
[0004]
Therefore, an ink ribbon coated with the above-described heat sublimable or heat-meltable ink and a transparent material ribbon coated with a heat-meltable transparent material are prepared, and the ink of the ink ribbon is heated by a thermal head to form a transparent material ribbon. There has been proposed a thermal transfer printing apparatus in which a transparent material of a transparent material ribbon is previously transferred onto a recording medium together with ink by thermal transfer on a recording medium (see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
On the other hand, a heat transfer roller that is provided with a heat-resistant elastic body on the peripheral surface, has a built-in heater in the hollow cylindrical portion, and is driven to rotate is used in the above-described thermal transfer printing apparatus. As the heating transfer roller, a metal cylinder generally formed to have the same thickness along the axial direction of the rotating shaft, a rod-shaped electric heater built in the interior of the cylinder, On the peripheral surface, a heat-resistant elastic body integrally formed with the same thickness is used.
[0006]
[Patent gazette] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-261952.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the heat transfer roller configured as described above, the outer peripheral surface of the metal cylinder formed with the same thickness along the axial direction of the rotating shaft has the same thickness of heat resistance. The elastic body is integrally formed. From this, the heat distribution after the heat generated by the built-in electric heater is thermally conducted to the peripheral surface of the heat-resistant elastic body gradually increases toward the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the heat transfer roller, and decreases at both ends. It tends to be.
[0008]
For this reason, even if a uniform transfer pressure is applied, the heat generation distribution gradually increases toward the central portion, resulting in a problem of poor transfer.
[0009]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a heat transfer roller that does not cause transfer failure by making the heat generation distribution uniform along the longitudinal direction. .
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a heat-resistant elastic body is coated on a peripheral surface of a heated cylindrical body, and the print image is transferred from a film on which a print image is transferred. In order to re-transfer to a recording medium, a heating transfer roller that presses the film while heating the film against the recording medium, wherein the ratio of the thickness of the cylindrical body to the thickness of the heat-resistant elastic body is defined by the cylindrical body The heat-resistant elastic body is configured to be larger from the end side toward the center.
[0011]
Further, a heating means for heating the cylindrical body is provided inside the cylindrical body.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0013]
First, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a state in which a support device according to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed in a heat transfer printing device 1. That is, a supporting device is provided so as to be surrounded by a film cassette, a thermal printer for transferring a print image to a film is provided, and a card transport mechanism for sending out a recording medium card one by one is a thermal printer. FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing a state where the components are arranged from a right side to a lower part. Hereinafter, the configuration of the support device will be described in detail based on this overall configuration diagram.
[0014]
Here, it is needless to say that the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the supporting device is provided as shown in FIG. 1, and the supporting device can be provided as appropriate. Specifically, a cartridge containing a film including a transparent material ribbon is set on a heat transfer roller provided in a one-sided support state, and then the heater is energized to apply heat and pressure for transfer. When applied to the heat transfer roller, it can be applied to all cases in which a uniform transfer pressure is applied so that transfer failure does not occur. Further, even when the heating transfer roller is rotatably supported in the both support states, and even when the bearing accuracy of the heating transfer roller cannot be increased, the supporting device is considerably effective as described later. .
[0015]
In FIG. 1, for example, 100 cards 2 are prepared by being stacked in the thickness direction such that a card group is placed in a card cassette 3 shown in a dashed line as a card group. The card 2 is typically a plastic card before magnetic recording or printing recording of various kinds of information including the name of the card owner is performed on the front surface, the back surface, or both surfaces. The card 2 is prepared by being pressed into a predetermined size in which round portions are formed at the four corners to prevent the card 2 from being caught during transportation.
[0016]
As described above, the weight (not shown) is placed on the uppermost card of the card group stored in the card cassette 3, and the weight of the weight causes the entire card group to face downward. It is biased to move constantly. The card cassette 3 is set on the card transport mechanism 4 and is kept stationary at the illustrated position, so that the cards 2 are sequentially sent out one by one from the lowermost card 2. Further, since the cards 2 can be accommodated in the card cassette 3 in, for example, 100 units, so-called batch processing is made possible by using them as exchange units. However, cards may be manually set for each card. .
[0017]
<Card transport mechanism>
The card transport mechanism 4 is held in a state of being inserted through two guide shafts 7 fixed in parallel on a base indicated by hatching in the figure, so that a carriage movably provided in the left-right direction in the figure. 6 are provided. The claw member 6 is provided on the carriage 6 so as to be rotatable. The claw member 6 has a projection corresponding to a thickness of one sheet located at the lowest position in the card cassette 3. The card 2 is provided so as to move between a retracted position retracted from the bottom surface of the card 2. This configuration prevents mechanical interference with the bottom surface of the card 2 when the card 2 returns to the illustrated position after the card 2 has been sent out with the movement of the claw member 6.
[0018]
In addition, pulleys 9 and 10 are rotatably provided on a pair of left and right members fixed on the base indicated by hatching. A belt 8 is stretched between the pulleys 9 and 10, and a part of the belt 8 is fixed to the carriage 6.
In order to drive the pulley 9 to rotate in the forward and reverse directions, a third motor M3, for example, a stepping motor, and a sensor (not shown) for detecting the moving position of the carriage 6 are provided. The third motor M3 and the sensor are connected to the control unit 100, and an energization control required for sending out a card is performed according to an instruction from the control unit.
[0019]
On the other hand, a card guide 11 for guiding the card 2 sent from the card cassette 3 in the direction of arrow D1 as shown in the drawing downstream (to the left in FIG. 1) is provided. On the downstream side (left side) of the card guide 11, a drive roller 12 driven by the third motor M3 is provided. An idle roller 13 that follows the drive roller 12 is disposed on the drive roller 12, and the card 2 is transported in a nip portion between the drive roller 12 and the idle roller 13. The transfer from the card conveyance by the above-mentioned claw member 5 is performed.
[0020]
Further, a heating transfer roller 16 is provided opposite to a platen roller 17 rotatably provided at a base portion. During the conveyance between the platen roller 17 and the heating transfer roller 16, a printing image is formed from a film as described later. Is retransferred onto the card 2. Card guides 11 and 11 are provided in the front-rear direction of the platen roller 17 and the heat transfer roller 16, respectively, as shown in the drawing. The card guides 11 and 11 are provided at the nip between the drive roller 12 and the idle roller 13 shown at the left end of the drawing. The card 2 after retransfer is sent to the discharge position.
[0021]
In the card transport mechanism described above, when a card sending instruction is output from the control unit 100, power is supplied to the third motor M3, and the pulley 9 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. Power is transmitted to the carriage 6 via the power supply. As a result, the rear end of the card 2 located at the lowermost position of the card cassette 3 is pressed by the protrusion of the claw member 5 and moved in the direction of arrow D1 as shown in the drawing, so that the card 2 is disposed on the left side. It is sent out on the card guide 11 that has been set.
[0022]
Subsequently, the card 2 sent out onto the card guide 11 is taken over by card conveyance in a nip portion between the drive roller 12 and the idle roller 13, sent out onto the downstream card guide 11, and The sheet is sent between the heat transfer rollers 16. During the conveyance between the platen roller 17 and the heat transfer roller 16, the print image is re-transferred from the film onto the card 2 as described later. After the retransfer, the paper is fed onto the card guide 11 at the most downstream position, and is fed to the discharge position at the nip between the drive roller 12 and the idle roller 13 shown at the left end of the drawing. At this time, the drive roller 12 shown at the left end of the drawing is driven in the forward and reverse directions to effectively peel off the film F after retransfer.
[0023]
<Structure of thermal printer>
Referring to FIG. 1, the thermal printer drives a thermal head 14 that moves between a standby position and an operating position by driving in a direction of an arrow B1 in FIG. The thermal head support member is provided in a single support state with respect to the base. By thus providing the thermal head support member in a single support state, it is possible to inspect and clean the heat generating portion 14a of the thermal head 14, and to replace the ink ribbon R described later.
[0024]
In order to perform printing by thermal transfer or thermal sublimation using the ink ribbon R, a supply spool 22 and a take-up spool 23 are provided rotatably in the ink ribbon cassette 20, and are indicated by dashed lines. The ink ribbon R is wound as described above. The take-up spool 23 is driven by the second motor M2 to take up each color layer of the ink ribbon R.
[0025]
In the ink ribbon R, each ink layer having an area corresponding to the area of one printing screen of the card 2 is laid on the base film, and the three primary colors yellow (which can reproduce all the colors by subtractive color mixing) are provided. An overcoat layer for forming a protective layer is formed in addition to the solid ink layers of Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C).
[0026]
The ink ribbon R is provided so as to pass between the heat generating portion 14a of the thermal head 14 and a platen roller 15 that is rotatable or obtains a driving force at the base portion, as shown in the drawing. For this purpose, in the ink ribbon cassette 20, direction change rollers 18, 18 for changing the direction of the ink ribbon R are provided as shown. The ink ribbon cassette 20 has an opening for infiltrating the thermal head 14 as shown in FIG.
In the thermal printer having the above configuration, the ink ribbon cassette 20 can be set from the front side of the apparatus by moving the ink ribbon cassette 20 in the direction of arrow A1.
[0027]
Thereafter, an image is formed on the film F indicated by a broken line in the figure. That is, the film F is transported between the heat generating portion 14a of the thermal head 14 and the platen roller 15 provided with a heat-resistant rubber on the peripheral surface, and the heat applied to the ink ribbon R is sublimated by the heat generated by the heat generating portion 14a. An image or the like is printed on the film F.
[0028]
Here, when printing each color using the ink ribbon R, it is necessary to transport the film F back and forth for each color. In addition, the thermal head 14 is moved in the direction of arrow B1 and the winding control of the ink ribbon R and the predetermined energization based on the printing information for the heat generating portion 14a of the thermal head 14 are performed. Since the image formation is performed in substantially the same manner as printing on a normal card, detailed description is omitted.
[0029]
As described above, since printing is performed in a state where the heat-resistant rubber is sandwiched between the platen roller 15 provided on the peripheral surface and the heat-generating portion 14a, the heat-resistant rubber is appropriately elastically deformed. , A uniform printing pressure can be generated over the entire area in the longitudinal direction. As a result, clear images and characters can be formed on the film F.
[0030]
<Structure of film cassette>
In FIG. 1, a film F indicated by a broken line is prepared from a transparent or light-transmitting plastic sheet or an opaque tape-like member. The film F has heat resistance and tensile strength enough to withstand retransfer, is a long body having a width equal to or larger than the width of the card 2, and is relatively long with respect to the supply spool 24 and the take-up spool 25. Wound as shown. These spools 24 and 25 are rotatably provided in the film cassette 21. The supply spool 24 and the take-up spool 25 are driven by a fourth motor M4, which is a stepping motor, and a fifth motor M5. Then, the film F is reciprocated and transported for each color.
[0031]
The film cassette 21 is set from the front side of the apparatus by moving in the direction of arrow A2, similarly to the ink ribbon cassette 20 described above. After this setting, the film F is put over the film as shown by the broken line in the figure. That is, it passes between the platen roller 15 and the ink ribbon R, and between the heat transfer roller 16 and the platen roller 17 which is disposed to face the heat transfer roller 16 and is rotatably provided. State. For this reason, also in this film cassette 21, a large opening is formed at a position where the heat transfer roller 17 and the platen roller 15 are simultaneously inserted as shown in the drawing. Further, direction change rollers 18, 18, 18 for changing the direction of the film F sent from each spool as shown in the figure are incorporated.
[0032]
The heat transfer roller 16 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow C in the figure by a sixth motor M6 which is a DC motor, and is driven up and down in the direction of arrow B2 by a seventh motor M7 which is a DC motor. The heat transfer roller 16 is provided in a one-sided support state by a supporting device, similarly to the thermal head 14 described above.
[0033]
According to the film cassette 21 described above, similarly to the above-described ink ribbon cassette 20, the heat transfer printing device 1 can be set from the front side of the heat transfer printing device 1 without a sense of incongruity, so that the handling property on the user side can be greatly improved.
[0034]
<Configuration of support device>
The support device urges the heating transfer roller 16 in the direction of arrow B2 in FIG. 1 to a standby position located above and a transfer position where the platen roller 17 is pressed via the film F. Has functions. At the time of this pressing, since the heating transfer roller 16 is provided in a one-sided support state as described above, the heating transfer roller 16 is provided to prevent the pressing force from acting uniformly in the longitudinal direction of the heating transfer roller 16. is there.
[0035]
Hereinafter, a front view in which a part of the support device in FIG. 2 is cut away, a plan view in which an upper half of the support device in FIG. 3 is cut away, and a three-dimensional exploded view of the support device in FIG. A configuration example of the support device will be described with reference to FIG. 2, 3, and 4, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0036]
First, in FIG. 2, a one-side support member 31 is fixed to the base 30 in a one-side support state. In order to fix in such a one-sided support state, the one-side support member 31 is formed as a box opening downward, and a flange 31c is formed in three pieces facing the base 30 side. A screw is set in a hole formed in the flange 31c, and is fixed to the base 30 with a screw.
[0037]
The shaft body 34 is for rotatably supporting the pair of left and right support members 32 and 33, and includes shaft support portions 31 a and 31 a (see FIG. 3) formed on the front and rear surfaces of the one support member 31. Both shafts are supported. The pair of left and right support members 32 and 33 are provided with a heat-resistant elastic body on the peripheral surface, incorporate a halogen lamp heater 28 as a heater in the hollow cylindrical portion, and are driven to rotate in the direction of arrow C in FIG. A heating transfer roller 16 shown by a broken line is rotatably supported by a shaft. The halogen lamp heater 28 is energized through a lug terminal 45.
[0038]
The film F is set as shown by a broken line, passes through the spring plate 44, and passes through the direction changing roller 18, so that a necessary tension is generated. The other end of the spring plate 44 is fixed to the pressed member 38. The pressed member 38 is provided so as to be rotatable around the shaft body 34. When the pressed roller 42 is rotated from a position shown by a dashed line to a position shown by a solid line in the drawing, the pressed member 42 It is designed to receive the pressing force.
[0039]
The pressing roller 42 rotates at the tip of a pressing arm member 41 fixed to a shaft body 40 that is supported by both shafts 31b, 31b (see FIG. 3) formed on the front and rear surfaces of the one-side support member 31. It is provided movably. The movement position of the pressing arm member 41 is detected by sensors S1 and S2 fixed to the one-side support member 31.
[0040]
On the other hand, the pair of left and right support members 32 and 33 is connected together with the shaft body 34 by a bridging member 35. The bridging member 35 is provided in a state of being loosely fitted into a hole formed in the pair of left and right support members 32 and 33. Two studs 36 are implanted in the bridging member 35, and a compression spring 37, which is a compression member, is set on these studs 36. These studs 36 clamp the compression spring 37 between the pressed member 38 and the bridging member 35 by passing through the hole formed in the pressed member 38.
[0041]
On the other hand, a torsion spring 39, which is an elastic member, is provided around the shaft body 34. One end 39a of the torsion spring 39 is engaged with the pressed member 38, and the other end 39b is a one-sided member. The state of being locked to the bottom surface of the support member 31 constantly biases the heat transfer roller 16 to move to the standby position.
[0042]
For this purpose, referring to FIG. 3, retaining rings 50 are press-fitted into studs 36 after the holes formed in pressed member 38 are inserted.
[0043]
In other words, the urging force generated by the torsion spring 39 is transmitted to the studs 36 via the two retaining rings 50 after being transmitted to the pressed member 38, so that the studs 36, 36 are implanted. It is transmitted to the member 35. Since the bridging member 35 is provided so as to be loosely fitted in the holes formed in the pair of left and right support members 32 and 33 as described above, the force for simultaneously moving the support members 32 and 33 upward is provided. Tell As a result, the heat transfer roller 26 is moved to the standby position.
[0044]
As shown in the figure, the heat transfer roller 26 has a longitudinal dimension that is equal to or greater than the width of the film F shown by a broken line, and includes a halogen lamp heater 28 shown by a broken line. Although the halogen lamp heater 28 does not rotate, the heat transfer roller 26 is rotatably held by a bush 46 fixedly pressed into the support members 32 and 33. A heater gear 56 is fixed to one of the supported shaft portions of the heating transfer roller 16. Intermediate gears 55 and 54 rotatably provided around the studs 48 and 48 implanted in the support member 33 mesh with the heater gear 56. The intermediate gear 54 meshes with a pulley gear 53 that is rotatably supported around the shaft 34.
The pulley gear 53 is provided with a belt 52 stretched between the pulley 51 fixed to the output shaft of the sixth motor M6.
[0045]
The pressing arm member 41 is driven by the second motor M2. To this end, a worm wheel 58 is fixed to an end of the shaft body 40 to which the pressing arm member 41 is fixed, and a worm gear 57 that meshes with the worm wheel 58 in a state orthogonal to the worm wheel 58 as shown in the drawing. It is fixed to the output shaft of the two motor M2.
[0046]
Next, in the three-dimensional exploded view of FIG. 4, the components already described in FIGS. 2 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0047]
First, a groove is formed in each of the shafts 40 and 34, and after being inserted through the shaft supports 31 b and 31 b formed in the one-side support member 31, the retaining ring 50 is set to prevent pulling out. The state shown in FIG.
[0048]
On the other hand, a pair of left and right support members 32 and 33 are formed with hole portions 32b into which shaft support portions 32a and 33a through which the shaft body 34 is inserted and through which left and right convex portions 35a and 35a of the bridge member 35 are sunk. A support member 32, 33 is provided so that each support member 32, 33 can be individually set in a loose fit state in which the support member 32, 33 can be slightly rotated around the shaft body 34 after the installation member 35 is set. Holes 32d and 33d through which the erection shaft 47 is inserted are formed below these holes 32b and 33b, and the retaining ring 50 is press-fitted after the erection shaft 47 is set, thereby preventing the retaining shaft 50 from coming off. As described above, it is in a loosely fitted state in which it can be rotated slightly around the shaft body 34.
[0049]
The pressed member 38 is formed by integrally forming arms 38b, 38b formed with left and right holes 38c, 38c from the left and right ends of the base 38f as shown in the figure, and locking the end 39a of the torsion spring 39. 38 g are formed. The upper surface 38a of the pressed member 38 receives the pressing force of the pressing roller 42 within the range shown by the broken line, and has holes 38d, 38d into which the stud 36 on which the compression spring 37 is set is inserted. The retaining ring 50 is press-fitted after the stud is inserted so that the retaining ring 50 can be prevented from coming off. As a result, the compression spring 37 is sandwiched between the pressed member 38 and the bridging member 35, and can be moved and biased to the standby position as described above.
[0050]
As shown in the figure, the heat transfer roller 26 is formed with shaft-supported portions 16a, 16a having small diameters at both ends, through which bushes 46, 46 are inserted, and holes 32c of the support members 32, 33. , 33c. Thereafter, the halogen lamp heater 28 is built in and fixed, and the heater gear 56 is fixed to one of the supported shaft portions of the heating transfer roller 16. Subsequently, the intermediate gears 55, 54 are set on the studs 48, 48 implanted in the support member 33, and the pulley gear 53 is inserted through the shaft 34 to complete the process halfway.
[0051]
The operation of the supporting device configured as described above will be described with reference to the skeleton diagram for explaining the operation in FIG.
[0052]
In FIGS. 5A to 5C, the same reference numerals are given to the components already described, and the description is omitted. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the end portion 39a of the torsion spring 39 is positioned below the erection member 35 to urge the erection member 35 to move to the standby position. As described above, after the urging force generated by the torsion spring 39 is transmitted to the pressed member 38, the urging force is transmitted to the studs 36, 36 via the two retaining rings 50, so that the studs 36, 36 are implanted. This is based on transmission to the bridge member 35. In this skeleton diagram, an ellipse indicates a freely rotatable or loosely fitted state.
[0053]
First, in FIGS. 5A and 4, the heating transfer roller 16 is configured such that the supporting members 32 and 33 are pivoted by the urging force generated by the torsion spring 39 being transmitted to the bridging member 35 in the direction of the arrow in the figure. It is rotated around the body 34 and moved to the illustrated standby position. At this time, a gap K is formed between the platen roller 17 and the film F shown by the broken line can pass therethrough.
[0054]
Next, in FIG. 5B and FIG. 3, the pressing force in the direction of the arrow P <b> 1 is transmitted to the pressed member 38 by driving the pressing arm member by energizing the seventh motor M <b> 7. Subsequently, the pressing force in the directions of the arrows P2 and P2 is evenly transmitted to the compression springs 37 and 37, so that both ends of the erection member 35 are urged to move in the directions of arrows P3 and P3.
[0055]
As a result, the support members 32 and 33 are pivoted downward around the shaft body 34 with individual degrees of freedom and are moved to the illustrated transfer position.
[0056]
As described above, since the pressing force P5 that is uniform in the longitudinal direction is transmitted to the heating transfer roller 16, the film F can be uniformly pressed on the card 2 in the nip portion between the heating transfer roller 16 and the platen roller 17. That is, when a pressing force is applied to the pressed member 38 in order to apply a pressure for transfer to the heated transfer roller 16, the heated transfer roller 16 is maintained at a uniform transfer pressure state with respect to the platen roller 17. You can do it.
[0057]
Finally, in FIG. 5 (c), the heating transfer roller 16 is rotated in the direction of arrow C by energizing the sixth motor M6 in the state of FIG. Transfer is performed. After this re-transfer, the sixth motor M6 is stopped, and power is supplied to the seventh motor M7, thereby returning to the state shown in FIG. 5A.
[0058]
<Configuration of Heat Transfer Roller>
Next, FIG. 6 is a plan view of a supporting device provided with the heat transfer roller 16. In this figure, the same reference numerals are given to the components already described, and the description is omitted. As shown in FIG. 6, a thermistor 61 for detecting the temperature of the heating transfer roller 16 and an excessively high temperature A temperature fuse 60 that sometimes interrupts energization to a halogen lamp heater (not shown) is fixed as shown. Further, a halogen lamp heater is fixed in a stationary state with respect to each of the support members 32, 33, and heater fixing blocks 62, 62 for energizing are fixed.
[0059]
The heat transfer roller provided as described above generally has a configuration shown in a half sectional view of the conventional heat transfer roller 160 of FIG. 7A shown for comparison.
[0060]
That is, in FIG. 7 (a), a heat-resistant elastic body 160b is provided on the peripheral surface, a heater 128 is built in a metal hollow cylindrical portion 160a, and it is configured to be driven to rotate.
[0061]
When power is supplied to the heater 128 configured as described above, the surface temperature of the heat transfer roller 160 becomes higher at the center and lower at both ends as shown in FIG. 7B.
[0062]
The reason is that in the temperature curve diagram shown in FIG. 8A, the heater 28 has a substantially uniform temperature rise distribution with respect to the distance K in the longitudinal direction. However, since the hollow cylindrical portion 160a is open at both ends, the air whose temperature has risen to the outside escapes, and heat is generated in the central portion, so that the temperature is highest in the central portion. In addition, the heat-resistant elastic body 160b formed with the same thickness on the peripheral surface of the hollow cylindrical portion 160a has a substantially uniform temperature rise distribution with respect to the distance K in the longitudinal direction. When the elastic body 160b is integrated, the surface temperature distribution shown in FIG. When such a heat transfer roller is used, even if a uniform transfer pressure is applied in the longitudinal direction as described above, the heat generation distribution gradually increases toward the central portion, resulting in poor transfer. .
[0063]
Therefore, by configuring the heat transfer roller 16 as shown in the half sectional view of the heat transfer roller 16 in FIG. 9A, the surface temperature distribution is shown in FIG. 9B. In the case of the present embodiment, as described below, the ratio of the thickness of the central tubular portion 162 to the thickness of the elastic body 161 is set such that the elastic body 161 is closer to the central portion from the end side of the central tubular portion 162. It is configured to be large. In other words, while the surface of the heat transfer roller 16 is kept flat, the thickness of the central cylindrical portion 162 is reduced at the center of the central cylindrical portion 162, while the thickness of the elastic body 161 is increased. Then the opposite is true.
[0064]
More specifically, the hollow cylindrical portion 162 is made of a metal that is gradually thinner toward the central portion in the longitudinal direction, and the heat-resistant elastic body 161 is formed to be gradually thicker toward the central portion in the longitudinal direction. . Then, when integrated with the hollow cylindrical portion 162, the peripheral surface is flattened. The hollow cylindrical portion 162 is made of metal including stainless steel, aluminum, iron, and copper, and is prepared by lathing two step portions as shown in the figure.
[0065]
On the other hand, the heat-resistant elastic body 161 is prepared as a cylindrical molded product containing silicone rubber, and has an inner peripheral surface of a shape that fits into the above-mentioned step portion, and after being press-fitted from the lateral direction, The surface is flattened by centerless polishing. In the case of the present embodiment, by providing a step between the central tubular portion 162 and the elastic body 161, the ratio of the thickness of the central tubular portion 162 to the thickness of the elastic body 161 is changed from the end side of the central tubular portion 162 to the central portion. In this case, the elastic body 161 is configured to be larger, but the thickness of the central cylindrical portion 162 and the elastic body 161 may be smoothly changed so as to realize this. Needless to say.
[0066]
According to the heat transfer roller 16 described above, in the temperature curve shown in FIG. 8B, the halogen lamp heater 28 as the heater has a substantially uniform temperature rise distribution with respect to the distance K in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, since the hollow cylindrical portion 162 has both ends open, the temperature gradually decreases as the air whose temperature has risen to the outside escapes, but since the central portion is formed to be thin, heat storage occurs. Also at the central part, the temperature decreases as shown. On the peripheral surface of the hollow cylindrical portion 161, the heat-resistant elastic body 161 thickly formed at the central portion has a temperature rise distribution that becomes higher at the center with respect to the distance K in the longitudinal direction due to heat storage or the like.
[0067]
Therefore, when the hollow cylindrical portion 162 and the elastic body 161 are integrated, the surface temperature distribution shown in FIG. 9B is obtained.
[0068]
When such a heat transfer roller is used, a uniform transfer pressure along the longitudinal direction is applied as described above, and a heat generation distribution can be made uniform when a temperature is applied, so that transfer failure does not occur.
[0069]
In FIG. 9A, the elastic body 161 having two steps formed in the metal hollow cylindrical part 162 and having an inner peripheral surface fitted to these steps is described. It is needless to say that the number and the depth of the step portions can be appropriately set. Further, instead of the step portion, a central portion may be provided in a slope shape gradually deeper.
[0070]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a heat transfer roller that does not have a risk of causing transfer failure by making the heat generation distribution uniform along the longitudinal direction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a state in which a support device according to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed in a heat transfer printing device 1. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a part of the support device of FIG. 2 cut away;
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an upper half of the support device in a cutaway manner.
FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the support device.
FIG. 5 is a skeleton diagram for explaining the operation of the support device.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a supporting device provided with a heat transfer roller 16;
FIG. 7A is a half sectional view of a conventional heat transfer roller 160, and FIG. 7B is a temperature distribution diagram thereof.
FIG. 8A is a temperature curve diagram of a conventional heat transfer roller, and FIG. 8B is a temperature curve diagram of a heat transfer roller of the present invention.
FIG. 9A is a half sectional view of the heat transfer roller 160 of the present invention, and FIG. 9B is a temperature distribution diagram thereof.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Heat transfer device
2 cards
3 Card cassette
4 Card transport mechanism
5 Claw members
6 carriage
11 Card Guide
12 Drive roller
13 Idol Roller
14 Thermal head
15 Platen roller
16 Heat transfer roller
17 Platen roller
18 Turning roller
20 Ink ribbon cassette
21 Film cassette
22 Supply spool
23 Take-up spool
28 Halogen lamp heater
30 base
31 Single support member
32, 33 A pair of support members
34 Shaft
35 Construction members
36 studs
37 Compression spring
38 pressed member
39 torsion spring (elastic member)
40 shaft
41 Pressing arm member
42 Press roller
44 Spring plate
46 Bush
50 retaining ring
51 pulley
52 belt
53 pulley gear
54, 55 Intermediate gear
56 heater gear
60 Thermal fuse
61 Thermistor
100 control unit
162 hollow cylinder
161 elastic body
S1, S2 sensor
R ink ribbon
F film
M1-M7 motor

Claims (2)

The peripheral surface of the heated cylindrical body is coated with a heat-resistant elastic body, and the film is heated against the recording medium in order to re-transfer the printed image from the film on which the printed image has been transferred to the recording medium. In the heat transfer roller that presses while pressing, the ratio of the thickness of the cylindrical body to the thickness of the heat-resistant elastic body is larger in the heat-resistant elastic body from the end to the center of the cylindrical body. A heat transfer roller, wherein the heat transfer roller is constituted. 2. The heat transfer roller according to claim 1, wherein a heating unit for heating the cylindrical body is provided inside the cylindrical body.

Images