JP2005022357A - Image formation sheet roll and image formation device using the roll - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation sheet roll which can prevent exposure of an information storage medium with recorded information peculiar to the image formation sheet roll. <P>SOLUTION: A heat transfer ribbon roll 3 is in a roll shape with its heat transfer ribbon 2 wound around the periphery 7a of a core 7. RFID8 as an information storage medium is formed on the surface of the end piece 2a which is exposed after the heat transfer ribbon is pulled out. An end tape 10 is adhered so that it covers the RFID8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming sheet roll wound in a roll shape and an image forming apparatus using the image forming sheet roll.

  As an image forming apparatus for forming an image using an image forming sheet roll (for example, an ink film roll or a thermal paper roll) wound in a roll shape, information on color correction necessary for image formation, a product code, a production lot An information storage medium in which lot-specific information such as a number is stored is affixed to the outer peripheral surface of the tip of the core that can rotate integrally with the image forming sheet roll, and is stored in the information storage medium by the image forming apparatus main body in which the core is accommodated. 2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses that read recorded information are known. In this form of the image forming apparatus, an end tape that is colored black or silver and can be read by an optical sensor is used to detect the end of the sheet fed from the image forming sheet roll.

  In the conventional image forming sheet roll, the information storage medium is arranged in a state of being exposed on the outer peripheral surface of the core tip portion of the image forming sheet roll. The information storage medium is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the core in a peelable state. Therefore, there is a possibility that the information storage medium may be damaged or dropped even though important information unique to the image forming sheet roll used for controlling the image forming apparatus is recorded on the information storage medium.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming sheet roll that can prevent exposure of an information storage medium and an image forming apparatus using the image forming sheet roll.

  The present invention will be described below. In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are appended in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

  An image forming sheet roll (3) according to the present invention is an image forming sheet roll in which a sheet (2) used for image formation in an image forming apparatus (1) is wound into a roll shape. An information storage medium (8) in which unique information is recorded and capable of wirelessly transmitting the unique information is disposed at the center of the image forming sheet roll in the radial direction and covered by the sheet. This solves the above-mentioned problem.

  According to this image forming sheet roll, since the information storage medium is arranged at the center portion in the radial direction of the image forming sheet roll and at the position covered by the sheet, the image forming is repeated and the end portion of the sheet is repeated. It is possible to prevent the information storage medium from being exposed until is extracted.

  In the sheet roll of the present invention, the information storage medium is also used as an end portion recognition mark (10) for detecting that the sheet has been fed out to the end portion on the radial center side of the image forming sheet roll. Also good.

  Thereby, since the number of parts can be reduced, it is possible to reduce labor and cost of providing the image forming sheet roll with the information storage medium and the end portion recognition mark.

  In the image forming sheet roll of the present invention, the information storage medium may be arranged so as to be symmetric with respect to a center line (CL) in the width direction of the sheet.

  As a result, when the sheet is wound on the information storage medium, the warp of the sheet due to the thickness of the information storage medium occurs symmetrically with respect to the center line in the width direction of the sheet. Accordingly, there is no possibility that the sheet is unwound to be biased toward either one of the axial directions of the sheet roll.

  In the image forming sheet roll of the present invention, the information storage medium may be disposed on the surface of the sheet. In this case, the sheet roll may or may not have a core. When the core is provided, the information storage medium may be arranged on the outer peripheral surface (7a) of the core (7).

  An image forming apparatus (1) according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that uses a sheet (2) fed from an image forming sheet roll (3) for image formation, and is formed at the center in the radial direction of the image forming sheet roll. And information reading means (9) for reading information unique to the image forming sheet roll from an information storage medium (8) arranged at a position covered by the sheet by wireless communication, and the information storage exposed outside the sheet A medium detecting means (11) for detecting the medium; and when the medium detecting means detects the surface (13b) of the information storage medium, the sheet is positioned at the end (on the center side in the radial direction of the image forming sheet roll). The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing terminal part recognition means (12) that determines that the process has been extended to 2a).

  According to this image forming apparatus, information unique to the image forming sheet roll recorded on the information storage medium by the information reading means is read before or during use of the image forming sheet roll, and the end of the image forming sheet roll is read. In the section, it is detected by the medium detecting means that the information storage medium is exposed on the outer surface of the image forming sheet roll, and based on the detection result, the sheet is fed out to the end on the center side in the radial direction of the image forming sheet roll. This is determined by the end portion recognition means. Therefore, according to the present invention, since the information storage medium is also used as the end portion recognition mark, the number of parts can be reduced, and the image forming sheet roll includes the information storage medium and the end portion recognition mark. It is possible to reduce labor and cost.

  According to the present invention, since the information storage medium is arranged at the center portion in the radial direction of the image forming sheet roll and at the position covered by the sheet, the image formation is repeated and the end portion of the sheet is pulled out. Until the information storage medium can be prevented from being exposed.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a sheet roll of the present invention and an image forming apparatus using the same. The image forming apparatus is configured as a sublimation type thermal transfer printer (hereinafter abbreviated as a printer) 1 that creates a continuous tone image on a special paper coated with a polyester resin by vaporizing ink by heating. .

  The printer 1 includes a thermal transfer ribbon roll 3 formed by winding a thermal transfer ribbon 2 on which a sublimation ink is applied on a base sheet, and a thermal transfer paper 2 heated from the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3 by heating the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3. 4 is provided with a thermal head 5 for forming an image on 4 and a winding roll 6 for winding the thermal transfer ribbon 2 in a stretched state without slack.

  At the center of the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3, a resin-made hollow cylindrical core 7 is provided. The thermal transfer ribbon roll 3 is provided with an RFID (abbreviation of Radio Frequency Identification) 8 as an information storage medium for recording information unique to the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3. The RFID 8 is arranged at the center of the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3 so as to be covered with the thermal transfer ribbon 2 outside the core 7.

  Information recorded on the RFID 8 is read in a non-contact state by a reader 9 disposed in a radial direction of the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3 and at a position facing the outer peripheral surface 3 a of the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3. Information read by the reader 9 is sent to the control device 12. The control device 12 recognizes information unique to the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3 and executes control of the image forming apparatus including color correction during printing. A photo sensor 11 is provided at a position adjacent to the reader 9 to detect the end tape 10 exposed together with the end portion of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 after image formation is repeated. The detection result of the photosensor 11 is sent to the control device 12. The control device 12 executes a process for making the user recognize that the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3 is in the replacement period. The control device 12 is configured as a microcomputer, for example.

  The RFID 8 and the end tape 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS. The thermal transfer ribbon 2 continuously drawn in the direction of arrow F by the rotation of the winding roll 6 in the direction of arrow A1 and the rotation of the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3 in the direction of arrow A2 following the rotation via the thermal transfer ribbon 2. An end tape 10 having an outer shape larger than that of the RFID 8 is arranged on the surface of the end portion 2 a so as to cover the RFID 8. The RFID 8 and the end tape 10 are arranged so as to be symmetric with respect to the center line CL in the width direction of the thermal transfer ribbon 2. An adhesive is applied to the surface 10 a of the end tape 10 on the side facing the thermal transfer ribbon 2, and is attached to the surface of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 so as to sandwich the RFID 8.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the RFID 8 includes a base 13 made of transparent PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a copper foil antenna coil 14 bonded to the surface of the base 13 with an adhesive, and a coil of the antenna coil 14. It is a known non-contact type data carrier provided with an IC chip 15 electrically connected to the end.

  The antenna coil 14 receives an electromagnetic wave transmitted from the reader 9 (FIG. 3) and generates an electromotive force by electromagnetic induction. Information recorded on the IC chip 15 is read by consuming this electromotive force and transmitted to the reader 9 via the antenna coil 14.

  The end tape 10 is made of a film having elasticity that can follow the curvature of the outer peripheral surface 7 a of the core 7. When the end tape 10 is pulled out in the direction of arrow F together with the thermal transfer ribbon 2 and passes through a position facing the photosensor 11, the outer surface 10b of the end tape 10 colored in silver is optically detected. .

  According to the image forming apparatus and the image forming sheet roll described above, even if the RFID 8 is covered with the thermal transfer ribbon 2 wound in a roll shape, the information recorded on the RFID 8 is transmitted wirelessly. Non-contact information can be read. Further, since the RFID 8 is covered with the thermal transfer ribbon 2 until the end portion 2a of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is pulled out, it is possible to prevent the RFID 8 from being exposed.

  When manufacturing the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3 by winding the thermal transfer ribbon 2 into a roll shape, the RFID 8 and the end tape 10 are arranged in a state of being equally distributed on both sides of the center line CL in the width direction of the thermal transfer ribbon 2. Therefore, the thermal transfer ribbon 2 can be uniformly wound around the outer peripheral surface 7a of the core 7.

  In FIG. 2, the RFID 8 and the end tape 10 only need to be attached at positions symmetrical with respect to the center line CL. Therefore, the attachment position is not limited to the surface of the end portion 2a of the thermal transfer ribbon 2, and the core 7 on the outer peripheral surface 7a. Moreover, the outer surface 10b of the end tape 10 should just be provided with the reflective characteristic which can be detected with the photosensor 11, and may be colored black and white including silver.

  The position of the RFID 8 in the core circumferential direction when the information of the RFID 8 is read by the reader 9 is not particularly limited, but the information is read in a state where the RFID 8 is closest to the reader 9 as shown in FIG. It is desirable that However, since the position of the RFID 8 is covered with the thermal transfer ribbon 2 and cannot be specified from the outside of the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3, a means for determining the positional relationship of FIG. 1 may be provided. For example, a label for determining the mounting position of the RFID 8 is provided outside the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3, and when the user attaches the thermal transfer ribbon roll 3 to the printer 1, the label is matched with an index on the printer 1 side. The positional relationship shown in FIG. 1 may be obtained. Alternatively, a means for reading a sign indicating the position of the RFID 8 may be added on the printer 1 side, and the positional relationship of FIG. 1 may be determined based on the detection result of the sign.

  In the above-described embodiment, the RFID 8 is attached to the surface of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 so as to be covered with the end tape 10, but the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, the end tape 10 may be omitted, and the RFID 8 may be used as the end tape 10 by attaching the RFID 8 to the surface of the end portion 2a of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 via an adhesive. In this case, it is preferable that the surface of the RFID 8 has the same reflection characteristics as the end tape 10. In this manner, the end tape 10 can be omitted and the number of parts can be reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the RFID 8 may be attached in a direction in which the surface 13 a of the base 13 on the side where the IC chip 15 is disposed is opposed to the surface of the thermal transfer ribbon 2. In this case, the surface 13b on the exposed side of the base 13 may be colored in silver, black, white, or the like so as to be readable by the photosensor 11. In addition, you may detect the surface 13b of the base 13 using other optical sensors including an infrared sensor. In this case, the surface 13b of the base 13 preferably has reflection characteristics suitable for the sensor used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus has been described by taking the sublimation type thermal transfer printer that forms an image using the roll-shaped thermal transfer ribbon 2 coated with the sublimable solid ink as an example. The apparatus may be an apparatus that forms an image using a roll sheet. Accordingly, various printers such as a thermal printer that forms an image on a roll-shaped thermal paper and an ink jet printer that forms an image by spraying fine particles of ink onto a roll-shaped recording medium may be used. In addition, the sheet in the present invention may be any of a recording material such as an ink film, or a recording medium such as plain paper or various types of printing paper. The material of the sheet is not limited to paper made of plant fibers, but also includes various films made of chemical substances such as polyethylene and polyester. The information storage medium may be of any type as long as it records information unique to the image forming sheet roll and can be transmitted wirelessly. Therefore, various non-contact type ICs such as a proximity type and a proximity type may be used depending on the communication distance.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view showing a state in which an image forming sheet roll used in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 is wound. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which an image forming sheet roll used in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 is wound. The perspective view of the information storage medium contained in an image forming sheet roll. The figure which shows the modification of an information storage medium.

Explanation of symbols

1. Sublimation type thermal transfer printer (image forming device)
2 Thermal transfer ribbon (sheet)
2a Terminal 3 Thermal transfer ribbon roll (image forming sheet roll)
4 thermal transfer paper 5 thermal head 6 take-up roll 7 core 7a outer peripheral surface 8 RFID (information storage medium)
9 Reader (Information reading means)
10 End tape (Terminal recognition mark)
11 Photosensor (medium detection means)
12 Control device (terminal recognition means)
13 Base 13b Base surface 14 Antenna coil 15 IC chip CL Center line in the width direction of the thermal transfer ribbon

Claims (6)

In an image forming sheet roll in which a sheet used for forming an image in an image forming apparatus is wound into a roll, information unique to the image forming sheet roll is recorded, and the unique information can be transmitted wirelessly An image forming sheet roll, characterized in that an information storage medium is arranged at a central portion in the radial direction of the image forming sheet roll and at a position covered by the sheet. The information storage medium is also used as a terminal end recognition mark for detecting that the sheet has been fed out to a terminal end on the radial center side of the image forming sheet roll. The image forming sheet roll described. The image forming sheet roll according to claim 1, wherein the information storage medium is arranged so as to be symmetric with respect to a center line in the width direction of the sheet. The image forming sheet roll according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the information storage medium is disposed on a surface of the sheet. The image forming sheet roll includes a cylindrical core on a central axis thereof, and the information storage medium is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the core. The image forming sheet roll according to one item. In an image forming apparatus that uses a sheet fed from an image forming sheet roll to form an image, the image is read from an information storage medium disposed at a position that is covered by the sheet at a radial center of the image forming sheet roll. An information reading unit that reads information unique to the forming sheet roll by wireless transmission, a medium detection unit that detects the information storage medium exposed to the outside of the sheet, and the medium detection unit that detects the information storage medium, An image forming apparatus, comprising: an end recognition unit that determines that the sheet has been fed out to an end on the center side in the radial direction of the image forming sheet roll.

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