JP2005161824A - Intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus preventing a film from meandering by a simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: The film F used in this intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 is wound on a feeding side bobbin 15 for delivering and a winding side bobbin 16 for winding. Among a pair of these bobbins like these, at least the winding side bobbin 16 is formed by a shell part 56 on which the film F is wound, and a pair of brim parts 57 integrally formed on both ends of the shell part 56. As the brim parts 57 are integrally formed on the shell part 56 like this, when the film F is moved back and forth, transverse shift of the film F is hardly generated on a platen 20, so that a color shift of an image is hardly generated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus for transferring a printed image once onto a film and then transferring the image on the film onto the surface of a recording medium.

  Conventionally, there is JP-A 2000-187712 as a technology in such a field. The card recording apparatus described in this publication is an apparatus for printing a desired image on the surface of a card with a magnetic stripe, an IC card, or the like. That is, in this card recording apparatus, a film and a color ink ribbon are sandwiched between a thermal head and a platen roller, and an image is once thermally transferred onto the film by the color ink ribbon, and then the image on the film and the surface of the card are overlapped. While aligning, the film is heated with a heat roller. At this time, by pressing the film against the card, the image on the film is retransferred to the surface of the card.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-187712 (FIG. 4) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-169692 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-261951

  The film applied to such an apparatus is wound around a mere cylindrical bobbin, and while winding the film fed from the supply-side bobbin with the bobbin on the take-up side, based on the color arrangement of the color ink ribbon, The image is thermally transferred (primary transfer) onto the film. However, when the color scheme on the color ink ribbon is, for example, four colors, the film reciprocates four times on the platen roller. Therefore, when the film is laterally shifted on the platen roller due to meandering of a very thin film, Color misregistration occurs when a desired image is created by superimposing colors in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black on a film. Moreover, as a factor that the film meanders during conveyance, it goes without saying that the film is thin, and includes heating of the film by a thermal head or a heat roller.

  In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus which can prevent meandering of a film with a simple configuration.

  In the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention, the image is thermally transferred onto the film based on the color arrangement on the ink ribbon by the cooperation of the thermal head and the platen, and the recording medium is heated while the film is heated by the heat roller. In the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing device that re-transfers the image on the film to the surface of the recording medium by pressing to the supply side bobbin that fixes the one end of the film and feeds the film, and the other end of the film is fixed A take-up bobbin for taking up the film, and the take-up bobbin includes a body part on which the film is wound and a pair of flange parts integrally formed at both ends of the body part. Features.

  A film used in the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus is wound around a supply-side bobbin that performs feeding and a winding-side bobbin that performs winding. Among such a pair of bobbins, at least the winding-side bobbin is formed of a body portion around which the film is wound and a pair of flange portions integrally formed at both ends of the body portion. As described above, as a result of integrally forming the flange portion on the body portion, even when the film reciprocates, the lateral displacement of the film hardly occurs on the platen, and the color displacement of the image hardly occurs. This is because the meandering of the film can be reliably regulated by the flange part formed integrally with the body part. As a result of the experiment, the winding side bobbin that has the greatest effect on the movement of the film has the highest effect of preventing the meandering of the film. Further, since the supply-side bobbin has a flange, it is possible to share parts with the winding-side bobbin.

  Further, it is preferable that the supply-side bobbin is composed of a hollow body around which a film is wound. Such a bobbin is advantageous when it is not necessary to strictly control the winding accuracy of the film.

  According to the present invention, the meandering of the film can be prevented with a simple configuration.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 is also called a card printer, and once a printed image is transferred to a transparent film F having a thickness of about 20 μm, the recording medium (for example, plastic) is transferred from the film F. (Transfer cash card, credit card, prepaid card, IC card, etc.). Such a thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 is used when issuing the card S, and can print a high-quality image on the surface of the card S. Therefore, it is possible to issue a card S containing a face photo for the purpose of improving security.

  Such an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 has a stock unit 2 for setting a plastic card S to be printed in a stacked state. The cards S are fed out one by one from the bottom of the stock unit 2 by the forward and backward movement of the delivery claw 3, and the cards S fed out from the stock unit 2 are once loaded into the reversing unit 4. After the reversing unit 4 is rotated 90 degrees from the horizontal state, when the card S is raised by the feed roller 6, the card S is fed into the magnetic reading / writing unit 7. The magnetic reading / writing unit 7 writes predetermined information in the magnetic stripe of the card S or reads predetermined information in the magnetic stripe.

  On the other hand, when the card S is lowered by the feed roller 6, the card S is fed into the non-contact IC reading / writing unit 8. Then, the non-contact IC reading / writing unit 8 writes predetermined information in the IC of the card S or reads predetermined information in the IC. After that, the card S sent out from the reversing unit 4 passes through the detachable cleaning roller 10, and then the card S is moved by the conveying roller 11 until just before image printing while being supported on both sides by the guide groove 12.

  In addition, when magnetic detection or non-contact IC detection is not necessary, the reversing unit 4 is maintained horizontally. The card S determined to be inappropriate by the magnetic reading / writing unit 7 or the non-contact IC reading / writing unit 8 is discharged into the eject box 9 by the feed roller 6 after the reversing unit 4 rotates.

  Next, in order to enable image transfer to the card S, the thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 includes a recording unit (primary transfer unit) A that thermally transfers an image to the film F, an image transferred to the film F, and the card S. And a re-transfer portion (secondary transfer portion) B that thermally transfers the image to the card S, and a warp correction portion C that corrects the warp of the card S after the image transfer.

  Further, the thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 includes a film cartridge 13 and a ribbon cartridge 14 that can be exchanged by inserting and removing. In the film cartridge 13, the film F is wound around a pair of upper and lower bobbins 15 and 16, and in the ribbon cartridge 14, the color ink ribbon R is wound around a pair of upper and lower bobbins 17 and 18. The color ink ribbon R in the ribbon cartridge 14 is periodically coated with ink of three colors (or four colors including black) of meltable or sublimable yellow, magenta, and cyan as one frame. ing.

  Here, in the recording unit A described above, the film F is wound around a substantially half circumference of the platen roller (commonly called “platen”) 20, and the color ink ribbon R is pressed against the film F on the platen roller 20 by the thermal head 21. . Then, the film F and the color ink ribbon R are sent downward while being synchronized, whereby the first color (yellow) of the color ink ribbon R is thermally transferred onto the film F by the heated thermal head 21.

  Next, the thermal head 21 is moved backward by the rack and pinion drive mechanism 22 so that the film F and the color ink ribbon R are separated from each other, while the platen roller 20 is reversed and the film F is raised to the original position. Return. Thereafter, while repeating the above-described transfer operation, colors are superimposed on the film F in the order of magenta, cyan, and black to create a desired color image on the film F.

  Thereafter, the recorded image on the film F is moved to the front of the heat roller 23 by the rotation of the winding side bobbin 16 or the like. At this time, the leading edge of the card S is aligned with the leading edge of the recorded image on the film F, and the card S and the film F are sent to the retransfer section B in a state of being superimposed.

  In the re-transfer section B, the aligned card S and film F are sandwiched between the heat roller 23 and the pressure roller 24 in a superimposed state, and pressed with the heat roller 23 heated to 160 to 200 ° C. The recorded image on the film F is gradually transferred onto the surface of the card S while the card S and the film F are conveyed under pressure in cooperation with the roller 24. At this time, the film F is wound around the bobbin 16 while being peeled from the card S. Further, since the card S heated by the heat roller 23 is warped, the card S is sent to the warp correction unit C, subjected to pressure treatment, and then discharged out of the apparatus 1 in a straight state.

  In such an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1, since the colors on the color ink ribbon R are four colors such as yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, the film F reciprocates four times on the platen roller 20. It will be. At that time, if the lateral displacement of the film F occurs on the platen roller 20 due to the meandering of the extremely thin film (for example, about 20 μm thick), the color overlap is performed on the film F in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. A color shift occurs when a desired image is created. Moreover, as a factor that the film F meanders during conveyance, it goes without saying that the film F is thin, and heating of the film F by the thermal head 21 and the heat roller 23 can be mentioned.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a film cartridge 13 for preventing the film F from meandering is used. This film cartridge 13 has a resin-made supply-side bobbin 15 and a resin-made take-up-side bobbin 16 that are rotatably attached to a base plate 30 that is arranged vertically. A supply-side bobbin 15 having one end fixed thereto is disposed, and a winding-side bobbin 16 having the other end fixed to the film F is disposed below.

  Further, one end of a pair of left and right guide pins 33 and 34 for horizontally stretching the film F upward is fixed to the upper portion of the base plate 30, and the film F is horizontally disposed below the lower portion of the base plate 30. One end of a pair of left and right guide pins 35, 36 for stretching is fixed. Furthermore, between the upper guide pin 34 and the lower guide pin 36, one end of a guide pin 37 for fixing the film F vertically is fixed to the base plate 30. By arranging the guide pins 33 to 37 extending horizontally in such an arrangement relationship, the recording unit (primary transfer unit) A is arranged on the film F at a desired position stretched in the vertical direction. The retransfer portion (secondary transfer portion) B can be arranged at a desired position stretched in the horizontal direction downstream of the recording portion A.

  Further, in order to appropriately rotate the supply side bobbin 15 and the take-up side bobbin 16, rotary shafts 40 and 42 are erected on the base plate 30, and a cylindrical core portion is provided at the tip of the rotary shafts 40 and 42. 43 and 44 are rotatably attached. The core portions 43 and 44 are inserted into the insertion port 31a of the supply side bobbin 15 and the insertion port 32a of the winding side bobbin 16, so that the bobbins 15 and 16 are rotatably held.

  On the other hand, the drive shafts 48 and 49 protrude from the housing 47 of the apparatus main body 46 provided with various drive mechanisms, and the core portions 50 and 51 are fixed to the drive shafts 48 and 49, respectively. And each bobbin 15 and 16 can be rotated by predetermined speed by inserting each core part 50 and 51 in the insertion port 31b of the supply side bobbin 15, and the insertion port 32b of the winding side bobbin 16. FIG. In addition, by disposing the spiral springs 52 and 53 between the bobbins 15 and 16 and the base plate 30, when the film cartridge 13 is loaded into the thermal transfer printing apparatus 1, the bobbins 15 and 16 are placed on the apparatus main body 46 side. It can continue to be pressed against the reference surfaces 54 and 55.

  In such a film cartridge 13, as shown in FIG. 4, the take-up bobbin 16 made of resin is formed integrally with a cylindrical body portion 56 around which the film F is wound, and both ends of the body portion 56. It consists of a pair of disc-shaped flanges 57. Further, a through hole 60 into which the core portions 44 and 51 are inserted is formed in the body portion 56, and both sides of the through hole 60 are formed as insertion holes 32 a and 32 b, and a spline groove 60 a is formed on the wall surface of the through hole 60. On the outer peripheral surface of the core portions 44 and 51, key portions 44a and 51a that fit into the spline groove 60a are integrally formed.

  In this way, by forming the flange portion 57 integrally with the body portion 56, even when the film F reciprocates, a lateral shift hardly occurs on the platen roller 20, and an image color shift hardly occurs. This is because the meandering of the film F can be reliably regulated by the flange portion 57 formed integrally with the body portion 56. As a result of various experiments, the winding-side bobbin 16 that greatly affects the movement of the film F has the highest effect of preventing the film F from meandering. Further, since the supply-side bobbin 15 includes the body portion 61 and the pair of flange portions 62, it is possible to share components with the winding-side bobbin 16. A through hole 58 into which the core portions 43 and 50 are inserted is formed in the body portion 61, and both sides of the through hole 58 are formed as insertion ports 31 a and 31 b, and a spline groove 58 a is formed on the wall surface of the through hole 58. On the outer peripheral surface of the core portions 43 and 50, key portions 43a and 50a that fit into the spline grooves 58a are integrally formed.

  Here, in the retransfer section (secondary transfer section) B, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the heat roller 23 needs to abut / separate from the pressing roller 24. Reference numeral 23 denotes a swing type. In order to achieve the swing type, the heat roller 23 is rotatably held at the distal end of the support member 64, and the base end of the support member 64 is rotatably held by a support shaft 65 provided in the apparatus main body 46. ing. Then, a pressing plate 66 provided horizontally with respect to the support member 64 is pushed down from above by a rotation lever 67, whereby the film F and the card S are pressed at a predetermined pressure between the heat roller 23 and the pressing roller 24. Can be pinched.

  Further, the base end portion 67 a of the rotation lever 67 is attached to a drive shaft 63 that is rotated by a drive motor (not shown) provided on the apparatus main body 46 side. A rolling roller 68 is provided to enable smooth contact with 66. Further, in order to automatically separate the heat roller 23 from the pressing roller 24 when the rotating lever 67 is separated from the pressing plate 66, the support shaft 65 and the support member 64 are connected via a torsion coil spring 69. Yes. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, when the rolling roller 68 of the rotation lever 67 moves downward, the heat roller 23 is pushed down toward the pressing roller 24, and the rolling roller 68 of the rotation lever 67 moves upward. The heat roller 23 rises with a spring force in a direction away from the pressing roller 24.

  Based on such a configuration, the image on the film F can be thermally transferred onto the card S by the retransfer section (secondary transfer section) B. However, unless the film F and the card S are sandwiched between the heat roller 23 and the pressing roller 24 with a uniform pressure, the print density on the card S is not stable, and unevenness occurs in the print.

  Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of uneven printing, it is necessary to adjust the pressing force in the longitudinal direction of the heat roller 23. As a specific measure, the drive shaft 63 is inserted into the through hole 70 provided in the base end portion 67 a of the rotation lever 67, and the adjustment screw 71 is screwed to the base end portion 67 a. The tip is strongly pressed against the drive shaft 63. With this configuration, when the adjustment screw 71 is loosened, the rotation lever 67 can be freely moved in the longitudinal direction of the drive shaft 63 and the heat roller 23, and when the adjustment screw 71 is tightened, the drive shaft 63 is moved. Thus, the rotation lever 67 can be firmly fixed at an arbitrary position.

  For example, referring to FIG. 5, when the right half of the print on the card S is thin, it is necessary to increase the pressing force on the right side of the heat roller 23, so that the rotation lever 67 is moved to the right as indicated by the arrow P1. Move to to adjust the print. On the other hand, when the left half of the print on the card S is thin, it is necessary to increase the pressing force on the left side of the heat roller 23. Therefore, as shown by the arrow P2, the rotation lever 67 is moved to the left to adjust the print. Do.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, from the viewpoint of preventing the meandering of the film F, when there is no significant difference between the case where the supply-side bobbin 15 has the flange portion 62 and the case where the supply-side bobbin 15 does not have, as shown in FIG. It may be formed of a saddle-shaped body portion 81 having no flange portion. Such a bobbin 80 is advantageous when it is not necessary to strictly manage the winding accuracy of the film F.

1 is a front view showing an embodiment of an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the film cartridge applied to the thermal transfer printing apparatus of FIG. It is a front view which shows the internal structure of a film cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows a winding side bobbin. It is sectional drawing which shows a heat roller and a press roller. It is a perspective view which shows a heat roller. It is a side view which shows rocking | fluctuation of a heat roller. It is a perspective view which shows the other example of a supply side bobbin.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 15, 80 ... Supply side bobbin, 16 ... Winding side bobbin, 20 ... Platen roller (platen), 21 ... Thermal head, 23 ... Heat roller, 56, 81 ... Body part, 57 ... buttocks, S ... card (recording medium), F ... film, R ... ink ribbon.

Claims (2)

Due to the cooperation of the thermal head and the platen, an image is thermally transferred onto the film based on the color scheme on the ink ribbon, and the film is pressed against the recording medium while being heated by a heat roller, so that the surface of the recording medium is In the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing device that re-transfers the image on the film,
A supply-side bobbin for feeding the film with one end of the film fixed;
A winding-side bobbin that winds the film with the other end of the film fixed,
The intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus, wherein the winding-side bobbin includes a body portion around which the film is wound and a pair of flange portions integrally formed at both ends of the body portion.   2. The intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply-side bobbin includes a hollow body around which the film is wound.

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