JP2007307861A - Image printing method and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize surface treatment equivalent to silver-halide photography, which can ensure a large difference in the degrees of brilliance between high-brilliance treatment and matte treatment even when one kind of ink sheet is used. <P>SOLUTION: A brilliant surface equivalent to a silver-halide photography is obtained by selecting the position of a thermal head 13 relative to a platen roller 18 by a thermal head position control means 25, using an ink sheet 24 which is adjusted such that the temperature variation of exfoliation force between a protective layer and a releasing layer is small, positioning the position of a heat-generating resistance element array of the thermal head 13 immediately above the platen roller 18, and then performing transfer to image-receiving paper 21. Furthermore, a matte effect equivalent to a silver-halide photography is obtained by using the same ink sheet 24, positioning the position of the thermal head 13 at a position offset from the position immediately above the platen roller 18, and transferring to the image-receiving paper 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image printing method and an apparatus for transferring an image to image receiving paper and for imparting a visual effect to the surface of the image receiving paper by a change in reflectance such as gloss processing or matting processing.

  The conventional image printing apparatus prints an image by selectively heating the color ink disposed on the ink ribbon with a thermal head to transfer a predetermined ink onto the surface of the image receiving paper, and the color ink on the ink ribbon. A transfer type protective layer in which a protective layer is laminated following the ink is provided, and the transfer type protective layer is heated by the thermal head to transfer the protective layer to the surface of the image receiving paper.

Then, when transferring the transfer type protective layer, the thermal head is uniformly heated to transfer the protective layer uniformly, and in addition to the gloss treatment to give gloss to the image receiving paper surface, the thermal head is selectively used. The protective layer is selectively transferred by heating to form a desired concavo-convex pattern on the surface of the transferred protective layer, thereby realizing a matte treatment on the surface of the image receiving paper (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).

JP-A-9-272266 (page 2-4, FIG. 1)

  In the conventional image printing apparatus as described above, in order to obtain a surface treatment effect equivalent to the matte treatment of a silver salt photograph, the thickness change of the transferred protective layer is increased, and the formed uneven pattern is deepened. There was a need. For this reason, the ink sheet is given a characteristic that the peeling force of the protective layer from the ink sheet changes greatly with respect to the temperature change of the thermal head. That is, it has a characteristic that the peel force from the ink sheet of the protective layer is small at a high temperature and the peel force from the ink sheet of the protective layer is large at a low temperature. When the thermal head is heated to a high temperature, the peeling force from the ink sheet is small, so that all of the protective layer is peeled off from the ink sheet and transferred to the surface of the image receiving paper thickly. When the thermal head is cooled, the peeling force from the ink sheet increases and the protective layer does not peel easily, so the part of the protective layer remains on the ink sheet and is transferred and transferred to the image receiving paper surface. The thickness of the protective layer was made thin.

However, when trying to obtain a highly glossy surface treatment, the thermal head is controlled so that the thermal head is maintained at a constant temperature, and the protective layer is transferred. Since the peeling force changes, minute irregularities are formed on the surface of the transferred protective layer.

When an ink sheet having the above-described characteristics is used in a conventional image printing apparatus, matte processing can be realized, but in gloss processing, it is inevitable that the glossiness is inferior to the surface gloss of silver salt photographs. On the other hand, when an ink sheet having a characteristic that the fluctuation of the peeling force from the ink sheet of the protective layer due to external factors such as temperature is small is used, the deformation when the protective layer peels from the ink sheet is small, and the unevenness of the surface after transfer Since it is small, a smooth and highly glossy surface can be realized after transfer. However, even when the thermal head is selectively heated, there is little variation in the peeling force, and the unevenness on the surface of the protective layer to be transferred becomes small, so that a matte effect equivalent to a silver salt photograph cannot be realized. In other words, when one type of ink sheet is used in the conventional device, either gloss processing or matting processing is restricted, and both high gloss processing and matting processing equivalent to silver salt photography are realized simultaneously. There was a problem that I could not do it.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. Even when one kind of ink sheet is used, the difference in glossiness between the high-gloss processing and the matte processing can be greatly increased, which is equivalent to a silver salt photograph. An image printing method and apparatus for realizing surface treatment are obtained.

In the image printing method according to the present invention, an ink sheet in which a portion where ink is applied to a sheet and a laminate layer are sandwiched between a receiving sheet and a thermal head and a platen roller, and the ink applied to the ink sheet is In the image printing method in which the laminate layer is transferred to the image receiving paper, the relative position between the thermal head and the platen roller is changed while transferring the laminate layer to the image receiving paper while thermally transferring to the image receiving paper. It is characterized in that a matte treatment is applied to the surface of the image receiving paper.

Further, an image printing method according to another invention is a method in which an ink sheet in which a portion where an ink is applied to a sheet and a laminate layer is sandwiched between a receiving sheet and a thermal head and a platen roller is applied to the ink sheet. In the image printing method in which ink is thermally transferred to the image receiving paper and the laminate layer is transferred to the image receiving paper, the tension of the ink sheet is changed during transfer of the laminate layer to the image receiving paper. The material is characterized by being subjected to a matte treatment.

Still further, an image printing apparatus according to another invention is configured such that an ink sheet in which a portion where an ink is applied to a sheet and a laminate layer are sandwiched by a thermal head and a platen roller together with an image receiving paper is applied to the ink sheet. In the image printing apparatus for thermally transferring the ink to the image receiving paper and transferring the laminate layer to the image receiving paper, a thermal head position control means for changing a relative position between the thermal head and the platen roller is provided. It is a feature.

Further, an image printing apparatus according to another invention is configured such that an ink sheet in which a portion where an ink is applied to a sheet and a laminate layer are sandwiched between a receiving sheet and a thermal head and a platen roller is applied to the ink sheet. In an image printing apparatus for thermally transferring ink to the image receiving paper and transferring the laminate layer to the image receiving paper, an ink sheet guide means for guiding the ink sheet, and an ink sheet guided by the ink sheet guide means. And a load control means for changing the tension.

According to the present invention, since the thermal head position control means for changing the relative position of the thermal head and the platen roller is provided, the position of the thermal head is transferred when the laminate layer arranged on the ink sheet is transferred to the image receiving paper. By controlling the presence or absence of voids generated between the laminate layer and the image receiving paper, it is possible to achieve both high gloss treatment and matte treatment with the same ink sheet.

According to another invention, the load control means is provided to change the tension of the ink sheet, so that the tension of the ink sheet can be changed when the laminate layer arranged on the ink sheet is transferred to the image receiving paper. Thus, there is an effect that the presence or absence of a gap generated between the laminate layer and the image receiving paper is controlled, and both the high gloss treatment and the matte treatment can be realized with the same ink sheet.

Exemplary embodiments of an image printing method and apparatus according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an image printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an image printing apparatus 1 has a frame (not shown), and a pair of support shafts 2 and 2 parallel to each other are provided on the frame. The support block 3 is formed with a pair of long holes 4, 4, and the support shafts 2, 2 are slidably passed through the long holes 4, 4 one by one. With this configuration, the support block 3 is supported by the support shafts 2 and 2 so as to be linearly movable in a plane including the central axes of the two support shafts 2 and 2. That is, the support block 3 is configured to be movable in the left-right direction in FIG.

A spring hook pin 5 is provided on the frame of the image printing apparatus 1, and a tension spring 6 is suspended between the spring hook pin 5 and the support block 3. A cam receiving hole 7 is provided in the support block 3, and a motor 8 fixed to the frame is disposed at a position penetrating the inside of the cam receiving hole 7. An eccentric cam 10 is attached and fixed to the rotating shaft 9 of the motor 8.

A pin 11 is provided on the support block 3 in parallel with the support shafts 2 and 2, and a head arm 12 is supported on the pin 11 so that one end of the pin 11 can rotate. A thermal head 13 is attached to the end of the head arm 12 opposite to the end supported by the pin 11. Between the pin 11 of the head arm 12 and the thermal head 13, ink sheet guide means having an axis parallel to the pin 11, for example, an ink sheet guide roller 14, is provided and is rotatably supported.

A head pressing arm 15 having one end rotatably supported on the pin 11 is provided. The head pressing arm 15 is provided to face the head arm 12, and a compression spring 16 is provided between the head pressing arm 15 and a surface of the head arm 12 facing the thermal head 13 at the end to which the thermal head 13 is attached. The head pressing eccentric cam 17 is pressed against the surface of the head pressing arm 15 facing the compression spring 16.

A platen roller 18 rotatably supported by the frame of the image printing apparatus 1 is provided at a position facing the thermal head 13, and is supported rotatably by the frame of the image printing apparatus 1 in parallel with the platen roller 18. A conveyance roller 19 is provided. Further, a pinch roller 20 is rotatably supported by the frame of the image printing apparatus 1 in parallel with the conveyance roller 19 and is urged and pressed against the conveyance roller 19.

The image receiving paper 21 is sandwiched between the conveying roller 19 and the pinch roller 20 and guided between the thermal head 13 and the platen roller 18. The frame of the image printing apparatus 1 is provided with a supply bobbin 22 rotatably supported in parallel with the platen roller 18, and the platen roller 18 and the platen roller 18 at a position facing the supply bobbin 22 across the platen roller 18. In parallel, a take-up bobbin 23 supported rotatably on the frame of the image printing apparatus 1 is provided. One end of the ink sheet 24 is wound around the outer periphery of the supply bobbin 22 and the other end is attached to the outer periphery of the take-up bobbin 23, and is guided between the thermal head 12 and the image receiving paper 21 by the ink sheet guide roller 14. ing.

In addition, a pair of support shafts 2, 2, a support block 3, a pair of long holes 4, 4, a spring hook pin 5, a tension spring 6, a cam receiving hole 7, a motor 8, a rotating shaft 9, an eccentric cam 10, a pin 11, A thermal head position control means 25 is constituted by the head arm 12, the head pressing arm 15, the compression spring 16, and the head pressing eccentric cam 17.

2A and 2B are diagrams showing a configuration of a film-like ink sheet according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view. As shown in FIG. 2, the dye 26 of three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) is applied to one side of the film-like ink sheet 24, and the dye 26 of the ink sheet 24 is applied. A laminate layer 27 is disposed on the same side surface as in FIG. The laminate layer 27 includes a release layer 28 applied to the ink sheet 24, a protective layer 29 applied to the ink sheet 24 via the release layer 28, an ink sheet via the release layer 28 and the protective layer 29. The adhesive layer 30 is applied to 24.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the contact state and heat distribution between the thermal head 13, the ink sheet 24, the image receiving paper 21, and the platen roller 18 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, a heating resistor row 31 is arranged on the thermal head 13. A reference numeral 32 in FIG. 3 denotes a pressure distribution curve showing a distribution of contact pressure between the ink sheet 24 held between the thermal head 13 and the platen roller 18 and the image receiving paper 21 in a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the platen roller 18. Reference numeral 33 denotes a temperature distribution curve showing a temperature distribution in the vicinity of the heating resistor row 31 arranged in the thermal head 13 in a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the platen roller 18. In addition, the arrow in a figure has shown the direction which transfers an image and a protective layer.

The image printing apparatus 1 and the ink sheet 24 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention are configured as described above. Next, the operation and action will be described.

When the head pressing eccentric cam 17 is rotated, the head pressing arm 15 rotates in a direction approaching the platen roller 18. The rotated head pressing arm 15 applies a rotational force in the direction of the platen row 18 to the head arm 12 via the compression spring 16. As a result, the thermal head 13 is pressed against the platen roller 18 via the ink sheet 24 and the image receiving paper 21, and the heating resistor row 31 provided on the thermal head 13, the ink sheet 24, and the image receiving paper 21 are in close contact.

Further, when the transport roller 19 is rotated, the image receiving paper 21 sandwiched between the transport roller 19 and the pinch roller 20 is transported. Further, the ink sheet 24 that is in close contact with the image receiving paper 21 between the thermal head 13 and the platen roller 18 is also conveyed together with the image receiving paper 21, and the supply bobbin 22 rotates to sequentially supply between the thermal head 13 and the platen roller 18. Is done. On the other hand, the take-up bobbin 23 is rotated to take up the ink sheet 24 fed from between the thermal head 13 and the platen roller 18. When the thermal head 13 is selectively heated while rotating the conveying roller 19 and conveying the image receiving paper 21, the dye 26 corresponding to the heat generating portion is selectively transferred from the ink sheet 24 to the image receiving paper 21 to form an image. The

After three yellow dyes 26 of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are transferred one on top of the other to form an image, the image is laminated onto the image receiving paper 21 on which the image is formed in the same manner as when the dye 26 is transferred. When the layer 27 is brought into close contact and heated by the thermal head 13, the adhesive layer 30 exhibits an adhesive force by heat, and the protective layer 29 and the image receiving paper 21 are bonded. At this time, the adhesive force between the protective layer 29 and the image receiving paper 21 becomes larger than the peeling force between the protective layer 29 and the release layer 28, and the protective layer 29 peels from the ink sheet 24 with the release layer 28 as an interface. It is transcribed onto.

The release layer 28 is formulated so that the temperature fluctuation of the peeling force between the protective layer 29 and the release layer 28 is reduced, that is, the temperature fluctuation is suppressed, and the temperature of the thermal head 13 generated during transfer is determined. Since the change in the release force due to the change is small, the deformation of the protective layer 29 during the peeling / bonding process is suppressed, and the surface of the protective layer 29 after transfer is kept smooth and high gloss.

The support block 3 receives a tensile force from the tension spring 6 and is biased and positioned at a position where the inner wall of the cam receiving hole 7 is in contact with the outer periphery of the eccentric cam 10. By energizing the motor 8 and rotating the rotary shaft 9, the support block 3 is linearly moved in a plane including the central axes of the two support shafts 2, 2, and the support block 3 and the platen roller 18 are relatively moved. The position can be changed. When the support block 3 is moved, the position of the pin 11 is also moved, and the head arm 12 that is rotatably supported by the pin 11 and the thermal head 13 that is fixed to the head arm 12 are also moved, and are relative to the platen roller 18. Changes its position.

  When the relative position of the thermal head 13 and the platen roller 18 changes, the distribution of contact pressure acting between the thermal head 13 and the platen roller 18, that is, the adhesion force distribution between the thermal head 13 and the ink sheet 24, and the image receiving The adhesion force distribution between the paper 21 and the ink sheet 24 changes. On the other hand, the temperature temperature distribution in the vicinity of the heating resistor row 31 of the thermal head 13 is not affected by the relative positional relationship between the thermal head 13 and the platen roller 18 and changes only slightly. Therefore, when the relative position of the thermal head 13 and the platen roller 18 is changed, the balance between the pressure (adhesion force) and temperature at the point where the dye 26 and the laminate layer 27 are transferred to the image receiving paper 21 is changed. A change occurs in the state of transcription.

  When the heating resistor row 31 of the thermal head 13 is positioned immediately above the platen roller 18, the direction of the force by which the compression spring 16 presses the thermal head 13 against the platen roller 18 is changed from the heating resistor row 31 to the axis of the platen roller 18. Matches the direction through the center. In this case, the pressure distribution curve 32 and the temperature distribution curve 33 are close to each other as shown in FIG. In the high temperature region, the peeling force between the release layer 28 and the protective layer 29 decreases, and the protective layer 29 peels from the ink sheet 24. At the same time, the adhesive layer 30 softens and begins to exert the adhesive force. Furthermore, since the high-temperature region overlaps the high-pressure region, the softened adhesive layer 30 is pressed against the image receiving paper 21 by the thermal head 13 through the ink sheet 24 with high pressure, and matches the unevenness of the surface of the image receiving paper 21. It deforms and enters into the unevenness, and is deformed and filled without a gap between the surface of the image receiving paper 21 and the protective layer 29. Since the protective layer 29 transferred in such a state is uniformly transferred to the image receiving paper 21, it has a smooth and highly glossy surface.

On the other hand, when the thermal head 13 is offset with respect to the central axis of the platen roller 18 in the transfer direction of the image receiving paper 21 at the time of transfer (the arrow direction in the figure), the compression spring 16 has a force to press the thermal head 13 against the platen roller 18. The direction is a direction that does not pass through the center of the axis of the platen roller 18 from the heating resistor row 31. In this case, the pressure distribution curve 32 and the temperature distribution curve 33 are as shown in FIG. 3B, and the pressure (adhesion force) at the portion where the transfer is performed at a high temperature is reduced. When the laminate layer 27 is transferred in such a state, the laminate layer 27 guided between the thermal head 13, the image receiving paper 21 and the platen roller 18 first enters the high pressure region and is strongly pressed against the image receiving paper 21. In the high pressure region, since the temperature is still low, the adhesive layer 29 is not sufficiently softened and deformation according to the unevenness of the surface of the image receiving paper 21 is small, and the adhesive layer 30 does not sufficiently adhere to the image receiving paper 21.

Furthermore, a control method when printing is performed by selecting the glossing process or the matte process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a printing method by the image printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

First, immediately after receiving an instruction to start printing, the eccentric cam 10 is stopped at a predetermined position, and the heating resistor row 30 of the thermal head 13 is set to be located immediately above the platen roller 18 (ST1). In this state, dyes 26 of three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the surface of the image receiving paper 21 to form an image (ST2). Next, it is determined whether the matting process is necessary (ST3). If the matting process is not necessary, the heating resistor row 30 of the thermal head 13 is directly above the platen roller 18 without rotating the eccentric cam 10. The laminate layer 27 is transferred while maintaining the state positioned at (ST4). In this case, as described above, the high-gloss protective layer 29 is formed on the image, and printing is completed.

On the other hand, if the matte process is required in step 3, it is determined whether the matte process is applied uniformly over the entire surface (ST5). The head 13 is moved to a position offset with respect to the central axis of the platen roller 18 in the conveying direction of the image receiving paper 21 during transfer (ST6). Next, in this state, the laminate layer 27 is transferred (ST7), a protective layer 29 having a matte effect is formed on the image, and printing is completed. Regardless of whether the glossing process or the matting process is selected, the heat amount control of the thermal head 13 when the laminate layer 27 is transferred may be the same.

In step 5, if the matte process is not performed on the entire surface, intermittent drive control of the eccentric cam 10 is started (ST8), and the laminate layer 27 is transferred in this state (ST9). The intermittent drive control is finished (ST10), and the printing is finished.

That is, when the eccentric cam 10 is rotated during the transfer of the laminate layer 27 and the position of the thermal head 13 with respect to the platen roller 18 is changed, the surface of the protective layer 29 transferred to the image receiving paper 21 becomes the heat generation resistance of the thermal head 13. The portion where the laminate layer 27 is transferred at a position where the body row 31 is directly above the platen roller 18 is glossy, and the laminate layer 27 is transferred at a position where the thermal head 13 is offset from the central axis of the platen roller 18. The part has a matte effect.

Therefore, the eccentric cam 10 is intermittently repeatedly rotated during the transfer of the laminate layer 27, and the heating resistor row 31 of the thermal head 13 is offset with respect to the position immediately above the platen roller 18 and the center axis of the platen roller 18. When the position is moved in a short cycle, it is possible to mix a fine high gloss portion and a fine matte portion on the surface of the image receiving paper 21 as shown in FIG. 6A is an explanatory view showing the gloss distribution on the surface of the image receiving paper after the protective layer is transferred by the image printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a diagram of FIG. 6A. FIG. 6C is a partially enlarged view, and shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 6B.

The surface of the image receiving paper 21 in which a fine high-gloss portion and a fine matte portion are mixed can visually obtain an intermediate effect between gloss and matte. Furthermore, if the ratio between the rotational speed of the eccentric cam 10 and the stop time at the stop position is variably controlled, the area of the glossy part and the area of the matte part can be set to an arbitrary ratio, and the matte degree is set continuously. It is possible. In addition, when a fine high-gloss portion and a fine matte portion are mixed, the amount of heat generated by the thermal head 13 when transferring the laminate layer 27 is controlled in the same manner as when the same surface treatment is applied to the entire surface. What is necessary is just to control so that it may become uniform.

As described above, according to the image printing method and apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the position of the thermal head 13 relative to the platen roller 18 is selected by the thermal head position control means 25 and separated from the protective layer 29. The position of the heating resistor row 31 of the thermal head 13 is set to a platen roller by using the ink sheet 24 that is formulated so that the temperature fluctuation of the peeling force with the mold layer 28 is small, that is, the temperature fluctuation is suppressed. When the laminate layer 27 is transferred so as to be positioned immediately above the protective layer 29, the protective layer 29 is transferred in close contact with the surface of the image receiving paper 21 via the adhesive layer 30, so that a glossy surface equivalent to a silver salt photograph can be obtained. it can. Furthermore, when the same ink sheet 24 is used and the position of the thermal head 13 is offset from the position directly above the platen roller 18 and the laminate layer 27 is transferred, a gap 34 is formed between the adhesive layer 30 and the image receiving paper 21. It is partly formed, and it is possible to obtain a matte effect equivalent to a silver salt photograph on the surface of the image receiving paper 21 by scattering of light generated at the interface of the gap 34, and one kind of ink sheet 24 is equivalent to a silver salt photograph. Both gloss processing and matting processing can be realized.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a main part of an image printing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the image printing apparatus 35 has a frame (not shown), and an arm support shaft 36 is provided on this frame. The arm support shaft 36 rotatably supports one end of the head arm 12 and the head pressing arm 15. Further, a friction roller 38 is fixed to the ink sheet guide shaft 37 rotatably supported between the arm support shaft 36 of the head arm 12 and the thermal head 13, and is configured to rotate coaxially. The ink sheet guide shaft 39 and the friction roller 38 constitute an ink sheet guide means 39.

The head arm 12 is provided with a pair of slider support pins 40, 40. The pair of slider support pins 40, 40 engage with a pair of guide long holes 42, 42 provided in the slider 41. The slider 41 is guided and supported with respect to the head arm 12 so as to be movable.

Further, an elastic friction element 43 is provided at a position facing the friction roller 38 of the slider 41, a plunger 44 is provided between the slider 41 and the arm support shaft 36, and one end of the slider 41 is connected to the head arm 12. The other end is engaged with the slider 41. Further, a slider spring 45 is provided which has one end suspended from the end of the slider 41 on the side close to the thermal head 13 and the other end suspended from the head arm 12.

The head arm 12, the ink sheet guide shaft 37, the friction roller 38, a pair of slider support pins 40, 40, the slider 41, the guide slot 42, the elastic friction element 43, the plunger 44, and the slider spring 45 are used to control the load. 46 is configured, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The image printing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is configured as described above. Next, the operation thereof will be described.

The slider 41 receives a biasing force in a direction approaching the thermal head 13 from the slider spring 45, moves linearly along the head arm 12 in the direction of the thermal head 13, and the elastic friction element 43 contacts the opposing friction roller 38. The slider 41 remains in a position where the urging force of the slider spring 45 and the reaction force generated when the elastic friction element 43 contacts the friction roller 38 are balanced. When the plunger 44 is driven to contract, the slider 41 is pulled in the direction of the arm support shaft 36 by the plunger 44, and the elastic friction element 43 is separated from the friction roller 38 and does not come into contact therewith.

When the transfer operation is performed in a state where the elastic friction element 43 is in contact with the friction roller 38, the ink sheet 24 is supplied from the supply bobbin 22 to the thermal head 13, so that the ink sheet guide shaft 37 for winding and guiding the ink sheet 24 is provided. Start spinning. Since the friction roller 38 is fixed to the ink sheet guide shaft 37, the friction roller 38 starts to rotate together with the ink sheet guide shaft 37. However, since the elastic friction element 43 is pressed against the outer periphery of the friction roller 38, the frictional force due to sliding is obtained. Occurs and a load is applied to the rotation. For this reason, the tension between the thermal head 13 of the ink sheet 24 and the ink sheet guide shaft 37 is higher than when the ink sheet guide shaft 37 is freely rotated. Due to the influence of the tension, the close contact force between the ink sheet 24 and the thermal head 13 increases on the side of the heating resistor row 31 of the thermal head 13 close to the ink sheet guide shaft 37, and the pressure distribution curve 32 is shown in FIG. Thus, a large value is shown on the side of the heating resistor row 31 close to the ink sheet guide shaft 37, and the maximum position tends to move.

Therefore, when the tension of the ink sheet 24 is changed, the same effect as that obtained when the positions of the thermal head 13 and the platen roller 18 are offset in the first embodiment is obtained, and a matte effect is imparted when the laminate layer 27 is transferred. it can. When the plunger 44 is contracted, the elastic friction element 43 is separated from the friction roller 38, and the rotational load on the ink sheet guide shaft 37 is reduced, whereby the pressure distribution curve 32 returns to the state shown in FIG. The surface of the protective layer 29 with high gloss can be obtained.

Further, the transfer state of the laminate layer 27 is controlled by intermittently controlling the contraction of the plunger 44 in the same manner as the rotation / stop position control of the eccentric cam 10 in the first embodiment, and is arbitrarily set between high gloss and matte. Visual effects can be realized. In this embodiment, the case where the ink sheet guide shaft 37 is disposed between the supply bobbin 22 and the thermal head 13 has been described. However, the ink sheet guide shaft 37 is disposed between the take-up bobbin 23 and the thermal head 13. The same effect can be obtained even if it is arranged in the position.

As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, since the rotational load of the ink sheet guide shaft 37 is configured to be controllable, the temperature fluctuation of the peeling force between the protective layer 29 and the release layer 28 is reduced. When the laminate layer 27 is transferred without the rotational load of the ink sheet guide shaft 37 using the ink sheet prescribed in the above, the protective layer 29 is transferred in close contact with the surface of the image receiving paper 21 via the adhesive layer 30. A glossy surface equivalent to a silver salt photograph can be obtained. Further, when the laminate layer 27 is transferred using the same ink sheet 24 with a rotational load applied to the ink sheet guide shaft 14, a gap 34 is partially formed between the adhesive layer 30 and the image receiving paper 21. It is possible to obtain a matte effect equivalent to a silver salt photograph on the surface of the image receiving paper 21 by scattering of light generated at the interface of the gap 34, and the gloss treatment and gloss equivalent to a silver salt photograph can be obtained with one type of ink sheet 24. There is an effect that both the erase processing can be realized.

The present invention can be used for an image printing apparatus capable of realizing both high gloss processing and matting processing equivalent to a silver salt photograph with the same ink sheet.

It is a block diagram of the principal part of the image printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the film-like ink used for the image printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing the contact state and heat distribution between the thermal head, the ink sheet, the image receiving paper, and the platen roller of the image printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the image receiving paper after transfer of the protective layer by the image printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the printing operation | movement of the image printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the glossiness distribution of the image receiving paper surface after the protective layer transfer by the image printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the principal part of the image printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,35 Image printing apparatus 2 Support shaft 3 Support block 4 Long hole 5 Spring hook pin 6 Tension spring 7 Cam receiving hole 8 Motor 9 Rotating shaft 10 Eccentric cam 11 Pin 12 Head arm 13 Thermal head 14 Ink sheet guide roller 15 Head press Arm 16 Compression spring 17 Head pressing eccentric cam 18 Platen roller 19 Conveying roller 20 Pinch roller 21 Image receiving paper 22 Supply bobbin 23 Winding bobbin 24 Ink sheet 25 Thermal head position control means 26 Dye 27 Laminating layer 28 Release layer 29 Protective layer 30 Adhesive layer 31 Heating resistor array 32 Pressure distribution curve 33 Temperature distribution curve 34 Gap 36 Arm support shaft 37 Ink sheet guide shaft 38 Friction roller 39 Ink sheet guide means 40 Slider support pin 41 Slider 42 Inner slot 43 Elastic friction element 44 Plunger 45 Slider spring 46 Load control means

Claims (4)

The ink sheet in which the ink is applied to the sheet and the laminate layer are sandwiched between the image receiving paper and a thermal head and a platen roller, and the ink applied to the ink sheet is thermally transferred to the image receiving paper and the laminate In an image printing method for transferring a layer to the image receiving paper,
An image printing method, wherein, during transfer of the laminate layer to the image receiving paper, a matte process is performed on the surface of the image receiving paper by changing a relative position between the thermal head and the platen roller. The ink sheet in which the ink is applied to the sheet and the laminate layer are sandwiched between the image receiving paper and a thermal head and a platen roller, and the ink applied to the ink sheet is thermally transferred to the image receiving paper and the laminate In an image printing method for transferring a layer to the image receiving paper,
An image printing method, wherein a matte treatment is applied to the surface of the image receiving paper by changing a tension of the ink sheet during transfer of the laminate layer to the image receiving paper. The ink sheet in which the ink is applied to the sheet and the laminate layer are sandwiched between the image receiving paper and a thermal head and a platen roller, and the ink applied to the ink sheet is thermally transferred to the image receiving paper and the laminate In an image printing apparatus for transferring a layer to the image receiving paper,
An image printing apparatus comprising thermal head position control means for changing a relative position between the thermal head and the platen roller. The ink sheet in which the ink is applied to the sheet and the laminate layer are sandwiched between the image receiving paper and a thermal head and a platen roller, and the ink applied to the ink sheet is thermally transferred to the image receiving paper and the laminate In an image printing apparatus for transferring a layer to the image receiving paper,
An image printing apparatus comprising: an ink sheet guide unit that guides the ink sheet; and a load control unit that changes a tension of the ink sheet guided by the ink sheet guide unit.

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