JP2010023353A - Printing device and intermediate transfer printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device and an intermediate transfer printing method which enable the detection of the incorrect insertion of a print medium besides specification and perform the processing according to the detection result. <P>SOLUTION: The distance between a transfer positioning sensor 307 and a remains detection sensor 1304 is longer than the total length of N, A type seal and shorter than the total length of a B type seal. That is, if defined as such; distance between sensors=N, total length of A type seal=L, total length of B type seal=M, each sensor is arranged so as to satisfy the relationship of L<N<M. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a print medium type detection function and an intermediate transfer printing method.

In the printing apparatus, control of conveyance, printing, discharge, etc. is performed according to the printing medium, respectively. However, a printing apparatus that prints various security information such as personal information is 1 Two fixed print media are used. Therefore, if a printing medium that is not compatible with the printing apparatus is erroneously inserted, expensive printing media, ink ribbons, transfer ribbons, and the like are wasted.

Since it is important to ensure the security of printed materials on which specific information such as owner information is printed in printed materials such as booklets, cards, and stickers that print printed information and security information suitable for the media, print media There has been proposed one in which security information is embedded in itself (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-306321 A

Recently, it has been desired to cope with handling a plurality of print media having security information with one printing apparatus. However, in most printing apparatuses that handle a plurality of print media, the print information printed on each print medium is different. Originally, if a print medium different from the print information set in the printing apparatus is mistakenly inserted, the wrong print information is applied to the print medium, so that expensive print media, ink ribbon, transfer ribbon, etc. are wasted. Thus, there will be a problem in terms of system operation costs.

In addition, when a large amount of printed matter is created by batch processing or the like, if an incorrect print medium is set, a large amount of defective printed matter may be generated, which also causes a problem in terms of cost.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and an intermediate transfer printing method capable of detecting that a nonstandard print medium has been erroneously inserted.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a capture unit that captures a print medium, a determination unit that determines a type of the captured print medium, a print unit that prints information on an intermediate transfer medium, and the intermediate When the information printed on the transfer medium is transferred to the print medium and the print medium determined by the determination unit is not a regular one, the print medium is not transported to the transfer unit. And a control unit that controls not to start a printing operation in the printing unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the print medium and print information are set by a host control device, the type of the captured print medium is determined, and when the print medium is set, Intermediate transfer printing characterized in that print information printed on an intermediate transfer medium is transferred to the print medium, and if the print medium is not set, the print information is not printed on the intermediate transfer medium. A method is provided.

According to the present invention, since the type or state of the print medium taken into the machine body is determined and the erroneously inserted print medium outside the print settings is detected, not only the print medium but also the members used for printing are wasted. Can be prevented in advance.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

A printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a printing apparatus using intermediate transfer printing. Intermediate transfer printing is a technique for reducing the size of the entire printing device. The thermal head applies heat to the ink ribbon to primarily transfer the image onto the intermediate transfer belt in a superimposed manner, and then batch transfer materials. The secondary transfer method is used.

This printing apparatus can handle, for example, two types of print media, a booklet composed of a plurality of spread pages and a single-sheet sticker. Which printing medium the printing apparatus performs on which printing medium is determined by a command from, for example, a host control PC that controls the printing apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a control relationship between the printing apparatus 100 and the control PC 200. The control PC 200 includes, for example, a main control unit 201, a memory 202, an interface unit 203, an operation panel 204, and an image input unit 205. The main control unit 201 is connected to the internal bus 2
The memory 202, the interface unit 203, the operation panel 204, and the image input unit 205 are controlled via the interface 06, and the printing apparatus 100 is also controlled via the interface unit 203.

The memory 202 stores a control program for controlling the driving of the printing apparatus 100 as a whole. The image input unit 205 captures print information (also referred to as print data) necessary for printing. For example, color face image data corresponds to the print data. Operation panel 2
04 can input data corresponding to the security character information of the holder of the booklet, for example. The print data acquired by the operation panel 204 or the image input unit 205 is stored in the memory 20.
2 is temporarily stored.

The printing apparatus 100 includes a printing apparatus control unit 101, which is connected to the interface unit 203 of the control PC 200 to exchange print data and various control commands. Further, the printing apparatus 100 includes the intermediate transfer image processing unit 1 via the printing apparatus control unit 101 and the internal bus 106.
02, the heater temperature control unit 103, the medium conveyance control unit 104, and the image formation control unit 105 are connected to control a series of processes related to the printing process.

A head control unit 107 for controlling the thermal head 108 is connected to the intermediate transfer image processing unit 102. The head control unit 107 controls the printing operation of the thermal head 108 based on the print data.

The heater temperature control unit 103 is connected to the heater 109, drives the heater 109 based on an output signal from a temperature sensor (not shown) installed at the core of the heat roller (described later), and controls the heat roller. Control to maintain a predetermined temperature. Further, the medium transport control unit 10
4 is a medium take-in mechanism 110 that takes in the print medium inserted into the print medium take-in port.
The medium transport mechanism 111 that controls the transport of the captured print medium to the transfer position and the discharge gate control unit 112 that controls the discharge of the print medium that has been transferred out of the printing apparatus are configured to be controlled. Yes. Further, the image forming control unit 105 controls a transfer ribbon transport mechanism 113 that transports the transfer ribbon, a head lifting mechanism 114 that lifts and lowers the thermal head, and a heat roller rotation mechanism 115 that rotates the heat roller. It is configured.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the overall configuration of the main part of the printing apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 100 is roughly composed of a sticker take-out and medium determination unit 300, an intermediate transfer unit 400, a booklet take-in and medium determination unit 500. The sticker take-out / medium discriminating unit 300 and the booklet take-in / medium discriminating unit 500 are the same as the above-described medium transport control unit
04 is generally controlled. The intermediate transfer unit 400 is generally controlled by the intermediate transfer image processing unit 102, the heater temperature control unit 103, and the image formation control unit 105. The printing apparatus 100 can handle stickers and booklets as print media.

(Seal loading and media discrimination)
First, a case where a single-sheet sticker is handled as a print medium will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the hopper seal removal mechanism. The single-sheet seal S is accommodated in a hopper 301 for accommodating the seal S provided at the rear portion of the printing apparatus 100. This printing apparatus 10
In 0, for example, up to 200 seals S can be accommodated from the opening formed above the hopper 301. The hopper 301 incorporates an elevator mechanism 301a that moves up and down the accommodated seal. As shown in FIG. 3A, a seal take-out roller 302 is disposed near the opening of the hopper 301. A bundle of seals S is lifted upward by an elevator mechanism 301 a incorporated in the hopper 301, and is sandwiched between the seal take-out rollers 302.

By rotating the seal take-out roller 302 counterclockwise in the figure, the seal S
From the hopper 301.

By automatically supplying the seal S by the hopper 301, it is possible to automatically execute, for example, a transfer operation to a maximum of 50 sheets of the seal S in accordance with a batch processing command from the control PC 200.

A seal separation roller 303, a first conveyance roller 305, and a second conveyance roller 306 are arranged in this order downstream from the seal take-out roller 302, that is, in the conveyance direction of the seal S, and are arranged to face the seal conveyance path. In addition, a seal rear end detection sensor 304 is disposed between the seal separation roller 303 and the first conveyance roller 305. The seal separation roller 303 is composed of a pair of rollers, and the upper roller is driven to rotate counterclockwise in the drawing and rotates to send the seal in the transport direction, and the lower roller sends the seal in the direction opposite to the transport direction. It is driven to rotate. Details will be described later. Since the first transport roller 305 is composed of a pair of rollers and transports with a seal interposed therebetween, the upper transport roller in the figure rotates in the counterclockwise direction and the lower transport roller in the figure rotates in the clockwise direction. Driven. Further, a transfer position detection sensor 307 is disposed downstream of the second conveyance roller 306. The transfer position detection sensor 307 also serves as a seal tip detection sensor.

Since a plurality of seals S taken out by the seal take-out roller 302 are in a continuous state, they are sorted one by one by the seal separating roller 303 and conveyed to the intermediate transfer unit 400 arranged further downstream. (See FIGS. 3B and 3C). The seal separating roller 303 is preferably made of, for example, EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene rubber) as a main raw material. This is because even if the seal is repeatedly conveyed, a high friction coefficient can be maintained and the wear resistance is excellent. Furthermore, “surface finish” on the surface of the seal separation roller 303 is more preferable because the friction increases. The lower roller of the seal separation roller 303 is connected to the drive system via a torque limiter (not shown). When the seal S is not overrun, the torque limiter loses the frictional force and rotates in the transport direction. When two or more sheets overlap, the frictional force between the seals is weaker than that of the torque limiter. Therefore, the lower seal is conveyed in the direction in which it is returned.

The printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can handle a plurality of types of single-cut stickers S. Each single-sheet sticker S is different in size and printed information. Therefore, there is no problem when the cut sheet seal S as set in the upper control PC 200 or the like is loaded in the hopper 301, but when a cut sheet S other than the set sheet is loaded, There is a possibility that print information that should not be printed on the cut sheet S is printed and issued. When the automatic printing is performed by batch processing, if the user does not accidentally notice the loading of the non-set sheet sticker S, for example, as many as 50 sheets of non-predetermined sticker printing are performed. In such a case, not only the single sheet seal S but also the transfer material used in printing is completely wasted.

Therefore, the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can determine the type of the cut sheet S. Here, two types of single-cut seals S of A type seal and B type seal will be described as an example. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the A type seal and the B type seal have a total length in the transport direction of the B type seal that is longer than the total length of the A type seal.

In the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the length of the sticker S is checked after taking in the sticker, and the sticker type is determined. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining seal type determination. As shown in FIG. 5, the seal S taken out from the hopper 301 and distributed by the seal separating roller 302 is transferred to the intermediate transfer unit 40 by the first conveying roller 305 and the second conveying roller 306.
It is conveyed in the 0 direction, and the tip of the seal S eventually reaches the transfer position detection sensor 307. At this time, the status of the seal trailing edge detection sensor 304 disposed immediately after the seal separation roller 302 is confirmed.

In the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the distance between the transfer position detection sensor 307 and the seal rear end detection sensor 304 is longer than the total length of the A type seal and shorter than the total length of the B type seal. That is, if the distance between sensors is N, the total length of the A type seal is L, and the total length of the B type seal is M, the sensors are arranged so as to satisfy the relationship of L <N <M. For example, N = 117.2 mm, L = 102 mm, and M = 124 mm are set.

Since the relationship is set as described above, when the status of the seal trailing edge detection sensor 304 is “dark” when the tip of the seal S makes the transfer position detection sensor 307 “dark”, the B type seal, If it is “bright”, it can be determined that it is an A type seal (see FIG. 5).

If it is determined that the single-cut sticker S set in the upper control PC 200 is a B-type seal and the actually loaded single-stick sticker S is a B-type sticker, the conveyed sticker S is in the carrying direction. It is conveyed to the downstream intermediate transfer unit 400. On the other hand, when it is determined that the actually loaded cut sheet S is an A type seal, the subsequent printing operation itself is stopped as a loading error, and for example, the operator is notified that an incorrect print medium is set. . As this notification method, for example, it is possible to display that an incorrect print medium is set on a separately prepared monitor, or to sound an alarm.

In this way, the single-sheet sticker S taken in from the hopper 301 becomes the upper control PC 20.
Since printing is started after it is determined that the predetermined sticker is set to 0, wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon and the transfer ribbon can be suppressed.

(Booklet import and media discrimination)
Next, a case where a booklet is handled as a print medium will be described.

The printing apparatus according to the present embodiment is capable of printing booklets in addition to single-sheet stickers. The booklet is inserted in a state where the page to be printed is opened by the operator from the booklet insertion port provided on the opposite side to the hopper 301 via the conveyance path, and is taken into the printing apparatus. If the page to be printed is erroneously inserted without being opened and printing is performed, the ink ribbon and the transfer ribbon are wasted.

Therefore, the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a function that can also detect the length of the booklet inserted from the insertion slot.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of detecting the length of the booklet P. As shown in FIG.
When the booklet P is inserted in a state where the page to be printed is opened, the take-in roller 503 disposed in the vicinity of the insertion port 501 takes it into the apparatus. A take-in roller 503, a third transport roller 505, and a fourth transport roller 506 are arranged in order along the transport path toward the downstream in the transport direction. A set of booklet detection sensors 504 are disposed between the take-in roller 503 and the third transport roller 505 so as to face the transport path. The booklet detection sensor 504 can be constituted by a photo sensor, for example.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the length of the booklet P. FIG. Here, when the length of the booklet in the spread state toward the transport direction = D and the length of the closed booklet = E, in the present printing apparatus, the above-described L,
The relationship with M is set as follows.

E <L <M <D
For example, D = 176 mm and E = 88 mm are set.

Since the relationship is set as described above, the length of the booklet P inserted from the insertion slot 501 is D.
When it is determined that the booklet is shorter, it is understood that the booklet P is not in the spread state that should be originally inserted (see FIG. 7).

As shown in FIG. 6, the booklet P in a spread state is conveyed at a constant conveyance speed by the take-in roller 503 (FIG. 6A), and first the leading end of the booklet P reaches the booklet detection sensor 504 (FIG. 6).
(B)). When the status of the booklet detection sensor 504 becomes “dark”, a software timer counter (not shown) is activated to start counting up the timer counter. Thereafter, the booklet P is transported at a constant speed, the trailing edge of the booklet P passes through the booklet detection sensor 504, and when it becomes “bright”, the count value of the software timer counter is recorded and the count-up is stopped (FIG. 6). (C)).

At this time, if the booklet transport speed = V [mm / sec], the timer counter cycle = d [msec], and the timer count value = t [times], the detected booklet length Q is
Q = (V x d x t) / 1000 [mm]
It turns out that it is. As an example, by setting V = 100 [mm / sec] and timer counter cycle = 1 [msec], it is possible to detect a difference in length in units of 0.1 [mm] theoretically.

The booklet P is inserted in an opened state, and is conveyed to the intermediate transfer unit 400 when it is determined that the length of the booklet is normal. On the other hand, if it is determined that the length of the booklet P is not normal,
Unlike the sticker S, even if the booklet P is accidentally inserted without being opened, it does not end in error,
Reject transfer is possible. Therefore, when the detected booklet length Q is shorter than D, it is possible to notify the operator of the abnormality of the print medium by rejecting the medium to the insertion port 501 as a medium abnormality. In that case, the operator can prevent unnecessary consumption of the ink ribbon and the transfer ribbon by opening the page to be printed and inserting the booklet P again. In order to improve the printing performance of the printing apparatus, in the case of booklet printing, it is possible to print the image formed on the transfer ribbon prior to the insertion of the printing medium.

Next, an intermediate transfer operation after the seal S or booklet P, which is a print medium, has been correctly taken in will be described. Here, an embodiment in which a hologram pattern is applied to the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer film will be described.

(Configuration of intermediate transfer film)
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the intermediate transfer film layer 401. The intermediate transfer film has a phenoxy resin as a release layer on the surface of a PET film as a substrate, a hologram forming layer made of a transparent resin, a transparent hologram layer made of a metal compound vapor-deposited layer, and a polyester resin as an image receiving layer and an adhesive layer. It is a thing.

In addition to this, a functional layer such as a fluorescent coloring layer that emits light by ultraviolet rays can be provided on the intermediate transfer film, and these functional layers can be transferred simultaneously with the transfer to the transfer target. Also, different configurations such as “base layer, release layer, image receiving adhesive layer” and “base layer, release layer, protective layer, hologram layer, image receiving / adhesive layer” may be used.

(Explanation of operation of intermediate transfer unit)
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the intermediate transfer unit 400. As shown in FIG. 9, the intermediate transfer unit is functionally composed of an “information printing unit (printing unit)” and an “overcoat transfer unit (transfer unit)”.
Can be divided.

In the “printing section”, print data is printed by, for example, a hot melt transfer printing method. In the hot melt transfer printing method, information or the like is printed on the surface of the image receiving and adhesive layer of the intermediate transfer film 401 by the intermediate transfer film 401 and the molten ink ribbon 404 disposed between the thermal head 402 and the platen roller 403. It is a method. Features of the hot-melt transfer method include high image durability and relatively easy application of functional materials to ink materials (for example, fluorescent pigments and aluminum vapor deposited thin films). Suitable for printed materials.

The base film thickness and the ink layer thickness of the molten ink ribbon 404 are extremely important parameters for print dot reproducibility, and the total thickness of the ink ribbon is preferably 3 to 25 μm, and more preferably 4 to 10 μm. On the other hand, the base film thickness and the total image receiving / adhesion thickness of the intermediate transfer film 401 are parameters that affect the adhesiveness and film breakage characteristics.
The total thickness is preferably 10 to 100 μm, and more preferably 25 to 50 μm.

The platen roller 403 is a roller using a hard rubber material on the surface, and the reproducibility of minute dots improves as the rubber hardness increases. At the same time, an optimum positional relationship between the platen roller 403 and the thermal head 402 can be obtained. It becomes difficult. For this reason, the hardness is preferably 75 degrees or more, desirably 85 to 97 degrees. At the same time, the surface roughness of the polished rubber surface also improves the reproducibility of minute dots as the surface smoothness increases. For this reason, the surface roughness is 1 as the center line average roughness Ra.
The thickness is preferably not more than μm, and more preferably 0.5 μm.

In general, the driving force for transporting the transfer film is often provided with a driving mechanism in the platen roller 403. However, the intermediate transfer film 401 and the platen roller 403 have the above-mentioned hardness and smoothness.
The coefficient of friction does not increase and is not stable. For this reason, a film driving roller 405 can be separately provided immediately downstream (on the heat roller side) of the platen roller 403. As the film driving roller, for example, a roller having a hardness of 30 to 60 degrees is used, and the transfer film preferably has a winding angle as large as possible with respect to the driving roller. Thus, as an example, 90 ° to 130 °
It is preferable to arrange the tensioner 406 so that a winding angle of ° can be obtained. The tensioner 406 is provided with a spring mechanism (not shown), and it is desirable to apply tension to the film within a limited movable range so that the film driving roller 405 and the transfer film are always in proper contact with each other. For driving the film driving roller 405, for example, a combination of a five-phase stepping motor, a timing belt, and a speed reduction mechanism using a pulley is employed to perform accurate conveyance.

Further, as the thermal head 402, for example, a near-edge or corner-edge type head is used, and the ink ribbon is recorded before the ink layer softened or melted by heating is solidified by printing by peeling at the time of heating, that is, melt thermal transfer recording. It is desirable to peel off from the medium.

  The operation of the printing unit configured as described above is performed as follows.

i) In order to control the hologram pattern position and printing position of the intermediate transfer film 401, the hologram position mark detection sensor 407 detects a mark indicating the hologram position of the intermediate transfer film 401 fed out from the delivery reel. Using the mark detection result,
The intermediate transfer film 401 is controlled to coincide with the printing start position.

ii) The unique print information or the like is printed at each print position of the sticker S or the booklet P.
The information printed on the booklet is color printing by superimposing four colors of black in addition to the three primary colors Y, M, and C. In the multi-color overlay printing, the intermediate transfer film 401 is the thermal head 4.
02 is reciprocated by the same number of times as the number of colors to perform overlay printing. In addition, the information to be printed is a reverse image. In addition to the above four colors, a functional ink such as an ink containing a fluorescent pigment may be applied as the printing color. If the information printed on the sticker is a monochrome image, printing of the three primary colors Y, M, and C is omitted.

In the "transfer section", the intermediate transfer film printing surface (adhesive layer surface) to which the printing information is given by the printing section
And the target page of the booklet are overlapped, and pressurization and heating are performed by the heat roller 408 to simultaneously transfer the printing information, the image receiving and adhesive layer, and the hologram layer. The heat roller 408 is, for example,
It is driven by a DC servo motor or stepping motor. As a result, it can be driven accurately at a constant speed, and the pressure generated by the coil spring is applied to the freely rotatable backup roller 409.

  The operation of the transfer unit configured as described above is performed as follows.

(Transfer to seal)
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the transfer operation to the seal, and FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the transfer operation.

i) After the printing of the intermediate transfer film on the corresponding transfer area is completed, the transfer film is wound in the forward direction (heat roller direction), and the transfer portion mark detection sensor 410 provided in the middle of the path.
Thus, the current position of the transfer film is grasped. Then, the transfer film is sent to the transfer start position (FIG. 10A).

ii) On the other hand, after the seal S is removed from the hopper 301, the intermediate transfer unit 400 is
After the seal S has passed through the transfer position sensor 307, it is transported by a specified amount and sent to a predetermined position with respect to the heat roller 408 (FIG. 10B).

iii) The intermediate transfer film 401 and the seal S, which are positioned relative to each other, are put together with the rotation of the metal heat roller 408 having a shape in which a part of the circumference is cut out, and are pressurized and heated simultaneously with the conveyance. Thereafter, the transfer film base is pulled up at an angle of 60 ° to 110 ° with respect to the seal S, and the transfer of the printing information, the image receiving and adhesive layer, and the hologram layer is completed (FIG. 1).
0 (c), FIG. 11). iv) The seal S that has been transferred is conveyed to the seal discharge port 507 (FIG. 10D).

(Transfer to booklet)
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a transfer operation to a booklet.

i) After printing on the transfer area of the intermediate transfer film 401 is completed, the transfer film is wound up in the forward direction (heat roller direction), and the current position of the transfer film is grasped by the transfer portion mark detection sensor 410 in the middle of the path. The Then, the transfer film is sent to the transfer start position (FIG. 12A).

ii) On the other hand, the booklet P is taken in with the page to be printed opened, and is conveyed until the front end of the booklet P reaches the transfer position detection sensor 307. Thereafter, the switchback is performed, and a predetermined amount is conveyed from “bright” of the transfer position detection sensor 307, and the booklet P is sent to a predetermined position with respect to the heat roller 408 (FIG. 12B). The page to be transferred may be a cover-back page or another medium page.

iii) The corresponding pages of the intermediate transfer film 401 and the booklet P that are positioned with respect to each other are:
Along with the rotation of the metal heat roller 408 having a shape in which a part of the circumference is cut out, it is pressurized and heated simultaneously with the conveyance. Thereafter, the transfer film base is pulled up at an angle of 60 ° to 110 ° with respect to the booklet P, and the transfer of the print information, the image receiving and adhesive layer, and the hologram layer is completed (FIGS. 12C and 11).

iv) The booklet P that has been transferred is the booklet insertion / discharge port 50 with the page opened.
1 (FIG. 12D).

  Next, the gate operation will be described.

Print media consisting of stickers or booklets that have completed the transfer operation, depending on the type of the media,
They are sorted by a gate 507 that switches a conveyance path for discharge, and collected or discharged. The gate 507 can move up and down by driving a solenoid, for example, and each position can be detected by a sensor. For example, the booklet take-in / discharge port 501 is formed when the front end of the gate 507 is directed upward, and is switched to the discharge port 507 for the seal stacker 508 when the front end of the gate 507 is directed downward.

The seal S for which the transfer operation has been completed is distributed by the gate 507 and is discharged from the booklet 501.
Is discharged and accumulated in a seal accumulation unit 508 different from the above. For example, the seal stacking unit 508 has 1
It is preferable to design so that the maximum number of prints automatically performed in batch processing can be stocked.

The booklet P for which the transfer operation has been completed is in an open state, and the tip of the gate 502 is in an upward state like the booklet insertion port 501, and is discharged to the booklet insertion port 501 as it is.

Similarly, when the booklet P that is not opened is inserted and rejected, the gate 50
2 The tip is in an upward state and is discharged to the booklet insertion port 501.

According to the present embodiment, a plurality of types of print media such as stickers or booklets are used as the upper control P.
Since printing is started after determining whether or not the predetermined one set in C is set, wasteful consumption of the ink ribbon and the transfer ribbon can be suppressed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control relationship between a printing apparatus and a control PC. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an overall configuration of a main part of the printing apparatus. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the seal | sticker taking-out mechanism of a hopper. It is a figure explaining the classification of the sticker handled with a printing apparatus. It is a figure explaining the classification classification of a seal. It is a figure explaining the length detection of a booklet. It is a figure explaining the length of a booklet. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of an intermediate transfer film layer. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of an intermediate transfer unit. It is a figure for demonstrating the transfer operation | movement to a seal | sticker. It is a schematic diagram of a transfer operation. It is a figure for demonstrating the transcription | transfer operation | movement to a booklet.

Explanation of symbols

100 Printer 200 Control PC
101 Printing Device Control Unit 102 Intermediate Transfer Image Processing Unit 103 Heater Temperature Control Unit 104 Medium Conveyance Control Unit 105 Image Formation Control Unit 301 Hopper 302 Seal Extraction Roller 303 Seal Separation Roller 304 Seal Rear Edge Detection Sensor 305 First Conveyance Roller 306 Second Conveyance roller 307 Transfer position detection sensor

Claims (5)

A capture unit for capturing print media;
A discriminator for discriminating the type of the captured print medium;
A printing section for printing information on an intermediate transfer medium;
A transfer unit for transferring information printed on the intermediate transfer medium by the printing unit to the print medium;
When the printing medium determined by the determination unit is not a regular one, the control unit that does not carry the printing medium to the transfer unit and controls the printing unit not to start a printing operation; A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the determination units respectively corresponding to different types of print media. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print medium is a plurality of types of single-cut stickers having different lengths in the conveyance direction. The said discrimination | determination part is arrange | positioned along the conveyance direction of a sheet | seat seal | sticker, and is provided with the seal | sticker front-end | tip detection sensor which detects the front-end | tip of a seal | sticker, and the seal | sticker rear-end detection sensor which detects the rear end of a seal | sticker. The printing apparatus as described. Set the print medium and print information on the host control device,
Determine the type of the print medium that has been imported,
When the print medium is set, the print information printed on the intermediate transfer medium is transferred to the print medium,
An intermediate transfer printing method, wherein printing information is not printed on an intermediate transfer medium when the print medium is not set.

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