JP2014186268A - Transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce defective transfer of an image to be transferred from a recording material to a base material.SOLUTION: A transfer device (U3) includes: a transfer part (31) arranged on the downstream side of a lamination part (U3a) in a conveyance direction of a laminate (19) on which a recording material (10) forming an image on its surface and a base material (7) to which the image is to be transferred are laminated and configured so as to convey the laminate (19) to the downstream side, heat the laminate (19) and transfer the image formed on the surface of the recording material (10) to a surface of the base material (7); and a heating member (23) arranged on the downstream side of the lamination part (U3a) and the upstream side of the transfer part (31) in the conveyance direction of the laminate (19) and configured so as to convey the laminate (19) to the transfer part (31) at a speed lower than a conveyance speed of the transfer part (31) and heat the laminate (19) at a low temperature as compared with a lower limit temperature at which the image can be transferred from the recording material (10) to the base material (7).

Description

  The present invention relates to a transfer apparatus.

A technique described in Patent Document 1 below is known regarding an apparatus for forming an image on the surface of a substrate such as an IC card.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-227377 as Patent Document 1 describes a technique for forming an image on the surface of a thick plastic sheet (38) such as a cash card with a face photograph. In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, an image is formed on the surface of the transfer sheet (22) in the image forming apparatus (12), and the transfer sheet (22) on which the image is formed is a plastic sheet in the collating apparatus (14). (38), and one end is temporarily fastened to form a laminate. The laminated body is heated by the heating roll (48) when passing through the belt (46) supported by the heating roll (48), and the image formed on the transfer sheet (22) is formed on the plastic sheet (38). Transcribed. The transfer sheet (22) after the image is transferred is peeled off from the plastic sheet (38) in the peeling device (17).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-227377 (“0183”, “0184”, “0196”, “0204” to “0206”, FIG. 3)

  An object of the present invention is to reduce transfer defects of an image transferred from a recording material to a base material.

In order to solve the technical problem, a transfer device according to claim 1 is provided.
A recording material on which an image is formed on the surface and a base material on which the image on the surface of the recording material is transferred are conveyed, and the laminate is heated to the surface of the recording material. A transfer part for transferring the formed image to the surface of the substrate;
It is arranged on the upstream side of the transfer unit with respect to the conveyance direction of the laminate, and conveys the laminate to the transfer unit at a lower speed than the transfer speed of the transfer unit, and from the recording material to the substrate. A heating member that warms the laminate to a lower temperature than a lower limit temperature at which an image can be transferred;
It is characterized by providing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the transfer device according to the first aspect,
It has a pair of first rotating bodies that rotate while contacting with a preset pressure, sandwiching the stacked body between the first rotating bodies, and the downstream of the stacked body in the transport direction The transfer section for transporting the laminate;
A laminate having a pair of second rotating bodies that rotate while contacting with a pressure lower than a contact pressure of the first rotating body, and sandwiching the stacked body between the second rotating bodies; The heating member for transporting the laminate to the downstream side in the transport direction,
It is provided with.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the transfer device according to the first or second aspect,
A cooling unit that is arranged on the downstream side of the transfer unit with respect to the transport direction of the stacked body and cools the stacked body, wherein the transfer unit is faster than the speed at which the stacked body is transported. The cooling unit that conveys the laminate to the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the laminate,
It is provided with.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the transfer device according to the third aspect,
A plurality of cooling members that are arranged at predetermined intervals along the transport direction of the laminated body and that cool in contact with the laminated body that passes through the upstream side in the transport direction of the laminated body The temperature at which the cooling member disposed on the laminated body cools the laminated body is set to a temperature lower than the lower limit temperature, and compared to the cooling member disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction of the laminated body, The cooling unit in which the temperature of the cooling member disposed on the downstream side is set to a low temperature,
It is provided with.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of transfer failure of an image transferred from the recording material to the base material, compared to a case where the heating speed of the heating member to transport the laminate is not lower than that of the transfer unit. be able to.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of transfer unevenness as compared with the case where the contact pressure between the second rotating bodies is not weaker than the contact pressure between the first rotating bodies.
According to invention of Claim 3, a deformation | transformation of a laminated body can be suppressed compared with the case where the conveyance speed which a cooling part conveys a laminated body is not higher than a transfer part.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, compared to a case where the upstream side cooling member having a temperature lower than the lower limit temperature and the downstream side cooling member having a temperature lower than that of the upstream side cooling member are not provided, the stacked body has a sharper shape. Cooling can be reduced and deformation of the laminate can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the recording material, FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram of the recording material of Example 1, and FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the recording material. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the main body of the transfer device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram when images are printed on both sides of the base material of Example 1, and FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the recording material onto which the image on the first side is transferred is stacked on the stacking unit. 5B is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a base material is stacked from the state shown in FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5C is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a recording material on which an image on the second side is further recorded from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the base material onto which the image of Example 1 has been transferred. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the stacked body conveyed by being sandwiched between the first rotating body and the second rotating body according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating the first structure in a state of being sandwiched between the second rotating bodies. FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram of the stacked body sandwiched between the second rotating body and the first rotating body. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a transfer portion having an endless belt-like transfer member, and corresponds to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the state after the substrate to which the image has been transferred is rapidly cooled.

Next, specific examples of embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as examples) will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
In order to facilitate understanding of the following description, in the drawings, the front-rear direction is the X-axis direction, the left-right direction is the Y-axis direction, the up-down direction is the Z-axis direction, and arrows X, -X, Y, -Y, The direction indicated by Z and -Z or the indicated side is defined as the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, the lower side, or the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, and the lower side, respectively.
In the figure, “•” in “○” means an arrow heading from the back of the page to the front, and “×” in “○” is the front of the page. It means an arrow pointing from the back to the back.
In the following description using the drawings, illustrations other than members necessary for the description are omitted as appropriate for easy understanding.

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a printer U as an example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a printer main body U1 as an example of an apparatus main body. The printer U is electrically connected to a personal computer PC as an example of an image information transmission device. The control unit C of the printer U is configured to be able to input image information transmitted from the personal computer PC.
The control unit C converts the image information input from the personal computer PC into yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K image information for forming a latent image. The control unit C outputs the converted image information to the writing circuit DL at a preset time.
Note that the control unit C outputs image information of only black K to the writing circuit DL when the image is a single color image, so-called monochrome.

  The writing circuit DL outputs a signal corresponding to the input image information to LED heads LHy, LHm, LHc, and LHk as an example of an exposure apparatus arranged for each color at a preset time. In Example 1, each of the LED heads LHy to LHk is configured by an LED array in which LEDs as an example of light emitting elements are linearly arranged along the width direction of an image. In the LED heads LHy to LHk, the LEDs emit light according to the input signals. Therefore, the LED heads LHy to LHk output write light according to the input signal.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, photoconductors PRy, PRm, PRc, and PRk, which are examples of image carriers, are disposed above the LED heads LHy to LHk.
On the upstream side of the LED heads LHy to LHk with respect to the rotation direction of each of the photoconductors PRy, PRm, PRc, and PRk, charging rolls CRy, CRm, CRc, and CRk as examples of chargers are arranged on the photoconductors PRy to PRk. It is arranged in contact with. Developing devices Gy, Gm, Gc, and Gk are disposed on the downstream side of the LED heads LHy to LHk with respect to the rotation direction of the photoconductors PRy to PRk. Primary transfer rolls T1y, T1m, T1c, and T1k as an example of a primary transfer unit are disposed on the downstream side of the developing devices Gy to Gk with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive members PRy to PRk. Photoreceptor cleaners CLy, CLm, CLc, and CLk as an example of an image carrier cleaner are disposed downstream of the primary transfer rolls T1y to T1k with respect to the rotation direction of the photoreceptors PRy to PRk. .

  The Y color of Example 1 in which a toner image as an example of a visible image is formed by the Y color photoreceptor PRy, the charging roll CRy, the LED head LHy, the developing device Gy, the primary transfer roll T1y, and the photoreceptor cleaner CLy. A Y-color image forming unit Uy as an example of the visible image forming apparatus is configured. Similarly, each photoconductor PRm, PRc, PRk, charging roll CRm, CRc, CRk, LED head LHm, LHc, LHk, developing device Gm, Gc, Gk, primary transfer roll T1m, T1c, T1k, photoconductor cleaner CLm. , CLc, CLk constitute the image forming portions Um, Uc, Uk of the M, C, K colors.

  Above the photoconductors PRy to PRk, a belt module BM as an example of an intermediate transfer device is disposed. The belt module BM has an endless belt-like intermediate transfer belt B as an example of an intermediate transfer member. The intermediate transfer belt B includes a belt driving roll Rd as an example of a driving member, a tension roll Rt as an example of a stretching member, a walking roll Rw as an example of a member for correcting deviation, and an example of a driven member. The idler roll Rf, a backup roll T2a as an example of a member facing the secondary transfer region, and primary transfer rolls T1y, T1m, T1c, T1k are rotatably supported.

A secondary transfer roll T2b as an example of a secondary transfer member is disposed at a position facing the backup roll T2a across the intermediate transfer belt B. In the first embodiment, the backup roll T2a is grounded, and a secondary transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity is applied from the power supply circuit E to the secondary transfer roll T2b. The backup roll T2a and the secondary transfer roll T2b constitute the secondary transfer device T2 of the first embodiment. A secondary transfer region Q4 is formed by the region where the secondary transfer roll T2b and the intermediate transfer belt B are in contact with each other.
A belt cleaner CLb is disposed on the downstream side of the secondary transfer region Q4 with respect to the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt B as an example of an intermediate transfer member cleaner.
The primary transfer rolls T1y to T1k, the intermediate transfer belt B, the secondary transfer unit T2, and the like constitute a transfer device T1 + T2 + B of the first embodiment. The image recording units Uy to Uk + T1 + T2 + B of the first embodiment are configured by the image forming units Uy to Uk and the transfer device T1 + T2 + B.

In FIG. 1, four pairs of left and right guide rails GR as an example of a guide member are provided below the image forming units Uy to Uk. Each guide rail GR supports paper feed trays TR <b> 1 to TR <b> 4 as an example of a medium storage portion so as to be able to enter and exit in the front-rear direction. The sheet feeding trays TR1 to TR4 accommodate recording sheets S as an example of a medium.
A pickup roll Rp as an example of a take-out member is disposed on the upper right side of the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4. A separating roll Rs as an example of a separating member is arranged on the downstream side of the pickup roll Rp with respect to the conveyance direction of the recording sheet S. As an example of a medium transport path, a paper feed path SH1 extending upward is formed on the downstream side of the separation roll Rs with respect to the transport direction of the recording sheet S. A plurality of transport rolls Ra as an example of a transport member is disposed in the paper feed path SH1.

In the sheet feeding path SH1, a registration roll Rr as an example of a conveyance timing adjusting member is disposed on the upstream side of the secondary transfer region Q4.
Further, a manual feed tray TR0 as an example of a manual feed unit is installed on the right side of the uppermost sheet feed tray TR1. In the manual feed tray TR0, a manual feed roll Rp0 as an example of a manual feed member is disposed.

A fixing device F is disposed on the downstream side of the secondary transfer region Q4 with respect to the conveyance direction of the sheet S. The fixing device F includes a heating roll Fh as an example of a fixing member for heating and a pressure roll Fp as an example of a fixing member for pressure. A fixing region Q5 is constituted by a contact region between the heating roll Fh and the pressure roll Fp.
Above the fixing device F, a paper discharge path SH3 as an example of a transport path is disposed. The sheet discharge path SH3 extends as an example of a medium discharge unit toward a sheet discharge tray TRh formed on the upper surface of the printer main body U1. A paper discharge roll Rh as an example of a medium transport member is disposed at a discharge port SH3a at the downstream end of the paper discharge path SH3.

(Explanation of printer functions)
In the printer U according to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration, when image information is input from the personal computer PC to the printer U, the control unit C converts the image information into Y, M, C, and K image information. The converted image information is output to the writing circuit DL. In the writing circuit DL, the LED heads LHy to LHk are controlled according to the input image information, and writing light is output.
Each of the photoconductors PRy to PRk is driven to rotate when image formation is started. A charging voltage is applied from the power supply circuit E to the charging rolls CRy to CRk. Therefore, the surfaces of the photoconductors PRy to PRk are charged by the charging rolls CRy to CRk. Electrostatic latent images are formed on the surfaces of the charged photoreceptors PRy to PRk by the writing light from the LED heads LHy to LHk at the writing positions Q1y, Q1m, Q1c, and Q1k. The electrostatic latent images on the photoconductors PRy to PRk are developed into toner images as an example of visible images by the developing devices Gy, Gm, Gc, and Gk in the development areas Q2y, Q2m, Q2c, and Q2k.

The developed toner image is conveyed to primary transfer regions Q3y, Q3m, Q3c, and Q3k that are in contact with an intermediate transfer belt B as an example of an intermediate transfer member. In the primary transfer regions Q3y, Q3m, Q3c, and Q3k, the primary transfer rolls T1y to T1k disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt B are set at a preset time from the power supply circuit E controlled by the control unit C. A primary transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied. Therefore, the toner images on the photoconductors PRy to PRk are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt B by the primary transfer rolls T1y to T1k. In the case of a multi-color toner image, the downstream toner image is transferred so as to overlap the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt B in the upstream primary transfer region.
Residues and deposits on the photoconductors PRy to PRk after the primary transfer are cleaned by the photoconductor cleaners CLy to CLk. The cleaned surfaces of the photoconductors PRy to PRk are recharged by the charging rolls CRy to CRk.
The single-color or multicolor toner images transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt B by the primary transfer rolls T1y to T1k in the primary transfer areas Q3y to Q3k are conveyed to the secondary transfer area Q4.

The sheet S on which the image is recorded is taken out by the pickup rolls Rp of the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 to be used. The sheets S picked up by the pick-up roll Rp are separated one by one by the rolls Rs when a plurality of sheets S are picked up. The sheet S separated by the separating roll Rs is conveyed through the sheet feeding path SH1 by the conveying roll Ra. The sheet S conveyed through the sheet feeding path SH1 is sent to the registration roll Rs.
When the sheets S stored in the manual feed tray TR0 are used, the manual feed roll Rp0 sends the sheets S stacked on the manual feed tray TR0 to the registration roll Rr via the manual feed path SH0.

The registration roll Rr conveys the sheet S to the secondary transfer area Q4 at the same time when the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt B is conveyed to the secondary transfer area Q4. A secondary transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the secondary transfer roll T2b by the power supply circuit E. Therefore, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt B is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt B to the sheet S.
The intermediate transfer belt B after the secondary transfer is cleaned by a belt cleaner CLb as an example of an intermediate transfer body cleaner.
The recording sheet S on which the toner image has been secondarily transferred is heated and fixed when passing through the fixing region Q5.
The recording sheet S on which the image is fixed is conveyed through the paper discharge path SH3. When a later-described relay unit U2 is not installed on the paper discharge tray TRh, the sheet S conveyed on the paper discharge path SH3 is discharged to the paper discharge tray TRh by the paper discharge roll Rh.

(Description of relay unit U2)
In FIG. 1, a relay unit U2 as an example of a medium transport device is detachably supported on the paper discharge tray TRh of the printer U according to the first embodiment.
Inside the relay unit U2, a relay path SH5 as an example of a medium transport path is formed. The relay path SH5 has a carry-in port 1 through which the recording sheet S discharged from the paper discharge roll Rh is carried on one end side connected to the sheet discharge port SH3a of the printer main body U1. A relay roll Ra2 as an example of a medium transport member is disposed on the relay path SH5. In the relay path SH5, a discharge port 2 for the post-processing apparatus is formed at the downstream end of the sheet S in the conveyance direction.

(Description of collating device of image transfer device)
In FIG. 1, an image transfer device U3 as an example of a transfer device is disposed on the left side of the printer U. The image transfer apparatus U3 according to the first embodiment includes a collation apparatus U3a that is disposed adjacent to the relay unit U2 as an example of a stacking unit.
A card tray 6 as an example of a second medium storage unit is supported on the lower right side of the collating apparatus U3a. The card tray 6 is an example of a base material, and a card base material 7 as an example of a second medium is loaded thereon. The card substrate 7 contains an IC chip (not shown) as an example of an information storage medium. The IC chip of Example 1 is configured by a chip capable of wireless communication, a so-called IC tag. Therefore, information can be transmitted and received in a non-contact manner via the IC chip. In the IC chip of the first embodiment, medium information such as the type of the constituent material of the card base 7 and the size of the card base 7 is stored in advance.

In the collating apparatus U3a, a second paper discharge tray 8 as an example of a second medium discharge unit is formed at the top.
Also, a compile tray 9 as an example of a main body of the stacking unit is supported inside the collating apparatus U3a at a position corresponding to the left side of the card tray. On the compile tray 9 according to the first embodiment, a card base 7 and a sheet S on which a toner image is formed by the printer main body U1 can be stacked.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the recording material, FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram of the recording material of Example 1, and FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the recording material.
Here, in Example 1, the transfer film 10 as an example of a medium and an example of a recording material is used as the sheet S, but an MOE film: Marking on Everything film can also be used. 3A, the transfer film 10 of Example 1 has a film-like base material layer 10a. An image receiving layer 10b is supported on the surface of the base material layer 10a. In addition, the base material layer 10a can be comprised with a PET film whose thickness is 80 micrometers, for example. Further, the image receiving layer 10b can be constituted by, for example, a conventionally known toner image receiving layer having a thickness of several μm. For the toner image receiving layer, for example, a conventionally known configuration described in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4013658 and Japanese Patent No. 4019921 can be used, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 3B, it is also possible to use a transfer film 10 ′ having a protective layer 10c between the base material layer 10a and the image receiving layer 10b.

Further, the collating device U3a is formed with a colling entrance 11 connected to the discharge port 2 of the relay path SH5 on the relay unit U2 side. Inside the collation apparatus U3a, a conveyance path 12 extending leftward from the collation carry-in entrance 6 is formed. The conveyance path 12 is an example of a discharge conveyance path, and includes a discharge path 12 a that extends toward the upper second paper discharge tray 8 as an example of a reversal conveyance path. At the downstream end of the discharge path 12a, a discharge roll Rh2 as an example of a discharge member is disposed corresponding to the second discharge tray 8. The conveyance path 12 includes a loading path 12 b that branches from the discharge path 12 a and extends toward the compilation tray 9 as an example of a medium conveyance path. At a position where the discharge path 12a and the loading path 12b branch, a gate 13 as an example of a member for switching the medium transport direction is disposed. Further, the conveyance path 12 includes, as an example of a medium conveyance path, a base material feed path 12c that extends from the card tray 6 toward the compilation tray 9 and joins the stacking path 12b.
On the conveyance path 12, a plurality of conveyance rolls Ra3 as an example of a medium conveyance member are arranged. Further, on the upper left side of the card tray 6, a pickup roll Rp and a separation roll Rs configured in the same manner as the pickup roll Rp and the separation roll Rs provided in each of the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 are arranged.

The compile tray 9 of the first embodiment is inclined upward as it goes to the left, which is the downstream side in the medium conveyance direction.
A stopper 16 that extends upward is supported at the right end of the compile tray 9 as an example of a stop member. The stopper 16 according to the first exemplary embodiment is supported so as to be movable along the conveyance direction according to the length of the sheet S stacked on the compilation tray 9 in the conveyance direction. The stopper 16 is configured such that its position along the conveyance direction can be controlled by a driving mechanism such as a motor or a gear (not shown). The stopper 16 contacts the rear end in the transport direction of the sheets S stacked on the compilation tray 9 and aligns the rear ends of the sheets S. The stopper 16 according to the first exemplary embodiment also has a function of transporting the sheet S to the downstream side by moving toward the downstream side in the transport direction in a state where the sheets S are stacked.

A tamper 17 as an example of an alignment member is supported at the center of the compile tray 9 in the left-right direction. The tamper 17 is supported so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the tamper 17 contacts and separates the front and rear ends of the sheets S stacked on the compilation tray 9 to align the front and rear ends of the sheets S.
A temporary fixing device 18 is supported at the left end of the compile tray 9. In the temporary fixing device 18, an arm 18a as an example of a movable portion is supported above and below the compile tray 9 so as to be rotatable about a rotation center 18b. A heating unit 18c is supported at the tip of the arm 18a. The temporary fixing device 18 according to the first embodiment is disposed at two positions with a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction.
Accordingly, when temporarily fixing the sheets S stacked on the compile tray 9, the temporary fixing device 18 moves from the state indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1 to the state indicated by the broken line, and each heating unit 18c heats the sheet S. Add. Therefore, the sheet S is fused at two places before and after the heat is applied. Therefore, in the temporary fixing device 18 of Example 1, it is possible to form a laminated body 19 in which the two places before and after the laminated card base material 7 and transfer film 10 are temporarily fixed.

  An encoding unit 20 as an example of a reading unit is arranged on the left side of the compile tray 9. The encoding unit 20 according to the first embodiment includes an endless conveyance belt 20a as an example of a conveyance member. A card reader 20b as an example of a reading member is disposed above the conveyor belt 20a. The card reader 20b transmits and receives information of the IC chip built in the card base 7 by non-contact wireless communication. Therefore, the card reader 20b can read information stored in the IC chip by wireless communication.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the main body of the transfer device according to the first embodiment.
On the left side of the collating device U3a, a main body U3b of the transfer device is supported. In the main body U3b of the transfer device, a cleaning roll 21 as an example of a cleaning member is disposed at the upstream end in the conveyance direction of the medium on which the stacked body 19 is also conveyed.
A heating device 23 as an example of a heating member is disposed downstream of the cleaning roll 21 in the medium conveyance direction. The heating device 23 includes a pair of upper and lower preheat rolls 24 as an example of a second rotating body. The preheat roll 24 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape that extends in the front-rear direction. Inside each preheat roll 24, a heater 26 as an example of a second heating body is disposed. The heater 26 extends in the front-rear direction.
A coil spring 27 as an example of a second pressure member is supported on the upper preheat roll 24. In the coil spring 27 of the first embodiment, the upper preheat roll 24 is brought into contact with the lower preheat roll 24 at a preset pressure.

A transfer device 31 as an example of a transfer unit is disposed downstream of the heating device 23 in the medium transport direction. The transfer device 31 includes a pair of upper and lower heat rolls 32 as an example of a first rotating body. The heat roll 32 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape that extends in the front-rear direction. Inside each heat roll 32, a heater 33 as an example of a first heating body is disposed. The heater 33 extends in the front-rear direction.
A coil spring 34 configured in the same manner as the coil spring 27 is supported on the upper heat roll 32.

A cooling device 41 as an example of a cooling unit is disposed downstream of the transfer device 31 in the medium conveyance direction. The cooling device 41 according to the first embodiment includes four pairs of upper and lower cooling rolls 42 as an example of a cooling member. Each cooling roll 42 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction. In the first embodiment, each pair of cooling rolls 42 is arranged at an interval in the medium conveyance direction. Inside each cooling roll 42, a heater 43 as an example of a cooling body is arranged. The heater 43 extends in the front-rear direction.
Coil springs 44 configured in the same manner as the coil springs 27 are supported on the upper cooling rolls 42 of each pair.

  In the main body unit U3b of the transfer apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment, the conveyance speed of the heat roll 32 is set to be higher than the conveyance speed of the medium of the preheat roll 24. Further, the conveying speed of the cooling roll 42 is set to be faster than the conveying speed of the heat roll 32. That is, in the configuration of the first embodiment, each of the rolls 24, 32, and 42 has a transport speed of the roll disposed on the downstream side as compared with the transport speed of the roll disposed on the upstream side in the medium transport direction. Is set to be faster. In the configuration of the first embodiment, the transport speed of the preheat roll 24 is set to be 5% slower than the transport speed of the heat roll 32 as an example. Moreover, compared with the conveyance speed of the heat roll 32, the conveyance speed of the cooling roll 42 is set to be 5% faster as an example.

Further, in the main body U3 of the transfer device of Example 1, the temperature of the heater 33 is set so that the toner image formed on the transfer film 10 is transferred to the surface of the card substrate 7 when passing through the heat roll 32. Is set.
In Example 1, toner that melts at about 90 ° C. and is transferred from the transfer film 10 to the card substrate 7 is used. Therefore, in the configuration of Example 1, as an example, the temperature of the laminated body 19 is set to be around 110 ° C. with a sufficient margin, that is, a so-called margin, with respect to 90 ° C. that is the temperature at which the toner melts. ing. In Example 1, the temperature of the heater 33 is set to 130 ° C. corresponding to the temperature of the laminated body 19 being lowered by about 20 ° C. with respect to the temperature of the heater 33.

Moreover, in the main body U3b of the transfer device of Example 1, as an example, the lower limit temperature at which the toner image formed on the transfer film 10 is transferred to the card substrate 7 when the laminate 19 passes the preheat roll 24. The temperature of the heater 26 is set so that the temperature of the laminated body 19 becomes lower than 90 ° C.
In particular, in Example 1, the temperature of the heater 26 is set so that the temperature of the laminated body 19 is lower than the glass transition temperature of the card substrate 7.

  In Example 1, as an example, the card substrate 7 has a glass transition temperature of 68 ° C., and the temperature of the laminated body 19 when passing through the preheat roll 24 corresponds to the card base 7 being used. The temperature of the heater 26 is set to 80 ° C. so as to be 60 ° C. Further, in the cooling device 41, the temperature of each heater 43 is decreased from the upstream side in the medium transport direction so that the temperature of the laminated body 19 is 60 ° C. or lower when passing through the four pairs of cooling rolls 42. It is set to 80 degreeC, 70 degreeC, 60 degreeC, and 50 degreeC in order toward the side.

Further, in the main body U3b of the transfer device of Example 1, the contact pressure between the heat rolls 32 is set to be higher than the contact pressure between the preheat rolls 24.
As an example, in Example 1, the length in the axial direction of the preheat roll 24 is set to 300 mm. The coil spring 27 applies a spring force of 50 kgf to each end of the preheat roll 24. The length of the heat roll 32 in the axial direction is set to 300 mm. The coil spring 34 applies a spring force of 100 kgf to each end of the heat roll 32.
Further, a discharge roll 51 as an example of a discharge member is disposed downstream of the cooling device 41 in the medium conveyance direction.
A third discharge tray 52 as an example of a medium storage unit is supported on the left side surface of the main body U3b of the transfer device. The laminated body 19 conveyed by the discharge roll 51 is discharged from the third discharge tray 52.

(Operation of Example 1)
In the printer U according to the first exemplary embodiment, when the relay unit U2 and the image transfer device U3 are mounted, when an image is printed on a sheet S such as plain paper and discharged, the image is printed by the printer main body U1. The sheet S carried into the relay unit U2 is discharged to the second paper discharge tray 8.
When an image is recorded on one side or both sides of the card base 7, it is printed on the image receiving layer 10b of the transfer film 10 accommodated in the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 by the printer body U1. The transfer film 10 printed on the image receiving layer 10b is carried into the collation apparatus U3a via the relay unit U2.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram when images are printed on both sides of the base material of Example 1, and FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the recording material onto which the image on the first side is transferred is stacked on the stacking unit. 5B is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a base material is stacked from the state shown in FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5C is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a recording material on which an image on the second side is further recorded from the state shown in FIG.
In FIG. 5A, when images are recorded on both surfaces of the card substrate 7, first, the transfer film 10 on which the image on the lower surface side of the card substrate 7 is recorded is guided to the gate 13 and conveyed to the discharge path 12a. Is done. When the rear end of the transfer film 10 passes through the gate 13, the discharge roll Rh2 rotates in the reverse direction, and the transfer film 10 is conveyed in the reverse direction through the discharge path 12a, that is, switched back. Then, the transfer film 10 is guided to the gate 13 and conveyed to the stacking path 12b. Therefore, the transfer film 10 is accommodated in the compile tray 9 with the image receiving layer 10b on the upper surface.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the card base 7 is sent out from the card tray 6. The card substrate 7 sent out from the card tray 6 is stacked and stacked above the transfer film 10.
Next, when the transfer film 10 on which the image on the upper surface side of the card substrate 7 is printed is carried into the collating apparatus U3a, the gate 13 is switched as shown in FIG. 5C. Then, the transfer film 10 is guided to the gate 13 and conveyed through the stacking path 12b without passing through the discharge path 12a. Therefore, the transfer film 10 on which the image on the upper surface side of the card substrate 7 is printed is loaded on the compile tray 9 with the image receiving layer 10b facing downward and the image receiving layer 10b facing the upper surface of the card substrate 7. The
When an image is recorded only on one side of the card substrate 7, only the upper or lower transfer film 10 corresponding to the recorded side is carried into the compile tray 9. .

When the card base material 7 and the transfer film 10 are loaded on the compile tray 9, the temporary fixing device 18 is operated, and the left end portions of the card base material 7 and the transfer film 10 are heated at two places in the front and rear, and temporarily fixed. Is done. Therefore, the card substrate 7 and the transfer film 10 are laminated as an integrally laminated body 19 that is temporarily fixed.
The stacked body 19 is transported to the encoding unit 20 disposed on the downstream side in the medium transport direction. In the encoding unit 20 of the first embodiment, the stacked body 19 is temporarily stopped and the card reader 20b reads information stored in the IC chip. The laminated body 19 that has passed through the encoding unit 20 is transported to the main body U3b of the transfer device disposed on the downstream side in the medium transport direction.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the base material onto which the image of Example 1 has been transferred.
In FIG. 4, the laminate 19 conveyed to the main body U3b of the transfer device comes into contact with the cleaning roll 21 and the surface is cleaned. The laminate 19 cleaned by the cleaning roll 21 is conveyed to the heating device 23. In the heating device 23, the laminate 19 is sandwiched between the preheat rolls 24, and the laminate 19 is set to a temperature lower than the temperature at which the image printed on the image receiving layer 10 b of the transfer film 10 can be transferred to the card substrate 7. Is warmed.
The laminate 19 heated by the preheat roll 24 is conveyed to the transfer device 31. In the transfer device 31, the laminate 19 is heated while being pressed by the laminate 19 being sandwiched between the heat rolls 32. At this time, the card base material 7 is also warmed to the glass transition temperature or higher and is softened. Therefore, when passing through the heat roll 32, the laminate 19 receives heat and pressure, and the image receiving layer 10 b is transferred to the card substrate 7. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the toner 61 printed on the transfer film 10 is transferred to the surface of the card substrate 7.

The laminate 19 having the image transferred to the surface of the card substrate 7 is conveyed to the cooling device 41. In the cooling device 41, the laminate 19 is sandwiched between the cooling rolls 42, and the laminate 19 is cooled to a low temperature. In particular, in each of the four pairs of cooling rolls 42, the temperature is set in advance so as to decrease in order from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the medium conveyance direction. Therefore, in the cooling device 41 according to the first embodiment, the stacked body 19 is gradually cooled as the stacked body 19 is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side in the medium transport direction.
And the laminated body 19 is conveyed by the discharge roll 51 after passing the cooling device 41. FIG. The discharge roll 51 discharges the stacked body 19 to the third discharge tray 52.
When the transfer film 10 is peeled off from the laminated body 19 discharged to the discharge tray 52, a card having an image transferred onto one or both sides of the card substrate 7 is obtained.

In the configuration of the first embodiment, the image is heated at a temperature lower than the lower limit temperature by the preheat roll 24 before the image is transferred to one or both surfaces of the card substrate 7 by the heat roll 32.
Here, in the conventional configuration in which the preheat roll 24 is not disposed, the heat roll 32 is entered without being heated. When the laminated body 19 that has not been heated enters the heat roll 32, much heat of the heat roll 32 is taken away by the cold laminated body 19. Therefore, when the transfer of the laminated body 19 is continuously performed at short intervals, or when the size of the laminated body 19 is large or thick, the heat amount of the heat roll 32 is insufficient with respect to the heat amount necessary for the transfer. There is a fear. That is, if transfer is performed at short intervals, the temperature of the heat roll 32 gradually decreases, and there is a risk that the temperature required for transfer cannot be secured. In addition, in the large-sized or thick laminate 19, much heat is absorbed on the upstream side of the laminate 19 with respect to the medium transport direction, and the heat tends to be insufficient on the downstream side of the laminate 19. Therefore, temperature unevenness may occur between the upstream side and the downstream side of the laminate 19. Therefore, there is a possibility that transfer unevenness occurs in the image transferred to the card base 7 and transfer failure occurs.

On the other hand, in the configuration of the first embodiment, the laminate 19 is heated by the preheat roll 24 disposed immediately upstream of the heat roll 32.
Therefore, the amount of heat of the heat roll 32 taken by the laminate 19 is reduced as compared with the conventional configuration in which an image is transferred to the laminate 19 in an unheated state. Therefore, in the configuration of the first embodiment, when the image is transferred to the laminate 19, the heat amount of the heat roll 32 is reduced and the occurrence of transfer failure is reduced.

Here, in the configuration in which the laminate 19 is heated to a temperature higher than the lower limit temperature by the preheat roll 24, the transfer is performed twice by the preheat roll 24 and the heat roll 32. When the transfer is performed twice, the toner that has been melted and transferred once is heated again. Therefore, a halftone dot image composed of toner of each color melts at a high temperature and mixes with the adjacent toner, which may cause a transfer failure such as discoloration, blurring and blurring of the toner. is there.
On the other hand, in the configuration of Example 1, the laminate 19 is heated to a temperature lower than the lower limit temperature by the preheat roll 24, and the image is not transferred to the laminate 19 by the preheat roll 24. Is done.
Therefore, in the configuration of the first embodiment, the preheat roll 24 prevents the transfer to the laminate 19 twice, and the occurrence of transfer defects in the image transferred to the card substrate 7 is suppressed. The

Furthermore, in the configuration in which the laminate 19 is heated to a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the card base material 7 by the preheat roll 24, the card base material 7 that has passed through the preheat roll 24 is in a softened state. When the card substrate 7 is softened, the laminated body 19 may be deformed so as to hang down after passing through the plate roll 24. Therefore, the conveyance becomes unstable, which may cause a conveyance failure. Further, when the card base material 7 softened by the preheat roll 24 passes through the heat roll 32, when the card base 7 receives pressure, the card base 7 is stretched in the horizontal direction, and the card base material 7 may be deformed.
Furthermore, when the temperature of the laminated body 19 approaches 70 ° C., incomplete transfer may start.

On the other hand, in the configuration of the first embodiment, the preheat roll 24 warms the laminate 19 to a temperature lower than the transition temperature of the card base material 7. Therefore, in the preheat roll 24, it is suppressed that the card | curd base material 7 softens. Therefore, the laminate 19 passes through the preheat roll 24 and is sent to the heat roll 32 while remaining in a hard state without being softened. Therefore, in the configuration of the first embodiment, conveyance failure and deformation of the laminate 19 are reduced.
Moreover, in the structure of Example 1, when the laminated body 19 is heated with the preheat roll 24, it heats further to low temperature with respect to the glass transition temperature of the card | curd base material 7 lower temperature than the said minimum temperature. . Therefore, in the preheat roll 24, the laminated body 19 is heated to a low temperature having a margin with respect to the lower limit temperature, and incomplete transfer is reduced. Therefore, occurrence of transfer defects in the image transferred to the card base 7 is reduced.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the stacked body conveyed by being sandwiched between the first rotating body and the second rotating body according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating the first structure in a state of being sandwiched between the second rotating bodies. FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram of the stacked body sandwiched between the second rotating body and the first rotating body.
In FIG. 7A, the laminate 19 is carried into the heat roll 32 arranged on the downstream side in the medium transport direction by the preheat roll 24. And when the downstream end part of the laminated body 19 is pinched | interposed into the heat roll 32, as shown to FIG. 7B, it will be in the state by which the laminated body 19 was straddled across both the rolls 24 and 32. FIG.

In the configuration of the first embodiment, the conveyance speed of the heat roll 32 arranged on the downstream side is set higher than the conveyance speed of the preheat roll 24 arranged on the upstream side in the medium conveyance direction. Yes.
Therefore, the transfer film 10 of the laminate 19 is pulled in the medium transport direction between the rolls 24 and 32, and a tension acts on the transfer film 10.
Therefore, in the laminated body 19 of Example 1, the transfer film 10 in which the tension is applied contacts the card base 7 in a cured state between the rolls 24 and 32 and closely adheres without any gap. And an image is transcribe | transferred with respect to the laminated body 19 of the state which the transfer film 10 and the card | curd base material 7 contact | adhered with the heat roll 32. FIG.

Here, in the conventional configuration in which the conveyance speed of the heat roll 32 is not faster than that of the preheat roll 24, the tension in the medium conveyance direction does not act on the transfer film 10. Therefore, the transfer film 10 and the card base material 7 are not in close contact with each other between the rolls 24 and 32, and there is a possibility that bubbles are generated between the transfer film 10 and the card base material 7.
And in the laminated body 19, there exists a possibility that temperature nonuniformity may arise between the location which the bubble generate | occur | produced and the location which has not generate | occur | produced.
Therefore, there is a possibility that a transfer failure may occur due to temperature unevenness generated in the laminate 19.

On the other hand, in the configuration of Example 1, the transfer film 10 enters the heat roll 32 in a state where the transfer film 10 is in close contact with the card substrate 7. Therefore, bubbles are hardly generated between the transfer film 10 and the card substrate 7 when transferred by the heat roll 32.
Therefore, compared with the conventional configuration in which the conveyance speed of the heat roll 32 is not faster than that of the preheat roll 24, the transfer failure in the heat roll 32 is suppressed in the configuration of the first embodiment.

In the configuration of the first embodiment, the conveyance speed of the heat roll 32 is faster than the conveyance speed of the preheat roll 24. Therefore, when the laminate 19 is transported by the heat roll 32, the preheat roll 24 pulls the laminate 19 upstream in the medium transport direction.
Here, in the configuration in which the contact pressure of the heat roll 32 is lower than the contact pressure of the preheat roll 24, the laminate 19 pulled by the preheat roll 24 slips with respect to the heat roll 32, and the heat roll The amount of heat transferred from 32 to the laminate 19 may be uneven. Therefore, there is a risk that a transfer failure such as transfer unevenness may occur due to unevenness in the amount of heat.

On the other hand, in the configuration of Example 1, the contact pressure of the heat roll 32 is higher than the contact pressure of the preheat roll 24. Therefore, when the laminate 19 is transferred by the heat roll 32, even when the laminate 19 is pulled by the preheat roll 24, it is difficult to slip between the heat roll 32 and the laminate 19. Therefore, the amount of heat applied from the heat roll 32 to the laminate 19 and the conveyance are easily stabilized.
Therefore, compared to the configuration in which the contact pressure of the heat roll 32 is lower than that of the preheat roll 24, in the configuration of Example 1, unevenness in the amount of heat transmitted from the heat roll 32 to the laminate 19 is reduced, and transfer failure occurs. Reduced.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a transfer portion having an endless belt-like transfer member, and corresponds to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment.
Here, instead of the transfer device 31 having the roll-shaped heat roll 32, it is also possible to use an endless belt-shaped transfer member, that is, a configuration of a transfer unit having a belt. In FIG. 8, the pair of upper and lower belts 71 are rotatably stretched by a heat roll 32 ′ and rotating members 72 and 73. The pair of upper and lower rotating members 72 is disposed downstream of the pair of upper and lower heat rolls 32 ′ in the medium transport direction. Therefore, the belts 71 are in contact with each other between the transfer member 32 ′ and the rotating member 72. Further, a cooling member 42 ′ is disposed between the transfer member 32 ′ and the rotating member 72 in a state in which the cooling member 42 ′ is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the belt 71.

In the configuration having the pair of upper and lower belts 71, the laminate 19 can be conveyed while being sandwiched between the belts 71. During conveyance, transfer is performed by the upstream heat roll 32 ′ and cooling is performed by the midstream cooling member 42 ′.
Therefore, when the pair of upper and lower belts 71 are provided, even if the card substrate 7 is heated to the glass transition temperature or higher during the transfer and is softened, the card body 7 is sandwiched and conveyed by the belt 71 and the laminate 19 is not easily deformed. Then, when the laminate 19 is sandwiched between the belts and passes through the cooling member 42 ′ and is cooled below the glass transition temperature and cured, the deformation of the laminate 19 can be suppressed.

However, when the belt is used, there is a problem that the belt meanders when the rolls 32 ′, 72, and 73 that stretch the belt are relatively inclined when the belt 71 rotates.
Also, if the belt is made of resin, the strength and durability are low, and if the relatively thick laminate 19 repeatedly enters and passes, there is a risk of breakage. Therefore, it is conceivable to use a metal belt having higher strength and durability than a resin belt. However, the pair of upper and lower metal belts meander. Therefore, when the belts 71 meander, the upper and lower belts 71 may rub and generate metal powder. When the laminate 19 is sandwiched between metal belts to which metal powder is attached, the laminate 19 may be damaged.

On the other hand, in the configuration of the first embodiment, transfer is performed by the roll-shaped heat roll 32. Therefore, in the configuration of Example 1, the meandering of the belt does not occur. Therefore, a meandering correction mechanism is unnecessary.
Moreover, in the structure of Example 1, generation | occurrence | production of the metal powder which becomes a problem when using a metal belt is suppressed. Therefore, in the configuration of Example 1, the occurrence of scratches on the laminate 19 during transfer is reduced.

  When a belt is used, the temperature of the laminated body 19 is heated to around 110 ° C. when passing through the upstream transfer member 32 ′ with the laminated body 19 sandwiched between the belts 71, and the downstream side. When passing through the cooling member 42 ′ on the side, the temperature of the laminate 19 is cooled to 60 ° C. or lower. Therefore, when the belt is used, the laminated body 19 after the transfer is rapidly cooled via the belt 71 that keeps in contact with the surface of the laminated body 19. In particular, in the case of a metal belt, the thermal conductivity of the belt 71 is high and is easily cooled.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the state after the substrate to which the image has been transferred is rapidly cooled.
Here, when the laminate 19 passes through the transfer member 32 ′, the image of the image receiving layer 10 b is transferred onto the softened surface of the card base 7 as shown in FIG.
When the laminated body 19 to which the image has been transferred is rapidly cooled by the cooling member 42 ′ disposed on the downstream side of the transfer member 32 ′ in the medium transport direction, the softened card base 7 is cured. The
At this time, in the card substrate 7, a difference in thermal conductivity occurs between the portion 62 where the toner is not fixed and the portion 63 where the toner is fixed. In particular, the greater the amount of toner 61, the lower the thermal conductivity of the portion 63 where the toner has been fixed, and the slower the cooling rate.

Therefore, there is a difference between the cooling rate of the portion 62 where the toner is not fixed and the cooling rate of the portion 63 where the toner is fixed.
Therefore, when the laminated body 19 is rapidly cooled, when the card base material 7 that has been softened is cured, as shown in FIG. The phenomenon that the surface is dented at a position in the vicinity of the boundary, so-called sink mark 81 is likely to occur.
On the other hand, in the configuration of the first embodiment, four pairs of upper and lower roll-shaped cooling rolls 42 are arranged downstream of the heat roll 32 in the medium transport direction. A gap with a predetermined interval is provided between them. Moreover, the temperature of each cooling roll 42 is set so that it may become low in order toward the downstream from the upstream of the conveyance direction of a medium.

Therefore, in the configuration of the first embodiment, as the stacked body 19 is transported downstream in the transport direction of the medium, the stack 19 is cooled in stages according to the temperature of each cooling roll 42. Moreover, when the laminated body 19 passes the space between the cooling rolls 42, there is no member which contacts and the laminated body 19 is hardly cooled.
Therefore, compared to the configuration using a metal belt, in the configuration of Example 1, there is no member that continues to cool by contacting the stacked body 19, and the stacked body 19 can be cooled over a certain amount of time. That is, rapid cooling can be avoided.
Therefore, in the configuration of Example 1, it is difficult for the laminate 19 to be rapidly cooled, and the occurrence of sink marks 81 can be reduced.

In the configuration of the first embodiment, the transport speed of the cooling roll 42 disposed on the downstream side is set higher than the transport speed of the heat roll 32 disposed on the upstream side in the medium transport direction. Has been.
If the transport speed of the cooling roll 42 is slower than the transport speed of the heat roll 32, a force is exerted to bend the laminate 19 between the heat roll 32 and the cooling roll 42. To do. Here, immediately after passing through the heat roll 32, the laminate 19 heated to the glass transition temperature or higher is softened and easily bent. Therefore, when the laminated body 19 is curved between the heat roll 32 and the cooling roll 42 and then cooled to below the glass transition temperature by the cooling roll 42 and cured, the laminated body 19 may be deformed.

  On the other hand, in the configuration of the first embodiment, the stacked body 19 is pulled between the rolls 32 and 42 in the medium transport direction. Therefore, compared to the configuration in which the conveyance speed of the cooling roll 42 is slower than the conveyance speed of the heat roll 32, the laminate 19 is bent between the rolls 32 and 42 in the configuration of the first embodiment. Is reduced. Therefore, in the configuration of the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress deformation of the stacked body 19 when the cooling roll 42 is cooled.

In the configuration of the first embodiment, the laminate 19 is cooled below the glass transition temperature by the most upstream cooling roll 42 disposed on the most downstream side of the heat roll 32.
Here, in a configuration in which the laminate 19 is not cooled below the glass transition temperature by the most upstream cooling roll 42, the laminate 19 remains in a softened state even after passing through the most upstream cooling roll 42. If the transport distance for transporting the laminated body 19 in a softened state becomes longer, the risk of the laminated body 19 being deformed increases.
On the other hand, in the configuration of Example 1, the laminate 19 is cooled below the glass transition temperature by the most upstream cooling roll 42, and the laminate 19 that has passed through the most upstream cooling roll 42 is cured. The Therefore, in the configuration of the first embodiment, the deformation of the stacked body 19 is suppressed as compared with the configuration in which the stacked body 19 is not cured by the most upstream cooling roll 42.

(Example of change)
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is made in the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim. Is possible. Modification examples (H01) to (H08) of the present invention are exemplified below.
(H01) In the above embodiment, the printer U is illustrated as an example of the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a copying machine, a FAX, or a multifunction machine having a plurality of these functions.
(H02) In the above embodiment, as an example of the heating member, the configuration of the heating device 23 having the pair of roll-shaped preheat rolls 24 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if measures such as a configuration that suppresses the meandering of the belt, generation of metal pieces, or a cleaning member that removes metal powder is taken, the belt is replaced with the roll-shaped preheat roll 24. It is also possible to have a configuration having a heating part in the shape of a ring. A configuration having a plurality of preheat rolls 24 along the medium conveyance direction is also possible. Further, the temperature of each preheat roll 24 is sequentially increased from the upstream side to the downstream side with respect to the medium conveyance direction. A configuration in which the height is increased stepwise is also possible.

(H03) In the above-described embodiment, it is desirable that the contact pressure of the heat roll 32 be higher than the contact pressure of the preheat roll 24. However, the rotational speed of the preheat roll 24 and the heat roll 32, the friction coefficient of the roll surface, etc. The configuration in which the contact pressure of the heat roll 32 is made lower than the contact pressure of the preheat roll 24 or the contact pressure of the preheat roll 24 and the contact pressure of the heat roll 32 are made the same as the contact pressure of the preheat roll 24 Is also possible.
(H04) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration of the transfer device 31 having the pair of roll-shaped heat rolls 32 is illustrated as an example of the transfer unit, but is not limited thereto. For example, in a configuration that suppresses the meandering of the belt, or when the generation of metal pieces is allowed or a countermeasure is taken, instead of the roll-shaped heat roll 32, as shown in FIG. Depending on the design and specifications, such as a configuration having a transfer member 32 ′ for transferring the toner image to the laminate 19, the laminate 19 can be changed to any configuration capable of transferring the image by heating.

(H05) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration of the cooling device 41 having four pairs of roll-shaped cooling rolls 42 is illustrated as an example of the cooling unit, but is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration having three or less or five or more cooling rolls 42 is also possible. In addition, when the configuration for suppressing the meandering of the belt or the generation of metal pieces is allowed or a countermeasure is taken, instead of the roll-shaped cooling roll 42, as shown in FIG. A configuration having a cooling member 42 ′ for cooling the stacked body 19 is also possible.
Further, the invention is not limited to the contact-type cooling unit that cools the cooling roll 42 or the cooling member 42 ′ by contacting the stacked body 19, but the configuration of the non-contact type cooling unit that cools the stacked body 19 by blowing air. The laminated body 19 can be changed to any configuration that can cool the stacked body 19 according to the design and specifications, such as a configuration in which contact-type and non-contact-type cooling units are combined.

(H06) In the above-described embodiment, it is desirable that the temperature of the plurality of cooling rolls 42 be decreased in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the medium transport direction. A configuration in which the cooling rolls 42 adjacent to each other have the same temperature is also possible.
(H07) In the above-described embodiment, the rolls 24, 32, and 42 have exemplified the configuration in which the heaters 26, 33, and 43 are arranged in both roll pairs. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the heaters 26, 33, and 43 can be accommodated only in one roll, and the other roll can be pressed against one roll. Moreover, it is also possible to make it the structure which contacts the rotary body which has a heater with respect to a heat roll, conducts the heat of a heater, and heats each heat roll.
(H08) In the above-described embodiment, the illustrated specific numerical values and the like can be arbitrarily changed according to the design, specifications, and the like.

7 ... base material,
10. Recording material,
19 ... laminate,
23 ... Warming member,
24 ... second rotating body,
31 ... Transcription part,
32 ... the first rotating body,
41 ... cooling part,
42 ... cooling member,
U: Image forming apparatus,
U3: Transfer device.

Claims (4)

A recording material on which an image is formed on the surface and a base material on which the image on the surface of the recording material is transferred are conveyed, and the laminate is heated to the surface of the recording material. A transfer part for transferring the formed image to the surface of the substrate;
It is arranged on the upstream side of the transfer unit with respect to the conveyance direction of the laminate, and conveys the laminate to the transfer unit at a lower speed than the transfer speed of the transfer unit, and from the recording material to the substrate. A heating member that warms the laminate to a lower temperature than a lower limit temperature at which an image can be transferred;
A transfer apparatus comprising: It has a pair of first rotating bodies that rotate while contacting with a preset pressure, sandwiching the stacked body between the first rotating bodies, and the downstream of the stacked body in the transport direction The transfer section for transporting the laminate;
A laminate having a pair of second rotating bodies that rotate while contacting with a pressure lower than a contact pressure of the first rotating body, and sandwiching the stacked body between the second rotating bodies; The heating member for transporting the laminate to the downstream side in the transport direction,
The transfer apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A cooling unit that is arranged on the downstream side of the transfer unit with respect to the transport direction of the stacked body and cools the stacked body, wherein the transfer unit is faster than the speed at which the stacked body is transported. The cooling unit that conveys the laminate to the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the laminate,
The transfer apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A plurality of cooling members that are arranged at predetermined intervals along the transport direction of the laminated body and that cool in contact with the laminated body that passes through the upstream side in the transport direction of the laminated body The temperature at which the cooling member disposed on the laminated body cools the laminated body is set to a temperature lower than the lower limit temperature, and compared to the cooling member disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction of the laminated body, The cooling unit in which the temperature of the cooling member disposed on the downstream side is set to a low temperature,
The transfer apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

Images