JP2017001239A - Attachment for card printer and printing method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable reliable printing by avoiding conveyance difficulty in printing with respect to a thin sheet medium being the object of printing regarding an attachment for a card printer.SOLUTION: An attachment-integrated card 23 is formed by fitting a flexible thin sheet medium 21 including at least a printing surface 22B to an attachment for card printer for causing the thin sheet medium 21 to be printed in a card printer. The attachment for card printer comprises: a first fitting part 13A and a second fitting part 13B which form a first fitting groove 15A and a second fitting groove 15B on facing sides of a hard base part 12 with a prescribed thickness on which the thin sheet medium 21 is placed; and a third fitting part 13C which forms a third fitting groove 15C on a prescribed portion on a side facing an insertion side with one side in the base part 12 as the insertion side of the thin sheet medium 21 and has a length shorter than the side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a card printer attachment for printing on a flexible thin sheet medium by a card printer and a printing method for printing using the attachment.

  In recent years, there are various types of cards that are generally used, ranging from paper-based cards to contact-type and non-contact-type IC cards equipped with IC chips, depending on their usage. On the other hand, information on the holder is displayed on the card, and when this information is changed, change information including additional information is printed on the back side by a printer. Therefore, it is desired that printing can be reliably performed even on a flexible thin sheet medium.

  Conventionally, a game device described in Patent Document 1 is known as a method for printing additional information on an existing card. Patent Document 1 is provided with a print region for characters and their attributes as a card used in a game and an additional print region to be printed later. The apparatus is configured to discriminate whether improper information is printed or not, image the entire card with a CCD when it is authentic, and print the additional information in the additional printing area with the printing apparatus.

JP 2009-034412 A

  By the way, a card intended for printing is made of a hard member so as not to hinder the conveyance in the printer, and one surface (the surface other than the printing surface) of the flexible thin sheet medium is used. Generally, it is hardened by laminating or the like, and both sides of a flexible thin sheet medium are laminated and paper or the like is pasted on the surface to be printed. The same applies to the card. However, if the card is made of a hard member and the thin sheet medium is subjected to a laminating process, there is a problem that the cost is increased particularly when a large number of cards are issued.

  In addition, when trying to print a thin card with a card printer that prints on a hard card, there is a distance between the printing surface and the print head due to the difference in thickness, and printing cannot be performed reliably. Providing a mechanism for moving the print head up and down in accordance with the thickness causes a problem of increasing the size and cost.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an attachment for a card printer that can reliably perform printing on a thin sheet medium that is intended for printing and that can reliably perform printing is provided. An object is to provide a printing method used.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 is an attachment for a card printer in which a flexible thin sheet medium having at least a printing surface is mounted so that the thin sheet medium is to be printed by the card printer. A hard base portion having a predetermined thickness on which the thin sheet medium is placed, and opposing fitting grooves that are provided on opposite sides of the base portion to fit and hold the two sides of the thin sheet medium, respectively. The one side of the base portion where the counter fitting portion is not provided is an insertion side of the thin sheet medium, and a predetermined length of the side facing the insertion side is shorter than the side. And a predetermined number of front end fitting portions for forming a front end fitting groove for fitting and holding a predetermined portion of the insertion front end of the thin sheet medium.

According to the second and third aspects of the invention, “a predetermined number of insertions for restricting the position of the thin sheet medium to be fitted and held in a portion other than the tip fitting portion on the side where the tip fitting portion of the base is provided. The tip contact portion is formed "
“At least the base is formed of a transparent member capable of visually recognizing information formed on the thin sheet medium”.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rigid base portion on which a flexible thin sheet medium having at least a printing surface is placed, and a corresponding side of the thin sheet medium is fitted to each of opposite sides of the base portion. A counter-fitting portion for forming a counter-fitting groove to be held together is provided, and a side of the base portion where the counter-fitting portion is not provided is an insertion side of the thin sheet medium, and a side facing the insertion side A card printer attachment in which a predetermined number of front end fitting portions for forming a front end fitting groove for fitting and holding a predetermined portion of the insertion front end of the thin sheet medium are provided at a predetermined length of the thin sheet medium. An attachment for a card printer that uses a card printer to print on a print area of the thin sheet medium using an attachment integrated card that is fitted and held with a thin sheet medium. A printing method, wherein the attachment integrated card is supplied with one of the opposing fitting portions into which the thin sheet medium is fitted and held as a tip to the card printer; and the thin sheet in the attachment integrated card A step of imaging at least a printing surface of the medium, and a step of printing predetermined information on a printing surface confirmed by imaging of the thin sheet medium in the attachment integrated card.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rigid base portion having a predetermined thickness on which a flexible thin sheet medium having at least a printing surface is placed, and two sides of the thin sheet medium are disposed on opposite sides of the base portion. Each of the opposing fitting grooves for forming and holding opposing fitting grooves is provided, and one side of the base portion where the opposing fitting portion is not provided is opposed to the insertion side as an insertion side of the thin sheet medium. By adopting a configuration in which a predetermined number of front end fitting portions for forming a front end fitting groove that fits and holds a predetermined portion of the insertion front end of the thin sheet medium in a predetermined portion of the side is provided shorter than the side. When the corresponding side of the thin sheet medium is fitted and held in the opposing fitting part and the leading end fitting part and printing is performed by a card printer, the thin sheet medium is prevented from being bent with respect to the conveyance, thereby preventing the conveyance trouble. Can Further, those which can be reliably printed enables printing without positioning the print head in the card printers corresponding to the normal rigid of the card by setting the thickness of the base portion.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the predetermined number of insertion tip contacts for restricting the position of the thin sheet medium to be fitted and held in a portion other than the tip fitting portion on the side where the tip fitting portion is provided. By adopting a configuration in which the contact portion is formed, incomplete insertion or inclined mounting at the time of inserting the thin sheet medium can be easily prevented, and the mounting work can be made more efficient.

  According to the invention of claim 3, at least the base is formed of a transparent member capable of visually recognizing information formed on the thin sheet medium, whereby the information is formed on the opposite surface of the print surface. Thus, the information can be imaged and used for confirmation of the print contents.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the thin sheet medium is adapted to the opposing fitting groove and the leading fitting groove formed by the opposing fitting part and the leading fitting part shorter than the side where the length is provided in the attachment for the card printer. The attachment integrated card having the sides to be fitted and held is supplied with one of the opposing fitting portions fitting and holding the thin sheet medium of the attachment integrated card as a tip with respect to the card printer, and at least the thin sheet medium in the attachment integrated card By adopting a printing method configuration that images the printing surface and prints predetermined information on the printing surface confirmed by imaging of the thin sheet medium in the attachment-integrated card, it is possible to obstruct the conveyance of the thin sheet medium using the card printer attachment. It can be printed avoiding, and the card printer attachment In which it is possible to reliably print without even card printers corresponding to the normal rigid of the card by setting the thickness of the base portion suitably adjusting the position of the print head.

It is a block diagram of 1st Embodiment in the attachment for card printers which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing regarding manufacture of the attachment for card printers of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the thin sheet medium which uses the attachment for card printers of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the mounting form of the thin sheet medium to the attachment for card printers of FIG. It is a block block diagram of an example of the card printer which prints using the attachment for card printers of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the other structural example of the attachment for card printers of FIG. It is a block diagram of 2nd Embodiment in the attachment for card printers which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment of the card printer attachment according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an explanatory diagram relating to the manufacture of the card printer attachment of FIG. 1A is an external view of a card printer attachment, FIG. 1B is a plan view of the card printer attachment, FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the card printer attachment, and FIG. ) Is an AA cross-sectional view of FIG. 1A, FIG. 1E is a BB cross-sectional view of FIG. 1A, FIG. 1F is a CC cross-sectional view of FIG. FIG. 1G shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 1A, but each cross-sectional view ignores dimensions so that the structure can be easily understood.

  1 (A) to 1 (G), a card printer attachment 11 is a rectangular base and a rigid base 12 having an appropriately set thickness on which a flexible thin sheet medium of FIG. 3 to be described later is placed. And a first fitting groove 15A, a second fitting groove 15B, and a third fitting groove 15C that are provided on predetermined sides of the base 12 and that fit and hold corresponding sides of the thin sheet medium. It consists of a fitting member 13A, a second fitting member 13B, and a third fitting member 13C. Each of the first fitting member 13A, the second fitting member 13B, and the third fitting member 13C is formed with a length that does not cover the printing area on the printing surface of the thin sheet medium to be mounted later. In addition, regarding the above-mentioned hardness, it may be one that returns to its original state when the hand is released when it is bent, or one that does not have flexibility.

  More specifically, a first spacer 14A and a second spacer 14B for forming a fitting groove are provided in substantially the entire area of both sides facing each other on the short side in the base portion 12, and the first spacer 14A and the first spacer A longer first fitting member 13A and second fitting member 13B are provided on the two spacers 14B, respectively. For example, when the length of the first spacer 14A and the second spacer 14B is 2.1 mm, the length of the first fitting member 13A and the second fitting member 13B is 5.5 mm. Further, both ends of the first fitting member 13A and the second fitting member 13B are rounded with an R shape. In particular, there is an effect of facilitating insertion by making the end side which is the insertion side of the thin sheet medium into an R shape.

  On the base 12, the first fitting groove 15A is formed by the first fitting member 13A and the first spacer 14A, and the second fitting groove 15B is formed by the second fitting member 13B and the second spacer 14B. . The first fitting groove 15A and the second fitting groove 15B constitute an opposing fitting groove, and the first fitting member 13A, the first spacer 14A, the first fitting groove 15A, and the second fitting member 13B. The opposing fitting portion is configured by the second spacer 14B and the second fitting groove 15B.

  On the other hand, one side of the long side of the base 12 where the opposing fitting portion is not provided is an insertion side 16 of the thin sheet medium, and a third spacer is provided at a predetermined portion of the side facing the insertion side 16, for example, a substantially central portion. 14C is provided shorter than the side, and on the third spacer 14C, the length of the side direction is the same as the third spacer 14C, and the length of the inner direction is longer than the third spacer 14C. A member 13C is provided. The length of the third fitting member 13 </ b> C in the inner direction is set to a length that does not cover a printing area on a printing surface of a thin sheet medium that will be described later.

  A third fitting groove 15C is formed on the base 12 by the third fitting member 13C and the third spacer 14C, and the third fitting groove 15C fits and holds a part of the insertion tip of the thin sheet medium. It becomes a tip fitting groove, and the tip fitting portion is constituted by the third fitting member 13C, the third spacer 14C, and the third fitting groove 15C.

  When the thin sheet medium shown in FIG. 3 is fitted and held, the base 12 is formed with transparency so that the sheet information formed on the surface of the thin sheet medium in contact with the base 12 is visible. Transparency here means the level of visibility. Specifically, the base portion 12 is formed of a resin material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or vinyl chloride having a thickness of 0.5 mm, which is hard and transparent or translucent. The base 12 is formed in this way in order to capture the sheet information and the like when printing with a card printer later (described in FIG. 5).

  Further, the first fitting member 13A, the second fitting member 13B, and the third fitting member 13C are formed of the same member as the base 12 having a thickness of 0.1 mm, for example. The first spacer 14A, the second spacer 14B, and the third spacer 14C are formed with a thickness of, for example, 0.25 mm using, for example, a transparent adhesive.

  The thicknesses of the first spacer 14A, the second spacer 14B, and the third spacer 14C are set according to the thickness of the thin sheet medium 21 because they are the heights of the respective fitting grooves. Even if the thin sheet medium 21 has a thickness of 0.12 mm to 0.14 mm, the thin sheet medium 21 is bent, curled, or has edge deformation due to separation of the sewing machine line during sheet production. However, the first fitting groove 15A, the second fitting groove 15B, and the third fitting groove 15C can be reliably fitted and held.

  That is, a card having a rigid thickness including the thin sheet medium 21 in which the entire thickness of the base portion 12, the first fitting member 13A, the second fitting member 13B, and the third fitting member 13C is fitted and held. By forming it so as to have a thickness equivalent to that of a driver's license (for example, a driver's license), printing can be performed without adjusting the position of the print head in a card printer corresponding to the card.

  Therefore, the production of the card printer attachment 11 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the first spacer 14A and the second spacer 14B are formed in the entire area of the opposing sides on the short side on the base portion 12. While applying a transparent adhesive, a transparent adhesive is apply | coated to the approximate center part of the long side on the said base part 12. FIG.

  Then, before the transparent adhesive is solidified, as shown in FIG. 2B, the first fitting member 13A is adhered on the transparent adhesive to be the first spacer 14A, and the transparent to be the second spacer 14B. The second fitting member 13B is adhered on the adhesive, and the third fitting member 13C is adhered on the transparent adhesive serving as the third spacer 14C to be dried and solidified, whereby the first fitting grooves 15A, The second fitting groove 15B and the third fitting member 13C are formed. In addition, it can be hardened rapidly by using an ultraviolet curing type for the transparent adhesive. The end views in FIGS. 2A and 2B ignore the thickness dimension.

  In this embodiment, the first fitting groove 15A, the second fitting groove 15B, and the third fitting groove 15C are replaced with the first spacer 14A, the second spacer 14B, the third spacer 14C, and the first fitting member. Although the case where it was formed by 13A, the 2nd fitting member 13B, and the 3rd fitting member 13C was shown, an extension part may be provided integrally in base 12, and the extension part may be bent and formed.

  Here, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a thin sheet medium using the card printer attachment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of an attachment form of the thin sheet medium to the card printer attachment of FIG. 1. The thin sheet medium 21 is, for example, made of paper and has a size of, for example, a short side of about 54 mm and a long side of about 85 mm (approximately the same size as the driver's license). As shown in FIG. Is the information surface 22A, on which information such as the name of the owner is written. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, the other side of the thin sheet medium 21 is a printing surface 22B that becomes a printing area. For example, when the information written on the information surface 22A is changed, the change information is displayed. Printing is performed on the printing surface 22B.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, the thin sheet medium 21 has the printing surface 22B as the upper surface (the surface not in contact with the base portion 12), and both short sides thereof are the first fitting of the card printer attachment 11. The insertion side 16 is inserted into the first fitting groove 15A and the second fitting groove 15B formed by the member 13A and the second fitting member 13B.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the substantially central portion of the long side that becomes the insertion tip side of the inserted thin sheet medium 21 is inserted into the third fitting groove 15C formed by the third fitting member 13C. Thus, the thin sheet medium 21 is fitted and held on the base 12 by the first fitting groove 15A, the second fitting groove 15B, and the third fitting groove 15C, so that the attachment integrated card 23 is obtained. For example, the attachment integrated card 23 is supplied to the card printer with the first fitting portion 13A side as a leading end.

  Next, FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an example of a card printer that prints using the card printer attachment of FIG. In FIG. 5, a card printer 30 includes a card supply unit 31, a card reading unit 32 that is a reading processing unit, an imaging unit 33 that is an imaging processing unit, and a printing unit that is a printing processing unit in order from the card supply side. 34 is comprised.

  The card reading unit 32 is an element in the case where the object of the printing process or the like reads the card information by communication with a card having an IC chip and performs authenticity determination, and for the thin sheet medium 21 (attachment integrated card 23). Therefore, it functions when an IC chip is provided, and does not function for the thin sheet medium 21 (attachment integrated card 23) not provided with an IC chip.

  The imaging unit 33 is, for example, a scanner provided with a first line sensor that images the information surface 22A of the thin sheet medium 21 in the attachment integrated card 23 and a second line sensor that images the printing surface 22B facing each other. Note that only one scan data may be used depending on the processing content, but both may be always captured, or an imaging instruction by only one line sensor may be used depending on the processing content.

  The print unit 34 includes a print head 41 and a thermal transfer film unit 42, and a thin sheet medium on which a thermal transfer film 43 supplied from the thermal transfer film unit 42 is suspended and conveyed to a print position. In response to a print control signal from a control unit (not shown) to the print head 41, printing is performed on the print surface 22B.

  In other words, the card printer 30 is configured such that the attachment integrated card 23 in which the thin sheet medium 21 is attached to the card printer attachment 11 is connected to the opposing fitting portion (the first fitting member 13A side) in which the thin sheet medium 21 is fitted and held. Alternatively, one of the second fitting members 13B side) is supplied as a leading end for the printer. When the supplied integrated card 23 is provided with an IC chip, the card reading unit 32 determines the authenticity (the authentication by the card reading unit 32 may be at the end of the printing process) and is supplied to the imaging unit 33. .

  By imaging at least the printing surface 22B of the thin sheet medium 21 in the attachment integrated card 23 in the imaging unit 33, it is confirmed that the printing surface 22 is positioned on the printing unit 34 side. In the printing unit 34, the attachment integrated card 23 The predetermined information is surely printed on the printing surface 22B confirmed by the imaging of the thin sheet medium 21 in FIG. In addition, after the printing process is performed, the printing surface 22B can be imaged again to confirm whether the printing content has been printed reliably.

  As described above, the card printer attachment 11 can be used for printing while avoiding the trouble of conveyance of the thin sheet medium 21, and the thickness of the base portion 12 of the card printer attachment 11 is appropriately set. Even a card printer corresponding to the hard card can surely perform printing without adjusting the position of the print head.

  Next, FIG. 6 shows an explanatory diagram of another configuration example of the card printer attachment of FIG. FIG. 6A shows the shape of the third fitting member 13C in the card printer attachment 11 shown in FIG. 1 formed in a semicircular shape with respect to the card insertion side. And the third fitting groove 15C is formed. By making the third fitting member 13C have the above shape, the insertion leading end side of the thin card medium 21 to be inserted can be more reliably fitted and held in the third fitting groove 15C. Even if the third fitting member 13C does not have the semicircular shape, a similar effect can be obtained if the third fitting member 13C has a narrow shape with respect to the card insertion side, for example, a triangular shape or a trapezoidal shape. .

  In FIG. 6B, two third fitting members 13C in the card printer attachment 11 shown in FIG. 1 are provided, for example, at equal intervals to form third fitting members 13C-1 and 13C-2. The third spacers 14C-1 and 14C-2 are provided to form the third fitting grooves 15C-1 and 15C-2. As a result, the thin card medium 21 can be easily attached to the card printer attachment 11 at an accurate position. In addition, what is necessary is just to provide the 3rd fitting member 13C suitably with the common sense number which can exhibit the said effect. Further, the third fitting member 13C may be applied in the shape of FIG.

  FIG. 6C shows an insertion side 16 for inserting the thin card medium 21 into the first fitting member 13A and the second fitting member 13B constituting the opposing fitting portion in the card printer attachment 11 shown in FIG. In this configuration, the fitting portion non-forming regions 16A and 16B are secured. By providing the fitting portion non-forming regions 15A and 16B, the thin card medium 21 can be more easily inserted into the first fitting groove 15A and the second fitting groove 15B. Note that the same applies when FIGS. 6A and 6B are applied to the card printer attachment 11 of FIG.

  Next, FIG. 7 shows a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the card printer attachment according to the present invention. 7A corresponds to the card printer attachment 11 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7B corresponds to the card printer attachment 11 of FIG. 6C.

  An attachment 11 for a card printer shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B has a third spacer disposed on both sides of a third fitting groove 15C formed by the third fitting member 13C and the third spacer 14C. The insertion tip contact portions 17A and 17B having the same length as 14C and preferably the same thickness are provided. Note that a predetermined number of portions may be provided on both sides of the third fitting groove 15C instead of the entire region.

  The insertion tip contact portions 17A and 17B are functionally similar to FIG. 6B, and the thin card medium 21 is positioned relative to the card printer attachment 11 as a member for positioning the thin card medium 21 to be inserted. The insertion tip abutting portions 17A and 17B can be easily mounted at an accurate position, but the adhesive of the same member as the third spacer 14C (the same applies to the first spacer 14A and the second spacer 14B). By forming it, it is possible to reduce the cost without preparing a separate member, and this is particularly effective in mass production. Of course, the shape of the third fitting member 13C (third fitting groove 15C) shown in FIG. 6A can be applied.

  In this way, incomplete insertion or tilt mounting at the time of inserting the thin sheet medium 21 can be easily prevented, and the efficiency of the mounting work can be improved.

  The attachment for a card printer and the printing method using the attachment of the present invention can be used in the industrial field of a business type for printing on a thin sheet medium.

11 Card Printer Attachment 12 Base 13A First Fitting Member 13B Second Fitting Member 13C Third Fitting Member 14A First Spacer 14B Second Spacer 14C Third Spacer 15A First Fitting Groove 15B Second Fitting Groove 15C 3rd fitting groove 16 Insertion side 16A, 16B Fitting part non-formation area | region 17A, 17B Insertion tip contact part 21 Thin sheet medium 22A Information surface 22B Printing surface 23 Attachment integrated card 30 Card printer 31 Card supply part 32 Card reading part 33 Imaging unit 34 Printing unit 41 Print head 42 Thermal transfer film unit 43 Thermal transfer film

Claims (4)

An attachment for a card printer that mounts the thin sheet medium so that a flexible thin sheet medium having at least a printing surface is to be printed by the card printer,
A rigid base having a predetermined thickness on which the thin sheet medium is placed;
Opposing fitting portions that are respectively provided on opposing sides of the base and that form opposing fitting grooves that fit and hold the two sides of the thin sheet medium; and
One side of the base where the opposing fitting portion is not provided is an insertion side of the thin sheet medium, and a predetermined part of the side facing the insertion side is shorter than the side, and the thin sheet medium is inserted. A predetermined number of front end fitting portions for forming a front end fitting groove for fitting and holding a predetermined portion of the front end; and
An attachment for a card printer, comprising:   The card printer attachment according to claim 1, wherein the thin sheet medium to be fitted and held is regulated at a portion other than the tip fitting portion on a side where the tip fitting portion of the base is provided. An attachment for a card printer, wherein a number of insertion tip contact portions are formed.   3. The card printer attachment according to claim 1, wherein at least the base portion is formed of a transparent member capable of visually recognizing information formed on the thin sheet medium. An opposing fitting groove having a rigid base portion on which a flexible thin sheet medium having at least a printing surface is placed, and fitting and holding the corresponding side of the thin sheet medium on each of opposite sides of the base portion Each side of the base portion where the opposing fitting portion is not provided is defined as an insertion side of the thin sheet medium, and the thin sheet is provided at a predetermined portion of the side facing the insertion side. The thin sheet medium is fitted and held in an attachment for a card printer in which a predetermined number of leading end fitting portions for forming a leading end fitting groove for fitting and holding a predetermined portion of the insertion tip of the medium are shorter than the side. A printing method using a card printer attachment that causes a card printer to print on the printing area of the thin sheet medium using the attached attachment integrated card. ,
The attachment integrated card is supplied with one of the opposing fitting portions fitting and holding the thin sheet medium as a tip with respect to the card printer;
Imaging at least a printing surface of the thin sheet medium in the attachment integrated card;
Printing predetermined information on a printing surface confirmed by imaging of the thin sheet medium in the attachment integrated card;
The printing method using the attachment for card printers characterized by including these.

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