JP2021045955A - Foil transfer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To fix thermal transfer foil to a transfer object by a simple structure, and to transfer the thermal transfer foil to the comparatively large transfer object.SOLUTION: A foil transfer apparatus 10 has a support base 20 arranged in a casing 11 and placeably forming a transfer object 80, a light absorption film 84 for fixing thermal transfer foil 82 on the transfer object 80 by pressing the thermal transfer foil 82 placed on the transfer object 80 from above and a film holding tool 50 holding the light absorption film 84 and detachably constituted in the casing 11, and the film holding tool 50 has a holding frame 52 forming an opening 52H penetrating in the vertical direction and holding the light absorption film 84 so as to overlap with the opening 52H in a plan view and a rod-like member 54 extending downward from the holding frame 52 and inserted into an insertion hole 12H formed in the casing 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to a foil transfer device.

Conventionally, for the purpose of improving design, decorative processing by a thermal transfer method using a thermal transfer foil (also referred to as a thermal transfer sheet) has been performed. The thermal transfer foil is roughly composed of a base material, a decorative layer, and an adhesive layer laminated in this order. Then, at the time of transfer, the thermal transfer foil is superposed on the object to be transferred so that the adhesive layer side abuts, and the thermal transfer foil is provided with a transfer tool equipped with a light source for irradiating light (for example, laser light) and a pressing body for pressing the thermal transfer foil. The thermal transfer foil is heated by irradiating light while pressing from above. As a result, the adhesive layer of the pressed portion of the thermal transfer foil is melted, adheres to the surface of the object to be transferred, and then cured by heat dissipation. As a result, by peeling the base material of the thermal transfer foil from the transfer material, a decorative layer having a shape corresponding to the stamped portion can be attached to the transfer material together with the adhesive layer. As a result, the surface of the object to be transferred is decorated with an arbitrary shape (for example, a figure or a character).

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for transferring a foil to an object to be transferred using a transfer tool that irradiates a laser beam. Further, Patent Document 1 discloses a foil fixing film for fixing the thermal transfer foil to the transfer object by pressing the thermal transfer foil from above so that the thermal transfer foil does not move with respect to the transfer object. The foil fixing film is held by the film holder. For example, when the object to be transferred is placed on the holding table, the film holder is rotated around a slide bar extending in the vertical direction. As a result, the transferred material can be placed on the holding table without being interfered with by the film holder.

Japanese Patent No. 6505805

By the way, in the configuration in which the film holder is rotated, it is necessary to secure the rotatable range of the film holder. For example, when the wall of the housing exists on the side of the holding table, the position of the wall needs to be separated from the holding table in order to secure the rotationally movable range. Therefore, the larger the rotationally movable range, the more the housing. May increase. On the other hand, in order to secure the rotational movable range while maintaining the size of the housing, it is necessary to reduce the size of the film holder. The smaller film holder means that the area where the thermal transfer foil can be transferred to the transferred object becomes smaller, so that a relatively large transferred object cannot be used.

The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is a foil capable of fixing a heat transfer foil to a transfer material with a simple structure and transferring the heat transfer foil to a relatively large transfer material. It is to provide a transfer device.

The foil transfer device according to the present invention has a housing in which an opening is formed, a cover provided in the housing that opens and closes the opening, and a cover that is arranged in the housing so that an object to be transferred can be placed on the housing. The formed support base and the heat transfer foil which is arranged in the housing and above the support base and has light absorption property, and which is placed on the object to be transferred, is pressed from above to the heat transfer foil. A light-absorbing film that fixes the light-absorbing film on the object to be transferred, a film holder that holds the light-absorbing film and is detachably configured in the housing, a case body, the object to be transferred, and the object to be transferred. A transfer tool having the heat transfer foil arranged above and a pressing body configured to press the light absorption film and irradiate light toward the light absorption film, and the transfer tool to support the transfer tool. It is equipped with a moving mechanism that moves relative to the table. The film holder has an opening that penetrates in the vertical direction, a holding frame that holds the light absorbing film so as to overlap the opening in a plan view, and a holding frame that extends downward from the holding frame to the housing. It includes a rod-shaped member that is inserted into the formed insertion hole.

According to the foil transfer device according to the present invention, the film holder for holding the light absorbing film is detachably configured in the housing. That is, the film holder can be attached to the housing by inserting the rod-shaped member of the film holder into the insertion hole formed in the housing. Further, the film holder can be removed from the housing by pulling out the rod-shaped member from the insertion hole. Therefore, by attaching the film holder to the housing with the heat transfer foil placed on the object to be transferred, the heat transfer foil can be pressed from above by the light absorbing film. As a result, the thermal transfer foil is fixed on the transferred object, and the thermal transfer foil is suppressed from moving with respect to the transferred object. Further, the film holder can be attached to or detached from the housing by moving the film holder in the vertical direction to insert or remove the rod-shaped member into the insertion hole, so that the film holder can be attached to or detached from the housing. It is not necessary to provide an extra space in the film holder, and the thermal transfer foil can be transferred to a larger object to be transferred even in the same housing as compared with the configuration in which the film holder is rotationally moved.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a foil transfer device capable of fixing a heat transfer foil to a transfer target with a simple structure and transferring the heat transfer foil to a relatively large transfer target.

It is a perspective view which shows the foil transfer apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the cover of the foil transfer apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a front view which shows typically the structure around the transfer tool which concerns on one Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the transfer tool which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the state which the detection jig is attached to the support base which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the detection jig is attached to the support base which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the state which the detection jig and the film holder are attached to the support stand which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the detection jig and the film holder are attached to the support stand which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the foil transfer apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the 1st position. It is a front view which shows typically the state which the pressing body of a transfer tool and a detection jig are in contact with each other at a 1st position. It is a top view which shows the 2nd position. It is a front view which shows typically the state which the case body of the transfer tool and the detection jig are in contact with each other at the 2nd position. It is a front view which shows typically the state which the case body of the transfer tool and the detection jig are in contact with each other at the 1st position.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. It should be noted that the embodiments described here are, of course, not intended to particularly limit the present invention. In addition, members and parts that perform the same action are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a foil transfer device 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the foil transfer device 10 from which the cover 18 has been removed. In the following description, left, right, top, and bottom mean left, right, top, and bottom when a user in front of the foil transfer device 10 looks at the foil transfer device 10. Further, the side where the user approaches the foil transfer device 10 is the rear side, and the side away from the foil transfer device 10 is the front side. The symbols F, Rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings represent front, back, left, right, top, and bottom, respectively. The foil transfer device 10 according to the present embodiment is placed on a plane composed of the X-axis and the Y-axis when the axes orthogonal to each other are the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis. Here, the X-axis extends in the left-right direction. The Y-axis extends in the anteroposterior direction. The plane composed of the X-axis and the Y-axis is a horizontal plane here. The Z axis extends in the vertical direction. However, these are merely directions for convenience of explanation, and do not limit the installation mode of the foil transfer device 10 in any way.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the foil transfer device 10, the sheet-shaped heat transfer foil 82 and the light absorption film 84 are superposed on the object to be transferred 80, and the heat transfer foil 82 and the light absorption film are used by the transfer tool 60 described later. This is a device that imparts a decorative layer in the thermal transfer foil 82 (referred to as transfer) to the surface of the object to be transferred 80 by pressing and heating the 84. The thermal transfer foil 82 is indirectly pressed by the transfer tool 60 via the light absorption film 84.

The material and shape constituting the transferred object 80 are not particularly limited. The transfer material 80 may be a metal such as gold, silver, copper, platinum, brass, aluminum, iron, titanium, stainless steel, or acrylic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). , Resin materials such as polycarbonate (PC), plain paper, drawing paper, papers such as Japanese paper, rubbers and the like may be used. Further, it may be genuine leather (that is, natural leather) or artificial leather (for example, synthetic leather or artificial leather) containing at least a part of the above resin material or the like.

As the thermal transfer foil 82, for example, a transfer foil generally commercially available for thermal transfer can be used without particular limitation. In the thermal transfer foil 82, a base material, a decorative layer, and an adhesive layer are generally laminated in this order. The thermal transfer foil 82 includes, for example, metallic foils such as gold leaf and silver foil, half metallic foils, pigment foils, multicolor printing foils, hologram foils, static electricity destruction countermeasure foils, and the like. The thermal transfer foil 82 is formed in a band shape or a sheet shape. The thermal transfer foil 82 is placed on the object to be transferred 80. The thermal transfer foil 82 is placed on the transfer object 80 so that the adhesive layer of the thermal transfer foil 82 comes into contact with the transfer object 80.

The light absorption film 84 is arranged in the housing 11 and above the support base 20. The light absorption film 84 is arranged on the upper surface side of the heat transfer foil 82. The light absorption film 84 presses the heat transfer foil 82 placed on the transfer material 80 from above to fix the heat transfer foil 82 on the transfer material 80. The light absorbing film 84 has light absorbing property. The light absorption film 84 is configured so that it can efficiently absorb the laser light of a predetermined wavelength band emitted from the laser oscillator 62 (see FIG. 4) of the transfer tool 60 and convert the light energy into heat energy. It is a sheet that has been made. The light absorption film 84 has heat resistance at 100 to 200 ° C. The light absorption film 84 is made of a resin such as polyimide. The light absorption film 84 is a single color. The hue of the light absorption film 84 is preferably complementary to the color of the laser light emitted from the laser oscillator 62 from the viewpoint of efficiently converting light energy into heat energy. For example, when the laser light emitted from the laser oscillator 62 is blue, the light absorption film 84 is preferably yellow. The light absorbing film 84 may be provided with a support film for increasing the strength, if necessary. The support film has significantly lower light absorption than the light absorption film 84. Further, the support film has higher light transmittance than the light absorption film 84. The support film is formed of a material that transmits laser light emitted from the laser oscillator 62. The support film is, for example, transparent. The support film is a plastic film such as polyester.

As shown in FIG. 1, the foil transfer device 10 is formed in a box shape. The foil transfer device 10 includes a housing 11 having an opening 11A (see FIG. 2) that opens forward and upward, a cover 18 that opens and closes the opening 11A, and a pressing device arranged in the housing 11. It includes a body movement mechanism 30, a transfer tool 60, and a support base 20 formed so that an object to be transferred 80 can be placed. The cover 18 is supported by the housing 11 so as to be rotatable around the rear end. By rotating the cover 18 upward, the internal space and the external space of the housing 11 are communicated with each other. The housing 11 includes a bottom wall portion 12, a left side wall portion 13, a right side wall portion 14, an upper wall portion 15, and a rear wall portion 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom wall portion 12 is provided with a support base 20. The length of the bottom wall portion 12 in the X-axis direction is shorter than the length of the bottom wall portion 12 in the Y-axis direction. The area in front of the bottom wall portion 12 is a first area 12a in which the support base 20 is provided. The region behind the bottom wall portion 12 is a second region 12b on which the transferred object 80 placed on the support base 20 can be placed beyond the support base 20. An insertion hole 12H (see FIG. 5) is formed in the bottom wall portion 12. The insertion hole 12H is formed in a rectangular shape. The insertion hole 12H is formed in the first region 12a.

As shown in FIG. 2, the left side wall portion 13 extends upward at the left end of the bottom wall portion 12. The left side wall portion 13 is provided perpendicular to the bottom wall portion 12. The right side wall portion 14 extends upward at the right end of the bottom wall portion 12. The right side wall portion 14 is provided perpendicular to the bottom wall portion 12. The rear wall portion 16 extends upward at the rear end of the bottom wall portion 12. The rear wall portion 16 is connected to the rear end of the left side wall portion 13 and the rear end of the right side wall portion 14. A control device 90, which will be described later, is housed in the rear wall portion 16. The upper wall portion 15 is connected to the upper end of the rear portion of the left side wall portion 13, the upper end of the rear portion of the right side wall portion 14, and the upper end of the rear wall portion 16. The area surrounded by the bottom wall portion 12, the left side wall portion 13, the right side wall portion 14, the upper wall portion 15, and the rear wall portion 16 is the internal space of the housing 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the internal space of the housing 11 is a space for transferring the thermal transfer foil 82 to the object to be transferred 80. A pressing body moving mechanism 30 is provided in the internal space. That is, the pressing body moving mechanism 30 is housed in the housing 11. The pressing body moving mechanism 30 is an example of the moving mechanism. The pressing body moving mechanism 30 includes a first carriage 31 that holds the transfer tool 60, a second carriage 32 that holds the first carriage 31, a third carriage 33 that holds the second carriage 32, and a first carriage 31. The Z-axis direction moving mechanism 36 (see FIG. 3) that moves the first carriage 31 and the second carriage 32 in the X-axis direction, the X-axis direction moving mechanism 40 that moves the first carriage 31 and the second carriage 32 in the X-axis direction, and the first carriage 31 and the first carriage 31. It is provided with a Y-axis direction moving mechanism 44 that moves the two carriages 32 and the third carriage 33 in the Y-axis direction. The pressing body moving mechanism 30 moves the transfer tool 60 in the three-dimensional direction. The transfer tool 60 is configured to be movable relative to the support base 20 (that is, the object to be transferred 80) by the Z-axis direction movement mechanism 36, the X-axis direction movement mechanism 40, and the Y-axis direction movement mechanism 44. There is. That is, the pressing body moving mechanism 30 moves the pressing body 66 of the transfer tool 60 relative to the support base 20. The Z-axis direction moving mechanism 36, the X-axis direction moving mechanism 40, and the Y-axis direction moving mechanism 44 are all arranged above the bottom wall portion 12. A transfer tool 60 is provided on the first carriage 31.

As shown in FIG. 3, the Z-axis direction moving mechanism 36 is provided on the second carriage 32. The Z-axis direction moving mechanism 36 is a mechanism for moving the pressing body 66 of the transfer tool 60 in the Z-axis direction. The second carriage 32 includes a first portion 32a extending in the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction, a second portion 32b located below the first portion 32a and extending in the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction, and a first portion 32a. It has a third portion 32c that connects the rear end and the rear end of the second portion 32b and extends in the Z-axis direction. The Z-axis direction moving mechanism 36 includes a first Z-axis shaft 37a, a second Z-axis shaft 37b, a trapezoidal screw 39, and a first motor 38. The first Z-axis shaft 37a, the second Z-axis shaft 37b, and the trapezoidal screw 39 extend in the Z-axis direction. The first Z-axis shaft 37a and the second Z-axis shaft 37b are supported by the first portion 32a and the second portion 32b of the second carriage 32. The trapezoidal screw 39 penetrates the first portion 32a of the second carriage 32. The upper end of the trapezoidal screw 39 is connected to the first motor 38. The lower end of the trapezoidal screw 39 is connected to the first carriage 31. The first motor 38 rotates the trapezoidal screw 39. The first motor 38 is arranged on the first portion 32a of the second carriage 32. The first motor 38 is an electric motor. The first motor 38 is controlled by the control device 90 (see also FIG. 9). The first Z-axis shaft 37a and the second Z-axis shaft 37b are provided with a first carriage 31 slidable in the Z-axis direction. When the first motor 38 is driven, the first carriage 31 moves in the Z-axis direction along the first Z-axis shaft 37a and the second Z-axis shaft 37b by the rotation of the trapezoidal screw 39.

As shown in FIG. 2, the X-axis direction moving mechanism 40 is provided on the third carriage 33. The X-axis direction moving mechanism 40 is a mechanism for moving the pressing body 66 of the transfer tool 60 in the X-axis direction. The third carriage 33 is formed in a box shape. The third carriage 33 is arranged below the upper wall portion 15 and above the bottom wall portion 12. The third carriage 33 extends from the left side wall portion 13 to the right side wall portion 14. The X-axis direction moving mechanism 40 includes a first X-axis shaft 41a, a second X-axis shaft 41b, a pulley 43a on the left side, a pulley 43b on the right side, and a wire 43c wound around the pulley 43a on the left side and the pulley 43b on the right side. A second motor 42 (see FIG. 9) connected to the pulley 43a on the left side is provided. The first X-axis shaft 41a and the second X-axis shaft 41b extend in the X-axis direction. The first X-axis shaft 41a and the second X-axis shaft 41b are supported by the third carriage 33. The pulley 43a on the left side, the pulley 43b on the right side, and the wire 43c are provided on the third carriage 33. The wire 43c is arranged below the first X-axis shaft 41a and above the second X-axis shaft 41b. The wire 43c is arranged behind the first X-axis shaft 41a and the second X-axis shaft 41b. A part of the wire 43c is connected to the second carriage 32. The second motor 42 rotates the pulley 43a on the left side. The second motor 42 is arranged on the third carriage 33. The second motor 42 is an electric motor. The second motor 42 is controlled by the control device 90 (see also FIG. 9). A second carriage 32 is provided on the first X-axis shaft 41a and the second X-axis shaft 41b so as to be slidable in the X-axis direction. When the second motor 42 is driven, the second carriage 32 moves in the X-axis direction along the first X-axis shaft 41a and the second X-axis shaft 41b due to the traveling of the wire 43c.

As shown in FIG. 2, the Y-axis direction moving mechanism 44 is provided in the housing 11. The Y-axis direction moving mechanism 44 is a mechanism for moving the pressing body 66 of the transfer tool 60 in the Y-axis direction. The Y-axis direction moving mechanism 44 has a Y-axis shaft 45, a front pulley 47a, a rear pulley 47b, a front pulley 47a, and a rear pulley 47b, respectively, on the left side wall portion 13 and the right side wall portion 14. It is equipped with a wire 47c wound around. The Y-axis direction moving mechanism 44 includes a third motor 46 (see FIG. 9) connected to a rear pulley 47b arranged on the right side wall portion 14. The third motor 46 is provided on the right side wall portion 14. The Y-axis shaft 45 extends in the Y-axis direction. The Y-axis shaft 45 is supported by the left side wall portion 13 and the right side wall portion 14, respectively. The front pulley 47a, the rear pulley 47b, and the wire 47c are provided on the left side wall portion 13 and the right side wall portion 14, respectively. The wire 47c is arranged above the Y-axis shaft 45. The third motor 46 rotates the rear pulley 47b provided on the right wall portion 14. The third motor 46 is an electric motor. The third motor 46 is controlled by the control device 90 (see also FIG. 9). The Y-axis shaft 45 is provided with a sliding member 33a connected to the third carriage 33 so as to be slidable in the Y-axis direction. The sliding member 33a moves integrally with the third carriage 33. A part of the wire 47c is connected to the sliding member 33a. When the third motor 46 is driven, the third carriage 33 moves in the Y-axis direction along the Y-axis shaft 45 due to the traveling of the wire 47c.

As shown in FIG. 4, the transfer tool 60 presses the heat transfer foil 82 and the light absorption film 84 placed on the object to be transferred 80 and irradiates the light absorption film 84 with light (for example, laser light). It is a device that is configured to be possible. The transfer tool 60 is a device that irradiates the light absorbing film 84 arranged on the heat transfer foil 82 with light to supply heat to the heat transfer foil 82. The transfer tool 60 is arranged above the support base 20. The transfer tool 60 includes a laser oscillator 62, a case body 61, and a pressing body 66 detachably held at the lower end of the case body 61. The transfer tool 60 is configured to be movable within the transfer region TA (see FIG. 5), which will be described later. The laser oscillator 62 is an example of a light source.

As shown in FIG. 3, the case body 61 is held by the first carriage 31. As shown in FIG. 4, the case body 61 is formed in a long cylindrical shape. A part of the optical fiber 64 connected to the laser oscillator 62 is housed inside the case body 61. The case body 61 includes a holder 68 for holding the pressing body 66. The holder 68 is formed with a through hole P penetrating in the vertical direction. The pressing body 66 is held so as to overlap the through hole P. The end of the optical fiber 64 overlaps the through hole P. As a result, the holder 68 does not interfere with the optical path LP of the laser beam.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pressing body 66 projects downward from the lower surface 61B of the case body 61 (that is, corresponding to the lower surface of the holder 68). The pressing body 66 presses the transferred object 80 and the heat transfer foil 82 and the light absorbing film 84 arranged on the transferred object 80. The pressing body 66 is configured to be able to irradiate light toward the light absorbing film 84. As will be described later, the laser light generated by the laser oscillator 62 passes through the pressing body 66 and is irradiated to the outside. The pressing body 66 can be made of, for example, glass. The pressing body 66 in the present embodiment is made of synthetic quartz glass. The pressing body 66 functions as a lens.

The laser oscillator 62 produces laser light. The laser light generated by the laser oscillator 62 reaches the pressing body 66 through the optical fiber 64. The laser beam that has reached the pressing body 66 passes through the pressing body 66 and is irradiated to the outside of the case body 61. The laser beam is applied to the portion pressed by the pressing body 66. The laser oscillator 62 in this embodiment is composed of a laser diode (semiconductor laser) that irradiates a laser beam, an optical system, and the like. The laser oscillator 62 is controlled by the control device 90. The laser oscillator 62 is arranged in the housing 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the support base 20 is arranged in the housing 11. The transfer material 80 is placed on the support base 20. The surface 20A of the support base 20 is located above the bottom wall portion 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the support base 20 is arranged so as to close the insertion hole 12H formed in the bottom wall portion 12 (see FIG. 2). The support base 20 is formed in a rectangular shape whose length in the X-axis direction is longer than the length in the Y-axis direction. The length of the support base 20 in the X-axis direction may be longer than the length in the Y-axis direction, and the length in the X-axis direction and the length in the Y-axis direction may be the same. The transfer region TA is provided on the support base 20. The transfer region TA is formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view. The transfer region TA is formed in a rectangular shape whose length in the X-axis direction is longer than the length in the Y-axis direction. The length of the transfer region TA in the X-axis direction may be longer than the length in the Y-axis direction, and the length in the X-axis direction and the length in the Y-axis direction may be the same. The transfer region TA is an region in which the pressing body 66 of the transfer tool 60 can be moved. That is, it is a region where the thermal transfer foil 82 can be transferred to the object to be transferred 80. On the surface of the support base 20, the first through hole 20L on the front side into which the first rod-shaped member 54A on the front side of the film holder 50, which will be described later, is inserted, and the first rod-shaped member 54B on the rear side of the film holder 50 are inserted. The first through hole 20M on the rear side to be formed and the second through hole 20N into which the second rod-shaped member 54C of the film holder 50 is inserted are formed. The first through hole 20L on the front side and the first through hole 20M on the rear side are formed in the region on the left side of the support base 20. The second through hole 20N is formed in the region on the right side of the support base 20. The first through hole 20L on the front side, the first through hole 20M and the second through hole 20N on the rear side are formed outside the transfer region TA. That is, the first through hole 20L on the front side, the first through hole 20M and the second through hole 20N on the rear side do not overlap with the transfer region TA in a plan view. The first through hole 20L on the front side, the first through hole 20M and the second through hole 20N on the rear side overlap with the insertion hole 12H formed in the bottom wall portion 12 in a plan view. The second through hole 20N is formed behind the first through hole 20L on the front side and in front of the first through hole 20M on the rear side. The first through hole 20L on the front side and the first through hole 20M on the rear side are circular. The second through hole 20N has an elongated hole shape. A bush 21 is provided in the first through hole 20M on the rear side. The bush 21 is an example of a holding member that holds the first rod-shaped member 54B on the rear side. A plurality of through holes 20H are formed on the surface 20A of the support base 20. The through hole 20H is formed inside the transfer region TA. That is, the through hole 20H overlaps the transfer region TA in a plan view. A pin for alignment (not shown) is inserted into the through hole 20H. By abutting the object to be transferred 80 on the alignment pin, the object to be transferred 80 can be easily positioned.

As shown in FIG. 6, the foil transfer device 10 includes a detection jig 70 used for detecting the presence / absence of the pressing body 66 of the transfer tool 60. The detection jig 70 is provided on the support base 20. The detection jig 70 is detachably configured on the support base 20. In the examples shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the detection jig 70 is attached to and detached from the first detection position TP1 which is the left back corner of the four corners of the transfer region TA and the second detection position TP2 which is the right front corner, respectively. It is provided freely. The first detection position TP1 is a region that overlaps with the transfer tool 60 in a plan view when the transfer tool 60 is located at the standby position HP (see FIG. 2). Here, the standby position HP is a position where the transfer tool 60 stands by when the foil is pressed, that is, when the thermal transfer foil 82 is not transferred to the object to be transferred 80. In the present embodiment, the standby position HP is provided at the left end of the first X-axis shaft 41a and the second X-axis shaft 41b and at the rear end of the Y-axis shaft 45. The second detection position TP2 is located diagonally to the first detection position TP1. As shown in FIG. 5, the detection jig 70 overlaps the transfer region TA in a plan view when attached to the support base 20. As shown in FIG. 6, the detection jig 70 is formed in a substantially L shape when viewed from the front. The detection jig 70 extends forward from the upper end of the main body 70A formed in an L shape, the contact portion 70B extending forward from the upper end of the main body 70A and in contact with the transfer tool 60, and the lower end of the main body 70A. It also has a support portion 70C that comes into contact with the surface 20A of the support base 20, and a fixing portion 70D that extends forward and downward from the left end of the main body portion 70A and is fixed to the support base 20 via screws 72. The contact portion 70B of the detection jig 70 overlaps the transfer region TA in a plan view.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the detection jig 70 is attached to the first detection position TP1 and the second detection position TP2, respectively, but the attachment position of the detection jig 70 is not limited thereto. For example, it may be attached to the right back corner or the left front corner of the four corners of the transfer region TA. Further, it may be mounted on each side of the transfer region TA except for the four corners. Further, at least one detection jig 70 may be attached to the support base 20. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the detection jig 70 may be attached to the first detection position TP1 or the second detection position TP2 depending on the shape of the transferred object 80 and the like. Further, the vertical length of the detection jig 70 (that is, the height of the contact portion 70B from the support base 20) may be changed according to the position where the detection jig 70 is attached.

As shown in FIG. 2, the foil transfer device 10 includes a film holder 50 that holds the light absorbing film 84. The film holder 50 is detachably configured in the housing 11. The film holder 50 is arranged above the support base 20. More specifically, the film holder 50 is arranged in the housing 11 so that the light absorbing film 84 is located on the thermal transfer foil 82 arranged on the object to be transferred 80. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the film holder 50 includes a holding frame 52 and a rod-shaped member 54. In the examples shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the transfer material 80 and the thermal transfer foil 82 are not shown.

As shown in FIG. 7, the holding frame 52 holds the light absorbing film 84. The holding frame 52 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. Notches 53 are formed in the left rear portion and the right front portion of the holding frame 52, respectively. The cutout portion 53 is formed so that the holding frame 52 does not overlap with the detection jig 70 in a plan view. That is, when the film holder 50 is attached to the housing 11, the film holder 50 does not overlap with the detection jig 70 in a plan view. The holding frame 52 is formed with an opening 52H that penetrates in the vertical direction. When the film holder 50 is attached to the housing 11, the entire opening 52H overlaps the transfer region TA. That is, the opening 52H is located inside the transfer region TA. The holding frame 52 holds the light absorbing film 84 so as to overlap the opening 52H in a plan view. The light absorbing film 84 is held by the holding frame 52 so as to overlap the entire opening 52H in a plan view. In the present embodiment, the light absorption film 84 is held on the back surface (lower surface) of the holding frame 52. The method for holding the light absorbing film 84 is not particularly limited, but for example, it is held in the holding frame 52 by double-sided tape. The light absorption film 84 is configured to press the heat transfer foil 82 from above, but most of the pressing force is due to the weight of the holding frame 52.

As shown in FIG. 8, the rod-shaped member 54 is a member for fixing the film holder 50 to the housing 11. The rod-shaped member 54 includes a first rod-shaped member 54A on the front side, a first rod-shaped member 54B on the rear side, and a second rod-shaped member 54C. The first rod-shaped member 54A on the front side, the first rod-shaped member 54B on the rear side, and the second rod-shaped member 54C extend in the vertical direction. The first rod-shaped member 54A on the front side, the first rod-shaped member 54B and the second rod-shaped member 54C on the rear side extend downward from the back surface (lower surface) of the holding frame 52. The first rod-shaped member 54A on the front side and the first rod-shaped member 54B on the rear side extend downward from the left end 52L of the holding frame 52. The left end 52L is an example of one end in the X-axis direction. The second rod-shaped member 54C extends downward from the right end 52R of the holding frame 52. The right end 52R is an example of the other end in the X-axis direction. The first rod-shaped member 54A on the front side, the first rod-shaped member 54B on the rear side, and the second rod-shaped member 54C are inserted into the insertion holes 12H (see FIG. 7) formed in the bottom wall portion 12 of the housing 11. More specifically, the front first rod-shaped member 54A is inserted into the insertion hole 12H via the front first through hole 20L formed in the support base 20. The first rod-shaped member 54B on the rear side is inserted into the insertion hole 12H via the first through hole 20M on the rear side formed in the support base 20. The second rod-shaped member 54C is inserted into the insertion hole 12H via the second through hole 20N formed in the support base 20.

The overall operation of the foil transfer device 10 is controlled by the control device 90. As shown in FIG. 9, the control device 90 is communicably connected to the pressing body moving mechanism 30 and the laser oscillator 62 of the transfer tool 60, and is configured to be controllable. The control device 90 is communicably connected to the first motor 38, the second motor 42, and the third motor 46, and is configured to be controllable. The control device 90 is typically a computer. The control device 90 includes, for example, an interface (I / F) for receiving print data or the like from an external device such as a host computer, a central processing unit (CPU) for executing a control program instruction, and a program executed by the CPU. It is provided with a ROM for storing the program, a RAM used as a working area for deploying the program, and a storage device such as a memory for storing the program and various data.

As shown in FIG. 9, the control device 90 includes a storage unit 90A, a first detection unit 91, a second detection unit 92, a determination unit 95, a notification unit 96, and an optical control unit 97. .. The functions of each part of the control device 90 are realized by a program. This program is read from a recording medium such as a CD or DVD. This program may be downloaded via the Internet. Further, the functions of each part of the control device 90 may be realized by a processor and / or a circuit or the like. The specific functions of each of these parts will be described later.

The storage unit 90A stores a reference length LB (see FIG. 3) which is a vertical length from the lower end 66B of the pressing body 66 of the transfer tool 60 to the lower surface 61B of the case body 61. The storage unit 90A stores foil image data. The foil image data can be arbitrarily created by the user by using software installed on an external computer. The storage unit 90A stores where the detection jig 70 is attached to the support base 20.

The first detection unit 91 lowers the transfer tool 60 at the first position H1 (see FIG. 10A) where the pressing body 66 overlaps the detection jig 70 in a plan view, and detects a part of the transfer tool 60. The first height position in the vertical direction of the transfer tool 60 when it comes into contact with the jig 70 is detected. As shown in FIG. 10B, when the pressing body 66 is attached to the transfer tool 60, when the transfer tool 60 is lowered, the pressing body 66 (more specifically, the lower end 66B) and the detection jig 70 (More specifically, the contact portion 70B) comes into contact with the contact portion 70B. The first height position at this time is calculated as, for example, the length Z1 in the vertical direction from the surface 20A of the support base 20 to the lower surface 61B of the case body 61. The first detection unit 91 controls the first motor 38, the second motor 42, and the third motor 46. As shown in FIG. 10B, even when the holding frame 52 of the film holder 50 is located above the detection jig 70, it is held when the transfer tool 60 is lowered at the first position H1. The frame 52 is formed so as not to come into contact with the transfer tool 60 (more specifically, the case body 61). That is, since the notch portion 53 is formed in the holding frame 52, the case main body 61 and the holding frame 52 do not overlap each other in a plan view.

The second detection unit 92 has a second position H2 (see FIG. 11A) in which the pressing body 66 does not overlap the detection jig 70 in a plan view and at least a part of the case body 61 overlaps the detection jig 70 in a plan view. ), The transfer tool 60 is lowered to detect the second height position of the transfer tool 60 in the vertical direction when a part of the transfer tool 60 and the detection jig 70 come into contact with each other. In the present embodiment, the second position H2 is to the right of the first position H1 (inside the support base 20). As shown in FIG. 11B, when the pressing body 66 is attached to the transfer tool 60, when the transfer tool 60 is lowered, the case body 61 (more specifically, the lower surface 61B) and the detection jig 70 (More specifically, the contact portion 70B) comes into contact with the contact portion 70B. The second height position at this time is calculated as, for example, the length Z2 in the vertical direction from the surface 20A of the support base 20 to the lower surface 61B of the case body 61. The second detection unit 92 controls the first motor 38, the second motor 42, and the third motor 46. As shown in FIG. 11B, even when the holding frame 52 of the film holder 50 is located above the detection jig 70, it is held when the transfer tool 60 is lowered at the second position H2. The frame 52 is formed so as not to come into contact with the transfer tool 60 (more specifically, the case body 61).

The determination unit 95 has a reference length LB (see FIG. 3) stored in the storage unit 90A, a first height position detected by the first detection unit 91, and a second detection unit 92. The presence or absence of the pressing body 66 is determined based on the height position. That is, the determination unit 95 determines whether the absolute value of the difference between the first height position and the second height position (for example, | Z1-Z2 |) is equal to the reference length LB. When the absolute value of the difference between the first height position and the second height position is equal to the reference length LB, the determination unit 95 determines that the pressing body 66 is present. On the other hand, when the absolute value of the difference between the first height position and the second height position is not equal to the reference length LB, the determination unit 95 determines that the pressing body 66 does not exist. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the pressing body 66 is not attached to the transfer tool 60, when the transfer tool 60 is lowered at the first position H1, the case body 61 (more specifically, the lower surface 61B) is lowered. ) And the detection jig 70 (more specifically, the contact portion 70B) come into contact with each other. That is, the first height position at this time is equal to the second height position, and the absolute value of the difference between the first height position and the second height position is not equal to the reference length LB.

When the determination unit 95 determines that the pressing body 66 does not exist, the notification unit 96 notifies that the pressing body 66 is not attached to the case body 61. The notification method is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include visual display, voice notification, and the like. In the present embodiment, the notification unit 96 visually notifies the user through an LED light (not shown) provided outside the housing 11.

The light control unit 97 controls the irradiation of laser light from the laser oscillator 62. The light control unit 97 is configured to be able to irradiate laser light from the laser oscillator 62 when the determination unit 95 determines that the pressing body 66 is present. The light control unit 97 is configured so that the laser oscillator 62 cannot irradiate the laser light when the determination unit 95 determines that the pressing body 66 is not present.

As described above, according to the foil transfer device 10 of the present embodiment, the film holder 50 that holds the light absorbing film 84 is detachably configured in the housing 11. That is, the film holder 50 can be attached to the housing 11 by inserting the rod-shaped member 54 of the film holder 50 into the insertion hole 12H formed in the bottom wall portion 12 of the housing 11. Further, the film holder 50 can be removed from the housing 11 by pulling out the rod-shaped member 54 from the insertion hole 12H. Therefore, by attaching the film holder 50 to the housing 11 with the heat transfer foil 82 placed on the object to be transferred 80, the heat transfer foil 82 can be pressed from above by the light absorption film 84. As a result, the thermal transfer foil 82 is fixed on the transferred object 80, and the thermal transfer foil 82 is suppressed from moving with respect to the transferred object 80. Further, the film holder 50 can be attached to or detached from the housing 11 by moving the film holder 50 in the vertical direction and inserting or removing the rod-shaped member 54 into the insertion hole 12H. There is no need to provide extra space on the sides (for example, right and left) of the support base 20, and even if the housing 11 is the same, a larger object to be transferred is compared with the configuration in which the film holder 50 is rotationally moved. The thermal transfer foil 82 can be transferred to 80.

According to the foil transfer device 10 of the present embodiment, the rod-shaped member 54 of the film holder 50 includes the first rod-shaped member 54A on the front side and the first rod-shaped member 54B on the rear side extending downward from the left end 52L of the holding frame 52. A second rod-shaped member 54C extending downward from the right end 52R of the holding frame 52 is included. This facilitates the positioning of the film holder 50 with respect to the support base 20.

According to the foil transfer device 10 of the present embodiment, the first rod-shaped member 54A on the front side is inserted into the support base 20, and the first through hole 20L on the front side and the first through hole 20L on the rear side overlap with the insertion hole 12H in a plan view. The first through hole 20M on the rear side where one rod-shaped member 54B is inserted and overlaps with the insertion hole 12H in a plan view, and the second through hole 20N into which the second rod-shaped member 54C is inserted and overlaps with the insertion hole 12H in a plan view are formed. It is formed. Thereby, the lengths of the first rod-shaped member 54A on the front side, the first rod-shaped member 54B on the rear side, and the second rod-shaped member 54C in the vertical direction can be shortened. Further, the positioning of the film holder 50 with respect to the support base 20 becomes easier.

According to the foil transfer device 10 of the present embodiment, the first through hole 20M on the rear side is provided with a bush 21 for holding the first rod-shaped member 54B on the rear side. As a result, the film holder 50 can be more reliably fixed to the support base 20.

According to the foil transfer device 10 of the present embodiment, the detection jig 70 used for detecting the presence / absence of the pressing body 66 does not overlap with the holding frame 52 of the film holder 50 in a plan view. As a result, when the film holder 50 is removed from the housing 11, the detection jig 70 does not have to be removed from the support base 20.

According to the foil transfer device 10 of the present embodiment, the detection jig 70 is one of the four corners of the transfer region TA, and the transfer tool 60 is a transfer tool in a plan view when the transfer tool 60 is located at the standby position HP. It is provided at the first detection position TP1 that overlaps with 60, or at the second detection position TP2 that is the other corner of the four corners of the transfer region TA and is located diagonally to the first detection position TP1. For example, when the detection jig 70 is attached to the first detection position TP1, the first detection position TP1 and the standby position HP are relatively close to each other, so that the thermal transfer foil 82 immediately after detecting the presence or absence of the pressing body 66 Transfer can be initiated. On the other hand, when the detection jig 70 is attached to the second detection position TP2, the transfer region TA can be widely used as compared with the case where the detection jig 70 is attached to the first detection position TP1, so that the transferred object 80 can be used. Higher degree of freedom of placement.

According to the foil transfer device 10 of the present embodiment, the holding frame 52 of the film holder 50 is located above the detection jig 70. When the transfer tool 60 is lowered at the first position H1 and the second position H2, the holding frame 52 is formed so as not to come into contact with the transfer tool 60. Thereby, even when the thickness of the transferred object 80 is relatively thick, the presence or absence of the pressing body 66 can be detected.

According to the foil transfer device 10 of the present embodiment, the determination unit 95 determines the presence / absence of the pressing body 66 based on the reference length LB and the first height position and the second height position. In this way, by bringing the transfer tool 60 into contact with the detection jig 70 at the first position H1 and the second position H2, the presence or absence of the pressing body 66 can be easily determined.

According to the foil transfer device 10 of the present embodiment, when the determination unit 95 determines that the pressing body 66 does not exist, the control device 90 notifies that the pressing body 66 is not attached to the case body 61. It has a part 96. As a result, the user can recognize that the pressing body 66 is not attached to the case body 61.

According to the foil transfer device 10 of the present embodiment, the optical control unit 97 is configured to be capable of irradiating laser light from the laser oscillator 62 when the determination unit 95 determines that the pressing body 66 is present, and is a determination unit. When it is determined by 95 that there is no pressing body 66, the laser oscillator 62 is configured to be unable to irradiate the laser light. This prevents the laser oscillator 62 from irradiating light when the pressing body 66 is not attached to the case body 61.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, each of the above embodiments is merely an example, and the present invention can be implemented in various other embodiments.

In the above-described embodiment, the first rod-shaped member 54A on the front side, the first rod-shaped member 54B on the rear side, and the second rod-shaped member 54C can all be inserted into the insertion hole 12H formed in the bottom wall portion 12. It was, but it is not limited to this. The bottom wall portion 12 may be formed with independent insertion holes into which the first rod-shaped member 54A on the front side, the first rod-shaped member 54B on the rear side, and the second rod-shaped member 54C can be inserted. Further, in the bottom wall portion 12, a first insertion hole into which the first rod-shaped member 54A on the front side and the first rod-shaped member 54B on the rear side can be inserted and a second insertion hole into which the second rod-shaped member 54C can be inserted. May be formed independently.

In the above-described embodiment, the bush 21 is provided in the first through hole 20M on the rear side, but may be provided in the first through hole 20L on the front side or in the second through hole 20N.

10 Foil transfer device 11 Housing 20 Support base 30 Pressing body moving mechanism 50 Film holder 52 Holding frame 54 Rod-shaped member 60 Transfer tool 61 Case body 66 Pressing body 84 Light absorbing film

Claims (10)

A housing with an opening and
A cover provided on the housing and opening and closing the opening,
A support base arranged in the housing and formed so that a transfer material can be placed on the support base
The thermal transfer foil, which is arranged in the housing and above the support, has light absorption, and is placed on the transfer object, is pressed from above to push the thermal transfer foil onto the transfer object. Light absorption film to fix and
A film holder that holds the light absorbing film and is detachably configured in the housing.
A case body, a pressing body configured to press the transferred object, the thermal transfer foil and the light absorbing film arranged on the transferred object, and irradiate light toward the light absorbing film. With the transfer tool you have
A moving mechanism for moving the transfer tool relative to the support is provided.
The film holder is
A holding frame in which an opening penetrating in the vertical direction is formed and holds the light absorbing film so as to overlap the opening in a plan view.
A foil transfer device comprising a rod-shaped member extending downward from the holding frame and being inserted into an insertion hole formed in the housing. When the axis extending in the vertical direction in the front view is the Z axis and the axis orthogonal to the Z axis in the front view is the X axis.
The rod-shaped member includes a first rod-shaped member extending downward from one end of the holding frame in the X-axis direction, and a second rod-shaped member extending downward from the other end of the holding frame in the X-axis direction. The foil transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising. A first through hole into which the first rod-shaped member is inserted and overlaps with the insertion hole in a plan view, and a second through hole into which the second rod-shaped member is inserted and overlaps with the insertion hole in a plan view. The foil transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the and is formed. The foil transfer device according to claim 3, wherein a holding member for holding the first rod-shaped member is provided in the first through hole. A detection jig provided on the support base and used for detecting the presence or absence of the pressing body is provided.
The foil transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the detection jig does not overlap the holding frame in a plan view. The detection jig is a first corner of a transfer region formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view and overlaps with the transfer tool in a plan view when the transfer tool is located in a standby position. The foil transfer device according to claim 5, wherein the foil transfer device is provided at a detection position or a second detection position located at another corner of the four corners of the transfer region and diagonally opposite to the first detection position. The pressing body is provided so as to project downward from the lower surface of the case body.
The holding frame is located above the detection jig and is located above the detection jig.
When the transfer tool is lowered at the first position where the pressing body overlaps the detection jig in a plan view, and in a plan view, the pressing body does not overlap with the detection jig and in a plan view. The holding frame is formed so as not to come into contact with the transfer tool when the transfer tool is lowered at a second position where at least a part of the case body overlaps with the detection jig. Item 5. The foil transfer device according to item 5 or 6. A control device for controlling the transfer tool and the movement mechanism is provided.
The control device is
A storage unit that stores a reference length, which is a vertical length from the lower end of the pressing body to the lower surface of the case body, and a storage unit.
At the first position, the transfer tool is lowered to detect the first height position of the transfer tool in the vertical direction when a part of the transfer tool comes into contact with the detection jig. The first detector and
At the second position, the transfer tool is lowered to detect the vertical second height position of the transfer tool when a part of the transfer tool comes into contact with the detection jig. The second detector and
The foil transfer device according to claim 7, further comprising a determination unit for determining the presence or absence of the pressing body based on the reference length, the first height position, and the second height position. 8. The control device has a notification unit that notifies that the pressing body is not attached to the case body when the determination unit determines that the pressing body is not present. Foil transfer device. The transfer tool has a light source that irradiates light toward the thermal transfer foil via the pressing body.
The control device includes an optical control unit that controls irradiation of light from the light source.
When the determination unit determines that the pressing body is present, the light control unit is configured to be able to irradiate light from the light source, and when the determination unit determines that the pressing body is not present, the light control unit is described. The foil transfer device according to claim 8 or 9, which is configured so that light cannot be emitted from a light source.

Images