JP2022071415A - Thermoelectric printer and thermal transfer ribbon - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a configuration of a thermoelectric printer and a thermal transfer ribbon that can reliably eliminate the use of thermal transfer ribbon of a non-regular product also called a pirate by a comparatively inexpensive method without using an expensive IC chip.SOLUTION: A thermoelectric printer includes: reading means s2 for reading an encrypted key number formed on an ink ribbon 1 of a mounted thermal transfer ribbon R; reading means s1 for reading an encrypted key number formed in a winding core 9 of the thermal transfer ribbon; decryption means for decrypting both the key numbers that have been read; a registration unit in which a number individually determined for the mounted thermal transfer ribbon is registered; and a determination unit that determines that the thermal transfer ribbon is an unused product when the number is not already registered in the registration unit and determines that the thermal transfer ribbon is a regular product when the number individually determined for the thermal transfer ribbon can be identified from both the decrypted key numbers. Image printing operation is started after determining that the mounted thermal transfer ribbon is an unused product and is a regular product.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an indirect transfer type thermal transfer printer and a thermal transfer ribbon used thereof, and more particularly to a thermal transfer printer and a thermal transfer ribbon that can eliminate the use of a non-genuine thermal transfer ribbon.

Printers that employ the indirect thermal transfer method have been used mainly as means for forming multicolor images on recording media such as personal authentication media such as passboats and ID cards. At that time, a recording area is set for the intermediate transfer film according to the size of the recording surface of the recording medium, and each color ink panel such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and ink is sized for the thermal transfer ribbon according to the size of the recording area. It was formed in sequence. Then, by superimposing the thermal transfer inks of each color on the recording area and thermally transferring them, a full-color image, a character image, or the like is formed on the intermediate transfer film, and then thermal pressure transfer is performed on the recording surface of the recording medium to complete the recording.

In such a conventional indirect thermal transfer method, a large amount of printing is possible by replacing the consumable intermediate transfer film or thermal transfer ribbon with a new one after using a specified number of sheets. However, even though it is a printer used for passports and ID cards, counterfeit products are made as these consumables, such as non-genuine products, so-called pirated editions, appearing as non-genuine products. In addition, the use of inexpensive, low-quality, non-genuine thermal transfer ribbons may lead to equipment failure or even damage in some cases.

Therefore, conventionally, there has been a method in which an IC chip is mounted on a plastic core or the like, which is a winding core of a thermal transfer ribbon, and certification of a genuine product is performed. However, if an expensive IC chip is mounted on each consumable thermal transfer ribbon, the unit price tends to increase, and there is a concern that one plastic core can be reused for another device. In addition, there is also a technique of mounting a check digit or an encrypted serial number on the thermal transfer ribbon and determining the genuine product by inputting it (Patent Document 1), but the same serial number is used. There is also a concern that it can be diverted to another device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-94477

An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer and a thermal transfer ribbon configuration that can surely eliminate the use of a non-genuine thermal transfer ribbon, which is also called a pirated version, by a relatively inexpensive method without using an expensive IC chip or the like. do.

In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is
A thermal transfer printer that thermally transfers the thermal transfer ink of a thermal transfer ribbon with a thermal head, and is a reading means for reading an encrypted key number formed on the ink ribbon of the attached thermal transfer ribbon, and an encryption formed on the thermal transfer ribbon. A reading means for reading the read key number, a decoding means for decoding both read key numbers, a registration unit for registering a number individually determined for the attached thermal transfer ribbon, and the registration unit already registered in the registration unit. If not, it is determined that the thermal transfer ribbon is an unused product, and if the number individually determined for the thermal transfer ribbon can be specified from the decoded both key numbers, the thermal transfer ribbon has a determination unit for determining that it is a genuine product. The thermal transfer printer is characterized in that the attached thermal transfer ribbon is an unused product and the printing operation is started after it is determined that the thermal transfer ribbon is a genuine product.

In the thermal transfer printer, the attached thermal transfer ribbon and the key number of the winding core may be erased so that they cannot be read again after the thermal transfer ribbon is used.

In the thermal transfer printer, the reading means may be a magnetic head, and the key number may be magnetically overwritten and erased by the magnetic head after the use of the thermal transfer ribbon.

In the thermal transfer printer, the reading means may be an optical reading device, and the key number may be thermally transferred and erased by the thermal head after the use of the thermal transfer ribbon.

Another aspect of the present invention is
On one surface of a long ribbon-shaped heat-resistant support, each thermal transfer ink layer of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, which is made of thermal transfer ink, and a prima layer, which is an adhesive layer, are sequentially painted on the surface. A key in which a key number in which a uniquely determined number is encrypted is formed is further painted, and the key is wound around a winding core in a roll shape, and the number is encrypted on the winding core. It is a thermal transfer ribbon provided with an encrypted number part in which numbers are formed.

In the thermal transfer ribbon, the encryption number layer may be formed of thermal transfer ink.

In the thermal transfer ribbon, an encrypted key number may be formed as magnetic information in the encryption number layer and the encryption number portion.

In the thermal transfer ribbon, an encrypted key number may be formed as optical information in the encryption number layer and the encryption number portion.

According to the thermal transfer printer and the thermal transfer ribbon of the present invention, it is possible to reliably eliminate the use of a non-genuine thermal transfer ribbon. Further, it is possible to realize it at a relatively low cost by the reproduction / code determination circuit inside the device without using an expensive IC chip for the determination of the genuine product.

Specifically, the corresponding key information is encrypted and mounted on both the thermal transfer ribbon and the core that is the core of the thermal transfer ribbon, and the information is read when the consumables are replaced to determine and register that the thermal transfer ribbon is a genuine product. By doing so, it is possible to provide a printer and a thermal transfer ribbon that prevent the use of non-genuine products.

It is a top view which shows one structural example of the thermal transfer ribbon of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows one structural example of the winding core (core) of the thermal transfer ribbon of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows one structural example of the thermal transfer printer of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows another structural example of the thermal transfer printer of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the determination process in the thermal transfer printer of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. Further, in the embodiments shown below, technically preferable limitations are made for carrying out the invention, but these limitations are not essential requirements of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the thermal transfer ribbon of the present invention. The thermal transfer ribbon R has a cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, black Bk ink layer made of thermal transfer ink, and a prima layer P which is an adhesive layer, respectively, on one surface side of a long ribbon-shaped heat-resistant support. The ink ribbon 1 is painted in a surface-sequential manner and the encryption number layer is provided in a portion of the leader tape and a portion adjacent to the prima layer P, and is wound around a core 9 which is a winding core in a roll shape.

As the support, those generally used for thermal transfer ribbons can be used, and as a particularly preferable one, polyester films such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) can be exemplified. The thickness thereof can be 2 to 50 μm, but more preferably 2 to 16 μm. Further, a back coat layer may be provided on the back surface side of the support in consideration of runnability during thermal transfer.

As the color inks of the C, M, and Y colors, those known as the three primary colors of the color reduction mixture for expressing a full-color image can be used. Further, if necessary, a special color ink layer other than this can be provided. Each of the above thermal transfer inks may be either a sublimation transfer type ink or a melt transfer type ink, but when used as an information recorder for personal authentication, a melt transfer type having high durability is more preferable. .. Further, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram, and the area of each thermal transfer ink layer may be an area sufficient for recording on the entire surface of the recording surface of the recording medium on which recording is finally formed.

Further, the encryption number layer may be formed of a thermal transferable ink, but may be formed of a non-thermally transferable ink. Further, they may be formed by combining them. For example, a pattern may be formed on a thermal transferable ink layer with a non-thermally transferable ink. The position may be any position with respect to the other ink layer, and the ink ribbon 1 may be provided on the leader tape which is the leading portion when the ink ribbon 1 is unwound from the roll, or another ink may be provided on a portion adjacent to the other ink layer. Like the layer, it can be provided periodically, and it can be provided on both of them as in the example of FIG.

In the encryption number layer, information on the encrypted key number derived by a predetermined algorithm from a number individually determined for each roll of the transfer ribbon (hereinafter referred to as "roll number") is formed. There is. Here, the "number individually determined for each roll of the transfer ribbon" is typically a serial number assigned at the time of manufacture, but is separately determined by a distributor or the like for each roll of the transfer ribbon. It may be a number assigned to the user, and is not particularly limited as long as the role can be specified. The encryption algorithm itself may be appropriately adopted from a known one.

Further, the plastic core 9 which is the winding core of the ink ribbon 1 is formed with an encryption number portion as shown in FIG. 2 as an example thereof, and the encryption number portion also has an encryption number layer from a roll number. Encrypted key number information (hereinafter, also referred to as "encrypted information" without particular distinction, including the one formed on the ink ribbon) is formed, which is derived by an algorithm different from that obtained by deriving the key number of. Has been done. The encryption number portion is formed on the inner surface of the core 9 which is cylindrical here.

Since the key number of the encryption number part and the key number of the encryption number layer of the transfer ribbon are encrypted by different algorithms, the information before decryption is not necessarily the same, but inside the thermal transfer printer described later. If the roll number can be specified correctly corresponding to the roll number after decryption through the cryptographic information processing circuit of the above, it is determined that both key numbers are legitimate numbers and the transfer ribbon is a legitimate product.

The position where the encryption number portion is provided on the core 9 may be a position other than the inner surface as illustrated, and is not particularly limited, but the end portion other than the portion where the thermal transfer ribbon is wound on the outer surface of the tubular portion. The side or the edges 9a, 9b, etc. may be used.

The form of the encrypted information formed in the encrypted number layer and the encrypted number portion is not particularly limited as long as it is encrypted, for example, a form in which an encrypted number is printed on a support, or on a support. A magnetic ink layer is provided to form a form encoded with encrypted magnetic information, and an optical pattern encrypted with thermal transfer ink, such as characters, symbols, figures, barcodes, and two-dimensional barcodes, is formed on the support. It can take various forms such as the above-mentioned form. Further, if the forms of the encrypted information formed in the encrypted number layer and the encrypted number portion are different from each other, the anti-counterfeiting effect is further enhanced, but in that case, two types of information reproduction processing are performed on the thermal transfer printer side. It is not always preferable because it is necessary to provide a circuit, the configuration is complicated, and the cost is high.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a configuration example of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an example in which the thermal transfer printer is configured by an indirect transfer type printer. In the thermal transfer printer 10, the ink ribbon 1 is unwound from the unwinding roll, passes through the sensor s2 for reading the encryption information formed on the encryption number layer of the ink ribbon 1, and performs thermal transfer printing on the intermediate transfer film 5. It passes between the thermal head 2 and the platen roller 3 of the primary transfer unit to be performed and is wound on a take-up roll. Further, a sensor s1 for reading encrypted information formed on the core 9 is mounted on a shaft on which the core 9 of the thermal transfer ribbon R is mounted.

In the example of FIG. 3, the sensors s1 and s2 are magnetic heads that read magnetic information. Therefore, in the thermal transfer ribbon 1 used in the thermal transfer printer of FIG. 3, the encryption information is magnetically stored in the magnetic ink layer of both the encryption number layer formed on the ink ribbon 1 and the encryption number portion formed on the core 9. It is encoded and formed in.

Further, the intermediate transfer film 5 is unwound from the unwinding roll, passes between the thermal head 2 of the primary transfer section and the platen roller 3 facing the ink ribbon 1, and performs thermal pressure transfer at the secondary transfer section. It passes between the heat roller 6 and the recording medium 7 and is wound on a take-up roll.

In the primary transfer unit, patterns such as color images and characters are transferred from the thermal transfer ribbon 1 to the intermediate transfer film 5 from four color ink panels of black ink K, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y. The intermediate transfer film 5 on which each pattern is formed is conveyed to the secondary transfer section, and is thermocompression-bonded to the recording medium 7 conveyed by the transfer table 8 by the heat roller 6 to form each of the intermediate transfer films 5 formed in the primary transfer section. The pattern is transcribed. Patterns such as color images and characters can be made into arbitrary patterns by appropriately controlling the thermal head 2, and arbitrary individual information can be formed on the intermediate transfer film 5 and on the recording medium 7.

Further, the thermal transfer printer 10 has a cryptographic information processing circuit, and the cryptographic information processing circuit reads magnetic information which is encryption information from an encryption number portion formed in a core 9 on the unwinding roll side of the thermal transfer ribbon R. A magnetic information reproduction processing circuit that reproduces the magnetic information read by the sensor s1 and the sensor s2 that reads the magnetic information that is the encrypted information from the encryption number layer formed on the ink ribbon 1, and the encrypted magnetic information. If the number obtained from both the decrypted magnetic information and the decoded magnetic information correctly corresponds to the roll number of the mounted thermal transfer ribbon R and the roll number can be specified, the thermal transfer ribbon R is considered to be a genuine product. It has a regular / unused determination circuit that determines and determines whether or not it is an unused product. The determination of whether or not the product is unused is registered when the roll number of the thermal transfer ribbon R is attached to a registration unit (not shown) such as a memory device in which the roll number of the thermal transfer ribbon used in the past is registered. , Can be determined by collating with past records. The registration unit may be provided inside the thermal transfer printer 10, but an external device such as a PC can also be used. Further, the input to the registration unit may be provided by providing an input device such as a touch panel on the thermal transfer printer 10, or may be input via a connected PC or the like.

The process for reading the encrypted information formed on the ink ribbon 1 and the core 9 will be specifically described when the encrypted information is recorded as magnetic information. The process of processing encrypted information is generally divided into three processes: processing of encrypted information, decryption, and determination. The encryption information of the encryption number layer at an arbitrary position on the ink ribbon and the encryption information of the encryption number part formed on the surface layer of the core are read by a sensor such as a magnetic head and applied to a magnetic information reproduction processing circuit. After that, as a result of passing through the decoding circuit, whether the information can be used by passing it through the regular / unused determination circuit that the information can identify the roll number added at the time of ribbon manufacturing and that it is not used yet. To judge.

Further, if the processing flow is the same, the encrypted information does not have to be magnetic information, for example, in an optical pattern such as printing visible data or UV printing data that does not emerge unless irradiated with ultraviolet rays. There may be. In that case, a sensor for reading is used as a sensor for optically reading, and a processing circuit corresponding to the sensor is required.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing another configuration example of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention. In the thermal transfer printer 10', this is an example in which the encrypted information is not magnetic information but encrypted number print data as a visible optical pattern. In this case, the reading sensors s3 and s4 are sensors that read the encrypted information as an optical pattern, and examples thereof include a contact-type CCD sensor and a CCD camera, and the optical information processing circuit has an optical pattern. It has an image information analysis processing circuit that analyzes the image information. The processing in the cryptographic information processing circuit is basically the same as the example shown in FIG. 3 except that the magnetic information is changed to the information of the optical pattern, and thus is omitted.

As the thermal transfer ribbon R mounted on the thermal transfer printer of FIG. 4, the encryption number layer formed on the ink ribbon 4 and the encryption number portion formed on the core 9 are both roll numbers and the like by the thermal transfer ink on the support. Use the one that forms the encrypted optical pattern.

An example of the flow from the start of the determination method in the cryptographic information processing circuit will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the power of the thermal transfer printer is turned on, and if it is not determined that the power is on, some kind of failure can be assumed, and error information is output. When the power is turned on and started normally, it is determined whether or not the operator has replaced the thermal transfer ribbon. Then, when it is determined that the thermal transfer ribbon has been replaced by performing the predetermined initialization, the roll number is input and registered in the registration unit.

Next, the encrypted key number E1 existing in the encryption number layer of the thermal transfer ribbon is recognized by a predetermined method and decoded in the decoding circuit in the thermal transfer printer. Subsequently, similarly, the encrypted key number E2 existing in the encryption number portion of the core of the thermal transfer ribbon is also decrypted in the same manner. If the roll number is correctly specified from these values, it is determined to be a legitimate ribbon, and if it is the number used for the first time for an operating thermal transfer printer, it is determined to be an unused thermal transfer ribbon, and the thermal transfer printer's The printing operation is started. If No is determined by any of the determinations, it is determined that the thermal transfer ribbon cannot be used, and an error is output.

When the roll number of the thermal transfer ribbon is the number registered for the first time in the printer, it exists in the encrypted key number E1 existing in the encryption number layer of the ink ribbon or the encryption number part of the core at the same time as the determination. By erasing the encrypted key number E2 by a predetermined method, it is possible to prevent the printer from being used by another printer in which the key number is not registered. As a specific method, for example, a thermal head installed as standard in a thermal transfer printer may be used to apply heat to the corresponding number portion to erase it, or the number portion may be an intermediate transfer film as in normal printing. It may be transferred to the ribbon and removed from the ribbon. In the case of an encrypted key number formed of a magnetic ink layer, although the configuration is a little complicated, it is possible to erase the number by overwriting the corresponding part with a magnetic head.

R ... Thermal transfer ribbon 1, 4 ... Ink ribbon 2 ... Thermal head 3 ... Platen roller 5 ... Intermediate transfer film 6 ... Heat roller 7 ... Recording medium 8 ... Conveyance Table 9 ... Core (rolling core)
10, 10'... Thermal transfer printers E1, E2 ... Encrypted key numbers s1, s2, s3, s4 ... Sensor

Claims (8)

It is a thermal transfer printer that thermally transfers the thermal transfer ink of the thermal transfer ribbon by a thermal head, and is formed on a reading means for reading an encrypted key number formed on the ink ribbon of the attached thermal transfer ribbon and a winding core of the thermal transfer ribbon. A reading means for reading the encrypted key number, a decryption means for decrypting both read key numbers, a registration unit for registering a number individually determined for the attached thermal transfer ribbon, and a registration unit for which the number is already registered. If it is not registered in, it is determined that the thermal transfer ribbon is an unused product, and if the number individually determined for the thermal transfer ribbon can be specified from the decoded both key numbers, the thermal transfer ribbon is determined to be a genuine product. The thermal transfer printer is characterized in that the attached thermal transfer ribbon is an unused product and the printing operation is started after it is determined that the thermal transfer ribbon is a genuine product. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the attached thermal transfer ribbon and the key number of the winding core are erased so that they cannot be read again after the thermal transfer ribbon is used. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reading means is a magnetic head, and the key number is magnetically overwritten and erased by the magnetic head after the use of the thermal transfer ribbon. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reading means is an optical reading device, and the key number is thermally transferred and erased by the thermal head after the use of the thermal transfer ribbon. On one surface of a long ribbon-shaped heat-resistant support, each thermal transfer ink layer of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, which is made of thermal transfer ink, and a prima layer, which is an adhesive layer, are sequentially painted on the surface. An encrypted number layer in which a key number in which a predetermined number is encrypted is formed is further painted, and the key is wound around a winding core in a roll shape, and the number is encrypted on the winding core. A thermal transfer ribbon provided with an encrypted number part on which numbers are formed. The thermal transfer ribbon according to claim 5, wherein the encryption number layer is formed of thermal transfer ink. The thermal transfer ribbon according to claim 5 or 6, wherein an encrypted key number is formed as magnetic information in the encryption number layer and the encryption number unit. The thermal transfer ribbon according to claim 5 or 6, wherein an encrypted key number is formed as optical information in the encryption number layer and the encryption number unit.

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