JP3104360B2 - Printer device and transfer method of receiving layer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for forming an image by a thermal transfer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer apparatus uses a thermal transfer sheet containing a dye which is transferred by heat and a dedicated image receiving paper on which a receiving layer for receiving the dye transferred from the thermal transfer sheet is formed. In this case, an image can be obtained only with a thermal transfer sheet and a dedicated image receiving paper combined with the thermal transfer sheet, which is very inconvenient. It has become.

[0003] A conventional printer will be described below. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a thermal transfer sheet having a dye and a receiving layer for receiving the dye;
Is a thermal head, 4 is a platen, 5 is a capstan roller, and 6 is a pinch roller. The dye and the receiving layer move by heat.

[0004] The relationship and operation of each component of the printer device including the above components will be described. Image receiving paper 2
Is pressed against the capstan roller 5 by the pinch roller 6 fed by a sheet feeding device (not shown). At this time, the thermal head 3 is located at a position having a sufficient space for the image receiving paper 2 to be inserted between the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the platen 4 (not shown). Next, when the capstan roller 5 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow a and the image receiving paper 1 is moved between the thermal head 3 and the platen 4, the thermal head 3 moves to the position shown in FIG. The image receiving paper 2 is pressed against the platen 4 with an appropriate pressing force together with the thermal transfer sheet 1.
Then, the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1 is first transferred to the image receiving paper 2 by the thermal head 3 while rotating the capstan roller 5 in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow a to move the image receiving paper 2 and the thermal transfer sheet 1. . Thereafter, the dye of the thermal transfer sheet 1 is similarly transferred to the receiving layer transferred to the image receiving paper 2 to form an image.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, when the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1 is transferred to the image receiving paper 2 by the thermal head 3, the image receiving paper 2 and the thermal transfer sheet 1 are moved at the end of the transfer range. Since the image receiving paper 2 and the thermal transfer sheet 1 are separated from each other, the end of the receiving layer transferred to the image receiving paper 2 does not have a linear shape, but has a problem that it is jagged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer device capable of making all four sides of a transfer range of a receiving layer transferred to an image receiving paper straight. .

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, a printing apparatus according to the present invention transfers a receiving layer of a thermal transfer sheet to an image receiving paper by a thermal head, and at a terminal end of the transfer range, stops by a paper feeding means by a stopping means. After the movement of the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving paper is stopped, the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving paper are separated from each other.

[0008]

With this structure, the thermal transfer sheet and the receiving layer transferred to the image receiving paper can be separated uniformly and simultaneously over the entire end face of the receiving area, and the four sides of the transferring area of the receiving layer transferred to the image receiving paper can be separated. Everything will be linear.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 showing an embodiment of the present invention, the same parts as those of the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

A feature of the present invention resides in that a control unit 7 for controlling the thermal head 3 and the capstan roller 5 is added to the above-described conventional configuration.

The relationship between the components and the operation of the printer comprising the above components will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the image receiving paper 2 is fed between a capstan roller 5 and a pinch roller 6 by a paper feeding device (not shown), pressed by the pinch roller 6 by the capstan roller 5, According to the signal, the capstan roller 5 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow a and is conveyed between the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the platen 4. Next, the thermal head 3 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 2 by a signal from the control unit 7 and presses the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the image receiving paper 2 against the platen 4 with an appropriate pressing force. The thermal transfer sheet 1 and the image receiving paper 2 are moved by rotating in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by a, and the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1 is transferred to the image receiving paper 2 by the thermal head 3 within a necessary range. At this time, at the end of this transition range, the control unit 7 stops the rotation of the capstan roller 5 and
After stopping the movement of the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the image receiving paper 2, the thermal head 3 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 1 to separate the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the image receiving paper 2. Thereafter, the capstan roller 5 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow a in accordance with a signal from the control unit 7 to move the image receiving paper 2 to a predetermined position. next,
The thermal head 3 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 2, and the capstan roller 5 is again rotated in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow a by a signal from the control unit 7, so that the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the image receiving paper 2 are moved. While moving, the thermal head 3 forms an image in which the dye is transferred to the receiving layer transferred to the image receiving paper 2. This dye is divided into three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, or four colors obtained by adding black to the three colors, and each color is transferred to the receiving layer of the image receiving paper 2 by the same operation to form an image.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the transfer layer is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet 1 to the image receiving paper 2, the movement of the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the image receiving paper 2 is stopped at the end of the transfer range.
By separating the thermal transfer sheet 1 from the image receiving paper 2, the receiving layer transferred to the image receiving paper 2 and the thermal transfer sheet 1 can be simultaneously and reliably separated at the end of the transition range, and the image is transferred to the image receiving paper 2. All four sides of the receiving layer can be linear, and a receiving layer serving as a base for forming an aesthetically pleasing image can be formed on an image receiving paper.

In the present embodiment, the image receiving paper 2 is not particularly specified, and the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the image receiving paper 2 are separated by releasing the pressing of the thermal head 3, but the pressing of the thermal head 3 is released. Instead, the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the image receiving paper 2 may be moved apart by moving the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the image receiving paper 2 by the rotation of the capstan roller 5.

Although the control unit 7 stops the movement of the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the image receiving paper 2 only at the end of the transfer of the receiving layer, the transfer of each dye is similarly stopped at the end of the transfer of each dye. The movement of the paper 2 may be stopped.

(Embodiment 2) Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The difference from the configuration of the first embodiment is that a sensor 8 for detecting the temperature of the thermal head 3 is provided, as shown in FIG.

The operation of the printer configured as described above will be described below. When the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1 is transferred to the image receiving paper 2, the movement of the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the image receiving paper 2 is stopped at the end of the transfer range, and the temperature of the thermal head 3 is detected by the sensor 8. After confirming that the temperature of the receiving layer 1 is not softened, the operation of each part is controlled by the control unit 7 so that the thermal head 3 is moved so that the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1 is
Move to

As a result, the same effect as that of the first embodiment is obtained. The description is omitted. (Embodiment 3) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

The difference from the second embodiment is that when the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1 is transferred to the image receiving paper 2, the thermal head 3 is first moved to the position shown in FIG. After the temperature reaches the transferable temperature of the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1, the capstan roller 5 is rotated,
The point is that the control unit 7 controls each unit so as to move the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the image receiving paper 2, and transfers the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1 to the image receiving paper 2.

As a result, an effect similar to that of the first embodiment is obtained. The description is omitted.

[0023]

As is apparent from the above description of the embodiment, the present invention transfers the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet to the image receiving paper by the thermal head, and at the end of the transition area, the thermal transfer sheet by the paper feeding means by the stopping means. An excellent printer that can move all four sides of the transfer area of the receiving layer transferred to the image receiving paper by a structure in which the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving paper are separated after the movement of the image receiving paper is stopped. The device can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the concept of a printer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a thermal transfer sheet and an image receiving paper are pressed against a platen by a thermal head of the printer device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a thermal transfer sheet and an image receiving paper are pressed against a platen by a thermal head of a printer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing the concept of a conventional printer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal transfer sheet 2 Passive paper 3 Thermal head 5 Capstan roller 7 Control part

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-160568 (JP, A) JP-A-64-1590 (JP, A) JP-A-2-122946 (JP, A) JP-A-4-235063 (JP) , A) JP-A-1-206094 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/32 B41J 31/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A thermal transfer carrying a receptor layer for receiving a dye.
Move the sheet and the receiving paper to which the receiving layer is transferred
Giving a paper feeding unit, a heat acceptance layer of the thermal transfer sheet
A thermal head to shift it to the image-receiving sheet, the thermal transfer sheet and comprising a stopping means for stopping the movement of the image receiving paper, the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet is shifted by the thermal head to said receiving sheet, and the transition region A printer unit comprising a control unit for stopping the movement of the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving paper by the paper feeding means by the stopping means at the end of the thermal transfer sheet and then separating the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving paper. 2. The printer device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting a temperature of the thermal head, wherein the control unit stops at the end of the transition range when the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet is transferred to the image receiving paper. Means for stopping the movement of the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving paper, and separating the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving paper when the temperature of the thermal head detected by the sensor is equal to or lower than the softening temperature of the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet. A printer device adapted to be used. 3. A thermal transfer system having a dye receiving layer.
Transfer of the receiving layer from the sheet to the receiving paper
A method, wherein the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving paper are adhered to each other.
End of the transition area of the receiving layer while moving
When the thermal transfer sheet is heated up to
After stopping the movement of the sheet and the receiving paper, the thermal transfer
A receiving device for separating a sheet and the image receiving paper from each other;
How to transfer the container. 4. The method for transferring a receiving layer according to claim 3, wherein
Before separating the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving paper,
The temperature of the thermal head for heating the thermal transfer sheet is
Make sure that the temperature is below the softening temperature of the receiving layer of the thermal transfer sheet.
A method for transferring a receptor layer, characterized in that