JP3214037B2 - Optical disc label printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel optical disk label printing apparatus. More specifically, it is intended to provide a novel optical disc label printing apparatus that can print a label on an optical disc simply and inexpensively and that can perform multi-product small-quantity production and multi-product mixed production. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, offset printing and screen printing have been used to print labels on optical disks such as CDs, LDs, and CDROMs.

For example, when performing screen printing,
First, the CDs set in the supply stack are sequentially conveyed to the feeding section, and then sent to the screen printing machine. Then, a predetermined image is printed by screen printing using a UV ink (ultraviolet curable ink) in a screen printer, and the printed CD is dried by a UV dryer and then sent to a discharge stack. In this way, monochrome printing is performed.

[0004] When performing multi-color printing, the above procedure is repeated by changing the screen printing machine by the number of colors.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned conventional optical disk label printing apparatus, a plate for printing is required, and there is a problem in that the production of a small amount is too costly.

[0006] In addition, it is necessary to test printing in order to obtain the desired color and tone, sometimes, of about 500 sheets C
D may need to be used for proof printing .

Further, one printing press can print only one color, and in order to print another color, it is necessary to exchange plates or perform test printing every time the color is changed. It is not suitable for multi-product small-quantity production or multi-product mixed production.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an optical disk label printing apparatus according to the present invention has been developed in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.
Toner image that makes electronic image data visible in the toner image
Forming means, having elasticity and abutting on the toner image forming means
A first transfer unit disposed and abuts on the first transfer unit
A second transfer unit, a first transfer unit, and a second transfer unit.
Transport means for transporting the optical disc between the optical discs;
To fuse the toner image transferred onto the
Temperature set below the melting point of carbonate and above the melting point of the toner
A first transfer unit and a second transfer unit.
Carrying and transporting the optical disc between the step and the first transfer
Means for generating an electric field between the first transfer means and the second transfer means.
The toner image is transferred from the transfer means onto the optical disc, and the transfer is performed.
Fixing the transferred toner image by fusing means
It is.

[0009]

Therefore, according to the optical disk label printing apparatus of the present invention, a plate for printing is not required, and adjustment is easy, so that multi-product small-quantity production and multi-product mixed production can be performed. It can be realized at low cost. Also poly
Temperature set below the melting point of carbonate and above the melting point of the toner
By heating with the fixed fixing means,
The transferred toner image can be fixed firmly
You. Further, the surface of the fixed toner image
Image peels off when coated with a line-curable resin
No worries.

[0010] In addition, full-color printing can be performed by one apparatus, and unmanned operation is also possible.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the optical disk label printing apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an optical disk label printing apparatus according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a printer unit, in which a supply stack 3 is disposed on the entrance side and a discharge stack 4 is disposed on the exit side, and a transfer unit 5 is disposed at an intermediate position between the supply stack 3 and the transfer stack 5. The fixing unit 6 is disposed at a position between the fixing unit 6 and the fixing unit 6. Then, an optical disk 7 such as a CD is conveyed by conveyance belts 8, 8 from the supply stack 3 to the discharge stack 4 via the transfer unit 5 and the fixing unit 6.

The transfer section 5 is a photosensitive drum 9 in which a latent image is formed by irradiation of a laser beam and the latent image is developed to become a toner image, and the latent image on the photosensitive drum 9 is developed as a toner image. And a transfer drum 11 for transferring a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 9 and further transferring the toner image onto the optical disk 7.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a laser unit for irradiating a laser beam to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum 9.

Image data is sent to a host computer 14 from an input device 13 such as a document scanner, a film scanner, a still video, and a computer. Images and characters are edited in the host computer 14 as needed, and the completed print image data is sent to the controller 15.

The controller 15 controls the printer unit 2 including the laser unit 12, the photosensitive drum 9, the developing unit 10, the transfer drum 11 and the like to form an image based on a toner image on the optical disk 7.

The photosensitive drum 9 is made of a photosensitive material such as OPC and is adapted to be rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

First, a black latent image is formed on such a photosensitive drum 9. That is, the photosensitive drum 9 is uniformly charged, for example, positively by the charging scorotron 16,
The charged surface is irradiated with a laser beam corresponding to the black latent image by the laser unit 12, the portion irradiated with the laser beam loses its charge, and a predetermined latent image (relatively negatively charged) is formed. It is formed.

The latent image is developed by a four-color developing device 10 with black toner (plus charge). The four-color developing unit 10 is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow in the drawing and includes four color toners of black K, magenta M, cyan C, and yellow Y.
In this case, a black toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 9.

Then, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 9 by the four-color developing device 10 is transferred to the surface of the transfer drum 11. That is, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 9 is transferred to the surface of the transfer drum 11 by applying a negative high voltage (about −5 kV) to the transfer corotron 17.

The material of the surface of the transfer drum 11 is soft to some extent so as not to damage the surface of the photosensitive drum 9.
In addition, a material having good transfer efficiency, for example, plastic such as acrylic resin is used.

After the black toner image is transferred to the transfer drum 11, the photosensitive drum 9
Is applied to apply a high voltage (approximately 5 kV), and the toner remaining after transfer is cleaned by the cleaner 19. Furthermore, static elimination is also performed by exposing to light by the optical static eliminator 20.

Next, for example, a latent image corresponding to magenta is formed by charging by the charging scorotron 16 and the laser beam from the laser unit 12.

Then, the four-color developing device 10 moves 90
After rotation, the magenta toner M has come to a position facing the surface of the photosensitive drum 9, so that a magenta toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 9 this time.

The magenta toner image on the photosensitive drum 9 is transferred by the transfer corotron 17 onto the surface of the transfer drum 11 on which a black toner image has already been formed. Then, the photosensitive drum 9 after the transfer is subjected to cleaning and static elimination again.

Thereafter, a cyan toner image and a yellow toner image are sequentially formed in the same manner and transferred to the transfer drum 11 to form a full-color image on the surface of the transfer drum 11.

As described above, the operation of forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum 9 and transferring it to the transfer drum 11 is repeated four times. During these operations, the photosensitive drum 9 and the transfer drum 1 are transferred.
1 can be rotated in synchronization with each other to operate continuously.

The optical disk 7 is on standby on the supply stack 3 or the transport belt 8 until a full-color toner image is formed on the transfer drum 11.

The optical disk 7 is transported from the supply stack 3 by the transport belt 8, and the surface on which an image is printed is charged by the charging scorotron 21 with a polarity opposite to that of the toner, that is, a negative charge. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical disk 7 has an aluminum vapor-deposited layer 23 formed on one surface of a substrate 22 made of a polycarbonate resin, and further has a UV resin layer 24 formed on the aluminum vapor-deposited layer 23. The UV
An image is printed on the upper surface of the resin layer 24.

Then, the charged optical disk 7 is brought into contact with a transfer drum 11 carrying a toner image in the transfer section 5. As described above, since the printing surface is charged with the opposite polarity to the toner, the toner is attracted to the optical disk 7 by the electrostatic force and is transferred. At this time, by applying a positive high voltage (approximately +5 kV) to the transfer corotron 25, the transfer drum 11 is charged to the same polarity as the toner, and the toner is easily separated from the transfer drum 11.
Further, a negative bias voltage (about -1 to -2 kV) is applied to the transfer roller 26 located on the opposite side of the transfer drum 11 with the optical disk 7 interposed therebetween, to urge the transfer of the toner to the optical disk 7.

After the transfer of the toner image, the cleaner 27 provided on the surface of the transfer drum 11 so as to be detachable from the transfer drum 11 is brought into contact with the transfer drum 11 to remove the remaining toner.

The optical disk 7 onto which the image has been transferred is further conveyed by a conveying belt 8 and is heated by a heat roller 28 of the fixing unit 6 to fix the toner image. The temperature of the heat roller 28 is determined by the melting point of polycarbonate (2) of the material of the substrate 22 of the optical disk 7.
20 ° C-230 ° C), usually 150
It is set to about 〜C to 180 ° C.

The optical disk 7 on which the toner image has been fixed is carried to the discharge stack 4 by the conveyor belt 8 and is accumulated.

The procedure for printing the optical disk by the label printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is as follows.

(1) Image data input by the input device 13, (2) Host computer 14 from the input device 13
(3) image editing by the host computer 14, (4) data transfer from the host computer 14 to the controller 15, and (5) data and control signals from the controller 15 to the printer unit 2.

[Start of printing] (6) The charged scorotron 16, the light neutralizer 20, the photosensitive drum 9, the cleaner 19,
The static elimination corotron 18 is turned on, and (7) the rotation of the photosensitive drum 9 and the transfer drum 11 is started.

(8) Start writing with laser beam (black), (9) turn on black developing device, (10) turn on transfer corotron 17, start transfer to transfer drum 11, (1)
1) Writing with the laser beam is completed, (12) Black development is completed, and the black developing device is turned off.

(13) The developing device 10 is rotated by 1/4 turn,
4) Start writing with laser beam (magenta), (1)
5) Magenta developing device ON, (16) completion of laser beam writing, (17) completion of magenta development, magenta developing device OFF.

(18) The developing device 10 is rotated by 1/4 rotation,
9) Start writing with laser beam (cyan), (2)
0) cyan developing device ON, (21) completion of writing with laser beam, (22) completion of cyan development, cyan developing device O
FF.

(23) The developing device 10 is rotated by ４ rotation, and (2)
4) Start writing with laser beam (yellow), (2)
5) Yellow developing device ON, (26) writing with laser beam completed, (27) yellow developing completed, yellow developing device OFF.

(28) The developing device 10 is rotated by 1/4.

(29) End of transfer to transfer drum 11, transfer corotron 17 OFF, (30) Charge scorotron 2
1, transfer corotron 25, transfer roller 26 ON, (3
1) The cleaner 27 contacts the transfer drum 11.

(32) Start transport of the optical disk 7,
(33) Transfer the toner image from the transfer drum 11 to the optical disk 7, and (34) End the transfer.

(35) The transfer corotron 25 and the transfer roller 26 are turned off. (36) The cleaning of the toner remaining after transfer is completed, and the cleaner 27 is separated from the transfer drum 11.

(37) The toner is fixed on the optical disk 7 by the fixing unit 6, and (38) the optical disk 7 is stored in the discharge stack 4. To continue printing, return to step (8), and to end printing,
F.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment 1A of the optical disk label printing apparatus according to the present invention.

This embodiment 1A is different from the first embodiment in that a transfer belt 29 is used instead of the transfer drum 11, and the other points are the same as those in the first embodiment. is there.

The transfer belt 29 is formed of, for example, a dielectric plastic sheet such as PET.

The transfer belt 29 is bridged by two transfer rollers 30, 31. One transfer roller 30 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 9 via the transfer belt 29, and the other transfer roller 31 is It is in contact with the transfer roller 26 via the transfer belt 29.

The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 9 is applied to the transfer roller 30 with a voltage (-
(Approximately 1 kV) to transfer to the transfer belt 29. By repeating this four times, a full-color toner image is formed on the transfer belt 29. During this time, the optical disk 7 is waiting on the supply stack 3 or on the transport belt 8.

After a full-color toner image is formed on the transfer belt 29, the optical disk 7 whose surface is negatively charged by the charging scorotron 21 is carried by the transport belt 8 and is brought into contact with the transfer belt 29. Then, the toner image is attracted by the electrostatic force of the optical disk 7 and adheres to the surface 24 of the optical disk 7. At this time, the same positive high voltage (approximately +1 kV) as that of the toner is applied to the transfer roller 31 opposed to the optical disk 7 via the transfer belt 29, so that the toner is easily separated from the transfer belt 29. Further, a voltage (approximately -1 kV) having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the transfer roller 26 opposed to the transfer belt 29 via the optical disk 7 to urge the transfer of the toner to the optical disk 7.

After the transfer of the toner image onto the optical disk 7, the transfer belt 29 is cleaned by the cleaner 27 to prepare for the next transfer.

Then, the optical disk 7 to which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing unit 6 by the transport belt 8, where the toner image is fixed, and then accumulated on the discharge stack 4.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment 1B of the optical disk label printing apparatus according to the present invention.

In the third embodiment 1B, four pairs of laser units and photosensitive drums and associated devices and members are provided in accordance with each color of toner.
Further, a full-color toner image to be transferred to the optical disk 7 is formed on a transfer belt.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a transfer belt, which is two transfer rollers 3 and 33 which are spaced apart in the horizontal direction, and a transfer roller 3 which is opposed to the transfer roller 26 with the optical disk 7 interposed therebetween.
4 so as to run in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure.

The support rollers 33 and 3 of the transfer belt 32
Transfer belt 32 so as to be in contact with the portion located between
Photosensitive drum 9 for black in order from the upstream side in the traveling direction of
A photosensitive drum 9M for K and magenta, a photosensitive drum 9C for cyan, and a photosensitive drum 9Y for yellow are provided.

Each of the photosensitive drums 9, 9,... Has a black developing device 10K and a magenta developing device 1 respectively.
0M, developing unit for cyan 10C, developing unit for yellow 10Y
Are separately provided, and the respective photosensitive drums 9 and
,... A black laser unit 12K, a magenta laser unit 12M for forming a latent image on
A laser unit 12C for cyan and a laser unit 12Y for yellow are provided.

In addition to the above, each photosensitive drum 9, 9,.
A charging scorotron 16, a transfer corotron 17, a static elimination corotron 18, a cleaner 19, and an optical static eliminator 20 are provided in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments.

In the optical disk label printing apparatus 1B, first, a black toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 9K. The black toner image is immediately transferred to the transfer belt 32 by the transfer corotron 17.

Next, a magenta toner image is formed on the second photosensitive drum 9M, and this magenta toner image is also transferred to the transfer belt 32 by the transfer corotron 17. At this time, the operation timing is adjusted so that the magenta toner image just overlaps the black toner image.
At the same time, a black toner image is formed on the black photosensitive drum 9K, and the black toner image is transferred to a position on the transfer belt 32 upstream of the portion where the magenta toner image is transferred.

In the same manner, the cyan and yellow toner images are superimposed on the transfer belt 32, and a full-color toner image is formed on the transfer belt 32.

In this manner, full-color toner images are successively formed without interruption.

Thereafter, the operation is substantially the same as in the second embodiment. The optical disk 7 is carried from the supply stack 3 by the conveyor belt 8 and the surface thereof is charged to the opposite polarity to the toner by the charging scorotron 21. The disk 7 contacts the transfer belt 32 on which the toner image is formed, and attracts the toner image by electrostatic force. At this time, a voltage having the same polarity as that of the toner is applied to the transfer roller 34 located on the back side of the transfer belt 32, so that the toner image is easily separated from the transfer belt 32. Further, a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the transfer roller 26 located on the back side of the optical disk 7 to urge the transfer of the toner to the optical disk 7.

The portion of the transfer belt 32 where the toner image has been transferred onto the optical disk 7 is cleaned by the cleaner 27 to prepare for the next transfer. In addition, this cleaner 2
The reference numeral 7 does not need to be able to freely move toward and away from the transfer belt 32. That is, only the portion of the transfer belt 32 where the transfer has been completed contacts the cleaner 27.

Thereafter, as in the first and second embodiments, the optical disk 7 on which the toner image is adhered is sent to the fixing unit 6 by the transport belt 8 and the toner is transferred to the optical disk 7.
The optical disk 7 after toner fixing is accumulated on the discharge stack 4.

In the optical disk label printing apparatus 1B according to the third embodiment, the photosensitive drums 9, 9,.
Formation of a toner image on the transfer belt 32, transfer of the toner image to the transfer belt 32, and optical disk 7 of the toner image on the transfer belt 32
Transfer and toner fixing to the optical disk 7 can be performed continuously, and the optical process is performed while a toner image is formed on the transfer drum 11 or the transfer belt 29 as in the first and second embodiments. There is no need to keep the disk 7 on standby without flowing it. Therefore, the printing speed can be increased to about four times.

The optical disk 7 on which the toner image has been printed by the optical disk label printing apparatus 1, 1A or 1B is coated with a UV (ultraviolet curing) resin on the surface on which the toner image is formed. , So that the image is not peeled off. In addition, if a toner image is printed on the aluminum deposition layer of the optical disk 7 before the UV resin layer 24 is formed, and then the UV resin is coated, one UV resin coating step can be omitted. .

The photosensitive drum 9 and the transfer belt 29
The number of toner images formed at one time is not limited to one, and the number of toner images that can be formed at one time on the surface of the photosensitive drum 9 or the transfer belt 29 may be formed. FIG. 5 shows an example of printing on a plurality of optical disks 7, 7,... At a time. FIG. 5A shows an example of printing on six optical disks 7, 7,. b) shows an example in which printing is performed on two optical disks 7 at a time. In FIG. 5, the arrows indicate the transport directions of the optical disks 7, 7,.
The length in the direction transverse to the transport direction of the rectangle surrounding the optical discs 7, 7, ... is the width corresponding to the width of the photosensitive drum 9, and the length along the transport direction is the circumferential length of one rotation of the photosensitive drum 9. Equivalent length.

The optical disk label printing apparatuses 1, 1A and 1B according to the present invention described above have the following advantages.

Since the electric image data replaces the plate, the plate required for the conventional apparatus using screen printing becomes unnecessary.

Conventionally, one printer can only print one color, but the above-described apparatus can print four full-colors with one printer.

Further, conventionally, the print density and color tone are actually adjusted while checking the print result after actually printing, so that a considerable number of optical disks for adjustment (about 500 sheets when the number is large) are wasted. Had become. In the label printing apparatuses 1, 1A, and 1B of the optical disks, the density correction of each color can be performed digitally, and the print result can be confirmed by printing one sheet at a time. It is also possible to make adjustments such as color correction while checking the image on the monitor, so that the number of optical discs for test printing is significantly smaller than in the past.

Further, the conventional apparatus is not suitable for so-called multi-product small-quantity production, and has a drawback that the production cost per one sheet is high in the case of producing 1,000 sheets or less. The label printing apparatus for an optical disc according to the invention is suitable for small-volume production. For example, production of several hundreds, or even several tens, or several sheets can be performed at low cost.
In addition, by managing with a computer, it is also possible to mix a plurality of types of software and sort and print images corresponding to the respective software continuously.

Furthermore, there is no need for the personnel required for replacing the conventional plate and adjusting the image, and it is possible to promote unmanned processes.

[0077]

As is apparent from the above description, the label printing apparatus for an optical disc according to the present invention is an electronic disc label printing apparatus.
Toner image forming means for rendering image data into a toner image
Having elasticity and being disposed in contact with the toner image forming means.
A first transfer unit, and a second transfer unit in contact with the first transfer unit.
Light between the transfer means and the first and second transfer means;
Transport means for transporting optical discs, and
Polycarbonate for fusing and fixing the transferred toner image
Fixing temperature set below the melting point of the toner and above the melting point of the toner
Means between the first transfer means and the second transfer means.
And transport the optical disc to the first transfer means and the second transfer means.
An electric field is generated between the first transfer means and the second transfer means.
From the toner image onto an optical disk, and
The toner image is fused and fixed by a fixing unit .

Therefore, according to the optical disk label printing apparatus of the present invention, a plate for printing is not required, and adjustment is easy, and thus, it is possible to perform multi-product small-quantity production and multi-product mixed production. It can be realized at low cost. Also,
Set the temperature below the melting point of polycarbonate and above the melting point of toner.
The optical disk is heated by the fixed fixing means.
Firmly fixing the toner image transferred on top
I can do it. Then, further, on the surface of the fixed toner image
Images can be peeled off by coating with UV curable resin
No more worrying about releasing.

Further, full-color printing can be performed by one apparatus, and unmanned operation is also possible.

The specific shapes and structures shown in the above embodiments are merely examples for embodying the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is interpreted in a limited manner. It is not something to be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of a label printing apparatus for an optical disc according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view schematically showing an optical disc.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment of the optical disc of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a third embodiment of the optical disk label printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the number of optical discs that can be printed at one time.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 optical disk label printing device 7 optical disk 8 transport means 9, 10, 12 toner image forming means 11 first transfer means 23 aluminum deposition 24 ultraviolet curable resin 26 second transfer means 28 fixing means 1A optical disk label Printing device 1B Label printing device for optical discs

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-64-38237 (JP, A) JP-A-3-214174 (JP, A) JP-A-2-39063 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int .Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 3/407 B41J 2/44 B41J 2/525 G03G 15/20 G03G 15/01

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A first transfer means having elasticity and being in contact with the toner image forming means; a first transfer means having elasticity and being in contact with the toner image forming means; A second transfer unit that is in contact with the transfer unit, a transfer unit that transfers an optical disk between the first transfer unit and the second transfer unit, and melts the toner image transferred on the optical disk. A fixing unit which is set at a temperature equal to or lower than the melting point of the polycarbonate and equal to or higher than the melting point of the toner in order to fix the optical disk between the first transfer unit and the second transfer unit; Generating an electric field between the first transfer means and the second transfer means to transfer a toner image from the first transfer means onto the optical disk; fixing the transferred toner image to the fixing means; It is characterized by fusing by means Label printing device for optical discs. 2. An optical disk label printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an ultraviolet curable resin is formed on the surface of the toner image transferred and fused on said optical disk. apparatus. 3. A label printing apparatus for an optical disk according to claim 1, wherein the optical disk is a polycarbonate resin disk whose surface is aluminum-evaporated, and a toner image is transferred to the aluminum-evaporated surface of the optical disk.
A label printing apparatus for an optical disk, wherein the transferred toner image is melt-fixed on the aluminum-deposited surface, and an ultraviolet-curable resin is formed on the surface of the melt-fixed toner image.