JP3312435B2 - Thermal transfer printing method and thermal transfer printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printing method and a thermal transfer method for thermally transferring a transfer member such as a pattern or a character formed on a thermal transfer film to a printing surface of a transfer material made of metal or ceramic having a large heat radiation characteristic. Related to a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A disk-shaped recording medium such as a floppy disk, a magnetic disk, and a magneto-optical disk is housed in a cartridge body 1 in which a pair of upper and lower rectangular cartridge halves 2 and 3 are combined as shown in FIG. The disk cartridge is constituted by being rotatably stored. By sealing the disk-shaped recording medium 4 in the cartridge main body 1 in this manner, the surface of the disk-shaped recording medium 4 is prevented from adhering dust and being scratched.

The cartridge body 1 is provided with an information signal recording / reproducing opening for exposing a part of the signal area of the disc-shaped recording medium 4 to the outside over the inner and outer peripheries. The information signal recording / reproducing opening is provided by a shutter member 5 that is movable along the cartridge body 1 when not in use, in order to prevent dust and the like from entering the inside and attaching to the surface of the disc-shaped recording medium 4. It is closed. The shutter member 5 is formed by punching and bending a thin metal plate, and includes a pair of shutter portions for opening and closing an information signal recording / reproducing opening and a connecting portion for connecting the base ends of these shutter portions. The entire cross section is formed in a U-shape.

The shutter member 5 has a manufacturer name, product name or model name 6 printed on the surface of one of the shutter portions.
The manufacturer name, product name, or model name 6 provided solely from the functional aspect has conventionally been formed by a direct printing method such as a silk screen printing method or a pad printing method. By the way, in recent disk cartridges, decoration processing has been performed in order to improve discrimination, and the manufacturer name, product name or model name 6 formed by printing on the shutter member 5 is composed of multiple colors. Also, a picture 7 for displaying the content of the information signal recorded on the disc-shaped recording medium 4 or the like is formed by printing.

On the other hand, industrial ceramics having excellent heat resistance, impact resistance or abrasion resistance are used for products in various fields. This ceramic product is also often supplied as a component, and the manufacturer name, product name, or model name is formed by a direct printing method such as a silk screen printing method or a pad printing method in terms of functions.

Incidentally, there are many direct printing methods such as a silk screen printing method and a pad printing method employed as a printing method for a metal product or a ceramic product such as the above-mentioned shutter member of a disk cartridge according to the color used. Therefore, as the number of colors increases, the printing accuracy decreases due to misregistration or the number of printing steps and printing cost increase. For this reason, even if multicolor printing is performed on a product made of metal or ceramic, only about two colors are used at most, and a decoration or the like having distinctiveness cannot be expected.

In order to solve the problems of the direct printing method described above, for example, adoption of a thermal transfer printing method using a thermal transfer film 10 shown in FIG. 2 is considered. Thermal transfer film 10
Is to form a transparent release layer (protective layer) 12 using vinyl chloride or vinyl acetate copolymer resin on a base film 11 such as polyester or polyolefin.
The printed layer 13 of characters, pictures, etc. is formed by printing, and then the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 14 is formed so as to cover the printed layer 13.

Therefore, when the thermal transfer film 10 is superimposed on the printing surface of the printing material, and then the thermal transfer film 10 is pressed against the printing material by the thermal transfer head, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 14 is melted and the printing layer 13 and the release layer are released. 12 is transferred to the transferred print, and then the base film 1
By peeling 1, printing of characters, patterns, and the like formed on the thermal transfer film 10 is performed.

According to the thermal transfer printing method using the thermal transfer film 10, multicolor characters, pictures, etc. can be printed on a printing material by a relatively simple method, so that cost requirements are severe and decorative processing is required. Is also required,
It is very suitable for application to products, parts, etc.

However, although the above-described thermal transfer printing method is effective when performing multi-color printing on products, parts, etc., when applied to metal products, ceramic products, etc. having large heat radiation characteristics, the heat of the thermal transfer head is reduced. The heat is radiated from these metal products and ceramic products and does not easily reach the melting temperature of the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 14 of the thermal transfer film 10. For this reason, a part of characters, patterns, and the like formed on the thermal transfer film 10 remains on the thermal transfer film 10 and is not transferred in a good state to a metal product or a ceramic product as a printing object, or the heating time for the thermal transfer film 10 is long. There is a problem that the printing operation efficiency is reduced due to the lengthening of the printing operation.

In order to solve such a problem, for example, measures such as setting the temperature of the thermal transfer head high and pressing the thermal transfer film 10 at a high temperature are considered. However, if the temperature applied to the thermal transfer film 10 is too high, the printing layer 13
Is destroyed. For this reason, for example, a thermal transfer printing method that is generally used for a product having a small heat radiation characteristic such as a synthetic resin product and ceramics is also used to print a character, a pattern, etc. on the surface of a metal product or a ceramic product having a large heat radiation characteristic with symmetry. It is difficult to apply to form, in other words, these products have rarely been subjected to multicolor printing.

Under such circumstances, the applicant has previously filed Japanese Patent Application No.
No. 176759, "Thermal transfer printing method and thermal transfer printing apparatus" provided a thermal transfer printing method and a thermal transfer printing apparatus capable of performing multicolor printing by the thermal transfer printing method using a thermal transfer film on the metal shutter member of the disk cartridge described above. .

As shown in FIG. 17, this prior application printing apparatus holds a thermal transfer head 21 driven in a vertical direction by a press device 20, and a shutter member 5 to which the thermal transfer film 10 is heated and pressed by the thermal transfer head 21. The holding member 22 and the heaters 23 and 24 are respectively built in. Between the thermal transfer head 21 and the shutter member 5, a thermal transfer film 10 stretched between a supply reel 25 and a take-up reel 26 has a pair of guide reels 27.
The vehicle is guided by A and 27B.

As shown in FIG. 7, the thermal transfer film 10 is formed in a long tape shape in which a manufacturer name, a product name or a model name 6 and a picture 7 which are multicolor printed are continuously formed. Markings 15 are provided corresponding to the print areas. The thermal transfer film 10 is positioned with respect to the shutter member 5 held by the holding member 22 by reading the marking 15 by the positioning sensor 28 disposed between the supply reel 25 and the first guide reel 27A, and is pressed. The apparatus 20 operates to operate the thermal transfer head 2
When the shutter 1 moves downward, it is heat-pressed to the surface of the shutter portion on one side of the shutter member 5.

The shutter member 5 is previously heated to a predetermined temperature by a built-in heater 24 via a holding member 22. When the thermal transfer head 21 heat-presses the thermal transfer film 10 on the shutter member 5, the thermal transfer is performed. The heat of the head 21 is prevented from being radiated from the shutter member 5. As a result, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 14 of the transfer film 10 quickly reaches the melting temperature, and the shutter member 5 together with the printing layer 13 and the protection layer 12 formed by printing the manufacturer name, product name or model name 6 or the picture 7 in multiple colors. It is surely transferred.

[0016]

As described above, the multi-color printing of the manufacturer name, product name or model name 6 or picture 7 on the metal shutter member 5 having a large heat radiation characteristic can be performed in a short time. In the thermal transfer printing method and the thermal transfer printing apparatus, since the shutter member 5 is pre-heated by the heater 24 built in the holding member 22, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 14 is solidified by the residual heat of the shutter member 5. It takes time. For this reason, unless a sufficient cooling time is set, the printing layer 13 is not completely peeled off from the base film 21, and the printing accuracy is deteriorated.

Further, the guide reels 27A and 27B for pressing the thermal transfer film 10 against the shutter member 5 and peeling it off from the shutter member 5 are moved upward almost simultaneously with the thermal transfer head 21 via the bracket member 29. There is also a problem that the shutter portion of the U-shaped shutter member 5 is vertically opened and deformed by the peeling force of the film 10.

Therefore, the applicant has further devised the present invention to complete the present invention. That is, the present invention provides a thermal transfer method capable of transferring and printing a character or a pattern printed on a thermal transfer film in a short time and in a good printing state on a printing surface of a transferred material made of metal or ceramic having a large heat radiation characteristic. It has been proposed for the purpose of providing a printing method.

Further, the present invention provides a thermal transfer printing apparatus capable of printing characters or patterns printed on a thermal transfer film in a short time and in a good condition on a transfer-receiving material made of metal or ceramic having a large heat radiation characteristic. It has been proposed for the purpose of providing.

[0020]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention relates to a method for thermally transferring a preheated metal plate having a large U-shaped cross section to a printing surface of a print to be transferred. After laminating the films, the thermal transfer head pressed the thermal transfer film against the transferred print by the thermal transfer head, thermally transferred the heat-sensitive adhesive layer and the print layer of the thermal transfer film to the print surface of the transferred print, and moved the thermal transfer head. Thereafter, the thermal transfer film is cooled by an intermittently driven cooling fan, and the thermal transfer film is peeled off from one side of the printed material to be printed by the operation of pushing up the thermal transfer film guide member.

Further, according to the present invention, the marking provided on the thermal transfer film is read by a positioning sensor, the thermal transfer film is supplied in accordance with the thermal transfer position, and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer and the printing layer of the thermal transfer film are transferred to the transfer-receiving film. After the thermal transfer to the printing surface of the printed material, the thermal transfer film is peeled off from the transferred print material and the transferred print material is moved.

Further, a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention, which has achieved the above-mentioned object, has a transfer-receiving device which holds a transfer-receiving material made of metal or ceramic having a large heat radiation characteristic and has a preheating means for preheating the transfer-receiving material. A printed material holding mechanism, a thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism for supplying a thermal transfer film so as to be superimposed on a printing surface of the transferred print material held by the transferred print material holding mechanism, and a thermal transfer superimposed on the printed surface of the transferred print material A thermal transfer head mechanism having a thermal transfer head for pressing the film against the transferred print material, and a thermal transfer film cooling means for cooling the thermal transfer film, wherein the thermal transfer head presses the thermal transfer film against the transferred print material and heat-sensitive adhesive of the thermal transfer film Transfer printing of the layer and the printing layer on the printing surface of the material to be transferred After movement, characterized in that the thermal transfer film by the thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism cools the heat transfer film by a thermal transfer film cooling means to be peeled from the transfer printed matter.

Further, in the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention, the thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism includes at least a pair of thermal transfer film guide members disposed on both sides of the print-receiving material. The heat transfer film is peeled from one side of the print-receiving material by operating independently.Further, the heat transfer film supply guide mechanism operates the heat-transfer film supply guide mechanism, and the heat transfer film is moved. It is characterized in that the printed material is transferred while being peeled from the transferred material and operating.

[0024]

According to the thermal transfer printing method of the present invention constructed as described above, a thermal transfer film is superimposed on a printing surface of a transfer material made of metal or ceramic in a preheated state. The thermal transfer film is heated and pressed by the thermal transfer head on the printing surface of the print to be transferred. By preheating the transferred print, the heat applied to the thermal transfer film from the thermal transfer head is prevented from being dissipated through the transferred print. After moving the thermal transfer head, the thermal transfer film is cooled and the thermal adhesive is solidified and peeled off from the transferred print, so that the print layer formed on the thermal transfer film can be coated without remaining on the base film. Transfer printing is performed in good condition on the printing surface of the transfer printed material.

In addition, since the thermal transfer film is peeled off from one side of the print-receiving material in a one-sided state, the force for peeling the thermal transfer film from the print-receiving material is reduced, and deformation of the print-receiving material is prevented. At the same time, the printing layer formed by printing on the thermal transfer film is transferred in good condition to the printing surface of the transferred print without partially remaining on the base film. Further, by moving the print-receiving material in accordance with the peeling operation of the thermal transfer film, the thermal transfer film is separated from the print-receiving material in a one-way state.

Further, according to the thermal transfer printing apparatus of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the print-receiving material made of metal or ceramic having a large heat radiation characteristic is held by the transfer-receiving material holding mechanism and is pre-heated by the preheating means. Preheated. Therefore, the heat applied to the thermal transfer film from the thermal transfer head is prevented from being dissipated through the printed material. The thermal transfer film is supplied by the thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism so as to be superimposed on the printing surface of the printed material to be transferred. By the operation of the thermal transfer head driving mechanism, the thermal transfer head heat-presses the thermal transfer film onto the printing surface of the print-receiving material.

After the thermal transfer head moves, the cooling means
The thermal transfer film is cooled to promote solidification of the heat-sensitive adhesive. The thermal transfer film on which the heat-sensitive adhesive has been solidified is separated from the transferred print by the thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism. The thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism, which superposes the thermal transfer film on the printing surface of the print-receiving material, separates the thermal transfer film from the print-receiving material by a pair of thermal transfer film guide members operating independently of each other. Reduces the peeling force of the film from the transferred print, prevents deformation of the transferred print, and allows the print layer printed on the thermal transfer film to remain on the base film without partially remaining on the base film. Transfer in good condition.

Further, the transferred print material holding mechanism moves by moving the transferred print material in accordance with the peeling operation of the thermal transfer film from the transferred print material.
The thermal transfer film is peeled off from the printing material in a one-sided state.

[0029]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, a thermal transfer printing apparatus 30 is provided with a maker name, a product name, or the like on one shutter portion of a shutter member 5 of a disk cartridge formed by punching out and bending a thin stainless steel plate. The characters 6 such as the model name and the appropriate figures and pictures 7 are transferred to the thermal transfer film 1.
A thermal transfer printing apparatus for performing multi-color printing using 0, a thermal transfer head driving mechanism 31 constituted by a vertical press apparatus driven by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, and a tip of a ram 32 of the thermal transfer head driving mechanism 31 , A thermal transfer film cooling device 50 and a heater control device 55 disposed in the main body of the thermal transfer head drive mechanism 31, and a shutter that holds the shutter member 5 and constitutes a transferred print material holding mechanism. Holding member 60
And a thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism 70 for supplying the thermal transfer film 10 in the form of a roll to the thermal transfer head drive mechanism 31
It is composed of

The thermal transfer film 10 used in the thermal transfer printing apparatus 30 of this embodiment and the thermal transfer film 1
The shutter member 5 of the disk cartridge to which the multicolored characters 6 and the picture 7 printed and formed on 0 are thermally transferred will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 7 and 5 in the description of the conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus described above. Since this is the same as that described, the details of the configuration, operation, and the like are omitted below.

The thermal transfer head driving mechanism 31 drives the ram 32, in other words, the thermal transfer head 40 in the vertical direction by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure. The thermal transfer head 40 driven by the thermal transfer head driving mechanism 31 has a main body portion 41 whose central portion on the lower surface is formed as a bulged arc surface and a heat-resistant elastic member joined to the arc surface of the main body portion 41. Member 42
It is composed of The main body 41 includes the main body 4.
1 is a predetermined temperature by the heater control device 51,
For example, a heater 43 for controlling the temperature to 170 ° C. is incorporated. The elastic member 42 has a Shore rubber hardness of 7, for example.
The head surface of the thermal transfer head 40 is formed as an arc surface by being formed of silicon rubber having a thickness of about 0 and having a thickness such that the curvature at the center is larger than the curvature at the center of the arc surface of the main body 41. ing.

The thermal transfer printing device 30 is a vertical press device bed 33 constituting a thermal transfer head driving mechanism 31.
The portion is configured as a part of the transport path, and the shutter holding member 60 is moved along the transport path. The shutter holding member 60 is made of a metal having high thermal conductivity.
1 is formed in a box shape. A heat insulating sheet 62 is adhered to the bottom surface of the shutter holding member 60, and heaters 63 are built in left and right side surfaces of the hollow portion 61. The heater 63 controls the temperature of the shutter holding member 60 to, for example, 100 ° C. by a heater control device (not shown). The shutter holding member 60 is connected to the heater 63 by the heat insulating sheet 62.
Is prevented from being dissipated to the bed 33.

The thickness of the upper surface of the shutter holding member 60 and the hollow portion 61 is substantially equal to the height of the connecting portion of the shutter member 5, and the width of the hollow portion 61 is also substantially equal to the width of the shutter portion of the shutter member 5. Therefore, the shutter member 5
Are held one by one in the previous step by mounting one shutter portion along the upper surface of the shutter holding member 60 and inserting the other shutter portion into the hollow portion 61 to the shutter holding member 60. You. The main surface of the shutter portion on the upper surface side of the shutter member 5 mounted and held on the shutter holding member 60 in this manner is a printing surface.

In the thermal transfer printing apparatus 30 of the embodiment, the shutter member 5 is mounted and held on the shutter holding member 60, and the shutter holding member 60 is conveyed and moved along the conveying path to perform automatic printing. The thermal transfer of the shutter holding member 60 to the printing surface of the shutter member 5 is performed by, for example, positioning the shutter holding member 60 at a predetermined position of the bed 33 of the vertical press device constituting the thermal transfer head driving mechanism 31, that is, on the central axis of the thermal transfer head 40. It is needless to say that the thermal transfer printing may be performed by being fixedly arranged at a position where printing is performed (hereinafter referred to as a thermal transfer printing position H), and mounting and holding the shutter member 5 in the hollow portion 61 of the shutter holding member 60. It is.

The shutter holding member 60 with the shutter member 5 mounted thereon is conveyed at predetermined intervals to a thermal transfer printing position H corresponding to the thermal transfer head driving mechanism 31 by a conveying drive mechanism (not shown). Thermal transfer film cooling device 50 provided in the main body of thermal transfer head drive mechanism 31
Has a cooling fan that is intermittently driven, not shown, and moves air from the nozzle 51 to the thermal transfer printing position as shown by an arrow in FIG. 1 in conjunction with the ascending operation of the thermal transfer head 40 as described later. It is sprayed toward the shutter member 5 mounted and held on the transported shutter holding member 60.

The thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism 70 transfers the roll-shaped thermal transfer film 10 to the thermal transfer head driving mechanism 3.
A supply reel 71 for supplying the base film 11 of the thermal transfer film 10 on which the characters 6 or the pattern 7 printed and formed by the thermal transfer head driving mechanism 31 are transferred to the shutter member 5; , And a positioning sensor 75 or a pair of pinch rollers 76 for reading the markings 15 formed corresponding to the respective characters 6 or patterns 7 printed on the thermal transfer film 10. .

The supply reel 71 and the take-up reel 72
The thermal transfer film 10 is supplied to the thermal transfer head drive mechanism 31 in a constantly stretched state by being intermittently rotated by a drive source (not shown) in synchronization with each other. Further, the positioning sensor 75 reads the marking 15 provided on the thermal transfer film 10 so that the character 6 or the pattern 7 is read.
The drive source of the supply reel 71 and the take-up reel 72 is controlled so that the print layer 13 stops the thermal transfer film 10 corresponding to the thermal transfer printing position H.

The thermal transfer film guide members 73 and 74
Guide rollers 73A and 74A rotatably supported by support shafts 73B and 74B, and guide brackets 73C that are rotated and moved up and down by a drive source (not shown). , 74C
It is composed of Guide bracket 73C, 74
C is formed in a substantially wedge shape as a whole, and its main surface acts as a receiving surface on which the thermal transfer film 10 slides.

The guide brackets 73C, 73
At 4C, an arm for supporting the shafts 73B and 74B is integrally erected at one side opposite to the thermal transfer printing position H. These support shafts 73B and 74B also function as rotation support shafts for the guide brackets 73C and 74C.

The thermal transfer film guide members 73 and 74 are
As shown in FIG. 8, in the state located at the lower part, the free ends 73c, 74c of the guide brackets 73C, 74C are
The shutter member 5 which is located close to each side edge of the shutter holding member 60 conveyed to the thermal transfer printing position H and whose main surface is attached to the shutter holding member 60
And a substantially same surface as the printing surface. Therefore, the thermal transfer film 10 unreeled from the supply reel 71 is applied to the guide rollers 73A of the first thermal transfer film guide member 73 and the guide rollers 73 of the second thermal transfer film guide member 74.
4A, the sheet is guided to pass while being lightly in contact with the printing surface of the shutter member 5 located at the thermal transfer printing position H in a horizontal state, and is taken up by the take-up reel 72.

The shutter member 5 of the disk cartridge by the thermal transfer printing apparatus 30 constructed as described above.
A detailed description will be given of the thermal transfer printing operation of the character 6 or the pattern 7 to the printer with reference to FIGS. 9 to 14 and FIGS. 2 to 5. The shutter holding member 60 on which the shutter member 5 is mounted is held at a predetermined temperature (100 degrees) by the operation of the heater 63 by a heater control device (not shown).
(° C.) and is conveyed to the thermal transfer printing position H.

When the holding member 60 is conveyed to the thermal transfer printing position H, a driving source (not shown) operates to
The thermal transfer film guide members 73 and 74 move downward,
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 3, the thermal transfer film 10 is lightly pressed against the printing surface of the shutter member 5 mounted and held on the shutter holding member 60.

Next, the thermal transfer head driving mechanism 31 operates to lower the thermal transfer head 40 toward the shutter member 5 mounted and held on the shutter holding member 60. As described above, the elastic member 42 joined to the bottom surface of the main body 41 of the thermal transfer head 40 has a central portion that is bulged, so that as the thermal transfer head 40 descends, as shown in FIG. Then, the shutter member 5 is heat-pressed while being gradually elastically deformed from the central portion to the peripheral portion,
Air is prevented from being trapped between the shutter member 5 and the thermal transfer film 10.

The shutter member 5 includes a shutter holding member 60
A predetermined temperature (170 ° C.) by the heater 63 built in
When the thermal transfer head 40 heated by the heater 43 heats and compresses the thermal transfer film 10, the thermal adhesive layer 14 of the thermal transfer film 10 melts in a very short time, and is shown in FIG. Thus, it is adhered to the shutter member 5. Thereafter, the thermal transfer head driving mechanism 31 operates to move the thermal transfer head 40 away from the thermal transfer film 10 and upward as shown by the arrow in FIG.

The thermal transfer head 40 is moved upward and the heater 63 built in the shutter holding member 60 is moved.
Is also shut off. Then, when the thermal transfer head 40 moves up to a predetermined position, the thermal transfer film cooling device 50 operates, and air is blown from the nozzle 51 toward the thermal transfer film 10. Due to the blowing of the air, the temperature of the thermal transfer film 10 is rapidly lowered even though the shutter holding member 60 is not yet cooled, and the solidification of the molten heat-sensitive adhesive layer 14 is promoted.

On the other hand, as soon as the thermal transfer head 40 moves upward and air is blown from the thermal transfer film cooling device 50 to the thermal transfer film 10, the first thermal transfer film guide member 73 is driven by a drive source (not shown). The guide bracket 73C rotates counterclockwise about the support shaft 73B as a fulcrum, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 12, and the leading end 73c pushes the thermal transfer film 10 up from the printing surface of the shutter member 5.

This first thermal transfer film guide member 73
The heat transfer film 10 is moved up by the free end 73c of the base film 11 as shown in FIG.
Only the one member is separated from the printing surface of the shutter member 5 in a one-way state. Then, the printing layer 13 and the protective layer 12 are transferred and printed on the printing surface of the shutter member 5 in a good state by the action of the solidified heat-sensitive adhesive layer 14, as shown in FIG.
As a result, a multicolored character 6 and a picture 7 are formed on the shutter member 5.

The first thermal transfer film guide member 73 is
As shown in FIG. 13, the shutter holding member 60 moves further upward from the thermal transfer printing position H to the first thermal transfer film guide member 73 side. As the first thermal transfer film guide member 73 and the shutter holding member 60 move, the thermal transfer film 10 is further peeled off from one side of the shutter member 5.

At the same time, the second thermal transfer film guide member 7
As shown in FIG. 14, the reference numeral 4 is rotated clockwise and upward by a drive source (not shown) with the support shaft 74B as a fulcrum. Through the above steps,
The thermal transfer printing to the shutter member 5 using the thermal transfer film 10 is completed, and the shutter member 5 is taken out from the shutter holding member 60.

When the shutter holding member 60 moves from the thermal transfer printing position H, the supply reel 71 and the take-up reel 72 are driven, and the base film on which the protective layer 12, the print layer 13, and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 14 have been transferred. 11 moves from the thermal transfer printing position H to the take-up reel 72 side, and the next printing area of the thermal transfer film 10 is supplied to the thermal transfer printing position H. Then, the next shutter holding member 60 is sent to the thermal transfer printing position H in the transport path, and thermal transfer printing is continuously performed.

According to the thermal transfer printing apparatus 30 described above, after the thermal transfer head 40 presses the thermal transfer film 10 to the shutter member 5 by the thermal transfer head 40, the thermal transfer film cooling device 50 transfers the thermal transfer film Air is blown onto the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 14
Is configured to promote solidification of the printed layer 1 even when the base film 11 is peeled from the shutter member 5.
3 is transferred and printed on the printing surface of the shutter member 5 in a good condition without remaining on the base film 11.
Therefore, the cooling time of the shutter holding member 60 becomes unnecessary, and the printing process can be shortened.

Further, almost simultaneously with the blowing of air from the thermal transfer film cooling device 50 to the thermal transfer film 10, the thermal transfer film guide member 73 is driven to push up the thermal transfer film 10 and to peel off the shutter member 5 from one side of the shutter member 5. Thereby, the peeling force of the thermal transfer film 10 acting on the shutter member 5 is reduced.

The above-described embodiment of the thermal transfer printing apparatus 30
In the above, the first thermal transfer film guide member 73 is operated first with respect to the second thermal transfer film guide member 74, but may be reversed. In other words, the thermal transfer film 10 is separated from the shutter member 5. By operating the first thermal transfer film guide member 73 and the second thermal transfer film guide member 74 with a time difference or a speed difference, the thermal transfer film 10 may be moved away from the shutter member 5.

The heat transfer film guide members 73 and 7
4 are guide rollers 73A and 74A for pressing the thermal transfer film 10 against the printing surface of the shutter member 5 and a leading end 73.
Although the guide brackets 73C and 74C for pushing up the thermal transfer film 10 from the shutter member 5 by the members c and 74c are integrally combined, they may be separately provided, and the guide rollers 73A and 74A may not be provided.

For the shutter member 5, the thermal transfer film 1
The second embodiment of the present invention is directed to a heat transfer printing apparatus 80 shown in FIG.
Is also achieved by Since the basic configuration of the thermal transfer printing apparatus 80 of the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the thermal transfer printing apparatus 30 of the first embodiment, the description of the same members and mechanisms will be omitted by retaining the same reference numerals. I do.

That is, in the thermal transfer printing apparatus 80 of the second embodiment, when the thermal transfer film 10 pressed to the shutter member 5 as shown by the solid line in FIG. At the same time, the shutter holding member 60 is configured to move from the thermal transfer printing position H in a direction substantially at 90 ° to the winding direction of the thermal transfer film 10.

As described above, the peeling force of the thermal transfer film 10 acting on the shutter member 5 is reduced by moving the shutter holding member 60 almost simultaneously when the thermal transfer film 10 is lifted up from the shutter member 5 and peeled off. The deformation of the shutter member 5 can be prevented.

A thermal transfer printing apparatus 90 shown in FIG. 16 as a third embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for achieving more efficient continuous thermal transfer printing. That is, the thermal transfer printing apparatus 90 according to the third embodiment includes the shutter holding member 6
A preheating roller 92 for preheating the shutter member 5 mounted and held at 0, a head mechanism 95 including a thermal transfer head 93 and a cooling head 94 are provided.

The pre-heating roller 92 is rotatably disposed at a height where the shutter holding member 60 can pass with respect to the transport path 91, has an outer peripheral portion formed of an elastic member, and has a heater 96 built therein. Have been. The shutter member 5 mounted and held on the shutter holding member 60 and conveyed along the conveyance path 91 is preheated to an appropriate temperature in the process of being fed into the head mechanism 95 while being heated and pressed on the outer peripheral portion of the preheating roller 92. You.

The head mechanism 95 is operated in the vertical direction and is rotatable about a center shaft 97A at both ends of a ram 97 of a press device. 94 are respectively assembled.

The thermal transfer head 93 has an elastic member 93B attached to the bottom of the main body 93A and a heater 93C built therein, like the thermal transfer head of the thermal transfer printing apparatus of each of the above-described embodiments. Further, the cooling head 94 is set to have a lower overall temperature than that of the shutter member 5 preheated by the preheating roller 92 by, for example, enclosing a coolant or providing a ventilation hole. Similarly to the above, the elastic member 94A is attached to the bottom surface.

The configuration of the thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism 70 for supplying the roll-shaped thermal transfer film 10 to the head mechanism 95 is the same as that of the thermal transfer printing apparatus in each of the above embodiments. The description is omitted.

According to the third embodiment of the thermal transfer printing apparatus 90 configured as described above, the shutter member 5 is moved to the thermal transfer printing position H in a state where the shutter member 5 is preheated to a predetermined temperature by passing through the preheating roller 92. Is supplied. And
The thermal transfer film 10 supplied from the thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism 70 is lightly superimposed on the printing surface of the shutter member 5. Next, the head mechanism 95 operates to lower the thermal transfer head 93 toward the shutter member 5 mounted on the shutter holding member 60.

The shutter member 5 is preheated to an appropriate temperature by a preheating roller 92,
The thermal transfer head 93 heated by 3C heat-presses the thermal transfer film 10 to the shutter member 5. As a result, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 14 of the thermal transfer film 10 is melted in a very short time and adheres to the printing surface of the shutter member 5. Thereafter, the head mechanism 95 operates to move the thermal transfer head 93 away from the thermal transfer film 10, and the ram 97 rotates around the support shaft 97, so that the cooling head 94 is pressed against the thermal transfer film 10.

By the action of the cooling head 94, the temperature of the thermal transfer film 10 is rapidly lowered, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 14 in a molten state is quickly solidified, and the print layer 13 is firmly transferred onto the print surface of the shutter member 5 for transfer printing. Is done. After a while
The head mechanism 95 operates to move the cooling head 94 away from the thermal transfer film 10, and the thermal transfer film 10 is peeled from the shutter member 5. In addition, the thermal transfer film 1
In the case where 0 is peeled off from the shutter member 5, it is performed by the one-side moving mechanism adopted in the thermal transfer printing apparatus in each of the above-described embodiments.

In each of the above embodiments, the letter 6 such as a manufacturer name, a product name or a model name, an appropriate figure, and a picture 7 are applied to one of the shutter portions of the metal shutter member 5 of the disk cartridge by using the thermal transfer film 10. Although the thermal transfer printing apparatus for performing multicolor printing has been described, the present invention is not limited to such a shutter member 5, and various metal products or ceramic products having large heat radiation characteristics, such as products such as a metal nameplate, a housing or an electrode. Of course, it is widely applied to parts. In this case, the shutter holding member 6 that holds the shutter member 5
0, that is, the transferred print material holding mechanism is shaped to hold the transferred print material in an optimal state.

[0067]

As described in detail above, according to the thermal transfer printing method of the present invention, a thermal transfer film is superimposed on a transferred material having a large heat radiation characteristic in a preheated state, and is thermally pressed by a thermal transfer head. After transfer printing, by cooling the thermal transfer film,
Since the heat-sensitive adhesive layer of the thermal transfer film is melted and solidified in a relatively short time, heat radiation from the transferred print is prevented, so that the print layer of the thermal transfer film is placed on the transferred print in a very short time. In addition, transfer printing is performed in a good condition. Further, since the thermal transfer film is peeled off from one side of the transferred print material in a one-sided state, the peeling force of the thermal transfer film is reduced, the deformation of the transferred print material is prevented, and the transfer printing in a better condition is performed. Is performed.

Further, according to the thermal transfer printing apparatus of the present invention, a preheating means for preheating the transferred print is provided in the transferred print holding mechanism for holding the transferred print having a large heat radiation characteristic, and the thermal transfer head applies the preheat to the transferred print. After the superimposed thermal transfer film is heat-pressed, the thermal transfer film is guided by a thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism while cooling the thermal transfer film by the cooling means, so that the print layer of the thermal transfer film is kept in an extremely good state. It is possible to perform transfer printing on a transferred printing material, and it is possible to greatly reduce the operation time. Further, the thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism or the transferred print material holding mechanism separates the thermal transfer film from one side of the transferred print material in a one-sided state, so that the peeling force of the thermal transfer film is reduced and the transferred transfer material is reduced. Deformation of the printed matter is prevented and transfer printing in a better condition is performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the thermal transfer film.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating a state in which a thermal transfer film is heated and pressed on a transferred print material.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating a state in which a base film is peeled from a thermal transfer film that has been heated and pressed to a transferred print.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating a state in which a printing layer of a thermal transfer film has been transferred and printed on a print-receiving material.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a disc cartridge provided with a shutter member, which is shown as an example of a print-receiving material.

FIG. 7 is a development view of a main part of a roll-shaped thermal transfer film used in the thermal transfer printing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an essential part for explaining a transfer printing operation by the thermal transfer printing apparatus, and shows a state where the thermal transfer head is moved down to a thermal transfer printing position.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a main part for explaining a transfer printing operation by the thermal transfer printing apparatus, and shows a state in which a thermal transfer head heat-presses a thermal transfer film to a material to be transferred;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the principal part for explaining a transfer printing operation by the thermal transfer printing apparatus, showing a state in which the transfer printing operation by the thermal transfer head is completed and a cooling state of the thermal transfer film by the cooling means.

FIG. 12 is a front view of an essential part for explaining a transfer printing operation by the thermal transfer printing apparatus, showing a one-way peeling operation of the thermal transfer film from the transferred print by the thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a main part for explaining a transfer printing operation by the thermal transfer printing apparatus, and moves a transferred print material holding mechanism in conjunction with a one-way separation operation of the thermal transfer film from the transferred print material by the thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism. The operation is shown.

FIG. 14 is a main part front view for explaining a transfer printing operation by the thermal transfer printing apparatus, and shows a movement operation of a transferred print material holding mechanism.

FIG. 15 is a partially cutaway front view of a thermal transfer printing apparatus shown as a second embodiment of the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a front view of a thermal transfer printing apparatus shown as a third embodiment of the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a front view of a conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus.

[Description of Signs] 1 ・ ・ ・ Disc Cartridge Body 5 ・ ・ ・ Shutter Member (Transferred Printed Material) 6 ・ ・ ・ Character 7 ・ ・ ・ Picture 10 ・ ・ ・ Thermal Transfer Film 11 ・ ・ ・ Base Film 12 ・ ・ ・ Peel Layer (protective layer) 13 Print layer 14 Thermal adhesive layer 15 Marking 30 Thermal transfer printing device 31 Thermal transfer head drive mechanism 40 Thermal transfer head 42 Elasticity Member 43: Heater 50: Thermal transfer film cooling device 60: Holding member (transferred print material holding mechanism) 63: Heater 70: Thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism 71: Supply reel 72 · Take-up reel 73 ··· First thermal transfer film guide member 74 ··· Second thermal transfer film guide member

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A metal plate having a large heat radiation characteristic in a preheated state
After the thermal transfer film is superimposed on the printing surface of the transferred material whose cross-sectional shape consists of a U-shape , the thermal transfer film is applied to the transferred material by the thermal transfer head.
Pressurized, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer and the printing layer of the thermal transfer film and thermal transfer on the printing surface of the transfer target printed matter, after moving the thermal head is intermittently driven
By the cooling fan of the thermal transfer film guide the thermal transfer film to cool the heat transfer film
A thermal transfer printing method characterized in that the transfer printing material is peeled off from one side of the material to be transferred by a push-up operation . 2. A marking provided on the thermal transfer film is read by a positioning sensor, the thermal transfer film is supplied in accordance with a thermal transfer position, and a heat-sensitive adhesive layer and a print layer of the thermal transfer film are printed on the printing surface of the print-receiving material. 2. The thermal transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein, after the thermal transfer to the printing medium, the thermal transfer film is peeled off from the print-receiving material and the print-receiving material is moved. 3. A transfer material holding mechanism provided with a preheating means for holding a transfer material made of metal or ceramic having a large heat radiation characteristic and for preheating the transfer material, and held by the transfer material holding mechanism. A thermal transfer head mechanism including a thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism for supplying a thermal transfer film so as to be superimposed on a printing surface of a transferred print material, and a thermal transfer head for pressing the thermal transfer film superimposed on the printed surface of the transferred print material onto the transferred print material. And a thermal transfer film cooling means for cooling the thermal transfer film. The thermal transfer head presses the thermal transfer film against the transferred print material to thermally transfer print the heat-sensitive adhesive layer and the print layer of the thermal transfer film to the print surface of the transferred print material. After the moving operation of the thermal transfer head, the thermal transfer film is cooled by the thermal transfer film cooling means. Thermal transfer printing apparatus characterized in that the thermal transfer film to be peeled from the transfer printed matter by thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism cools the. 4. A thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism includes at least a pair of thermal transfer film guide members disposed on both sides of a print-receiving material, and these thermal transfer film guide members operate independently of each other so that the thermal transfer film guide member operates independently. 4. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the printing material is peeled off from one side of the material to be transferred. 5. the transfer printed matter holding mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that the thermal transfer film thermal transfer film supply guide mechanism is operated to move the transferred printed matter moving operation while being peeled from the transfer printed matter The thermal transfer printing apparatus as described in the above.