JP3398399B2 - 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 method and apparatus for thermal transfer printing on a metal such as a floppy disk shutter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 16, it is known that a shutter 202 of a floppy disk 201 is printed 203 with a manufacturer's name and a product name.

Conventionally, a direct printing method such as a silk printing method or a pad printing method has been adopted as a method of performing the printing 203 on the shutter 202.

[0004]

However, when the printing 203 is performed on the surface of the shutter 202 by the direct printing method such as the conventional silk printing method or pad printing method, there are the following problems.

(1) Multicolor printing is difficult.

(2) When attempting multicolor printing, the printing accuracy is lowered and the printing cost is increased.

In order to solve the problems of the above direct printing method, a thermal transfer film (hereinafter, simply referred to as a transfer film)
It is conceivable to apply the thermal transfer printing method using the above method to printing on the shutter, but the conventional thermal transfer printing method has the following problems.

(1) When printing is performed on a shutter made of metal such as a stainless thin plate, the transfer film heating member requires a longer heating time of the transfer film, which lowers the printing work efficiency.

Because the shutter made of metal has good thermal conductivity, when the transfer film is superposed on the shutter and the transfer film is heated by a film heating member such as a heater, the heat is generated by the shutter. This is because the heat is transmitted and the heat is dissipated, and the adhesive layer of the transfer film is not easily melted.

(2) In order to melt the adhesive layer of the transfer film in a short time, it is possible to raise the temperature of heat applied to the transfer film by a film heating member, but the temperature of heat applied to the transfer film is not so high. If it is raised, the ink layer of the transfer film will be destroyed.

Therefore, at present, the thermal transfer printing method is not applied to the printing of the shutter made of metal.

The present invention solves the above conventional problems and shortens the heating time of the transfer film by the film heating member,
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer printing method and a thermal transfer printing apparatus capable of surely performing multicolor printing on a metal shutter.

[0013]

Means for Solving the Problems] (1) The thermal transfer printing method of the present invention, the object to be transferred the metal sheet, the transfer target pre member
After There was raised to a predetermined temperature by heating in advance by support incorporated, the transfer film superimposed on a transfer medium onto pressurize the above the transfer adhesive layer and the ink layer of the transfer film It was designed to be transferred onto an object.

(2) The thermal transfer printing apparatus of the present invention is a table
A pressure member drive mechanism located on the table , a pressure member driven by the pressure member drive mechanism to press the transfer film onto the transfer target of a thin metal plate, and a pressure member on the table.
With the location, positioned below said pressure member, a supporting member for supporting the object to be transferred, in be configured, the supporting
Jig is the transfer film by the pressure member prior to crimping onto the material to be transferred, the transferred material preheating member for previously heating the object to be transferred to a predetermined temperature, are provided.

[0015]

[Action]

(1) Since the transfer object such as a shutter is preheated to a predetermined temperature and then the transfer film superposed on the transfer object is heated, the heat applied to the transfer film is transferred to the transfer object. The adhesive layer of the transfer film can be effectively melted by preventing it from escaping to the side.

(2) Since the transfer object preheating member is provided in the thermal transfer printing apparatus, the transfer film is rapidly heated by previously heating the transfer object such as the shutter by the transfer object preheating member, The adhesive layer and the ink layer of the transfer film can be surely transferred onto the transfer target, and the performance of the device can be improved.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 of the present invention. The thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 is driven by a pressure member drive mechanism 2 and a transfer film 3 by being driven by the pressure member drive mechanism 2.
And a pressing member 5 for heating and pressing the transfer film 3 onto the shutter 4 made of a metal plate as a transfer target, and before pressing the transfer film 3 onto the shutter 4 by the pressing member 5, the shutter 4 is heated to a predetermined temperature in advance. The object to be transferred preheating member 6 that is heated (hereinafter, referred to as preheating) until it becomes. Reference numeral 7 is a shutter supporting jig having the transferred object preheating member 6 built therein, and 8 is a table.

Then, after the shutter 4 is preheated by the transfer object preheating member 6, the transfer film 3 superposed on the shutter 4 is pressed against the shutter 4 while being heated by the pressing member 5.

The pressing member drive mechanism 2 is provided with the pressing member 5
And a vertical movement member 11 attached to the lower end, and the vertical movement member 11
And a hydraulic or pneumatic device (not shown) for vertically moving the vertical moving member 11 along the guide member 12, and the vertical moving member is configured by the pneumatic device or the like. When 11 is lowered, the pressing member 5 attached to the lower end of the vertically moving member 11 contacts the transfer film 3, and the transfer film 3 is heated and pressed against the shutter 4.

The pressing member 5 is composed of a heating plate 21 and an elastic material 22 such as rubber attached to the lower end of the heating plate 21.

The heating plate 21 has a built-in heater 23 so that the temperature can be adjusted by a temperature controller 24, and the lower surface of the heating plate 21 is a pressing member mounting surface 25.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pressing member mounting surface 25 is an arcuate surface such that the step a between the most projecting portion of the central portion and the most recessed portions of the left and right ends is a predetermined value. Has been formed.

Further, the elastic member 22 is made of silicon rubber having a Shore rubber hardness of about 70 in a plate shape having a thickness b larger than the step a, and is arranged along the arcuate pressing member mounting surface 25. It is attached in a state of being curved in an arc shape.

As described above, the elastic member 22 is curved in an arc shape and the thickness b thereof is made larger than the step a of the pressing member mounting surface 25. 4, the elastic material 22 gradually expands the pressure-bonding area from the central part to the peripheral part, and as shown in FIG. 3, the transfer film 3 is completely covered until the end part of the shutter 4 is reached. This is to prevent the air from being trapped between the transfer film 3 and the shutter 4 when the transfer film 3 is pressed against the shutter 4.

Next, the transfer film 3 will be described.

The transfer film 3 is, as shown in FIG.
Base film 31 such as polyester or polyolefin
A transparent release layer (protective layer) 32 made of vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate copolymer resin or the like was formed on the top, and an ink layer 33 such as a product name, a manufacturer's name, or a design was printed on the release layer 32. After that, a heat-sensitive adhesive layer 34 is formed on the peeling layer 32 so as to cover these ink layers 33.

The ink layer 33 is, as shown in FIG.
One shutter is used as one unit and is continuously formed at predetermined intervals, and registration marks (position detection marks) 35 ... 35 are attached to each of the unit ink layers 33.

The transfer film 3 is wound on the film supply reel 36 and is sent while being wound on the film take-up reel 37 side, and when the ink layer 33 reaches the position of the shutter 4, the registration is performed. The mark 35 is detected by the sensor and the feeding of the transfer film 3 is stopped.

Then, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 34 is heated by the pressure member 5 to adhere it to the shutter 4, and then the base film 31 is peeled off, and the peeling layer 32 and the ink layer 3 are peeled off.
Printing is performed by leaving 3 and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 34 on the shutter 4 side.

Next, the shutter 4 and the shutter support jig 7 will be described.

The shutter 4 is a micro floppy disk (MF) formed by bending a stainless thin plate into a U-shape.
It is configured as a shutter for D), and is supported on the table 8 by the shutter support jig 7 so that the transfer surface 4a on one side is printed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the shutter supporting jig 7 is made of a metal having a good thermal conductivity in a box shape having a hollow portion 41, and the upper surface plate 42 of the shutter supporting jig 7 having the box shape. The U-shaped shutter 4 is attached so as to sandwich the shutter.

A heat insulating sheet 44 is adhered to the lower surface plate 43 of the shutter supporting jig 7.

The shutter support jig 7 is supported by a central portion of the lower surface of the shutter 8 on the table 8 via a metal ball 45 so that the inclination thereof can be adjusted, and by screws 46 and 47 provided on both left and right sides. The shutter support jig 7 is fixed on the table 8.

The transferred object preheating member 6, which is an essential component of the present invention, is the left and right side plates 4 of the shutter supporting jig 7.
The heaters 8 and 49 are built-in, and the shutter 4 attached with the upper surface plate 42 sandwiched therebetween is preheated via the left and right side surface plates 48 and 49 and the upper surface plate 42. It is like this.

Reference numeral 51 is a thermosensor built in the shutter support jig 7 together with the transferred object preheating member 6, and 52 is a temperature controller for the transferred object preheating member 6.

Since the thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment is constructed as described above, the shutter 4 is attached to the shutter supporting jig 7.
Then, the shutter 4 is preheated by the transferred object preheating member 6.

Then, when the temperature of the shutter 4 rises to a desired temperature, the transfer film 3 is pressed against the transfer surface of the shutter 4 while heating the transfer film 3 by the pressing member 5, so that the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 34 of the transfer film 3 is appropriately formed. And is adhered to the shutter 4.

After that, if the base film 31 of the transfer film 3 is peeled off, the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 34 and the ink layer 3 are removed.
3, the peeling layer 32 remains on the shutter 4 side, and as shown in FIG.
It becomes a state that multicolor printing such as pictures is applied, and by assembling this into the shell, the micro floppy disk 2
01 is configured.

9 to 10 show the transferred object preheating member 6
A modification of is shown.

In the modification of FIG. 9, a heat source 61 such as a lamp and a reflector 62 are arranged above the shutter supporting jig 7 as the transferred object preheating member 6, and the shutter 4 is preheated by the radiant heat from the heat source 61. This shows the case.

Further, in the modification of FIG. 10, as the transferred object preheating member 6, a heating plate 63 having a built-in heater or the like and a vertically moving member 64 for moving the heating plate 63 up and down are used. The case where the shutter 4 is brought into contact with the shutter 4 and the shutter 4 is preheated by so-called heat conduction is shown.

12 to 15 show a thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and the thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment.
In the above, by performing a series of operations from the conveyance of the shutter 4 to the transfer with the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4 being vertical, it is possible to prevent transfer with dust or the like adhering to the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4. It was made possible.

That is, when the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4 is conveyed horizontally and upward and the transfer and transfer of the shutter 4 are performed, dust and the like are likely to be attached and accumulated on the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4.

When transfer is carried out with dust and the like still attached to the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4, as shown in FIG.
An air layer 39 is generated between the shutter 4 and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 34 due to the dust 38 and the like, and the dust 38 and the air layer 39 are generated.
Therefore, there is a problem in that the quality of printing is significantly deteriorated and peeling is caused.

The thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 of the second embodiment solves the above problems, and the thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 is similar to that shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer target transport mechanism 101 that feeds the shutter 4 with the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4 vertical.
A transfer target support jig 102 for supporting the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4 sent by the transfer target transfer mechanism 101 while keeping the transfer surface 4a vertical, and the transfer target support jig 102.
A pressing member 103 for pressing the transfer film 3 onto the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4 supported by the pressing member 103;
Pressure member driving mechanism 104 for driving the
03 and the pressing member driving mechanism 104, the transfer film 3
The object to be transferred preheating member 105 for heating the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4 to a predetermined temperature of the shutter 4 in advance before the pressure is applied to the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4.
It has and.

The transferred object transporting mechanism 101 includes first to fourth
The shutter 4 sent from the shutter stocker 115 is provided with the drive rollers 111 to 114 and a conveyor (not shown) so that the transfer surface 4a is vertical and the transfer surface 4 is
A is directed toward the transferred object support jig 102 in the state where a is directed toward the second and fourth rollers 112, 114.

As shown in FIG. 13, the transferred object support jig 102 is fitted between the opposing pieces 4b and 4c of the shutter 4 to support the shutter 4.

The pressing member 103 is the transfer surface 4 of the shutter 4 supported by the transferred object supporting jig 102.
It is arranged to face a.

The pressing member 103 is the heating plate 121 and the heating plate 121 as in the pressing member 5 of the first embodiment.
The heating plate 121 has a heater 123 and a thermosensor 124 built therein.
The temperature can be adjusted by 25.

The pressing member drive mechanism 104 includes rods 131 ... 131 having the pressing member 103 attached to the tip thereof.
A guide member 132 that slides and guides the rods 131 ... 131 in the horizontal direction, and a hydraulic or pneumatic device that slides the rods 131 ... 131 in the horizontal direction along the guide member 132.

Then, the rod 13 is mounted by the pneumatic device or the like.
When slides 1 ... 131 in one direction, the transfer film 3 is pressed against the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4 while heating the transfer film 3 by the pressing member 103 attached to the tips of these rods 131 ... 131.

The transferred object preheating member 105 is the heater 1.
41 and a thermo sensor 142 are built in, and the temperature can be adjusted by the temperature controller 143.

The transferred object preheating member 105 is arranged on the back side of the transferred object supporting jig 102 (the side opposite to the pressing member 103), and the transferred object supporting jig 102 is provided.
The shutter 4 is heated by coming into contact with the back surface of the shutter 4 supported by the shutter.

Numeral 151 is an ion air generator for removing dust and dirt on the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4 during conveyance, numeral 152 is a shutter position detecting sensor, and numeral 153 is an ink layer position detecting sensor. The transfer film 3 sent from the film supply reel 36 is the guide roller 1
The film take-up reel 3 is guided while being guided by 54 and 155 so as to overlap the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4.
It is designed to be rolled up to 7.

[0056] thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 of the second embodiment is a configuration described above, the shutter 4 that has been delivered from the shutter stocker 115 toward a transcript support jig 102 by the transfer conveying mechanism 101 After being sent, the transfer surface 4a is cleaned by the ion air generator 151 on the way, and the shutter 4 whose position is detected by the shutter position detection sensor 152 is sent to the position of the transferred object supporting jig 102. Stop.

On the other hand, the transfer film 3 stops when the registration mark 35 is detected by the ink layer position detection sensor 153 and the ink layer 33 reaches the position of the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4,
The pressing member 103 presses the transfer surface 4a of the shutter 4 to perform thermal transfer.

Then, the shutter 4 which has completed the thermal transfer
Is transferred to the product stocker 156 by the transfer object transport mechanism 101.
It is being carried to and stocked.

13 to 14 show the pressing member driving mechanism 104.
Shows a modified example of the air plunger or the electromagnetic plunger 1
The case where 61 is used to drive the pressing member 103 is shown.

FIG. 15 shows another modification of the pressure member drive mechanism 104, in which the pressure member 103 is slid by using the toggle device 162.

The toggle device 162 has a first shaft 1 on one end side.
The first link 16 pivotally supported by the pressing member 103 by 63
4 and the other end of the first link 164.
At 65, the base portion 1 is pivotally attached, and the central portion is provided with a third shaft 166 at the central portion.
And a second link 168 pivotally supported at 67.

When the operated portion 169 at the other end of the second link 168 is rotated in the direction of arrow A by a cam (not shown), the second shaft 165 descends in the direction of arrow B, and the pressing member is pressed. 103 is slid along the guide 170 in the direction of arrow C with good stability.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the pressure member 5
Although the transfer film 3 is heated and pressurized while being heated by, the transfer film 3 is heated by preheating the shutter 4 and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer 34 of the transfer film 3 is melted,
The transfer film 3 may not be heated from the pressure member 5 side.

Further, in the embodiment, the case of printing on the shutter 4 for the micro floppy disk as the transferred object is shown, but the shutter is not limited to the one for the micro floppy disk and for the digital compact cassette (DCC) or the optical disk. Needless to say, it may be applied to not only the shutter but also a metal one or a material having a thermal conductivity equivalent to that of the shutter.

[0065]

The present invention has the following effects.

(1) A transfer object made of metal is preheated,
After the temperature is raised to a predetermined temperature, the transfer film is pressure-bonded to the transfer target with a pressure member, so that the heat applied to the transfer film via the pressure member is prevented from escaping to the transfer target side. You can

Therefore, the adhesive layer of the transfer film can be melted in a short time, the work time can be shortened accordingly, and the adhesion or printing effect can be improved.

Since the transferred material is heated in advance,
When the transfer film is brought into contact with this, the adhesive layer of the transfer film is melted by the heat of the transferred material, and it becomes possible to eliminate the need to apply heat to the transfer film from the pressure member side.

(2) It is possible to provide a thermal transfer printing apparatus capable of performing thermal transfer printing on a metal such as a shutter with a simple structure in which an object to be transferred preheating member is added to an existing thermal transfer printing apparatus.

(3) By transferring and transferring with the transfer surface of the shutter vertical, it is possible to prevent transfer of the transfer film onto dust or the like and improve the printing quality.

(4) Multicolor printing of shutters and diversification of pictures, which have been difficult in the past, are possible, and it is possible to meet the user's desire to enhance the decorativeness of the shutter. It is possible to enhance the commercial value of a disc cartridge or the like using a shutter.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a thermal transfer printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure member before pressing a transfer film.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a pressing member in a state where a transfer film is pressed.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a transfer film.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a transfer film.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a shutter support jig portion.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a shutter support jig portion.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the MFD of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the transferred object preheating member.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the transferred object preheating member.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of being transferred onto dust or the like.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a modified example of the pressure member drive mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a modified example of the pressure member drive mechanism.

FIG. 15 is a side view of another modification of the pressing member drive mechanism.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a conventional MFD.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Thermal transfer printing device 2 ... Pressure member drive mechanism 3 ... Transfer film 4 Shutter (transferred object) 5 ... Pressure member 6 ... Transferred object preheating member 21 ... Heating plate 22 ... Elastic material

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP 59-187855 (JP, A) JP 63-87279 (JP, A) JP 49-119714 (JP, A) JP 63-133134 (JP , A) JP-A-56-56866 (JP, A) JP-A-56-187 (JP, A) Actual opening Sho-55-18066 (JP, U) Actual opening Sho-59-160233 (JP, U) Actual opening 4-71247 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B44C 1/165-1/17 B41M 5/00-5/035 B41M 5/26-5/40 B41F 16 / 00 B41M 1/28

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A preheater for a transfer target of a thin metal plate.
After raised to a predetermined temperature by heating in advance by the support tool wood is built, it pressurizes the transfer film superimposed on the transfer target, the target adhesive layer and the ink layer of the transfer film A thermal transfer printing method characterized by transferring onto a transfer material. 2. A pressurizing member drive mechanism positioned on a table, a pressurizing member driven by the pressurizing member drive mechanism to press a transfer film onto a transfer target of a thin metal plate, and the table. It is located on top of the pressure member
Located below the support member for supporting the object to be transferred, in the configuration, the support, prior to crimping the transfer film onto the <br/> the transcript by the pressure member, in advance in that it comprises an object to be transferred preheating member for heating the object to be transferred to a predetermined temperature
Characteristic thermal transfer printing device. Wherein the pressure member includes a heating plate, and attached to the heating plate, when the pressure-bonded onto the transfer film, an arc shape expanding gradually crimping area toward the peripheral portion from the center portion The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the thermal transfer printing apparatus is formed of a rubber elastic material having a surface. 4. A transfer target transport mechanism for transporting the <br/> the transfer of the thin metal plate in a state in which the transfer surface to the vertical, the target transcript sent by the object to be transferred transport mechanism a transfer target support jig for supporting the remains were vertically the transfer surface, of the object to be transferred, which is supported on the transfer target support jig
A pressure member for crimping the transfer film on the transfer surface, by driving the pressing member in the horizontal direction, up in the pressure member
Serial and transfer film pressure member driving mechanism Ru is crimped onto the material to be transferred, prior to crimping the transfer film on the transfer surface by the pressing member, a transfer medium for heating the pre-transfer target to a predetermined temperature A preheating member , wherein the transferred object preheating member is located on the back surface of the transferred object.
Thermal transfer printing device characterized by comprising Te. 5. A method of manufacturing a disk cartridge shutter bending a thin metal plate in a U-shape, Installing the support of the shutter preheating members is built
Only, by the support, after raised to a predetermined temperature by heating in advance the shutter, pressurizes the transfer film superimposed on said shutter, said adhesive layer and the ink layer of the transfer film
A thermal transfer printing method for a shutter , which comprises transferring the image onto a shutter.