JP3981869B2 - Transfer device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a transport mechanism for feeding a sheet-like recording medium having a permeation layer on which recording information to be transferred to a fixing layer on a substrate surface is printed, and a permeation layer of the recording medium sent by this transport mechanism. In particular, the present invention relates to a transfer apparatus provided for a printer having a print unit that prints recorded information by spraying sublimation ink, and more specifically, by heating the recorded information printed on the permeation layer of the recording medium. The present invention relates to a technique for transferring recorded information to a fixing layer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a technique similar to the transfer device configured as described above, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-297197.
[0003]
In this conventional technology, a colored base layer that also serves as a rust prevention layer is formed on a metal substrate, and a transparent resin layer made of an acrylic resin, a polyester resin, or a urethane resin is formed thereon as a light transmissive resin layer. Then, an ink-jet receiving layer using porous alumina or the like is formed thereon to constitute a metal decorative body, and a colored pattern is formed by ink-jet printing using a sublimation colorant on the ink-jet receiving layer of the metal decorative body. Form. Thereafter, by heating the metal decorative body with a heating furnace or hot press, the sublimation coloring material of the ink jet receiving layer enters the transparent resin layer, and the colored pattern formed on the ink jet receiving layer is formed on the transparent receiving layer. The Next, after softening the ink-jet receiving layer with warm water, all of the ink-jet receiving layer is removed by wiping with a cloth or the like, thereby completing a metal decorative body on which a colored pattern is formed.
[0004]
Further, a flexible resin sheet is used as a base material, a fixing layer is formed on the surface of the base material, a penetration layer is further formed on the surface of the fixing layer, and the recorded information printed on the penetration layer is heated. A recording medium to be transferred and fixed to the fixing layer is under development. After the recording information is printed on the permeation layer of the recording medium with sublimation ink, the recording medium is heated. No apparatus has been developed that performs a continuous process for sublimating sublimable ink to transfer and fix recording information on a fixing layer.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Here, in consideration of an apparatus for transferring a recording medium to which transfer is performed by heating, for example, in a case where a flexible resin sheet is used as a base material of the recording medium, the apparatus uses the recording medium. If uneven heating is performed during transport, uneven heat dissipation is performed, or heating is performed in a state where a biased force is applied during transport of the recording medium, finally It is conceivable that the base material is distorted and loses its flatness. In particular, when uneven heating is performed, transfer proceeds in a region where the temperature is high, and transfer is suppressed in a region where the temperature is low, which leads to density unevenness and color unevenness.
[0006]
Specifically, in the case of forming a transfer image on the fixing layer by sublimating sublimable ink by heating, the image is formed on silver salt photographic paper by using a fluororesin as the fixing layer (printing) It is easy to make a product excellent in weather resistance as compared with a printed image or an image formed (printed) by an ink jet printer, and can be used for outdoor signs and stickers and seals used outdoors. In addition, when this type of recording medium is used outdoors, it is effective to use a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin sheet that is relatively inexpensive, excellent in water resistance and smoothness as a base material. Since the resin is thermoplastic, for example, when a heating-type pressure roller is used in the heating unit of the transfer device, and the recording medium is sandwiched and transported by the pressure roller, the pressure roller is used. The flatness of the base material is impaired by imbalanced temperature and pressure acting on the recording medium due to variations in the pressure between each other and the temperature distribution on the surface of the pressure roller, and the density of the transferred image, etc. A technique that generates unevenness and color unevenness and that can perform uniform heating is desired.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to rationally configure a transfer device capable of uniformly heating a recording medium.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The features, operations and effects of the transfer apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention are as follows.
〔Characteristic〕
A transport mechanism for feeding a sheet-like recording medium having a permeation layer on which recording information to be transferred to the fixing layer on the substrate surface is printed, and a sublimation ink for the permeation layer of the recording medium sent by the transport mechanism In a transfer apparatus provided for a printer having a printing section for printing recording information by spraying the recording information, the recording information printed on the permeation layer by heating the recording medium sent out from the printer is used as a fixing layer. A heating space that includes a heating unit for transferring, and in which the heating unit hangs down due to its own weight when the recording medium sent out from the printing unit is allowed to move in the sag direction, and a recording medium in the heating space the sublimation ink is formed and a heating means for raising to a temperature at which sublimation, the recording medium that has been heated by said heating means The discharged from the discharge port provided at the lower end position of the heating space, in that it is cool sag remains posture.
[0009]
[Action / Effect]
According to the above feature, the recording medium sent out from the printer is in a posture to hang down in the heating space and is heated by the heating means when moving in the hang-down direction. Since it is moved downward in the hanging position, that is, downward, it is not necessary to use rollers for conveying the recording medium and guides for actively guiding the recording medium. In addition, since the temperature in the heating space can be made uniform as a whole, a heat treatment for applying a uniform heat to the recording medium can be easily performed. As a result, a transfer apparatus that not only can uniformly heat the recording medium without applying any external force but also hardly generates distortion, density unevenness, and color unevenness on the recording medium has been rationally configured.
[0010]
The characteristics of the transfer device according to claim 2 of the present invention are as follows .
[0011]
〔Characteristic〕
2. The transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating space is provided with a pair of heaters arranged to face each other so as to heat the recording medium from both the front and back surfaces.
[0012]
The characteristics, operation and effect of the transfer apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention are as follows.
〔Characteristic〕
3. The transfer apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cutter unit that cuts the recording medium fed from the heating space.
[0013]
[Action / Effect]
According to the above feature, the recording medium is sent out from the heating space in a suspended state, and the recording medium can be cooled by naturally releasing heat by contact with air in a state where no external force is applied at this portion. It is also possible to cut the recording medium to a required size by cutting with a unit. As a result, the recording medium can be used after being cut into an arbitrary size without causing distortion due to uneven heat dissipation.
[0014]
The characteristics, operations and effects of the transfer device according to claim 4 of the present invention are as follows.
〔Characteristic〕
The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device is configured to be switchable between a state of being connected to the printer and a state of being separated.
[0015]
[Action / Effect]
According to the above feature, by connecting the transfer device to the printer, the recording medium sent from the printer can be heated to perform transfer, and by separating the transfer device from the printer, maintenance of the transfer device can be easily performed. It will be something that can be done. As a result, a transfer device that can be used by being connected to a commercially available ink jet printer and that can be easily maintained was obtained.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a transport mechanism A that feeds a roll-shaped recording medium M and an ink jet type printing unit B that prints recording information on the recording medium M sent by the transport mechanism A are provided. The transfer apparatus is configured to include an ink jet printer, and a heating unit C that heats the recording medium M delivered from the ink jet printer, and a cutter unit D that cuts the recording medium M after heating. . As shown in the figure, in the main body case 20 of the ink jet printer, as a control means for controlling the transport mechanism A and the printing unit B, and for controlling the heating unit C and the cutter unit D of the transfer device. A control device E is provided. In addition, the ink jet printer realizes a process of printing recording information including character information and image information transferred from the image processing system F on the recording medium M, and the transfer device applies the recording medium M sent out from the ink jet printer. Realizes transfer of printed recorded information.
[0017]
As shown in the figure, the main body case 20 is provided with a hinge 21 for a lid-like material 20A that can be switched between a state in which a region extending from a portion in which a roll-shaped recording medium M is accommodated to a print unit B is opened and a state in which the region is covered. The body case portion 20 is supported at a relatively high position by providing a grounding leg portion 24 via a support post portion 23 with respect to the frame 22 provided at the bottom portion for swinging opening and closing around the print portion B. A connecting frame 25 having an annular cross-sectional shape is provided at the end on the side where the printed recording medium M is sent out. The roll-shaped recording medium M is rotatably supported inside the main body case 20 by support members 26 inserted into both ends of the cylindrical core of the recording medium M.
[0018]
The image processing system F includes a general-purpose computer 1, a monitor 2, a keyboard 3, and a mouse 4, a film scanner 6 that photoelectrically converts image information of the developed film 5, and a digital signal stored on the media And a media drive 7 built in the computer 1 so as to extract information. The recording information from the image processing system F is transferred to the control device E, so that the transferred recording information is transferred to the recording medium M. On the other hand, it can be transferred. The media drive 7 is a generic term for drives that extract information from not only disk-shaped media such as CDs, CD-Rs, and MOs but also semiconductors such as compact flash and smart media. Shows a drive for reading information on CDs and CD-Rs.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 4, the recording medium M is made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and has a polyvinyl alcohol resin as a resin having affinity for sublimation ink with respect to the surface of the film-like substrate 11. The fixing layer 12 is formed of a polyvinyl acetal resin or the like, and a thin film-like penetrating layer 13 such as a fluorine resin or a silicone resin that has no affinity for the sublimation ink can be peeled on the surface of the fixing layer 12. Overlaid and configured as a flexible sheet as a whole. After printing an image with sublimation ink on the permeation layer 13, the ink of the permeation layer 13 is sublimated by heat treatment. It moves to the fixing layer 12 and has a function of fixing the recording information on the surface of the substrate 11. After the recording information is transferred and fixed, the permeation layer 13 is peeled off in the form of a film. It has become one to expose the clear image formed in the fixing layer 12 of the surface of the substrate 11 by then removed by. Further, this recording medium M uses the surface of the base material 11 as it is as the fixing layer 12 as long as the material of the base material 11 has an affinity for the sublimable ink. Also good.
[0020]
The transport mechanism A is disposed at a transport upper position with respect to the print unit B so as to transport the recording medium M in a pressure-bonded state by driving rotation, and at a transport lower position with the print unit B as a reference. The discharge roller 29 is arranged, and the supply roller 28 and the stepping motor type transport motor 30 that drives the discharge roller 29 are provided. The supply roller 28 is composed of a driving roller 28A and a pressure roller 28B that is pressure-bonded to the driving roller 28A, and the discharge roller 29 is composed of a driving roller 29A and a pressure-bonding roller 29B that is pressure-bonded thereto.
[0021]
The print section B includes a guide rod 32 arranged in a posture orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium M, a print head 33 supported so as to be reciprocable along the guide rod 32, and a timing for the print head 33. A scanning motor 35 of a stepping motor type that reciprocates via a belt 34 is provided. The print head 33 includes an ejection mechanism 37 such as a piezo element so as to spray ink of an ink cartridge 36 configured to be replaceable onto the recording medium M. As the ink cartridge 36, six colors using two colors of intermediate colors in addition to at least four colors of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) are used. The sublimation ink configured and used in this embodiment starts sublimation at 80 ° C., and becomes an optimal transfer state by heating at 180 ° C. for about 2 minutes. The sublimable ink can be easily sublimated at about 170 ° C. to 200 ° C., and the necessary transfer can be performed by heating for about 1 minute at 200 ° C. and heating for about 5 minutes at 170 ° C. It has become.
[0022]
The heating unit C constituting the transfer device includes a heating case 40 configured to be switchable between a state of being connected to the connection frame 25 of the main body case 20 and a state of being separated from the connection frame 25. Configured. The heating case 40 includes an upper case 40A in which an introduction space G is formed in the horizontal direction so as to receive the recording medium M fed in the horizontal direction by the discharge roller 29, and a downward direction at a position continuous with the upper case 40A. It has a lower case 40B in which a heating space H that allows the movement of the recording medium is formed, and an intermediate partition 40C that partitions the introduction space G and the heating space H. Although not shown in the drawing, when separated from the ink jet printer of the transfer device, the power cord and the signal line can be separated to separate the cord for supplying power to the transfer device and the signal line for controlling the transfer device. The connector part is provided.
[0023]
Inside the heating space H, a guide rail 40G is disposed at a position sufficiently away from both the front and back surfaces of the recording medium M with respect to the side position of the path through which the recording medium M is sent in a curved state. is there. Although this guide rail 40G does not actively guide the recording medium M, the guide rail 40G comes into contact with the recording medium M only when the recording medium M is about to deviate significantly from the path to be conveyed. It functions to send the recording medium M to an appropriate route.
[0024]
The end portion of the upper case 40A is formed into a shape that can be fitted and connected by inserting it into the connecting frame 25. Although not shown in the drawing, the connecting frame 25 and the upper case 40A are provided at this insertion site. A fixing tool is provided. The heating space H is formed by using a heat insulating material as the lower case 40B, and an infrared heater 41 (including a far-infrared heater) is used as a heating means for heating both the front and back sides of the recording medium M in the heating space H. And a temperature sensor S that measures the temperature of the recording medium M based on the radiant heat from the recording medium M, and can freely rotate as a guide at the opening of the discharge port 42 formed at the lower end of the heating space H. A guide roller 43 is provided. Further, a heat insulating material is used as the intermediate partition wall 40C, an opening 44 through which the recording medium M passes is formed in the intermediate partition wall 40C, and the recording medium M sent from the discharge roller 29 to the opening portion 44. Is provided with a freely rotatable guide roller 45 for guiding.
[0025]
In the cutter unit D, a fixed blade 47 and a movable blade 48 are disposed relative to a shearing position immediately below the discharge port 42, and a cutter motor 49 that drives the movable blade 48 via an operating mechanism such as a crank type. It is configured with. A tray 50 for receiving the recording medium M is disposed below the cutter unit D.
[0026]
The control device F has a built-in microprocessor, and although not shown in the drawing, the control device F forms an input system for inputting recording information transferred from the computer 1 to the control device F, and from the temperature sensor S. And a signal system for outputting control signals to the transport motor 30, the scanning motor 35, the discharge mechanism 37, and the cutter motor 49. .
[0027]
With this configuration, when recording information (image information) is transferred by the transfer device, the control device E transfers the recording information to be printed from the image processing system F to the control device E. Then, the recording mechanism M is transported to the printing unit B by controlling the transport mechanism A, and the print head 33 is controlled to spray the sublimation ink in the ink cartridge 36 onto the recording medium M to record information on the permeation layer 13. A printing process for printing is executed, and by continuing this process, the recording medium M on which the recording information is printed is sent to the heating unit C constituting the transfer device by the conveying force of the conveying mechanism A. In the heating space H of the heating unit C, the recording medium M is sent downward while keeping the posture in which the recording medium M hangs down by its own weight without the guides coming into contact with the recording medium M.
[0028]
When the recording medium M is sent by the transport mechanism A, the time required for the recording medium M transported at the transport speed set in the transport mechanism A to pass through the heating space H is set to about 2 minutes. In addition, by executing control to feed back a signal from the temperature sensor S so that the recording medium M is heated to 180 ° C. in the heating space H, the recording medium M is conveyed in the heating space H by 180 degrees. A process of heating at about 2 ° C. for about 2 minutes is performed. Further, as described above, this temperature is not limited to 180 ° C., and can be set to a temperature in the range between 170 ° C. and 200 ° C.
[0029]
The recording medium M thus subjected to the heat treatment is discharged from the discharge port 42 of the heating unit C, and is naturally radiated and cooled by contact with the outside air while being in a hanging position, and the recording information is exchanged by this discharge. When the intermediate position reaches the cutting position of the cutter unit D, a cutting process for operating the cutter unit D is executed, and the cut recording medium M is collected in the lower tray 50. Thereafter, the recording information transferred is exposed in a clearly visible state by peeling the permeation layer 13 from the recording medium M collected in the tray 50 in this way while removing it in the form of a film. In addition, after cutting the rear end of the recording medium M on which the last recording information of the continuous recording information has been transferred, the transport mechanism A is reversed so that the end of the recording medium is better than the printing section. Processing to return to the position is performed.
[0030]
By the way, when printing information is printed on the recording medium M in the printing unit B, the conveyance of the recording medium M is stopped when the print head 33 is scanned, and the print head 33 reaches the end in the scanning direction. The process of conveying the recording medium M by a set amount at the timing when the scanning operation is completed is repeatedly performed. In this transfer apparatus, for example, a print head is formed so that a margin is formed on the recording medium M. Even if the recording information is not printed at 33, the conveyance mode of the recording medium M is set so as to prevent heating unevenness by conveying the recording medium M at a preset speed.
[0031]
As described above, in the transfer apparatus of the present invention, after recording information is printed on the recording medium M by the printing unit C of the ink jet printer, the recording medium M sent out by the transport force of the transport mechanism A is transferred to the present transfer apparatus. In the heating space H, the recording medium M is sent in the hanging direction (downward) in such a manner that the recording medium M is bent by its own weight so that the leading end thereof is directed downward. In the heating space H, it is possible to heat the recording medium M without contacting the guides or rollers, for example, compared with the case where heating is performed while the guides or rollers are in contact. Thus, an uneven force is not applied to the recording medium M, and uniform heating without unevenness is possible. As described above, since the external force does not act and the uniform heating is realized, even if a thermoplastic film such as a PET resin is used for the base material 11 of the recording medium M, a distortion caused by the heating is caused. In addition, a process that does not cause density unevenness or color unevenness during transfer is realized. Further, in this transfer device, since the recording medium M is sent out from the heating space H and brought into contact with the outside air, it is cooled by natural heat radiation by being brought into contact with the outside air without applying an external force in a hanging position. Even during this cooling, the base material 11 is not distorted. Then, the permeation layer 13 of the recording medium M to which the recording information is transferred in this way is transferred to the fixing layer 12 of the recording medium M manually or by removing it using a device so as to be peeled off in the form of a film. The recorded information is exposed to obtain clear character information and image information on the fixing layer of the recording medium M.
[0032]
[Another embodiment]
In addition to the above-described embodiment, the present invention can be configured as follows (in this other embodiment, those having the same functions as those of the above-described embodiment have the same numbers and symbols as those of the embodiment) Is attached).
[0033]
(A) The heating unit C is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the heating case 40 includes the upper case 40A having the introduction space G, the lower case 40B having the heating space H, and the intermediate partition wall 40C that partitions the introduction space G and the heating space H. However, instead of the infrared heater 41 in the heating space H, an electric heater 52 as a heating means and a fan 54 driven by a fan motor 53 are provided, and the ambient temperature is measured inside the heating space H. The configuration is different in that the temperature sensor S is provided. When heating is performed, the electric heater 52 and the motor 53 are driven, and a signal from the temperature sensor S is fed back to circulate the air heated by the electric heater 52 in the heating space H. Thus, control is performed to maintain the atmospheric temperature of the heating space H at about 180 ° C. With this configuration, the heated air is made to flow and come into contact with the recording medium M, so that heating without unevenness is possible and good transfer is realized.
[0034]
(B) As shown in FIG. 6, the transport mechanism A of the ink jet printer is configured to feed the recording medium M drawn out from the portion where the roll-shaped recording medium M is accommodated vertically downward, and this As described above, an ink jet type printing unit B is arranged so as to print recording information on a recording medium M that is sent vertically, and the recording medium M that is sent vertically downward from the printing unit B is heated to a position as a transfer device. The transfer unit is configured by arranging the heating unit C. The configuration of the heating unit C includes an electric heater 52 and a fan 54 driven by a fan motor 53 so as to heat the air in the heating space H, as in the other embodiment (A). A lip-like member 56 made of a heat-resistant flexible material such as silicon rubber is provided at the upper end position of H to prevent the phenomenon that heated air escapes upward. Such a configuration not only simplifies the configuration for feeding the recording medium M, but also provides a fixed path as compared with the case where the recording medium M is guided in a curved and hanging manner as in the embodiment. The recording medium M is fed to enable proper heating.
[0035]
(C) As described in the above embodiment, the guide roller 43 provided in the discharge port 42 or the guide roller 45 provided in the opening 44 is configured to be driven and rotated so as to guide and convey the recording medium M. It is possible to configure so that force is applied, and it is also possible to configure the guide using a resin or metal plate having excellent heat resistance instead of the guide rollers 43 and 45.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a transfer device and an image processing system. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view of a main part of the transfer device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the transfer device. FIG. 5 is a vertical side view of a transfer apparatus according to another embodiment (A). FIG. 6 is a vertical side view of the transfer apparatus according to another embodiment (B).
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Base material 12 Fixing layer 13 Penetration layer 41, 52 Heating means 42 Discharge port 43 Guide A Conveyance mechanism B Printing part C Heating part D Cutter unit H Heating space M Recording medium

Claims (4)

A transport mechanism for feeding a sheet-like recording medium having a permeation layer on which recording information to be transferred to the fixing layer on the substrate surface is printed, and a sublimation ink for the permeation layer of the recording medium sent by the transport mechanism A transfer device provided for a printer having a print section for printing recorded information by spraying,
A heating unit that heats the recording medium sent from the printer to transfer the recording information printed on the permeation layer to the fixing layer; and the heating unit sends the recording medium sent from the printing unit to the recording layer. In a posture that hangs down due to its own weight, it is provided with a heating space that allows movement in the sag direction, and heating means that raises the recording medium in the heating space to a temperature at which the sublimable ink sublimes.
The transfer apparatus , wherein the recording medium heated by the heating unit is discharged from a discharge port provided at a lower end position of the heating space and is allowed to cool in a hanging posture . 2. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the heating space is provided with a pair of heaters arranged to face each other so as to heat the recording medium from both the front and back surfaces .   The transfer apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cutter unit that cuts the recording medium fed from the heating space.   The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer device is configured to be switchable between a state of being connected to the printer and a state of being separated.

Images