JP4636308B2 - Laminating apparatus and laminating method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a laminating apparatus and a laminating method for forming a laminating layer on a recording surface of a recording medium on which an image is recorded.

  As a result of various improvements made to the recording apparatus (printer) and the recording medium, the recording system such as the ink jet recording system and the thermal transfer recording system can obtain an image quality comparable to a silver salt color photograph. In recent years, image information captured by a digital camera, digital video, scanner, or the like or electronic image information in a computer has been widely used as a technique for hard copying.

  In addition, in these recording methods, the recording surface of the recording medium is protected to give permanent durability, and the glossiness and smoothness of the recording surface are increased to further improve the image quality. For this purpose, a technique of laminating a laminate layer on a recording surface of a recording medium after image recording is also widely known.

  As an apparatus used for laminating on a recording surface, a recording medium and a laminating material which are laminated by supplying a laminating material comprising a base material and a laminating layer formed so as to be peelable on the base material onto the recording surface. There is a laminating apparatus that transfers the laminate layer onto the recording surface of the recording medium by thermocompression bonding, and then peels the substrate from the laminate layer (Patent Document 1).

  However, in the laminating apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, every time the recording medium is replaced with one having a different width size, the laminating material must be replaced with one having a suitable width size. However, in this case, an extra portion of the laminate layer (after the lamination process ( It is necessary to cut off a portion that is not laminated on the recording surface (non-laminated portion) along the edge of the recording medium, and in any case, it is complicated.

For this reason, there is a laminating apparatus that can save the labor of excising the non-laminate portion (Patent Document 2). FIG. 17 shows a schematic configuration of the laminating apparatus, in which a piece-like recording medium A cut to a predetermined feed length and a laminating material B supplied as a continuous sheet from a roll are passed through a film guide roll F. It is laminated and heat-pressed when passing between the platen roll G and the heated intermediate roll H, and then the base material C is peeled from the laminate layer D by the peeling roll I arranged on the downstream side. However, in the laminating apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, when the substrate C is peeled off, the non-laminate portion Db is separated from the laminate portion Da. It is cut off and taken away with the base material C.
JP-A-58-224779 JP 10-211161 A

  The laminating apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 lifts the non-laminate portion Db together with the base material C by separating the base material C from the recording surface of the recording medium A, and laminates the non-laminate portion Db and the resulting laminate. The portion is forcibly broken (forcibly torn off) by the pulling force near the boundary with the portion Da.

  Therefore, in the vicinity of the boundary between the laminate portion Da and the non-laminate portion Db, as shown in FIG. 18, a part of the non-laminate portion Db remains on the laminate portion Da side, or a part of the laminate portion Da is removed from the recording medium A. There is a problem that the edge of the laminated portion Da separated from the non-laminated portion Db does not follow the edge of the recording medium A and becomes non-uniform in shape. The edge processing of the recording medium A that has been subjected to the lamination process is unavoidable.

  Further, when the adhesion between the laminate portion Da and the recording medium A and / or the adhesion between the non-laminate portion Db and the base material C is uneven in the vicinity of the edge of the recording medium A, or when it is insufficient, When the conveying speed of the laminate material B, the characteristics of the laminate layer D, the peeling angle of the base material C with respect to the recording medium A are not appropriate, etc., the laminated portion Da and the non-laminated portion Db are not separated. There is also a problem that the entire laminate portion Da is pulled away from the recording medium A by being pulled by the laminate portion Db, or the surface layer including the recording surface is pulled away from the recording medium A by being pulled by the non-laminate portion Db. is there.

  Therefore, the present invention is a system in which a laminate layer laminated on a recording medium is separated from a recording surface (laminate surface) to separate a laminate portion and a non-laminate portion, and therefore, in view of the above-described problems of conventional laminate apparatuses. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a laminating apparatus and a laminating method that can cleanly finish the laminating process on the recording medium without performing the edge processing after the laminating process of the recording medium.

A laminating apparatus according to the present invention is a laminating apparatus for forming a laminating layer on a recording surface of a sheet-like recording medium, and is configured to be disposed so as to face each other and at least one of them is heated. A sheet-like laminate material having a pair of conveying members that are conveyed while the recording surface is laminated in a region wider than the planar region of the recording medium is opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium In a state where the recording medium is interposed between the under film disposed on the surface side so that the recording surface is opposed to the laminate layer, the pair of conveying members causes the laminate material to be recorded on the recording medium and the under film. A laminating apparatus including a pressure-bonding section that conveys a recording medium while being heat-bonded to the recording medium, and is disposed upstream of the pair of conveying members in the conveying direction. Comprises a free roller which is configured to be heated by being placed within the area capable affected by heat from the conveying member, wherein the laminate material and / or the under film, prior to the heat pressing, the free roller It is characterized by being wound around.

  The laminating method according to the present invention is a laminating method in which a laminating layer is formed on the recording surface of a sheet-like recording medium. The laminating method is arranged so as to be opposed to each other, and transports the recording medium while thermocompression bonding. A sheet-shaped laminate material in which a laminate layer for laminating the recording surface is formed in a wider area than the planar area of the recording medium using a conveying member and an underside disposed on the opposite side of the recording surface of the recording medium In a state where the recording medium is interposed between the film and the recording surface so that the recording surface faces the laminate layer, the pair of conveying members are recorded while the laminate material is heat-pressed to the recording medium and the under film. A laminating method for conveying a medium, wherein the laminating material and / or the under film is heated. By winding, characterized by preheating prior to the thermocompression bonding.

  According to the above configuration, the laminate layer for laminating the recording surface is on the side opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium to be conveyed and the sheet-like laminate material formed in a region wider than the planar region of the recording medium. The pair of conveying members heat and press the laminate material to the recording medium and the under film in a state where the recording medium is interposed between the under film and the recording film so that the recording surface faces the laminate layer. However, since the recording medium is conveyed, by this thermocompression bonding, the laminate layer of the laminate material comes into close contact with the entire recording surface of the recording medium, and the portion protruding from the recording surface comes into close contact with the under film.

  In this state, if the under film is separated from the surface opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium, the laminate layer will be pulled (pulled) to the opposite surface side of the recording medium. Since the tensile force acts intensively along the boundary between the part with and without the medium (that is, the edge of the recording medium), the part where the laminate layer and the recording surface are pressed (on the recording surface) Of the recording layer of the recording medium is of course separated from the portion where the laminating layer and the under film are pressure-bonded (non-laminating portion not laminated on the recording medium). The edge of the laminate layer formed above becomes clean along the edge of the recording medium.

  Furthermore, in the apparatus and method of the present invention, prior to the thermocompression bonding, at least one of the laminate material and the under film is preheated, so that the preheated laminate material and / or the under film is the laminate material. And the under film is easily heated to the desired temperature at the thermocompression bonding position where the film is heated to a desired temperature. Therefore, a stable heating temperature can be obtained when the thermocompression bonding is performed.

  Specifically, since at least one of the laminate material and the under film is preheated by the free roller, the preheated laminate material and / or the under film is easily heated to a desired temperature. A stable heating temperature can be obtained when the pressure bonding is performed.

  In the laminating apparatus according to the present invention, at least one of the pair of transport members is configured to be heated for the thermocompression bonding, and the free roller is affected by heat from the transport member. By adopting a configuration that is heated by being disposed in a region that can receive heat, the heating of the free roller utilizes heat from the heated conveying member, and therefore the heated conveying member is heated. It is not necessary to provide a heating means separately from the means, and the cost can be kept low accordingly. Examples of a material that can be used on at least the surface of the free roller include a material having a high heat absorption rate and a high thermal conductivity, such as a dark-colored metal material (specifically, black alumite).

  As described above, according to the present invention, a laminate material having a size larger than that of the recording medium is stacked and heat-pressed so as to cover the recording medium, and the laminate layer of the laminate material is opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium. By pulling (pulling in) the recording medium, the tensile force is concentrated along the boundary between the portion where the recording medium is present and the portion where the recording medium is not present, so that the laminate portion and the non-laminate portion are separated. The edge of the laminate layer formed on the recording surface can be made clean along the edge of the recording medium. Therefore, the recording medium can be recorded without performing the edge processing after the lamination of the recording medium. Lamination process can be finished cleanly.

  Hereinafter, a laminating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First embodiment>
First, an appearance image of the laminating apparatus according to the present embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. The laminating apparatus includes various functional units (which will be described later) in the housing 1, and a recording medium supply unit (supplying unit) that supplies the recording medium A for which image recording has been completed for laminating processing. 10 is provided on one side of the casing 1, and a finished product discharge section (discharge section) 150 that discharges the recording medium A that has been laminated is provided on the other side of the casing 1.

  The housing 1 includes side frames 1a and 1b arranged on the left and right sides, and a connecting frame 1c that is arranged at an appropriate position between the side frames 1a and 1b and connects the side frames 1a and 1b at a predetermined interval. Become. The side frames 1a and 1b are divided into upper and lower parts, respectively, and the upper side frame 1a and 1b and the connecting frame 1c for connecting the upper frame 1A constitute the upper casing 1A, while the lower side frame 1a and 1b. A lower housing 1B is configured by 1a, 1b and a connecting frame 1c connecting them.

  Therefore, the housing 1 can be separated vertically. More specifically, a part 1d of the upper housing 1A is rotatably supported by the lower housing 1B and swings so as to be openable and closable with respect to the lower housing 1B. A lock mechanism 2 is provided in the housing 1 in order to maintain a closed position where the upper housing 1A and the lower housing 1B are combined.

  The recording medium supply unit 10 includes a mounting plate 11 attached to a boundary portion between the upper housing 1A and the lower housing 1B on one side of the housing 1. On the other hand, the finished product discharger 150 also includes a mounting plate 151 attached to a boundary portion between the upper housing 1A and the lower housing 1B on the other side of the housing 1. The mounting plate 11 is rotatably attached to the upper housing 1A, and takes a horizontal position where the recording medium A can be mounted and a vertical position where the recording medium A cannot be mounted. The mounting plate 151 is fixedly attached to the lower housing 1B. It should be noted that a pair of width regulating guides that are relatively close to each other in the width direction is provided on the mounting plate 11 so that the center of the recording medium A is always aligned regardless of the width size of the recording medium A. preferable.

  The transport path of the recording medium A that connects the recording medium supply unit 10 and the finished product discharge unit 150 is the same as the placement plate 11 of the recording medium supply unit 10 and the placement plate 151 of the finished product discharge unit 150. It is set along the boundary between the upper casing 1A and the lower casing 1B. Therefore, the transport path is opened at the open position where the upper casing 1A is swung upward, and the recording medium A on the transport path can be taken out.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the functional unit is roughly divided from the recording surface (upper surface) side of the recording medium A conveyed on the conveyance path, and the base material C and the laminate layer as a base are laminated. A laminate material supply unit (supply unit) 20 that supplies the sheet-like laminate material B and a surface (lower surface: base surface) opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium A conveyed on the conveyance path are transferred. An under film supply unit (supply unit) 30 that supplies a sheet-like under film E as a means, and a laminate in which the recording medium A is supplied and stacked between the supplied laminate material B and the under film E ( First and second pressure-bonding parts (pressure-bonding parts) 40 and 50 for heat-pressing the recording medium A between the laminate material B and the under film E), and the laminate material B after the heat-pressure bonding Remove substrate C from Peeling part 60 for separating, base material collecting part (collecting part) 70 for collecting the peeled base material C, separating part 80 for separating the underfilm E after thermocompression bonding from the recording medium A, and the separated under The film E is divided into an under film collection unit (collection unit) 90 that collects the film E.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the laminate material supply unit 20 supplies the laminate material B as a continuous sheet from a roll, and includes a holder (laminate material holder) 21 that holds the roll of the laminate material B. 21 and a free roller 22 disposed between the conveyance path.

  Both ends of the holder 21 are rotatably supported by the side frames 1a and 1b together with the free roller 22. The free roller 22 is disposed so as to be on the inner side (conveying path side) of the roll attached to the holder 21 and the common tangent line of the roller 43 of the press-bonding section described later, thereby conveying the laminate material B fed from the roll. Wrapping is performed in a predetermined angle range in a predetermined section until reaching the path, and the approach angle of the laminate material B with respect to the transport path is determined. In addition, the free roller 22 is disposed in a region that can be affected by heat from the pressure roller 43 of the first pressure-bonding portion 40 serving as a heating roller, as will be described later. The material (surface layer) used for at least the surface of the free roller 22 and the free roller 32 described later is black alumite having a relatively excellent heat absorption rate and heat conductivity.

  A laminating material B used in the laminating apparatus of this embodiment includes a laminating layer D for laminating the recording surface of the recording medium A as shown in FIG. The laminate layer D has a laminated structure including an adhesive layer D ′ that adheres to the recording surface and a protective layer D ″ that is formed on the adhesive layer D ′ and protects the recording surface. The protective layer D ″ according to the present embodiment is formed of a transparent acrylic resin. The adhesive layer D ′ is laminated with the protective layer D ″ via a joint anchor coat layer D ″ ′ having transparency so as to maintain adhesiveness with the protective layer D ″. The adhesive layer D ′ has a higher adhesive force to the under film E than the adhesive force of the base material C to the protective layer D ″ and has permeability (in this embodiment, it is bonded by applying heat). A thermoplastic resin that exhibits strength: a polyester-based resin).

  Furthermore, the laminate material B is used to prevent the laminate layer D from being scratched during thermocompression bonding and transportation, and to prevent the laminate layer D from being wrinkled during thermocompression bonding (protective layer D ′). ') A sheet-like substrate C is laminated on D so as to be peelable. That is, by laminating the base material C on the laminate layer D, the laminate material B prevents the surface of the laminate layer D from being scratched and gives the laminate material B itself stiffness (thickening the thickness). The degree of freedom of bending in the laminate material B is reduced), and the occurrence of wrinkles in the laminate layer D due to the influence of pressure or the like during thermocompression bonding can be prevented. The base material C is composed of a film made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and is in close contact with the laminate layer (protective layer D ″) D so as to be peelable by its own adhesiveness. And a laminated structure.

  The laminate material B having the above configuration is larger in size than the recording medium A, that is, in a state where the laminate layer D is opposed to the recording surface of the recording medium A, the recording material is recorded with the laminate material B (laminate layer D). A size that can cover A is set. In the present embodiment, as described above, since the laminate material B is long, when the laminate material B covers the recording medium A in a state of protruding from both the vertical and horizontal directions of the recording medium A, the direction is conveyed (conveyance). The size of the travel direction in the path does not matter, and the width (the dimension in the direction orthogonal to the travel direction in the transport path) is set wider than the width of the recording medium A on the transport path. Therefore, the recording medium A does not protrude from the laminating material B in the width direction even when the recording medium A is parallel to the transport direction, or even when it is slightly inclined. The entire surface of the recording medium A can be reliably covered with the material B (laminate layer D). The roll of the laminate material B having the above configuration is wound so that the base material C faces the outside and the laminate layer D faces the inside, so that the base material C contacts the free roller 22. It is like that.

  On the other hand, returning to FIG. 5, the under film supply unit 30 supplies the under film E from the roll as a continuous sheet, and includes a holder (under film original fabric holder) 31 that holds the roll of the under film E, A free roller 32 is provided between the holder 31 and the conveyance path.

  Both ends of the holder 31 are rotatably supported by the side frames 1a and 1b together with the free roller 32. The free roller 32 conveys the under film E fed out from the roll by being arranged so as to be on the inner side (conveyance path side) of the roll attached to the holder 31 and the common tangent line of the roller 41 of the pressure-bonding section described later. Wrapping is performed in a predetermined angle range in a predetermined section until reaching the path, and an approach angle of the under film E with respect to the transport path is determined. In addition, the free roller 32 is disposed in a region that can be affected by heat from the drive roller 41 of the first pressure-bonding portion 40 that is a heating roller, as will be described later. The material (surface layer) used for at least the surface of the free roller 32 is black alumite, which has a relatively excellent heat absorption rate and heat conductivity, like the free roller 22.

  The under film E functions as a transfer material serving as a base in a laminated state, and is made of a material having thermal adhesiveness with the adhesive layer D ′ of the laminate material B or a material having the same quality as the adhesive layer D ′. A resin film is used. The under film E can employ either a single layer structure or a laminated structure, but in the present embodiment, a single layer film made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is employed. The under film E has a width size equal to or greater than that of the laminate material B so that the laminate material B (laminate layer D) does not protrude from the side edge of the under film E in a laminated state. Is used.

  The first pressure bonding unit 40 includes a drive roller 41 and a pressure roller 43. The driving roller 41 is disposed on the base surface side of the recording medium A, and the pressure roller 43 is disposed on the recording surface side of the recording medium A, and both ends thereof are rotatably supported by the side frames 1a and 1b. Has been. Between the rollers 41 and 43, the laminate material B, the under film E, and the recording medium A supplied from the recording medium supply unit 10 are laminated (hereinafter referred to as recording medium A, laminating material B (laminate material). B) and layers in which at least two of the under films E are laminated are collectively referred to as “laminated body”).

  Both rollers 41 and 43 generate a pressure-bonding action on the laminate (A + B + E). For example, the drive roller 41 is a metal roller or an ultra-thin rubber roller, and the pressure roller 43 is a silicon-based roller. The heat-resistant rubber roller is used.

  Further, both rollers 41 and 43 have heaters 42 and 44 at the shaft core portions and are heating rollers. The heating temperature on the surfaces of the rollers 41 and 43 is set in the range of 60 to 120 ° C. for the driving roller 41, and is set in the range of 80 to 120 ° C. for the pressure roller 43. The driving roller 41 is supplied from the under film supply unit 30 before the point (theoretical contact point between the rollers 41 and 43) where the recording medium A, the laminate material B, and the under film E are heat-pressed. The under film E is disposed so as to be wound at a predetermined angle so that the under film E can be preheated before reaching the thermocompression bonding point. Further, the pressure roller 43 is arranged so that the laminate material B supplied from the laminate material supply unit 20 is wound at a predetermined angle before the heat pressure point, and reaches the heat pressure point. It can be preheated prior to. In addition, since the free rollers 22 and 32 are heated by receiving heat from the rollers 41 and 43, they also have a function as a heating roller, and the laminating material B and the under film E preheat the rollers 41 and 43. Prior to this, the free rollers 22 and 32 are also preheated. In addition, the roller (driving roller) 41 on the under film E side in the first pressure-bonding part 40 is also set as a heating roller and lower than the heating temperature on the roller surface of the roller (pressure-bonding roller) 43 on the laminate material B side. This is for activating the heat-welding property between the laminate layer D and the under film E while suppressing the thermal influence on the under film E.

  This will be further described with reference to FIG. 16. This laminating apparatus has preheating portions for preheating the laminate material B and the under film E before reaching the thermocompression bonding point T. That is, the laminating material B disposed on the pressure roller 43 side and the under film E disposed on the drive roller 41 side are upstream from the thermocompression point T in the surface movement directions X1 and X2 of the pressure roller 43 and the drive roller 41, respectively. In FIG. 3, the pre-rolling regions ST1 and ST2 having a predetermined width are obtained between the contact start positions S1 and S2 and the thermocompression-bonding point T, and are partially wound around the pressure-bonding roller 43 and the driving roller 41 at a predetermined angle. Further, the laminate material B and the under film E disposed on the heated rollers 43 and 41 side are wound around the free rollers 22 and 32 that can be affected by the heat from the rollers 43 and 41 before the thermocompression bonding. .

  Further, the drive roller 41 cannot be displaced relative to the side frames 1a and 1b, whereas the pressure roller 43 is connected to the side frames 1a and 1b (and the drive roller 41) via the pressure force adjusting mechanism 45. On the other hand, relative displacement is possible. The crimping force adjusting mechanism 45 includes a base 450 attached to the side frames 1a and 1b, a shaft 451 attached to the base 450 and having an axis in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance path, and slides along the shaft 451. A movable body 452, an elastic body 453 that biases the movable body 452 toward the conveyance path, and a handle (adjusting member) 454 that adjusts the elastic restoring force of the elastic body 453. Usually, the pressure between the rollers 41 and 43 is set within a range of 50 to 120 kgf.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the second pressure bonding part 50 includes a driving roller 51 and a pressure roller 53. The drive roller 51 is disposed on the base surface side of the recording medium A, and the pressure roller 53 is disposed on the recording surface side of the recording medium A, and both ends thereof are rotatably supported by the side frames 1a and 1b. Has been. In the laminate (A + B + E), the base material C is peeled off at the peeling portion 60 located on the upstream side of the transport path from the second crimping portion 50, so that the laminate (A + B + E−) is between the rollers 51 and 53. C) is supplied.

  Both rollers 51 and 53 cause a pressure-bonding action to the laminated body (A + B + E-C). For example, a silicon-based heat-resistant rubber roller is used for both the driving roller 51 and the pressure roller 53.

  Further, the pressure roller 53 has a heater 54 in the shaft core portion, and is a heating roller. The heating temperature on the roller surface is set within a range of 80 to 120 ° C. The drive roller 51 is not a heating roller. The heating temperature in the second press-bonding section 50 (heating temperature by the press-bonding roller 53) has a meaning in terms of finishing processing, and the heating temperature in the first press-bonding section 40 (total heating temperature in the driving roller 41 and the press-bonding roller 43). Set lower than. That is, for example, when bubbles are mixed between the recording medium A and the laminate layer D, if the pressure is applied without heating, the pressure is applied in a state where the adhesive layer D ′ of the laminate layer D is cured. Therefore, the air bubbles cannot be pushed in well, but when heated, the adhesive layer D ′ is softened, and the pressure is applied in that state, so that the air bubbles are pushed into the recording surface of the recording medium A from the gap of the ink. For the reason that the laminate layer D (adhesive layer D ′) is displaced from the recording surface of the recording medium A or peeled off when the heating temperature is too high, the second pressure-bonding portion 50 is removed. However, while heating, the heating temperature in the second crimping part 50 is set lower than the heating temperature in the first crimping part 40. Further, the reason why the driving roller 51 of the second pressure-bonding part 50 is not a heating roller is that the heating temperature in the second pressure-bonding part 50 is not excessively raised as described above, and the once heated laminate is heated again. If the temperature is too high, the quality of the recording medium A and the laminate layer D may be deteriorated, the heater is eliminated and the manufacturing cost is reduced, and the running cost is reduced by reducing the power consumption. In addition, the crimping force in the second crimping part 50 is set to be smaller than the crimping force in the first crimping part 40 due to the absence of the base material C.

  Similarly to the first pressure-bonding portion 40, the drive roller 51 cannot be displaced relative to the side frames 1a and 1b, whereas the pressure-bonding roller 53 is connected to the side frames 1a and 1b via the pressure-bonding force adjusting mechanism 55. Relative displacement with respect to 1b (and drive roller 41) is possible. Since the configuration of the crimping force adjusting mechanism 55 is the same as that of the crimping force adjusting mechanism 55 of the first crimping portion 40, no particular description will be given. Usually, the pressure-bonding force between the rollers 51 and 53 is set within a range of 50 to 120 kgf.

  The peeling part 60 is disposed between the first pressure bonding part 40 located on the upstream side of the conveyance path and the second pressure bonding part 50 located on the downstream side of the conveyance path with respect to the first pressure bonding part 40, and the conveyance path. Is provided with a knife edge (peeling guide body) 61 disposed to face the surface.

  That is, the peeling part 60 is a position at a predetermined distance downstream from the first pressure-bonding part 40 so as to separate the base material C from the laminate layer D after a predetermined time has elapsed since the first pressure-bonding part 40 is heat-bonded. Is provided with a knife edge 61. Thus, the peeling part 60 is disposed at a predetermined distance from the first pressure bonding part 40 because the laminate is activated (exhibits viscosity, etc.) by being heat-pressed by the first pressure bonding part 40. This is because an external force is applied to the laminate material B (laminate layer D) after the layer D reaches a normal equilibrium state (a state in which the adhesive force is increased).

  That is, when a predetermined time elapses from the heating in the first pressure bonding part 40, the adhesive force of the laminate layer D to the recording medium A is surely increased as compared with the adhesive force between the base material C and the laminate layer D. If the peeling process of the base material C is performed in the state, only the base material C is peeled cleanly without the laminate layer D being carelessly peeled off from the recording medium A, so that the distance between the peeling part 60 and the first pressure bonding part 40 is increased. Provided. Therefore, the interval (predetermined distance) between the peeling part 60 and the first pressure bonding part 40 is such that the time from passing through the first pressure bonding part 40 to reaching the peeling part 60 is approximately normal from the active state of the laminate layer D. It is set so that it substantially coincides with or exceeds the time (predetermined time) required to return to the equilibrium state.

  The knife edge 61 is held by the holder 62 so that the tip end portion thereof becomes the transport path side and is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the transport path. More specifically, the knife edge 61 is connected to the lower surface 61a facing the conveyance path in the peeling unit 60 and the downstream edge of the lower surface 61a in the conveyance direction so as to form an acute angle with the lower surface 61a. And an inclined surface 61b extending upward (extending toward the base material recovery unit 70). Further, a connecting line (ridge line) between the lower surface 61a and the inclined surface 61b extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium A on the transport path.

  Further, the peeling portion 60 further includes a guide plate 63 having a guide surface facing the inclined surface 61b as a guide surface of the knife edge 61 with a predetermined distance, and a continuous sheet-like base peeled from the laminate layer D is provided. The material C is sent to the base material collection unit 70 through the inclined surface 61 b of the knife edge 61 and the guide surface of the guide plate 63.

  The base material collection unit 70 collects the continuous sheet-like base material C peeled off from the laminate layer D in a roll shape, and a holder (recovered base material holder) 71 that holds the roll of the base material C. Is provided. Both ends of the holder 71 are rotatably supported by the side frames 1a and 1b. Further, the holder 71 is disposed so that the winding surface is on the upstream side of the conveyance path with respect to the leading edge of the knife edge 61, whereby the substrate C to be peeled from the conveyance path is removed from the leading edge of the knife edge 61. In addition, the peeling angle of the base material C with respect to the conveyance path is determined.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the separation unit 80 is located downstream of the crimping unit (second crimping unit 50) in the transport path (more specifically, the second crimping unit 50 and the laminate (A + B-C: finished product)). And a knife edge (separation guide body) 81 disposed between the pair of transport rollers 100 for transporting the finished product to the finished product discharge section 150 and disposed facing the transport path.

  That is, the separation unit 80 places a predetermined distance downstream from the second pressure-bonding part 50 in order to separate the under film E from the recording medium A after a predetermined time has passed since the second pressure-bonding part 50 was heat-bonded. A knife edge 81 is provided at the position. Thus, the separation part 80 is disposed at a predetermined distance from the second pressure bonding part 50 because the laminate is activated (exhibits viscosity, etc.) by being heat-pressed by the second pressure bonding part 50. This is because an external force is applied to the laminate material B (laminate layer D) after the layer D reaches a normal equilibrium state (a state in which the adhesive force is increased).

  That is, when a predetermined time elapses from the heating in the second pressure bonding part 50, the adhesive force of the laminate layer D to the recording medium A is surely increased. Since the layer D is not inadvertently peeled off from the recording medium A, an interval between the separation unit 80 and the second pressure bonding unit 50 is provided. Accordingly, the interval (predetermined distance) between the separating portion 80 and the second crimping portion 50 is such that the time from passing through the second crimping portion 50 until reaching the separating portion 80 is approximately normal from the active state of the laminate layer D. It is set so that it substantially coincides with or exceeds the time (predetermined time) required to return to the equilibrium state.

  3 and 4, the distance from the second crimping part 50 to the separating part 80 is shorter than the distance from the first crimping part 40 to the peeling part 60. In addition to the heating temperature in the second crimping part 50 being set lower than the temperature, the laminate (A + B + E) passing on the transport path between the first crimping part 40 and the peeling part 60 is naturally cooled. On the other hand, between the second crimping part 50 and the separating part 80 (actually, across the upstream and downstream sides of the conveying path across the tip of the separating part 80 (knife edge 81)) A plate-shaped guide plate 83 is provided, which improves the transportability of the laminate (A + B + EC) and forcibly releases the heat of the laminate (A + B + EC) ( With forced cooling) This is because is functioning Te. And since the distance from the 2nd crimping | compression-bonding part 50 to the isolation | separation part 80 becomes short, size reduction of the whole apparatus can be achieved. In the present embodiment, the interval between the separation part 80 and the second pressure bonding part 50 is such that the time from passing through the second pressure bonding part 50 until reaching the separation part 80 is determined so that the laminate layer D is in the active state. Based on the correlation between the moving speed of the laminated body (A + B + E−C) on the conveyance path, the cooling efficiency of the guide plate 83, and the like so as to be the time (predetermined time) required to return to a substantially normal equilibrium state. Is set.

  Returning to FIG. 7, the knife edge 81 is held by the holder 82 so that the tip portion thereof becomes the transport path side and is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the transport path. Specifically, the knife edge 81 of the separation unit 80 is connected to the upper surface 81a facing the conveyance path in the separation unit 80 and the downstream edge of the upper surface 81a in the conveyance direction. And an inclined surface 81b extending downward to form an acute angle. In addition, a connecting line (ridge line) between the upper surface 81a and the inclined surface 81b extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction in the transport path.

  In addition, the separating unit 80 includes a guide plate 83 that is built in the housing 1 in order to demarcate the conveyance path and has a shape straddling the upstream side and the downstream side of the conveyance path across the tip of the knife edge 81. More specifically, the guide plate 83 has a distal end portion extending to the vicinity of the compression portion (second compression portion 50), and a base end portion of the guide plate 83 beyond the distal end portion of the knife edge 81 on the downstream side of the conveyance path. It is the shape extended to. Further, the separating unit 80 includes a guide plate 84 having a guide surface facing the inner surface (guide surface) of a portion of the guide plate 83 on the downstream side of the conveyance path from the tip of the knife edge 81 with a predetermined distance. Is further provided.

  Both guide plates 83 and 84 are bent at a predetermined angle in a direction in which a tip end portion (an end portion on the upstream side of the transport path) is separated from the transport path to form a tapered and widened inlet side opening. The guide plate 84 is offset in a direction away from the transport path with respect to the upper surface 81a of the knife edge 81, and is set at a lower position than the upper surface 81a of the knife edge 81. The guide surface interval is wider than the interval between the guide surface of the guide plate 83 and the upper surface 81 a of the knife edge 81. That is, the guide surface interval that defines the conveyance path on the downstream side of the knife edge 81 is set wider in the direction after separation than before the under film E is separated.

  The under film collection unit 90 collects a continuous sheet of the under film E onto which the excess laminate layer D has been transferred in a roll shape, and is a holder that holds the roll of the under film E (collected under film holding body). 91 is provided. Both ends of the holder 91 are rotatably supported by the side frames 1a and 1b. Further, the holder 91 is disposed such that the winding surface is on the upstream side of the conveyance path with respect to the tip end (ridge line) of the knife edge 81, whereby the under film E separated from the conveyance path is removed from the knife edge 81. And the peeling angle of the base material C with respect to the conveyance path is determined.

  The configuration of each functional unit is as described above. Returning to FIGS. 1 to 4, the main components of the laminate material supply unit 20, the peeling unit 60, and the base material recovery unit 70 are the same housing (upper housing 1 </ b> A located on the recording surface side of the recording medium A). On the other hand, the main components of the under film supply unit 30, the separation unit 80, and the under film collection unit 90 are also arranged in the same casing (the lower casing 1B located on the base surface side of the recording medium A). ing. Moreover, the 1st crimping | compression-bonding part 40, the 2nd crimping | compression-bonding part 50, and the conveyance roller pair 100 are arrange | positioned ranging over both housings | casings (upper housing | casing 1A and lower housing | casing 1B).

  Further, the driving rollers 41, 51, 101 of the first pressure-bonding portion 40, the second pressure-bonding portion 50, and the conveying roller pair 100 are arranged in one housing (lower housing 1B), and are respectively pressure-bonding rollers (driven rollers). 43, 53, 102 are arranged in the other casing (upper casing 1A).

  Further, not only the first pressure-bonding portion 40, the second pressure-bonding portion 50, and the drive rollers 41, 51, 101 of the conveying roller pair 100 but also all of the holders 71, 91 of the base material collecting portion 70 and the under film collecting portion 90. , Sprockets, chains, gear trains, and other known driving force transmission means (see FIGS. 1 and 2; however, the number is not assigned since the configuration is clear from the drawings). It is to be transmitted. By these synchronous drives, the laminate material B is pulled from the laminate material supply unit 20, the under film E is pulled from the under film supply unit 30, and the laminate (A + B + E; A + B + E−C; A + B−C) is in the conveyance path. It is conveyed along the downstream side.

  However, in order to convey a thin film such as the laminate material B (laminate layer D thereof), the driving roller 51 of the second pressure bonding section 50 is overdriven by 3% or less than the driving roller 41 of the first pressure bonding section 40. Thus, a back tension is applied to the laminate material B between the compression portions 40 and 50. The reason why the content is 3% or less is that when the back tension is too small, a slack is generated between the first and second pressure-bonding portions 40 and 50, and the recording medium A is distorted or softened by heating. W is generated on the recording surface of the recording medium A. On the other hand, if the back tension is too large, the laminate layer D is extended by the back tension and vertical wrinkles are generated. This is because vertical wrinkles also appear on the recording surface of the recording medium A.

  The laminating apparatus according to this embodiment is configured as described above. Next, each step of the laminating process in the apparatus will be described.

  First, before performing the laminating process on the recording medium A, the laminating material B is pulled out from the laminating material supply unit 20 in advance, and the laminating material B is wound around the free roller 22 to be bonded to the first pressure bonding unit 40 (the driving roller 41 and the pressure bonding). Between the roller 43) and the second pressure bonding part 50 (between the driving roller 51 and the pressure roller 53), and the tip is wound around the holder 71 of the base material recovery part 70. Further, the under film E is pulled out from the under film supply unit 30, and the under film E is wound around the free roller 32, and the first pressure bonding unit 40 (between the driving roller 41 and the pressure roller 43) and the second pressure bonding unit 50 ( The tip portion is wound around the holder 91 of the under film collecting unit 90. At this time, as described above, the laminating material B and the under film E are preheated areas ST1 and ST2 having a predetermined width on the upstream side of the thermocompression bonding point T in the surface movement directions X1 and X2 of the pressure roller 43 and the driving roller 41, respectively. So that the laminate material B and the under film E are preheated regions ST1 and ST2, respectively, and further the pressure roller 43 and the drive roller 41 are wound around the pressure roller 43 and the drive roller 41, respectively. Preheating can be performed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the preheating regions ST1, ST2. The laminate material B and the under film E preheated in this manner are easily heated to the desired temperature at the thermocompression bonding point ST where the laminate material B and the under film E are heated to the desired temperature. In doing so, a stable heating temperature can be obtained. In addition, when the laminating material B and the under film E are preheated in the preheating regions ST1 and ST2 using the pressure roller 43 and the driving roller 41 for heat pressure bonding, a preheating part is not provided separately from the pressure roller 43 and the driving roller 41, respectively. In this case, the configuration can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced accordingly. In addition, the free rollers 22 and 32 are provided in a region that can be affected by heat from the pressure roller 43 and the driving roller 41, and the laminating material B and the under film E are free rollers before the heat pressure bonding. Since it is further preheated by the free rollers 22 and 32 affected by the heat from the rollers 43 and 41 by being wound around the rollers 22 and 32, the preheated laminate material B and the under film E are further desired. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a more stable heating temperature when thermocompression bonding is performed. Further, since the heating of the free rollers 22 and 32 uses heat from the pressure roller 43 and the driving roller 41, it is not necessary to provide a heating means separately from the heating means of the rollers 43 and 41, and the cost is reduced accordingly. Can be suppressed. In addition, this is the same also in 2nd embodiment mentioned later, and is the same also about 3rd embodiment mentioned later except the matter regarding an under film. Therefore, in the second and third embodiments described later, this description is omitted. In this state, the laminate material B and the under film E are overlapped in the conveyance path between the first crimping portion 40 and the separation portion 60.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 5, the recording surface of the recording medium A is directed to the side to which the laminate material B is supplied (in this embodiment, the upper side corresponding to the arrangement of the laminate material supply unit 20), The recording medium A is sequentially supplied from the recording medium supply unit 10. That is, the laminating apparatus can continuously laminate a plurality of recording media A, with a gap between the preceding recording medium A and the succeeding recording medium A. The recording medium A is sequentially supplied from the recording medium supply unit 10. Then, each recording medium A that is sequentially supplied is in a state of being interposed between the laminating material B and the under film E with the recording surface and the laminating layer D facing each other. The recording medium A and the under film E are heat-pressed. Thus, since the laminate material B is supplied so as to protrude from both end edges in the conveyance direction and the width direction of the recording medium A, the laminate layer D softens and is recorded when it is heat-pressed by the first pressure-bonding portion 40. It is deformed so as to cover the recording surface and end surface of the medium.

  Then, as described above, since the laminate material B and the under film E are set to a size larger than the recording medium A, the recording medium A is sandwiched between the laminate material B and the under film E, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the laminate layer D is transferred to the under film E so that the laminate layer D protrudes from the recording medium A, and the laminate layer Da is in close contact with the recording surface of the recording medium A, and the recording medium of the laminate part Da. A non-laminate portion Db in which the laminate layer D is in close contact with the under film E so as to surround A is formed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 9B, the laminating material B, the recording medium A, and the under film E are heat-pressed at the first pressure bonding portion 40 (the three members of the laminating material B, the recording medium A, and the under film E). Pass through the first press-bonding portion 40), a recording medium A, a laminating portion B in which the laminating material B and the under film E are laminated, and a non-laminating portion Db in which the laminating material B and the under film E are laminated. A laminated body (A + B + E, B + E) is obtained. The transfer width Db of the laminate layer D transferred to the under film E is set to about 3 mm or more. If it is smaller than this value, the adhesive area between the under film E and the laminate layer D is small and the adhesive force is not sufficient, so the under film E and the laminate layer D may be peeled off. This is because the portion (laminate portion) Da where the layer D and the recording surface are pressure-bonded and the portion (non-laminate portion) Db where the laminate layer D and the under film E are pressure-bonded may not be separated cleanly.

  Next, the laminate (A + B + E, B + E) obtained in the first pressure bonding part 40 is conveyed to the peeling part 60 as shown in FIG. Since the laminate (A + B + E, B + E) is heated in the first pressure bonding part 40 and is in a state of being cooled to some extent as time (predetermined time) elapses, the adhesive layer D ′ of the laminate layer D is Curing has started (returning from the active state to the normal equilibrium state), and as a result, the adhesive layer D ′ has been substantially cured or has been cured to some extent (substantially normal equilibrium state) and has reached the peeling portion 60. In the laminate (A + B + E, B + E), the adhesion between the substrate C and the laminate layer D is greater than the adhesion between the laminate layer D and the recording surface of the recording medium A and the adhesion between the laminate layer D and the under film E. (The adhesion between the laminate layer D and the recording surface of the recording medium A and the adhesion between the laminate layer D and the under film E are greater than the adhesion between the substrate C and the laminate layer D). Therefore, even if the base material C is pulled upwards in the conveying direction via the knife edge 61, only the base material C is reliably peeled off, and one of the laminating layers D is as in the conventional laminating apparatus. Part or all is not taken away with the base material C.

  Moreover, in the peeling portion 60, the tip of the knife edge 61 is in sliding contact with the laminate (A + B + E), so that the laminate (A + B + E) is prevented from being lifted due to the peeling of the substrate C, and the substrate C is peeled off. The angle is stabilized.

  Next, the laminate (A + B + E-C) from which the substrate C has been peeled off at the peeling portion 60 is conveyed to the second pressure bonding portion 50 where the second thermocompression bonding is performed. As described above, the laminating apparatus according to the present embodiment employs a configuration in which the base material C is first heat-pressed in the presence of the base material C, and then the base material C is removed. The adhesion of the laminate layer D to the recording surface of the recording medium A can be improved, and even if, for example, bubbles are mixed between the recording medium A and the laminate layer D at the time of lamination at the first pressure-bonding portion 40. By removing these bubbles, a clean finished surface can be obtained.

  Next, the laminate (A + B + E-C) that has been heat-pressed for the second time in the second pressure bonding section 50 is conveyed to the separation section 80 as shown in FIG. In the laminate (A + B + E-C), the laminate layer D of the laminate material B is activated again by the thermocompression bonding at the second crimping portion 50, but the time after the thermocompression bonding at the second crimping portion 50 ( The adhesive layer D ′ of the laminate layer D is cured (returning from the active state to the normal equilibrium state) with the natural heat dissipation due to the elapse of a predetermined time and the forced cooling due to the heat dissipation action of the guide plate 83. Will move towards. As a result, the laminate (A + B + E-C) reaches the separation portion 80 in a state where the adhesive layer D ′ is substantially cured or cured to some extent (approximately normal equilibrium state), where the under film E is separated. Is done.

  Thus, the laminated body (A + B + E−C) having reached the separating portion 80 with the adhesive layer D ′ in a substantially normal equilibrium state moves downstream while sliding on the upper surface of the knife edge 81 of the separating portion 80. When passing through the ridgeline of the knife edge 81, the underfilm E is wound around the holder 91 of the underfilm collection unit 90 with the underfilm E being wound around the tip of the knife edge 81. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, the recording medium A and the under film E move relative to each other so that the base surface of the recording medium A and the under film E are separated from each other. In other words, the recording medium A tends to move further between the guide plates 83 and 84 (conveyance path) toward the downstream side, whereas the under film E has a direction (that is different from the moving direction of the recording medium A). (The direction away from the base surface of the recording medium A). Therefore, since the laminate layer D of the non-laminate portion Db from which the substrate C has been peeled also tends to move in the same direction as the under film E, the boundary between the portion with the recording medium A and the portion without the recording medium A (that is, the non-laminate portion) The tensile force acts intensively at the boundary between Db and the laminate portion Da. As a result, only the non-laminate portion Db is surely cut away, and the edge of the laminate portion Da becomes clean along the edge of the recording medium A.

  One reason that the edge of the laminated portion is finished cleanly is considered to be that the edge of the recording medium A exhibits a function like a cutting blade. That is, the boundary between the laminated portion Da and the non-laminated portion Db is caused by the edge of the recording medium A due to the shearing force (when the under film E is separated, the reaction force of the edge of the recording medium A and The laminating layer Da and the non-laminating portion Db are covered with each other by the interaction of the adhesion of the non-laminating portion Db with the under film E due to the interaction between the laminating layer D and the non-laminating portion Db. It is cut along the edge of the recording medium A. In particular, the knife edge 81 according to the present embodiment has an acute angle between the upper surface and the inclined surface. Therefore, the underfilm recovery unit 90 is formed from the moving direction of the underfilm E on the transport path and the tip (ridge line) of the knife edge 81. Since the moving direction of the under film E moving toward the head is an acute angle, it is considered that the edge of the recording medium A functions as a very sharp cutting blade.

  Alternatively, as another reason, as shown in FIG. 9B, due to the thickness of the recording medium A, the minimum width region of the laminate layer D along the edge of the recording medium A starts from the under film E. It is thought that it is in a slightly floating state. Since the pulling force when separating the under film E acts on the floating portion intensively, the laminate layer D is broken at the floating portion, and the laminated portion Da and the non-laminated portion Db are formed on the recording medium A. It is cut along the edge. Alternatively, as another reason, the laminate material B and the under film E which are set to a size larger than the recording medium A are used, and the laminate material B is bonded to the laminate material B by the crimping portions 40 and 50 with the recording medium A interposed. In order to thermocompression bond with the under film E, the laminate layer D of the laminate B is deformed along the shape of the recording surface and the edge of the recording medium A, and as a result, the edge of the recording medium A It is considered that the thickness of the minimum width region of the laminate layer D along the line is reduced. Since the pulling force when separating the under film E acts on the thinned portion intensively, the laminated layer D is broken at the thinned portion, and the laminated portion Da and the non-laminated portion Db become the recording medium. It is cut along the edge of A.

  As a matter of course, the laminate layer D of the non-laminate portion Db separated from the laminate portion Da is carried away together with the under film E.

  Further, in the separation unit 80, as shown in FIG. 7, guide surfaces (inner surfaces of the guide plates 83 and 84, which define the conveyance path across the upstream side and the downstream side of the conveyance path across the tip of the knife edge 81). Since the upper surface 81a) of the knife edge 81 is provided, even when the under film E is being separated, the laminate (A + B + E-C; A + B-C) can be stably conveyed along the conveyance path. As a result, fluttering in the normal direction of the laminate (A + B + E-C; A + B-C) can be suppressed, and the separation angle of the under film E can be stabilized. Further, when the under film E is pulled toward the under film collection unit 90, the leading portion of the recording medium A tries to follow the movement of the under film E in the initial stage, but the recording medium A is completely bent. Since the boundary between the laminated portion Da and the non-laminated portion Db is cut in a state where the posture can be restored by its own elasticity, the guide plate 84 disposed on the downstream side of the knife edge 81 is By configuring the knife edge 81 side to bend and expand the conveying path, the leading portion of the recording medium A is guided between the guide plates 83 and 84 (conveying path), and the recording medium A is on the downstream side. It is conveyed to the finished product discharge unit 150. Therefore, the finished product discharge section 150 has a clean edge along the edge of the recording medium A, and a laminate layer that is in close contact with the recording surface without air or the like being interposed between the recording medium A and the recording medium A. The recording medium A laminated in D is discharged.

<Application example>
The laminating apparatus according to the above-described embodiment performs thermocompression bonding in two stages, for example, the first time before peeling the base material C and the second time after peeling the base material C. In the second thermocompression bonding, the restraint by the substrate C is released, the laminate layer D becomes flexible, and the pressing force acts directly on the laminate layer D, so that the laminate layer D adheres to the recording surface of the recording medium A. Increases nature. In addition, since the laminate layer D is in close contact with the recording medium A and stabilized by the first thermocompression bonding, even if the laminate layer D is directly heated and applied with a crimping force, the laminate layer D remains in the same state. It will not be affected. Therefore, the surface (more precisely, the surface of the protective layer D ″) is glossy compared to the normal glossy finish lamination process (glossy recording surface (recording surface with high smoothness)) shown in FIG. The following laminating process is possible as well as the laminating process for forming the laminate layer D to have

  Application Example (Part 1): As shown in FIG. 11B, the surface becomes semi-glossy or matte with respect to a semi-glossy or matte recording surface (uneven recording surface) such as matte or silky tone. Lamination process (semi-gloss finish or matte finish laminate process) to form the laminate layer D as described above. In that case, the protective layer D ″ of the laminate layer D must have flexibility along the unevenness of the recording surface of the recording medium A by thermocompression bonding.

  Application example (Part 2): As shown in FIG. 11C, a laminate layer so that the surface is glossy with respect to a semi-glossy or matte recording surface (uneven recording surface) such as a matte tone or a silky tone. Lamination process to form D (gloss finish lamination process). In that case, the protective layer D ″ of the laminate layer D must have rigidity that does not follow the unevenness of the recording surface of the recording medium A even by thermocompression bonding.

<Second embodiment>
A laminating apparatus according to this embodiment is shown in FIG. The difference from the laminating apparatus according to the first embodiment is that first, the two crimping portions are integrated, and then the crimping roller of the crimping portion is configured to be able to contact and separate from the driving roller. is there. Others are basically the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore, for these, the explanation in the first embodiment is applied mutatis mutandis to the explanation in the first embodiment, and the first embodiment is also combined. The same reference numerals as those of the components are assigned, and the description is omitted.

  The single crimping part is used to improve the adhesion of the laminate layer D to the recording surface of the recording medium A even in one thermocompression bonding and to remove bubbles mixed between the recording medium A and the laminate layer D. This is because the effect may be acceptable at the product level.

  A roller pair contacting / separating mechanism (crimping / releasing mechanism) 46 in the crimping portion rotatably supports the roller (crimping roller 43) at the first portion and swingably supports the housing 1 at the second portion. The arm (cam follower) 460 and the first position where the pressure roller 43 is pressed against the driving roller 41 while the arm 460 is in contact with the third portion of the arm 460 and the pressure roller 43 is the driving roller 41. And a cam 461 that changes to a second position that is separated from the first position.

  The pressure bonding / release mechanism 46 is configured to separate the pressure roller 43 outward from the trajectory B ′ of the laminate B taken when the pressure roller 43 is not present. 43 does not come into contact with the laminate material B.

  Therefore, according to the laminating apparatus according to the present embodiment, for example, when laminating only one recording medium A, the pressure roller 43 is released from pressure bonding when the recording medium A passes through the pressure bonding portion 40. Then, the laminate B that is fed from the laminate supply unit 20 until the recording medium A is discharged as a finished product is laminated to the under film E that is also fed from the under film supply unit 30. Therefore, by rewinding the laminate material B and the under film E, the laminate material B can be used for the subsequent laminating process, and the laminate material B can be used effectively. is there.

  The crimping / releasing mechanism is not limited to the swinging type, and may be a direct acting type. The crimping / releasing mechanism is not limited to the system, and the first crimping of the laminating apparatus according to the first embodiment. You may apply to the part 40 and / or the 2nd crimping | compression-bonding part 50. FIG.

<Third embodiment>
A laminating apparatus according to this embodiment is shown in FIG. The difference from the laminating apparatus according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment is that the underfilm supply unit 30, the underfilm collection unit 90, and the separation unit 80 are not provided and the recording medium A is covered, Instead of adhering (transferring) the laminate layer D (laminate layer D that becomes the non-laminate portion Db) protruding from the periphery of the recording medium A to the under film E, the first pressure bonding according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment. It is transferred to the roller surface of the roller (roller located on the base surface side of the recording medium A: drive roller 41) corresponding to the portion 40, and the pressure bonding portion 40 causes the laminated portion Da and the non-laminated portion Db to be transferred. It exists in the point comprised so that it may function also as the isolation | separation part to part. Others are basically the same as those in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, and therefore, the description in the first embodiment or the second embodiment is applied mutatis mutandis to the first embodiment or the second embodiment. It is assumed that the description is technically replaced, and the same reference numerals as those of the constituent elements of the first embodiment or the second embodiment are assigned, and the description is omitted.

  In the pressure-bonding portion 40 according to this embodiment, the roller widths of the driving roller 41 and the pressure-bonding roller 43 are substantially the same as or wider than the width of the laminate material B, and the first embodiment or the second embodiment. As with the first press-bonding section 40, the drive roller 41 is driven to rotate so that the laminate layer D is brought into close contact with the recording surface of the recording medium A and the laminate layer D protruding from the recording medium A is driven to the drive roller 41. The laminate material B is heated and pressure-bonded to the recording medium A and the driving roller 41. Then, the laminate material B and the recording material A, which are heat-pressed by the drive roller 41 being rotationally driven, are pressure-bonded and conveyed toward the downstream side (finished product discharge portion 150). When the recording medium A and the laminate B in the state pass through a point where the driving roller 41 and the pressure roller 43 are pressed against the recording medium A, the outer peripheral surface of the driving roller 41 and the recording medium A are downstream from the point. The drive roller 41 and the recording medium A are moved relative to each other so as to be separated from the base surface.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, when the outer peripheral surface of the drive roller 41 is separated from the base surface, the laminate portion Da where the laminate layer D is in close contact with the recording surface of the recording medium A and the periphery of the recording medium A The protruding laminate layer D is pulled at the boundary with the non-laminate portion Db in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drive roller 41, and similarly to the first and second embodiments, the laminate portion Da and the non-laminate portion Db are separated. The boundary is cleanly cut along the edge of the recording medium A. Therefore, the laminating apparatus according to the present embodiment causes the pressure roller 40 to function as the separating unit 80 of the first embodiment or the second embodiment by causing the driving roller 41 to function as a transfer target instead of the under film E. It is like that.

  As described above, when the driving roller 41 rotates while the extra laminating layer D (laminate layer D of the non-laminate portion Db) is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the driving roller 41, every time it reaches the point where the laminating material B is pressed. Since the laminating layer D adheres and accumulates, the laminating apparatus according to the present embodiment has the laminating layer adhering to the outer peripheral surface upstream of the point where the laminating material B is pressure-bonded to the recording medium A. A scraper (removing means) 85 whose tip is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drive roller 41 with a predetermined pressure is provided to scrape and remove the residue of D, and continuous lamination processing of the recording medium A is possible. It is said.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to any of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in any of the above embodiments, the recording medium A recorded mainly by the ink jet recording method is the target of the laminating process, but may be a recording medium by other printing recording methods as well as the thermal transfer recording method. However, the recording medium made of a silver salt photograph is also targeted.

  In any of the above-described embodiments, the recording surface of the recording medium A is a conveying form in which the recording surface A faces upward. However, a conveying form in which the recording medium A moves in the vertical direction may be used. It may be. However, considering the provision of the pressure-bonding / releasing mechanism 46 as in the second embodiment or the third embodiment, the pressure roller is disposed on the recording surface side of the recording medium, and the driving roller is the base surface of the recording medium. It is preferable to arrange on the side.

  In any of the above embodiments, a continuous sheet is used for the laminate material B and the under film E, but a cut sheet may be used together with the recording medium A. When the laminate material B and the under film E are cut sheets, the laminate material supply unit 20 and the under film supply unit 30 are connected to the recording medium supply unit 10 regardless of whether they are supplied manually or automatically. Thus, it is necessary to change to a structure that can handle cut sheets.

  In any of the above-described embodiments, the laminate film Da and the non-laminate film Db are automatically separated by pulling out the under film E from the conveyance path via the separating unit 81 or by using a rotating roller surface as a transfer target. For example, at least the first pressure-bonding unit 40 does not provide the base material recovery unit 70, the under film recovery unit 90, the separation unit 80, and the like in the first and second embodiments. The recording medium A, the laminate material B, and the under film E are pressure-bonded, and the recording medium A is sandwiched between the laminate material A and the under film E (the recording medium A is in a sandwich state) and discharged as a long laminate. You may make it do. In addition, a cutting device that cuts between the recording medium A in the laminate of the recording medium A, the laminate material B, and the under film E without providing the base material recovery unit 70, the under film recovery unit 90, the separation unit 80, and the like. It may be provided on the downstream side of the first pressure-bonding part 40 or the second pressure-bonding part 50, and the laminated body of the recording medium A, the laminate material B, and the under film E may be discharged in a single wafer state. In this way, as shown in FIG. 15, when the operator manually peels the under film E from the laminate material B (turns the under film E), the same action as in the above embodiment occurs, and the laminate portion Da and the non-laminate portion Db can be separated.

  In any of the above embodiments, the laminate material B with the base material C is used because of its good handling properties, but the base material is not essential in the present invention. In this case, the substrate recovery unit 70 is not necessary.

  In any of the above embodiments, a long laminate material B having a width wider than that of the recording medium A is used so that the laminate material B protrudes from the length and width of the recording medium A. For example, the recording medium A A long laminate material B having the same width as the width (the length in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium A (the direction in which the laminate material B is pulled out)) may be used. In this case, the recording medium A is sequentially supplied so that there is a gap between the preceding recording medium A and the succeeding recording medium A, and the recording medium A and the laminate material B (continuous sheet) on the conveyance path. If the under film E is conveyed while being guided by the width regulation guide, the entire recording surface of the recording medium A can be covered with the laminate material B and laminated, and the consumption of the laminate material is reduced. can do. Even in this case, by separating the under film E from the recording medium A, the laminated portion Da and the non-laminated portion Db are formed at the leading and trailing ends of the recording medium A in the traveling direction as in the above embodiment. It will be cut off at the edge.

  In any of the above embodiments, a long laminate material B wider than the recording medium A is used, and an interval is provided between the preceding recording medium A and the succeeding recording medium A. The recording medium A is sequentially supplied so that the laminating material B (laminate layer D) protrudes from the vertical and horizontal (periphery) of the recording medium A. For example, a long laminating material that is wider than the recording medium A B may be used to sequentially supply the recording medium A so that the preceding recording medium A and the succeeding recording medium A are in close contact with each other. Even in this case, the entire surface of the recording surface of the recording medium A can be covered with the laminate material B, and wasteful consumption of the laminate material B can be suppressed. Also in this case, by separating the under film E from the recording medium A, the laminate portion Da and the non-laminate portion Db are bordered on the edge extending in the traveling direction of the recording medium A as in the above embodiment. Can be separated. However, since the laminate layer D and the under film E are not pressure-bonded between the preceding recording medium A and the succeeding recording medium A, the preceding recording medium A and the succeeding recording medium A are laminated layers. Although the recording medium A is in a connected state via D, by separating the recording media A relatively, the laminate layer D that connects the recording media A may be broken to divide the recording media A. it can.

  Moreover, although said 1st embodiment and 2nd embodiment have arrange | positioned the separation part 80 of the underfilm E to the downstream rather than the peeling part 60 of the base material C, the separation part 80 is similar to 3rd embodiment. (= Crimping part 40) is arranged upstream of the peeling part 60, and the laminated part Da and the non-laminated part Db are separated with the base material C still attached, and then the base material C is laminated. You may make it peel from the laminate layer D which became only Da.

  In the third embodiment, the non-laminate portion Db is transferred to the roller surface of the roller 41. However, for example, the non-laminate portion Db may be transferred to the belt surface of an endlessly rotating belt.

  In the third embodiment, the non-laminate portion Db transferred to the roller surface is removed by the scraper 85. For example, the roller 41 is periodically removed and cleaned, or replaced with a new roller 41. You may make it do.

  In the above embodiment, the free roller 22 is configured to be heated by being disposed in a region where it can be affected by the heat from the driving roller 41 and / or the pressure roller 43. The device itself may include a heat source.

The perspective view of the laminating apparatus concerning a first embodiment is shown. The side view of the lamination apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment is shown. The perspective view containing the partial cross section of the laminating apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment is shown. The side view containing the partial cross section of the laminating apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment is shown. The principal part enlarged side view in the vicinity of the 1st crimping | compression-bonding part of the laminating apparatus which concerns on the embodiment is shown. The principal part enlarged side view in the 2nd crimping | compression-bonding part and peeling part vicinity of the lamination apparatus which concerns on the embodiment is shown. The principal part expanded side view in the 2nd crimping | compression-bonding part and isolation | separation part vicinity of the lamination apparatus which concerns on the embodiment is shown. Sectional drawing of the laminating material used for the laminating apparatus which concerns on the embodiment is shown. In the laminating apparatus according to the embodiment, (a) is a plan view of a laminate in which a laminate material is laminated, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of (a). The state figure when an under film is isolate | separated from a recording medium in the isolation | separation part of the lamination apparatus which concerns on the embodiment is shown. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a finished product obtained by the laminating apparatus according to the embodiment, in which (a) is based on a normal gloss finish lamination process, and (b) is a half using a semi-glossy recording medium. Glossy finish lamination process (c) is a glossy laminate process using a semi-glossy recording medium. The side view of the lamination apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment is shown. The side view of the lamination apparatus which concerns on 3rd embodiment is shown. The state figure at the time of a recording medium passing the crimping | compression-bonding part of the lamination apparatus which concerns on the embodiment is shown. The state figure at the time of peeling the under film of the laminated body processed with the laminating apparatus which concerns on other embodiment from a laminate material manually is shown. FIG. 6 shows a state diagram when the laminate material and the under film are partially wound around the pressure roller and the driving roller, respectively, and preheated before reaching the heat pressure point. The schematic side view of the conventional laminating apparatus is shown. Explanatory drawing of the last process of the lamination process in the conventional laminating apparatus is shown.

Explanation of symbols

1 Housing 10 Recording medium supply unit (supply unit)
11 Mounting plate 100 Conveying roller pair 150 Finished product discharge unit (discharge unit)
151 Mounting plate 20 Laminate supply unit (supply unit)
21 Holder (Laminate material holder)
22 Free roller 30 Under film supply section (supply section)
31 Holder (Under film holder)
32 Free roller 40 First crimping part (crimping part)
41 Drive roller 43 Pressure roller 45 Pressure adjustment mechanism 46 Pressure release mechanism 50 Second pressure bonding part (pressure bonding part)
51 Driving roller 53 Pressure roller 54 Heater 55 Pressure adjusting mechanism 60 Peeling part 61 Knife edge (peeling guide body)
70 Substrate collection unit (collection unit)
71 Holder (collected substrate holder)
80 Separation part 81 Knife edge (separation guide body)
85 Scraper (removal means)
90 Under film collection unit (collection unit)
91 Holder (Recovery under film holder)
A Recording medium B Laminating material C Base material D Laminating layer Da Laminating part Db Non-laminating part D 'Adhesive layer D''Protective layer E Under film (material to be transferred)
ST1, ST2 Preheating region T Heat-bonding point X1 Surface movement direction of pressure roller 43 X2 Surface movement direction of drive roller 41

Claims (3)

A laminating apparatus for forming a laminating layer on a recording surface of a sheet-like recording medium;
It is configured to be opposed to each other and at least one of them is heated, and has a pair of conveying members that convey the recording medium while being thermocompression bonded, and the laminate layer that laminates the recording surface is more than the planar area of the recording medium The recording medium is interposed between the sheet-like laminate material formed in a wide area and the under film disposed on the opposite side of the recording surface of the recording medium so that the recording surface faces the laminate layer. In this state, the pair of conveying members includes a pressure-bonding unit that conveys the recording medium while heat-pressing the laminating material to the recording medium and the under film,
A free roller that is arranged on the upstream side of the pair of transport members in the transport direction and is heated by being disposed in a region that can be affected by heat from the transport members ;
The laminating apparatus, wherein the laminating material and / or the under film is wound around the free roller prior to the thermocompression bonding. In order to separate the laminate part where the laminate layer and the recording surface are in close contact with the non-laminate part where the laminate layer and the under film are in close contact with each other, a separation part is provided that separates the under film on the side opposite to the recording surface of the recording medium. laminating apparatus according to claim 1 comprising Te. The laminating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the free roller is configured to include a surface layer having a higher heat absorption rate than the roller body on a surface of the roller body.

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