JP6319637B2 - Thermal transfer print sheet manufacturing method, image forming apparatus, and toner gradation value derivation method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet, an image forming apparatus, and a toner gradation value derivation method.

  Conventionally, as a method of printing designs such as desired images and logo marks on transfer products such as T-shirts, trainers and work clothes, and on transfer media such as wood and metal plates, thermal transfer to the transfer media is possible. 2. Description of the Related Art There are known methods and apparatuses for creating a thermal transfer print sheet by laminating an image to be printed and an adhesive for bonding the image to a transfer medium.

  When transferring to the transfer medium, the surface of the thermal transfer print sheet (hereinafter referred to as the front surface) is overlapped with the transfer medium such as a T-shirt facing the transfer medium, and the heat transfer print sheet is transferred from the back side. Heat and pressure are applied with an iron or the like to fix the image on the transfer medium.

  One of the methods for producing a thermal transfer print sheet described above includes a color toner (CMY; hereinafter, colored toner) layer as a transfer image to be thermally transferred, and a transparent toner (hereinafter, colorless to express a white area in the image). Layer) on the releasable sheet, and the mount on which an adhesive layer such as white urethane is formed separately from the releasable sheet, the surface of the adhesive layer is colorless and the colored toner layer of the releasable sheet The three layers are laminated on the releasable sheet by applying heat and pressure to face the toner layer and transferring the adhesive layer onto the colored toner layer and the colorless toner layer of the releasable sheet. A technique for creating a thermal transfer print sheet has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition to the effect of adhering a transfer image to be thermally transferred to a transfer medium such as a T-shirt, the adhesive layer in Patent Document 1 described above allows the background color of the transfer medium to be transmitted from below the transfer image to be thermally transferred. White urethane or the like is used to provide an effect that does not affect the transferred image. In addition, a colorless toner layer is formed in a region desired to be expressed as white in the transferred image, and white is realized by transferring / stacking an adhesive layer such as white urethane on the colorless toner layer.

JP 2011-152661 A

  By the way, in the image forming apparatus described above, colorless toner is relatively expensive, so it is desired to reduce the amount of use as much as possible. However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is no description regarding conditions such as the minimum amount of toner required to transfer the adhesive layer such as white urethane on the mount onto the toner layer of the peelable sheet. CMY) When colorless toner is transferred at 100% density (density) to all of the areas obtained by ORing each area and the area expressing white in the image, there is a problem in that a large amount of colorless toner is wasted. Further, when the colorless toner is not transferred to the colored toner (CMY) area, and the colorless toner is transferred only to the area representing white in the image, the color toner (CMY) area has a particularly light color ( In areas where the toner density is low), when the adhesive layer is not transferred from the mount onto the toner layer and is thermally transferred to a transfer medium such as a T-shirt, a part of the image is not transferred and is lost. Chillin, there is a problem that easily peeled off by washing and friction.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of colorless toner used without reducing the adhesive strength.

The thermal transfer print sheet manufacturing method according to the present invention is a first method for deriving a total gradation value obtained by adding the gradation value for each color component corresponding to the colored toner and the gradation value of the other color component for each coordinate. A derivation step and a second derivation step of deriving a gradation value of colorless toner to be printed at the coordinates when the total gradation value derived in the first derivation step is less than a predetermined total reference value. And when the total reference value is less than a sum of the total gradation value and a predetermined adhesion threshold, the second derivation step adds the colorless value to the total gradation value. The gradation value of the colorless toner is derived so that the value obtained by adding the toner gradation value becomes the total reference value, and the total reference value is a value obtained by adding the total gradation value and the adhesion threshold value. If this is the case, the gradation value of the colorless toner becomes the adhesion threshold value. Derives a gradation value of the colorless toner, characterized in that.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet, and the gradation value for each color component corresponding to the colored toner is added to the gradation value of another color component for each coordinate. A first derivation unit for deriving a total gradation value; and a colorless toner to be printed at the coordinates when the total gradation value derived by the first derivation unit is less than a predetermined total reference value Second derivation means for deriving a gradation value, wherein the second derivation means has the total reference value less than a sum of the total gradation value and a predetermined adhesion threshold value. In this case, the gradation value of the colorless toner is derived so that a value obtained by adding the gradation value of the colorless toner to the total gradation value becomes the total reference value. If the tone value is equal to or greater than the sum of the adhesion threshold and the gradation of the colorless toner, As but a said adhesive threshold, to derive the gradation value of the colorless toner, characterized in that.

  The toner gradation value derivation method according to the present invention is a toner gradation value derivation method for deriving a gradation value for each color component corresponding to a colored toner and a gradation value of a colorless toner that are printed on a thermal transfer print sheet. A first derivation step for deriving a total gradation value obtained by adding the gradation value of each color component corresponding to the color toner to the gradation value of another color component for each coordinate; A second derivation step for deriving a gradation value of colorless toner to be printed at the coordinates when the total gradation value derived in the derivation step is less than a predetermined total reference value, The second deriving step adds the gradation value of the colorless toner to the total gradation value when the total reference value is less than the sum of the total gradation value and a predetermined adhesion threshold value. The gradation value of the colorless toner is derived so that the obtained value becomes the total reference value. When the total reference value is equal to or greater than the sum of the total gradation value and the adhesion threshold value, the colorless toner gradation value is set such that the colorless toner gradation value becomes the adhesion threshold value. It is characterized by deriving.

  According to the present invention, the amount of colorless toner used can be reduced without lowering the adhesive strength.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the printing system 55 by this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining a procedure for deriving a colorless toner gradation value according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a relationship between a gradation value of image data and an actual toner density. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining a procedure for creating a thermal transfer print sheet according to the present embodiment and a procedure for creating a transfer image 170 on a transfer medium 200 such as a T-shirt.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment transfers a toner image to an intermediate transfer belt, and secondarily transfers the toner image to a sheet conveyed in a vertical direction to a secondary transfer unit via the intermediate transfer belt. It has become. However, the present invention is not limited to the secondary transfer method, and can be applied to other transfer methods such as a method of directly transferring a toner image onto a sheet.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 2, a duplex printing conveyance unit 3, a paper feeding unit 4, and a fixing unit 5. The image forming unit 2 has a configuration in which four image forming units (developing devices) 6 (6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4) are arranged in a multistage manner. The three image forming units 6-1, 6-2, and 6-3 form a monocolor image using magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y) color toners that are subtractive three primary colors, respectively. To do. The fourth image forming unit 6-4 following the three image forming units 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 forms a black (K) monochrome image. These four color toner images are overlaid on the paper to form a full color image.

  Each of the image forming units 6-1 to 6-4 has the same configuration except for the color and type of the developer stored in the developing unit. Therefore, the configuration of the image forming unit 6-4 will be described below as an example.

  The image forming unit 6 includes a photosensitive drum 7 at the bottom. The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is made of, for example, an organic photoconductive material. A cleaner 8, a charging roller 9, an optical writing head 10, and a developing roller 12 of the developing device 11 are disposed in contact with or around the periphery of the photosensitive drum 7.

  The developing unit 11 is arranged in the upper toner container, as shown by M, C, Y, and K in the drawing, and is one of magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (K) toners. The intermediate portion is provided with a toner replenishing mechanism for the lower portion.

  Further, the developing roller 12 is provided in the lower side of the developing device 11 in the side opening, and a toner stirring member, a toner supply roller 13 for supplying toner to the developing roller 12, and a toner layer on the developing roller 12 are fixed. A doctor blade that regulates the layer thickness is provided. An optical writing head 10 on the main device side is disposed in the vicinity of the upper surface located between the charging roller 9 and the developing device 11 of the photosensitive drum 7.

  Further, an intermediate transfer belt 14 is disposed in the vicinity of the lower surface of the photosensitive drum 7. The primary transfer roller 15 is pressed toward the lower surface of the photosensitive drum 7 with the intermediate transfer belt 14 interposed therebetween.

  The intermediate transfer belt 14 is made of a conductive sheet-like member made of resin containing conductive carbon or an ion conductive substance, and has a flat loop shape from substantially the left and right sides of the figure at the center of the main unit. This is an endless transfer belt that extends. The intermediate transfer belt 14 is stretched around a driving roller 16 and a driven roller 17 and is circulated in a counterclockwise direction in the figure by the driving roller 16, and circulates in a counterclockwise direction indicated by arrows a, b, and c in the figure. Moving. A belt cleaner 20 is disposed in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14. The belt cleaner 20 removes waste toner from the intermediate transfer belt 14.

  The photosensitive drum 7 rotates in the clockwise direction in the figure. First, by applying charge from the charging roller 9, the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is uniformly charged and initialized. Next, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 by optical writing from the optical writing head 10 based on the print information.

  The electrostatic latent image is converted into a toner image (development) by the toner stored in the developing device 11 by the developing process by the developing roller 12. The toner image developed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is directly transferred (primary transfer) to the belt surface of the intermediate transfer belt 14 by the primary transfer roller 15 as the photosensitive drum 7 rotates. The intermediate transfer belt 14 conveys the toner image transferred (primary transfer) directly onto the belt surface to a transfer position to the sheet 22 for further transfer (secondary transfer) to the sheet 22.

  The belt position control mechanism 18 includes a primary transfer roller 15 made of a conductive foam sponge that presses against the lower peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 via the intermediate transfer belt 14. The belt position control mechanism 18 includes three primary transfer rollers 15 corresponding to the three image forming units 6-1, 6-2, and 6-3 of magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y). Rotate and move in the same cycle around the saddle-shaped support shaft. Then, the belt position control mechanism 18 rotates and moves one primary transfer roller 15 corresponding to the black (K) image forming unit 6-4 at a rotational movement cycle different from the cycle of the three primary transfer rollers 15. Then, the intermediate transfer belt 14 is separated from the photosensitive drum 7.

  That is, the belt position control mechanism 18 corresponds to the position of the intermediate transfer belt 14 in the full color mode (all four primary transfer rollers 15 are in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 14) and the monochrome mode (image forming unit 6-4). Only the primary transfer roller 15 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 14) and all non-transfer modes (all four primary transfer rollers 15 are separated from the intermediate transfer belt 14).

  The paper feed unit 4 includes two paper feed cassettes 21 arranged in two upper and lower stages. A large number of cut sheets 22 are accommodated in one or both of the sheet feed cassettes 21 of the sheet feed unit 4. A paper take-out roller 23, a feed roller 24, a separating roller 25, and a standby conveyance roller pair 26 are disposed in the vicinity of the paper feed opening (right side in the drawing) of the two paper feed cassettes 21, respectively.

  The sheet 22 is unloaded from the sheet feeding cassette 21 one by one by the rotation of the sheet take-out roller 23, and is fed to the standby conveying roller pair 26 through the feeding roller 24 and the separating roller 25. Alternatively, when the thickness and size of the paper 22 are unique, the paper 22 is transferred from the MPF (Multi Paper Feeder) tray 28 mounted on the opened mounting portion 27 via a paper feed roller 29 to a pair of standby transport rollers. 26.

  A secondary transfer roller 30 that is in pressure contact with the driven roller 17 via the intermediate transfer belt 14 is disposed in the paper conveyance direction (vertically upward in the drawing) of the standby conveyance roller pair 26. The intermediate transfer belt 14, the driven roller 17, and the secondary transfer roller 30 form a secondary transfer portion to the paper 22.

  A fixing unit 5 composed of a belt-type heat fixing unit is disposed downstream (upward in the drawing) of the secondary transfer unit. On the further downstream side of the fixing unit 5, a pair of discharge rollers 31 that discharges the fixed sheet from the fixing unit 5 and a pair of discharge rollers that discharge the discharged sheet to a discharge tray 32 formed on the upper surface of the apparatus. 33 is arranged.

  The duplex printing conveyance unit 3 includes a return path that branches in the right lateral direction in the drawing from an intermediate conveyance path between the carry-out roller pair 31 and the paper discharge roller pair 33. This return path includes a start return path 34a, an intermediate return path 34b that bends downward, a terminal return path 34c that bends in the left lateral direction and finally reverses the return sheet, and four sets arranged in the middle of these return paths. A pair of return rollers 35a, 35b, 35c, and 35d is provided. The exit of the end return path 34 c communicates with a conveyance path to a pair of standby conveyance rollers 26 corresponding to the sheet feeding cassette 21 below the sheet feeding unit 4.

  When the thermal transfer print sheet is manufactured in the image forming apparatus 1 described above, the toner cartridge (black (K)) of the image forming unit 6-4 is replaced with a transparent toner (hereinafter referred to as colorless toner) (B). May be replaced with a toner cartridge, and the peelable sheet 19 may be used in place of the paper 22. Further, when five or more image forming units 6 are provided, a toner cartridge of colorless toner (B) may be mounted in addition to the CMYK toner, and the peelable sheet 19 may be used in place of the paper 22.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing system 55 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing system 55 according to the present embodiment includes a host computer 60 and a printer device 70 that is an image forming apparatus. The host computer 60 includes a CPU 61, ROM 62, RAM 63, input device 64, display device 65, USB / LAN I / F 66, and external storage device 67.

  The CPU 61 controls the host computer 60 in accordance with the system program and data stored in the ROM 62 and the application program. In particular, in this embodiment, when printing data created by an application program, the CPU 61 generates print data from application data using a printer driver that is compatible with the printer device 70, and a USB / LAN I described later. The data is transmitted to the printer device 70 via / F66.

  The ROM 62 stores the system program. The RAM 63 functions as a work area. The input device 64 includes, for example, a keyboard and a mouse (not shown), and transmits an operation signal from the user to the CPU 61. The display device 65 includes a liquid crystal display and displays a desktop screen, operation screens of various applications, and the like.

  The USB / LAN I / F 66 is an interface that performs communication (print data transmission) with the printer device 70 via a USB cable or a LAN cable. The external storage device 67 includes a hard disk storage device, a storage device using a semiconductor memory, and the like, and stores an OS (Operating System), programs of various applications, various data, and the like.

  The printer device 70 includes a CPU 71, ROM 72, RAM 73, USB / LAN I / F 74, printer print controller 75, print control LSI 76, and printer print unit 77. The printer device 70 performs print processing based on print data supplied from the host computer 60.

  The CPU 71 performs system control and the like of the printer device 70 in accordance with programs and data stored in the ROM 72. The RAM 73 functions as a work area. In particular, the RAM 73 functions as a frame memory in which a storage area is set for each of black (K), magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y). The black (K) storage area is used as a storage area for colorless toner (B) data when a thermal transfer print sheet is created.

  The USB / LAN I / F 74 receives print data supplied from the host computer 60. The CPU 71 converts the received print data into bitmap data and develops it in the frame memory of the RAM 73. The print control LSI 76 transfers the drawing data in the RAM 73 to the printer printing unit 77 via the printer printing controller 75.

  Under the control of the printer print controller 75, the printer printing unit 77 includes driven parts such as a rotation driving system (not shown) including the photosensitive drum 7 shown in FIG. 1, the charging roller 9, and the optical writing head 10. The image forming unit 2 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 having a driving unit (not shown) that drives the vertical movement of the image forming unit 2 are provided.

  In the case of normal color printing, the printer printing unit 77 shows transfer image data of each color of black (K), magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y) as shown in FIG. This is supplied to the optical writing head 10. In the case of creating a thermal transfer print sheet, magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y) color image data and colorless toner (B) colorless image data are respectively shown in FIG. Is supplied to the optical writing head 10.

  Further, the printer printing unit 77 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 7 based on color image data or colorless image data by the optical writing head 10 via the developing unit 49, and the formed electrostatic latent image. The development with the colored toner (YMC) or the colorless toner (B) corresponding to is controlled.

  Further, the printer printing unit 77 is driven to perform various controls such as adjustment of applied voltage to the heat generating unit built in the heat roller of the fixing unit 5 and adjustment of pressure applied to the pressure roller that presses the heat roller via the fixing unit 5. Control the output. Further, the printer printing unit 77 performs drive output for performing vertical movement of the belt position control mechanism of the intermediate transfer belt 14 and rotation driving of the driving roller 16 that circulates and moves the intermediate transfer belt 14 via a belt driving unit (not shown). To control.

  When creating a thermal transfer print sheet, the CPU 71 stores image data of magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y) colors stored in frame memories 731 to 733 (see FIG. 3 to be described later). Based on the adhesion threshold value and the total reference value, a gradation value derivation process of the colorless toner (B) for obtaining the gradation value of the colorless toner (B) is executed.

  In the production of a thermal transfer print sheet, a release sheet for forming a colored toner layer as a transfer image to be thermally transferred and a colorless toner layer for expressing a white area in the image, and the release sheet Using a mount on which an adhesive layer (white resin layer or transparent resin layer) such as white urethane is formed as another mount, the adhesive layer is transferred onto the colored toner layer / colorless toner layer of the peelable sheet, The three layers are laminated on the peelable sheet. At this time, it is known that the ease of peeling of the adhesive layer varies depending on the type of the mount having the adhesive layer.

In the present embodiment, the ease of peeling of the adhesive layer according to the type of the mount is set by a numerical value called “adhesion threshold”. In order to reduce the amount of the colorless toner (B) used as much as possible, when using a mount on which the adhesive layer is easily peeled off, the value of the adhesion threshold is lowered.
In the present embodiment, tone values of color density are expressed in the range of 0% to 100% based on the CMYK color model. Accordingly, the value of “adhesion threshold” is also set to 100% or 60% in accordance with the gradation value of the color density.
For example, when the thickness of the adhesive layer is reduced, the heat transfer rate to the surface is increased in proportion to this, so that the fusion rate of the portion in contact with the toner image formed on the peelable sheet 19 is high (the toner image The area where the adhesive layer is fused to the area is close to 100%), and as a result, the adhesive layer is easily peeled off. Therefore, in this case, the adhesive layer can be removed efficiently even if the area (toner density) of the toner image is somewhat small, so the adhesion threshold is lowered to 60% or the like.
Alternatively, if it is known that the value of the lowest density portion in the transferred image is a certain value or more, the adhesion threshold can be lowered.
On the other hand, if the adhesive layer is thick, or if the adhesive layer has a large adhesive force between the backing and the adhesive layer and is difficult to peel off, adjust the adhesive threshold to 100%, for example. And set.
Further, in the present embodiment, a “total reference value” is provided as a reference of the lowest value of the sum of the gradation values of the colored toner (C, M, Y) and the gradation value of the colorless toner (B). . This “total reference value” takes into account that the toner density when each gradation value is actually converted into a dot pattern printed with toner by screen processing described later is not linear with respect to the gradation value. For example, 120% or 140% is set. This is because the toner density is known to be a smaller value, especially when the gradation value of the light-colored region in the image is converted into a dot pattern, and the tendency of the displacement is due to the color development of the toner used. Due to differences in characteristics and the like, the difference between the plurality of image forming apparatuses is absorbed by providing the total reference value.

  Conventionally, when transferring the colorless toner (B), a simple method is to use the colorless toner for the OR region of the CMY three-color region regardless of the density of the transfer region of the colored toner (C, M, Y). Since (B) was specified with a 100% gradation value, colorless toner was unnecessary or was wasted in areas where a small amount would be sufficient, such as where the colored toner density is high. . Therefore, the adhesion threshold value and the total reference value are set as reference values for calculating the amount of the colorless toner (B) to be added according to the gradation values of the colored toners (C, M, Y).

  For example, when a white resin such as white urethane is used for the adhesive layer as a mount having an adhesive layer and it is desired to make the background of the image white so that the color of the T-shirt does not penetrate, Since the area where the colored toner (C, M, Y) is not used is only the colorless toner (B), the adhesion threshold = the gradation value of the colorless toner (B).

  In this embodiment, the gradation value of the colorless toner (B) is derived so that the sum of the CMY gradation values of the image data and the gradation value of the colorless toner (B) is equal to or greater than the total reference value. To do. As a result, it is possible to derive a gradation value of the colorless toner so that the adhesive layer of the mount is surely fused to a necessary portion while reducing the colorless toner (B) as much as possible.

  The CPU 71 derives the gradation values of each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) and the gradation value of the above-described colorless toner (B) in order to transfer the toner image based on the three-color transfer image. Screen processing (dither processing; binarization, binarization) is applied to the gradation value of the colorless toner (B) derived by the processing, and the frame memories 731 to 733 (image data as bitmap data) (See FIG. 3 described later).

  The printer printing controller 75 sends image data of each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and image data of colorless toner (B) from the frame memories 731 to 733 to the printer printing unit 77. Output. The printer printing unit 77 sets the image forming units 6-1 to 6-4 to a printing state, supplies the image data of each color to the optical writing head 10 of the image forming units 6-1 to 6-3, and colorless toner. The image data according to (B) is supplied to the optical writing head 10 of the image forming unit 6-4. Then, a color toner (CMY) toner image and a colorless toner (B) toner image are transferred onto the peelable sheet 19. The printer printing unit 43 fixes the color toner (CMY) toner images and the colorless toner (B) toner images transferred to the peelable sheet 19 by the fixing unit 5.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining the gradation value derivation procedure of the colorless toner (B) according to the present embodiment. On the host computer 60, the RGB format of the image data is converted into the CMY format by the application, and print data is created (step S10). In the host computer 60, an adhesion threshold (100%, 60%, etc.) is input in advance (step S12), and the gradation of the black (K) component is applied to the printing data created as described above. It is written as a value (step S13). When printing is executed from the application, the adhesion threshold value is transmitted to the printer device 70 together with the image data in the CMYK format via a predetermined printer driver (step S14).

  The printer device 70 receives CMYK format image data and an adhesion threshold value from the host computer 60 (step S16). Next, the printer device 70 acquires the adhesion threshold value from the received data (step S20).

  Incidentally, the image data input to the printer device 70 has multi-value data of 8 to 12 bits per pixel in a gradation image such as a photograph. On the other hand, in the printer device 70, the number of gradations that can be expressed per pixel is substantially very small. For this reason, in the printer device 70, the resolution is improved to 600 dpi, 1200 dpi, and the like, and a halftone image is expressed in a pseudo manner by modulating the image density area by using a plurality of pixels.

  That is, gradation expression is performed by controlling the number of dots (density) per unit area. In the present embodiment, processing (dither processing; binarization, quaternization, etc.) for converting this gradation into a dot pattern per unit area is referred to as screen processing. In the screen processing according to the present embodiment, the human perception of the gradation expression controlled by the dot density is converted into a pseudo halftone image so that the human perception is the same as the human perception of the gradation of an image such as a photograph. .

  However, since it matches human perception, the numerical value of the dot density after the screen processing with respect to the numerical value of the gradation of the original image data is not linear. In other words, since the dot pattern to be converted is adjusted to match the human perception according to the characteristics such as the color of the toner used, it is also the toner density per unit area, which is the original image data In this embodiment, the relationship is expressed by a characteristic curve (see FIG. 4) described later.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between each gradation value of CMYK image data and the actual toner density per unit area, and is referred to as a “characteristic curve” in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the CMYK characteristic curves of the image data draw, for example, an S-shaped curve. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the image data is an S-curve that follows different paths of CMYK of the image data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and there are portions that overlap, parts that follow the exact same path, or parts that are straight. In other words, the color toners (CMYK) to be used are defined by characteristics such as color development. Since the transparent colorless toner (B) does not have characteristics relating to color development, the characteristic curve of the colorless toner (K (B)) shown in FIG. 4 is the characteristic curve of the black toner (K) which is a colored toner. ing. As described above, since the characteristic curve differs depending on the color development characteristic of the toner to be used, in this embodiment, the difference between the plurality of image forming apparatuses is absorbed by providing the total reference value.

  Next, the printer device 70 resets the counter (n = 1) in order to process the image data in the received print data for each pixel, for example (step S17). Then, the tone values of the n-th color toners (CMY components) in the image data are summed to derive a total tone value (step S24). Next, the printer device 70 compares the total gradation value derived in step S24 with the total reference value, and determines whether the total gradation value is equal to or greater than the total reference value (step S26).

  If the total gradation value is equal to or greater than the total reference value (YES in step S26), sufficient adhesion can be obtained with only the colored toner (CMY), so the gradation value of the colorless toner (B) is set to 0 (K). The component gradation value is set to 0) (step S28). On the other hand, if the total gradation value is less than the total reference value (NO in step S26), the host computer 60 sets the adhesion threshold value (100%, 60%, etc.) specified in step S12 and the color toner (CMY). The sum of the total gradation values is compared with the total reference value, and it is determined whether or not the total reference value is smaller (step S27).

  If the total reference value is not less than the sum of the adhesion threshold value and the total gradation value (NO in step S27), the color toner (CMY) alone cannot provide a sufficient adhesive force, or the color toner ( Since CMY) is a pixel that does not exist, the gradation value of colorless toner (B) = adhesion threshold value (K component gradation value = adhesion threshold value) is set (step S29). On the other hand, if the total reference value is less than the sum of the adhesion threshold value and the total gradation value (YES in step S27), in order to compensate for the lack of color toner (CMY) with colorless toner (B), The gradation value (K component gradation value) of the colorless toner (B) is set as the total reference value−total gradation value (step S30).

  Next, it is determined whether or not all the pixels of the image data have been processed (step S32). If all the pixels have not been processed (NO in step S32), the counter is counted up (step S33), the process returns to the next pixel (step S24), and the process is repeated. On the other hand, if all the pixels have been processed (YES in step S32), the process proceeds to screen processing (step S34).

  Next, in the printer device 70, screen processing (dither processing; binarization, quaternary processing) based on the gradation value of the colored toner (CMY) and the gradation value of the colorless toner (B) (K component gradation value). The bitmap is developed in the frame memories 731, 732, 733, and 734 for each color (step S 34). When the bitmap processing is performed on the frame memories 731, 732, 733, and 734 for each color by performing screen processing, the colorless toner (B) is expanded using the screen processing table for black toner (K).

  The printer print controller 75 outputs image data (bitmap data for one page) of the frame memories 731, 732, 733, and 734 to the printer print unit 77, and the printer print unit 77 forms the image data into an image. The images are supplied to the units 6-1 to 6-4, and the image is transferred and fixed to the peelable sheet 19.

  FIG. 5A to FIG. 5F are schematic views for explaining the process of creating the thermal transfer print sheet according to the present embodiment. In the first step, a peelable sheet 19 is prepared as shown in FIG. 5 (a), and in the second step, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), a T-shirt or the like is transferred onto the peelable sheet 19. A colored toner image (YMC) 110 and a colorless toner image (B) 120 of a transfer image to be transferred and printed on the medium are transferred. At this time, the toner amount of the colorless toner image (B) 120 is a value corresponding to the gradation value of the colorless toner image (B) 120 derived by the above-described processing.

  Next, in the third step, as shown in FIG. 5C, the mount 130 on which an adhesive layer (white resin layer or transparent resin layer) 140 such as white urethane is formed is used. The color toner image 110 of the peelable sheet 19 and the colorless toner image 120 are overlapped so as to face each other, and heat and pressure are applied by a heating press 150 to apply the adhesive layer 140 to the color toner image 110 and the colorless toner image of the peelable sheet 19. Transfer onto 120.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5D, when the mount 130 is peeled off, the adhesive layer 140 is peeled only at the portions where the colored toner image 110 and the colorless toner image 120 are present. As a result, the thermal transfer print sheet 160 in which the color toner image 110, the colorless toner image 120, and the adhesive layer 140 are sequentially laminated on the peelable sheet 19 is created.

  When the colored toner image 110 is transferred to a transfer medium 200 such as a T-shirt, the thermal transfer print sheet 160 is transferred to the transfer medium 200 such as a T-shirt, as shown in FIG. The mirror image forming surface 160-1 is overlapped with each other, heated and pressed from the back surface 160-2 of the mirror image forming surface of the thermal transfer print sheet 160 using the heating press 150, and the color toner image 110 of the image to be transferred and printed. The colorless toner image 120 is adhered to the transfer medium 200 via the adhesive layer 140.

  In addition, you may make it adhere | attach to the to-be-transferred medium 200 by the manual ironing, without using the heat press machine 150. FIG.

  Thereafter, when the thermal transfer print sheet 160 is cooled to about room temperature and the peelable sheet 19 is peeled off manually, as shown in FIG. 5 (f), the transferred object which is a printing object such as a T-shirt. A transfer image 170 having the color toner image 110 of the image to be transferred and printed on the medium 200 as a normal image is completed.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the colorless tone (B) gradation value is added to the total gradation value obtained by adding the gradation values of the CMY format image data so that the value becomes equal to or greater than the total reference value. Since the gradation value of the toner (B) is derived, the use amount of the colorless toner (B) can be reduced while securing a sufficient adhesive force.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the “adhesion threshold” is set as the ease of peeling of the adhesive layer according to the type of the mount 130 having an adhesive layer (white resin layer or transparent resin layer) such as white urethane. Since it is set, the use amount of the colorless toner (B) can be reduced while ensuring a sufficient adhesive force according to the transfer performance of the adhesive layer.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the total reference value is provided in consideration of the characteristic curve representing the correspondence relationship between the gradation value of the image data and the toner density after printing the image data. A common operation can be performed on the forming apparatus, and the amount of colorless toner (B) used can be reduced while securing a sufficient adhesive force.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, since the adhesion threshold value is written in the K component gradation value of the image data as the gradation value of black (K), it is not necessary to prepare special software and is commercially available. It can be processed with image processing software.

In the embodiment described above, the adhesion threshold value is determined depending on the type of the mount (the thickness of the adhesive layer, the adhesive force between the mount / adhesive layer, and whether the value of the minimum density portion in the transfer image is equal to or higher than a certain level). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a value inversely proportional to the value of the lowest density portion may be automatically set.
In the above-described embodiment, the white urethane layer is described as an example of the adhesive layer. However, other white resin layers may be used, or the surface color of the transfer medium 200 such as a T-shirt is white. In the case of a light color, it may be a transparent resin layer.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the gradation value of the colorless toner is derived on the printer device 70 side, but it may be performed on the host computer 60 side.

As mentioned above, although several embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these, The invention described in the claim, and its equal range are included.
Below, the invention described in the claims of the present application is appended.

(Appendix 1)
The invention described in appendix 1 is a method of manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet, wherein a gradation value for each color component corresponding to a colored toner is set to a gradation value for another color component for each coordinate. A first derivation step for deriving a total gradation value, and a colorless toner to be printed at the coordinates when the total gradation value derived in the first derivation step is less than a predetermined total reference value; A second derivation step for deriving the tone value of the second step, wherein the total reference value is less than a sum of the total tone value and a predetermined adhesion threshold value. In this case, the gradation value of the colorless toner is derived so that a value obtained by adding the gradation value of the colorless toner to the total gradation value becomes the total reference value. When the value is equal to or greater than the sum of the gradation value and the adhesion threshold value, As the gradation value of the colorless toner is a pressure-sensitive threshold, to derive the gradation value of the colorless toner, it is a thermal transfer printing sheet manufacturing method according to claim.

(Appendix 2)
In the invention according to appendix 2, the adhesion threshold value depends on a type of the predetermined second sheet for transferring a color layer onto the colored toner and the colorless toner printed on the predetermined first sheet. The method for producing a thermal transfer printed sheet according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the thermal transfer printed sheet is set to a predetermined value.

(Appendix 3)
The invention according to appendix 3 is the method for producing a thermal transfer print sheet according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the total reference value is set to a value corresponding to the type of the colored toner and the colorless toner. is there.

(Appendix 4)
The invention according to appendix 4 includes a screen processing step of generating print data by performing screen processing on the gradation value of each color component of the colored toner and the gradation value of the colorless toner, and the screen processing step. Based on the created print data, a printing step of printing the colored toner and the colorless toner on the first sheet, and the colored toner and the colorless toner printed on the first sheet, The method for producing a thermal transfer printed sheet according to appendix 2 or 3, further comprising a transfer step of transferring a color layer provided on the second sheet.

(Appendix 5)
The invention according to appendix 5 is an image forming apparatus for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet, wherein the gradation value for each color component corresponding to the colored toner is summed with the gradation value of another color component for each coordinate A first deriving unit for deriving a gradation value, and a level of colorless toner to be printed at the coordinates when the total gradation value derived by the first deriving unit is less than a predetermined total reference value; Second derivation means for deriving a tone value, wherein the second derivation means has the total reference value less than a sum of the total gradation value and a predetermined adhesion threshold value. In addition, a gradation value of the colorless toner is derived so that a value obtained by adding the gradation value of the colorless toner to the total gradation value becomes the total reference value, and the total reference value is the total gradation value. If the value is equal to or greater than the sum of the adhesion threshold and the gradation value of the colorless toner, As a Chaku閾値 derives a gradation value of the colorless toner, it is an image forming apparatus according to claim.

(Appendix 6)
In the invention according to appendix 6, the adhesion threshold value depends on a type of the predetermined second sheet for transferring the color layer onto the colored toner and the colorless toner printed on the predetermined first sheet. The image forming apparatus according to appendix 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is set to a predetermined value.

(Appendix 7)
The invention according to appendix 7 is the image forming apparatus according to appendix 5 or 6, wherein the total reference value is set to a value corresponding to a type of the colored toner and the colorless toner.

(Appendix 8)
The invention according to appendix 8 includes screen processing means for creating print data by performing screen processing on the gradation value for each color component of the colored toner and the gradation value of the colorless toner, and the screen processing means. The image forming apparatus according to appendix 6 or 7, further comprising: a printing unit that prints the colored toner and the colorless toner on the first sheet based on the created print data.

(Appendix 9)
The invention according to appendix 9 is a toner gradation value derivation method for deriving a gradation value for each color component corresponding to a colored toner and a gradation value of a colorless toner printed on a thermal transfer print sheet, A first derivation step for deriving a total gradation value obtained by adding the gradation value for each color component corresponding to the colored toner and the gradation value of another color component for each coordinate; and the first derivation step. A second derivation step of deriving a gradation value of colorless toner to be printed at the coordinates when the derived total gradation value is less than a predetermined total reference value, and the second derivation step. In the step, when the total reference value is less than a value obtained by adding the total gradation value and a predetermined adhesion threshold, a value obtained by adding the gradation value of the colorless toner to the total gradation value is The gradation value of the colorless toner is derived so as to be the total reference value, and the total reference value Deriving a gradation value of the colorless toner so that the gradation value of the colorless toner becomes the adhesion threshold value when the total gradation value and the adhesion threshold value are equal to or greater than the sum. Is a toner gradation value derivation method characterized by the above.

(Appendix 10)
In the invention according to attachment 10, the thermal transfer printed sheet transfers a color layer provided on a predetermined second sheet onto the colorless toner and the colored toner printed on the predetermined first sheet. 10. The toner gradation value derivation method according to appendix 9, wherein the adhesion threshold value is set to a value corresponding to the type of the second sheet.

(Appendix 11)
The invention according to appendix 11 is the toner gradation value derivation method according to appendix 9 or 10, wherein the total reference value is set to a value according to the type of the colored toner and the colorless toner. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image forming part 3 Duplex printing conveyance unit 4 Paper feed part 5 Fixing part 6 (6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4) Image forming unit 7 Photosensitive drum 8 Cleaner 9 Charging Roller 10 Optical writing head 11 Developing device 12 Developing roller 13 Toner supply roller 14 Intermediate transfer belt 15 Primary transfer roller 16 Drive roller 17 Driven roller 18 Belt position control mechanism 19 Peeling sheet 20 Belt cleaner 21 Paper feed cassette 22 Paper (covered) Print media)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 23 Paper take-out roller 24 Feed roller 25 Rolling roller 26 Standby conveyance roller pair 27 Mounting part 28 MPF (Multi Paper Feeder) tray 29 Paper feed roller 30 Secondary transfer roller 31 Unloading roller pair 32 Paper discharge tray 33 Paper discharge roller pair 34a Start return path 34b Intermediate return path 34c End return path 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d Return roller pair 55 Printing system 60 Host computer 61 CPU
62 ROM
63 RAM
64 Input device 65 Display device 66 USB / LAN I / F
67 External storage device 70 Printer device 71 CPU
72 ROM
73 RAM
731 to 734 Frame memory 74 USB / LAN I / F
75 Printer Print Controller 76 Print Control LSI
77 Printer printing section 110 Colored toner image 120 Colorless toner image (transparent or white toner)
130 Mount 140 Adhesive layer (white resin layer or transparent resin layer)
150 Heating Press 160 Heat Transfer Print Sheet 170 Transfer Image 200 Transferred Medium

Claims (11)

A first derivation step for deriving a total gradation value obtained by adding the gradation value of each color component corresponding to the color toner to the gradation value of another color component for each coordinate;
A second derivation step for deriving a gradation value of colorless toner to be printed at the coordinates when the total gradation value derived in the first derivation step is less than a predetermined total reference value;
Have
The second derivation step includes:
When the total reference value is less than the sum of the total gradation value and a predetermined adhesion threshold, a value obtained by adding the colorless toner gradation value to the total gradation value is the total reference value. Deriving the gradation value of the colorless toner so that
When the total reference value is equal to or greater than the sum of the total gradation value and the adhesion threshold value, the colorless toner gradation value is set such that the colorless toner gradation value becomes the adhesion threshold value. Deriving,
A method for producing a thermal transfer printed sheet. The adhesion threshold is set to a value according to a type of a predetermined second sheet for transferring an adhesive layer onto the colored toner and the colorless toner printed on a predetermined first sheet.
The method for producing a thermal transfer printed sheet according to claim 1. A screen processing step of creating print data by performing screen processing on the gradation value of each color component of the colored toner and the gradation value of the colorless toner;
A printing step of printing the colored toner and the colorless toner on the first sheet based on the print data created in the screen processing step;
A transfer step of transferring an adhesive layer provided on the second sheet onto the colored toner and the colorless toner printed on the first sheet;
The method for producing a thermal transfer printed sheet according to claim 2, further comprising : The total reference value is set to a value according to the type of the color toner.
The method for producing a thermal transfer print sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . An image forming apparatus for producing a thermal transfer printed sheet,
First derivation means for deriving a total gradation value obtained by adding the gradation value for each color component corresponding to the colored toner and the gradation value of the other color component for each coordinate;
Second derivation means for deriving a gradation value of colorless toner to be printed at the coordinates when the total gradation value derived by the first derivation means is less than a predetermined total reference value;
Have
The second derivation means includes
When the total reference value is less than the sum of the total gradation value and a predetermined adhesion threshold, a value obtained by adding the colorless toner gradation value to the total gradation value is the total reference value. Deriving the gradation value of the colorless toner so that
When the total reference value is equal to or greater than the sum of the total gradation value and the adhesion threshold value, the colorless toner gradation value is set such that the colorless toner gradation value becomes the adhesion threshold value. Deriving,
An image forming apparatus. The adhesion threshold is set to a value according to a type of a predetermined second sheet for transferring an adhesive layer onto the colored toner and the colorless toner printed on a predetermined first sheet.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. Screen processing means for creating print data by performing screen processing on the gradation value of each color component of the colored toner and the gradation value of the colorless toner;
Printing means for printing the colored toner and the colorless toner on the first sheet based on the print data created by the screen processing means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: The total reference value is set to a value according to the type of the color toner.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. A toner gradation value derivation method for deriving a gradation value for each color component corresponding to a colored toner and a gradation value of a colorless toner printed on a thermal transfer print sheet,
A first derivation step for deriving a total gradation value obtained by adding the gradation value for each color component corresponding to the colored toner and the gradation value of another color component for each coordinate;
A second derivation step for deriving a gradation value of colorless toner to be printed at the coordinates when the total gradation value derived in the first derivation step is less than a predetermined total reference value;
Have
The second derivation step includes:
When the total reference value is less than the sum of the total gradation value and a predetermined adhesion threshold, a value obtained by adding the colorless toner gradation value to the total gradation value is the total reference value. Deriving the gradation value of the colorless toner so that
When the total reference value is equal to or greater than the sum of the total gradation value and the adhesion threshold value, the colorless toner gradation value is set such that the colorless toner gradation value becomes the adhesion threshold value. Deriving,
A method for deriving a toner gradation value. The thermal transfer printed sheet is manufactured by transferring an adhesive layer provided on a predetermined second sheet onto the colorless toner and the colored toner printed on a predetermined first sheet,
The adhesion threshold is set to a value according to the type of the second sheet.
The toner gradation value derivation method according to claim 9. The total reference value is set to a value according to the type of the color toner .
11. The toner gradation value derivation method according to claim 9, wherein the toner gradation value is derived.

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