JP6865965B2 - Thermal transfer printing equipment and thermal transfer control program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printing apparatus that transfers a desired image to a transfer medium by heating a color ink ribbon having a sublimable ink layer of a plurality of colors with a thermal head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a thermal transfer printing apparatus having a function of making an ink-missing image remaining on a color ink ribbon difficult to read after a desired image is transferred.

Conventionally, a thermal transfer printing apparatus that transfers a desired image to a transfer medium by heating a color ink ribbon with a thermal head is widely known. In this thermal transfer printing apparatus, various methods have been proposed as methods for making the ink-missing image remaining on the color ink ribbon after the transfer of a desired image difficult to read. For example, in the method described in Patent Document 1, the color ink ribbon is formed by sequentially arranging a sublimation ink layer of a plurality of colors and a black meltable ink layer. A predetermined superimposed pattern is generated that is overwritten by the ink loss image remaining in the black meltable ink layer of the color ink ribbon, and the black meltable ink layer after transfer is heated by the thermal head according to the superimposed pattern. , The predetermined superimposed pattern overwritten by the remaining ink-missing image is transferred to the intermediate transfer film. As a result, the ink-missing image remaining in the black meltable ink layer becomes difficult to read.

Further, in the method described in Patent Document 2, in the color ink ribbon, sublimation ink layers of a plurality of colors are arranged in order, and one detection mark is arranged close to the end of each sublimation ink layer. It is formed by being done. One detection mark is placed between sublimable ink layers of two different colors. The detection mark is formed from a black meltable ink layer and is a mark for identifying the color of each sublimable ink layer, and has different characteristics such as length, thickness, and pattern depending on the position where the detection mark is arranged. By sequentially heating the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors by the thermal head, a desired image such as a color face image is transferred to the transfer target. The meltable ink layers of the plurality of detection marks arranged at different positions are transferred to the plurality of ink-missing images remaining in the sublimable ink layers of the plurality of colors after the transfer. As a result, the plurality of missing ink images remaining in the sublimable ink layers of the plurality of colors become difficult to read.

Japanese Patent No. 4207682 Japanese Patent No. 5521946

Here, after combining the method described in Patent Document 1 and the method described in Patent Document 2, a plurality of colors of sublimable ink layer and a black meltable ink layer are arranged in order as a color ink ribbon. Consider the case of using a color ink ribbon formed by being patented. In order to make the initial ink loss image remaining in the black meltable ink layer of the color ink ribbon difficult to read, the black meltable ink layer after transfer is heated by the thermal head according to a predetermined superposition pattern. A configuration is conceivable in which a predetermined superimposed pattern overwritten on the remaining initial ink-missing image is transferred to one specific sublimating ink layer among the sublimating ink layers of a plurality of colors.

When the pattern formation area of the predetermined superimposed pattern is small, it is easy to read the initial ink missing image from the overwritten ink missing image remaining in the black meltable ink layer after the predetermined superimposed pattern is transferred. Become. On the other hand, when the pattern formation area of the predetermined superimposed pattern is large, the initial ink missing image can be read from the overwritten ink missing image remaining in the black meltable ink layer after the predetermined superimposed pattern is transferred. On the contrary, although it becomes difficult, it becomes easy to read the original ink-out image from the image remaining in the specific sublimation ink layer to which the predetermined superposition pattern is transferred.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and uses a color ink ribbon formed by sequentially arranging a plurality of color sublimative ink layers and a black meltable ink layer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer printing apparatus that makes it difficult to read an ink-missing image remaining on a color ink ribbon after transfer.

The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention according to claim 1 is a color ink ribbon extending long in a strip shape, and has a sublimation ink layer of a plurality of colors and one black meltable ink layer in the longitudinal direction. It is provided with a ribbon transport section for transporting color ink ribbons formed by being repeatedly arranged in pairs, and a thermal transfer section for transferring a desired image to a transfer medium by heating the color ink ribbons. A thermal transfer printing apparatus, which is a superimposed image generation unit that generates a plurality of superimposed images different from each other corresponding to each of a plurality of colors of sublimable ink layers, and a color ink after a desired image is transferred to a transfer medium. In the ribbon, the color ink ribbon is conveyed to the ribbon transfer unit so that the specific black molten ink layer after transfer is sequentially overlapped with each layer of the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors after transfer which are continuously arranged. When the alignment part and a specific black molten ink layer after transfer overlap each layer of the sublimation ink layer of multiple colors after transfer, the identification after transfer is performed according to the superimposed image corresponding to the overlapped layer. By heating the black molten ink layer of the above to the thermal transfer unit, the superimposed control unit that transfers the superimposed image overwritten by the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer to the overlapped layer, and To be equipped with. In the embodiment of the present invention, the superimposition control unit sequentially overwrites the plurality of superimposition images corresponding to the sublimation ink layers of a plurality of colors with the ink-missing images remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer. Transfer to all layers of the sublimation ink layer of a plurality of colors after transfer.

In the first aspect of the invention, the transfer medium may be a print medium such as a card or an intermediate transfer medium such as a transfer film. In the latter case, the desired image is first transferred to the intermediate transfer medium and then transferred from the intermediate transfer medium to the print medium.

In the first aspect of the invention, the thermal transfer printing apparatus includes a printer unit including a ribbon transfer unit and a thermal transfer unit, and an external information processing unit that can communicate with the printer unit and includes a superposed image generation unit. Alternatively, the configuration may include a printer unit including a superimposed image generation unit in addition to the ribbon transport unit and the thermal transfer unit.

In the first aspect of the invention, a plurality of color ink ribbons are provided as long as a plurality of color sublimating ink layers and one black meltable ink layer are repeatedly arranged in at least one set in the longitudinal direction. In addition to the color sublimating ink layer and one black meltable ink layer, an overcoat layer may be included.

In the first aspect of the invention, the thermal transfer unit transfers a transfer means for transferring a desired image to a transfer medium and a specific black molten ink layer after transfer to a sublimable ink layer of a plurality of colors after transfer. The configuration may be provided separately from the transfer means, or may be provided as one common transfer means.

In the first aspect of the invention, the superimposed image generation unit may have any configuration as long as it is configured to generate a plurality of superimposed images different from each other corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors. For example, by shifting one basic image in a predetermined direction, a plurality of superimposed images different from each other may be generated, or a unit image may be randomly selected and arranged from a plurality of unit images. As a result, a configuration may be used in which a plurality of superimposed images different from each other are generated.

In the first aspect of the invention, in the alignment portion, the specific black molten ink layer after transfer is ordered to each layer of the sublimable ink layer of a plurality of colors after transfer in the same set as the specific black molten ink layer. The color ink ribbon may be conveyed to the ribbon transport section so as to overlap with the ink, or a specific black molten ink layer after transfer may be different from the specific black molten ink layer after transfer. The color ink ribbon may be conveyed to the ribbon transfer unit so as to be sequentially overlapped with each layer of the sublimation ink layers of a plurality of colors.

In the specific embodiment according to claim 2, the superimposed image generation unit is sequentially acquired by a storage unit that stores a large number of different unit images, a first random number acquisition unit that acquires random numbers, and a first random number acquisition unit. One of a large number of different unit images is sequentially selected based on the random number to be generated, and a plurality of unit images sequentially selected are arranged in an image forming region determined based on a desired image size. A combination of a plurality of unit images arranged by the image arrangement unit is generated as each superimposed image of a plurality of superimposed images corresponding to the sublimating ink layers of a plurality of colors.

In this specific aspect, the many different unit images may be images representing many different characters or symbols, or may be images representing many different patterns.

In this specific aspect, the first random number acquisition unit may be configured to acquire random numbers by any method. For example, the first random number acquisition unit may be configured to include a random number generating means, or may be configured to receive a random number from an external random number generating means.

In the specific aspect according to claim 3, when the superimposed image generating unit arranges a plurality of unit images in which the image arrangement unit is sequentially selected, the overlapping amount of the two adjacent unit images overlapping is set to a plurality of colors. Further, a polymerization amount setting unit for setting each superimposed image of a plurality of superimposed images corresponding to the sublimable ink layer is provided.

In the present specific embodiment, if the polymerization amount setting unit has a configuration in which the polymerization amount in which two adjacent unit images overlap is set for each superimposed image of the plurality of superimposed images, a plurality of superimposed images corresponding to each of the plurality of superimposed images are set. The polymerization amount may be set according to the user's operation. Alternatively, the polymerization amount setting unit corresponds to a plurality of superimposed images according to the transfer amount of the specific black molten ink layer after transfer to each layer of the sublimation ink layer of a plurality of colors after transfer. The configuration may be such that a plurality of polymerization amounts are automatically determined.

In the specific aspect according to claim 4, among the plurality of superimposed images corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors, the ink missing image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer is overwritten. The polymerization amount set for the superimposed image of is set to be smaller than the polymerization amount set for the next superimposed image overwritten by the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer.

In the specific aspect of claim 5, the desired image comprises an image of a character string that is transferred to the transfer medium by heating the black meltable ink layer, and the storage unit is a number of different units. As an image, a large number of different character images representing a large number of different characters are stored, and the image arrangement unit is one of a large number of different character images based on the random numbers sequentially generated by the first random number generator. Character images are sequentially selected, and a plurality of character images to be sequentially selected are arranged in an image forming region determined based on a desired image size, and a plurality of image arrangement units are sequentially selected in a polymerization amount setting unit. When arranging the character images of, the amount of polymerization in which two adjacent character images overlap in a direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the image of the character string in the desired image is set to a plurality of layers corresponding to sublimation ink layers of a plurality of colors. Set for each superimposed image of the superimposed image.

In the present specific embodiment, when the image of the character string in the desired image is an image of a plurality of character strings arranged in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the character string, the polymerization amount setting unit is desired. In addition to the direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the image of the character string in the image, the amount of polymerization in which two adjacent character images overlap in the direction orthogonal to the parallel direction may be set.

In the specific aspect of claim 6, the storage unit stores a large number of different character images representing a large number of different characters, respectively, as a large number of different unit images, and the superimposed image generation unit stores a large number of different character images. By the size change range setting unit that sets the size change range that increases or decreases the character size with respect to the basic character size defined for each character image, the second random number acquisition unit that acquires random numbers, and the second random number acquisition unit. Furthermore, a determination unit that sequentially specifies the character size within the size change range based on the sequentially acquired random numbers and determines the size of each character image of a large number of different character images according to the sequentially specified character size. Be prepared.

In this specific aspect, the second random number acquisition unit may be configured to acquire random numbers by any method. For example, the second random number acquisition unit may be configured to include a random number generating means, or may be configured to receive a random number from an external random number generating means.

In this specific embodiment, if the size change range setting unit is configured to set a size change range in which the character size is increased or decreased with respect to the basic character size, the user determines the determinant for determining the size change range. The configuration may be set according to the operation. Alternatively, when the character image existing in the desired image has a plurality of different character sizes, the size change range setting unit sets the size change range based on the maximum size and the minimum size of the plurality of different character sizes. May be configured to automatically determine.

In the specific aspect according to claim 7, the thermal transfer unit superimposes the overwriting thermal head and the superimposed image overwritten on the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after the transfer as a sublimation ink. It includes an overwriting head moving portion that moves the overwriting thermal head in the longitudinal direction of the color ink ribbon in order to transfer to the layer.

The specific aspect according to claim 8 is a first ribbon path portion formed so that the color ink ribbon is conveyed so that the color ink ribbon faces the transfer medium, and the color ink ribbon after transfer. A ribbon path including a second ribbon path portion formed so that the color ink ribbon after transfer is conveyed so that the ribbon portion transferred first and the ribbon portion transferred later overlap each other. A printing thermal head and a printing head moving portion for moving the printing thermal head along the first ribbon path portion are provided. In this specific aspect, the overwriting head moving portion moves the overwriting thermal head along the second ribbon path portion.

In this specific embodiment, the printing head moving portion and the overwriting head moving portion are a printing thermal head and an overwriting thermal head along each ribbon path portion of the first ribbon path portion and the second ribbon path portion. The thermal head may be moved independently, or the printing thermal head and the overwriting thermal head may be integrally moved along each ribbon path portion.

In the specific aspect of claim 9, the first ribbon path portion and the second ribbon path portion are arranged parallel to each other, and the overwriting head moving portion and the printing head moving portion are the overwriting thermal head and the overwriting thermal head. A common head support that supports each of the thermal heads for printing, a moving mechanism that moves the head support in a predetermined path direction in which the first ribbon path portion and the second ribbon path portion extend, and a thermal head for printing. Displaces the printing thermal head so as to approach or separate from the first ribbon path portion, and overwrite so that the overwriting thermal head approaches or separates from the second ribbon path portion. Includes a head displacement mechanism that displaces the thermal head.

In this specific embodiment, the head displacement mechanism may be configured to displace the printing thermal head and the overwriting thermal head independently, or the printing thermal head and the overwriting thermal head may be displaced in conjunction with each other. It may be configured to be displaced.

The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention according to claim 10 is a color ink ribbon extending long in a strip shape, and has a sublimation ink layer of a plurality of colors and one black meltable ink layer in the longitudinal direction. A ribbon transport section for transporting color ink ribbons formed by being repeatedly arranged in pairs, a medium transport section for transporting an intermediate transfer medium, and a color ink ribbon are heated to intermediate a desired image. It is a thermal transfer printing apparatus including a thermal transfer unit that transfers to a transfer medium and a print transfer unit that transfers a desired image transferred to an intermediate transfer medium to a print medium, and is compatible with sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors. In the superimposed image generation unit that generates a plurality of superimposed images different from each other and the color ink ribbon after the desired image is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium, the specific black molten ink layer after the transfer is continuously formed. The alignment section for transporting the color ink ribbon to the ribbon transport section and the specific black molten ink layer after transfer are transferred so as to sequentially overlap each layer of the arranged multi-color sublimation ink layers after transfer. When each layer of the sublimating ink layer of a plurality of colors is overlapped, the heat transfer portion is heated to heat a specific black molten ink layer after transfer according to the superimposed image corresponding to the overlapped layer. The superimposition control unit that transfers the superposed image overwritten by the ink-missing image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer to the overlapping layers and the intermediate transfer medium on which the desired image is transferred overlap the print medium. A print control unit that controls the print transfer unit so that the intermediate transfer medium is conveyed to the medium transfer unit and a desired image is transferred from the intermediate transfer medium to the print medium is provided. In the embodiment of the present invention, the superimposition control unit sequentially overwrites the plurality of superimposition images corresponding to the sublimation ink layers of a plurality of colors with the ink-missing images remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer. The operation of transferring to all layers of the sublimable ink layers of multiple colors after transfer, and transferring the superimposed image overwritten by the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer to the overlapping layers. The superposition control unit and the print control unit operate in synchronization with each other so that the operation of transferring a desired image from the conveyed intermediate transfer medium to the print medium is executed in parallel.

In the second aspect of the invention, the operation of transferring the superposed image overwritten by the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer to the overlapping layers, and the operation of transferring from the intermediate transfer medium to the print medium. Of the operations for transferring a desired image, it is preferable that the superimposition control unit and the print control unit operate in synchronization so that the execution time of one operation is included in the execution time of the other operation. However, the superimposition control unit and the print control unit may operate in synchronization so that the execution time of one operation partially overlaps with the execution time of the other operation.

The thermal transfer control program according to the third aspect of the invention according to claim 11 is a color ink ribbon extending long in a strip shape, in which a sublimation ink layer of a plurality of colors and one black meltable ink layer are 1 in the longitudinal direction. It is provided with a ribbon transport section for transporting color ink ribbons formed by being repeatedly arranged in pairs, and a thermal transfer section for transferring a desired image to a transfer medium by heating the color ink ribbons. The computer that controls the thermal transfer printing device is subjected to a superimposed image generation process that generates a plurality of superimposed images that are different from each other corresponding to each of the sublimating ink layers of a plurality of colors, and after the desired image is transferred to the transfer medium. In the color ink ribbon, the color ink ribbon is placed on the ribbon carrier so that a specific black molten ink layer after transfer is sequentially arranged on each layer of the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors after transfer. When the alignment process for transporting and the specific black molten ink layer after transfer overlap each layer of the sublimation ink layer of multiple colors after transfer, after transfer according to the superimposed image corresponding to the overlapped layer. A superimposition control process in which a superimposition image overwritten on an ink-missing image remaining in a specific black molten ink layer after transfer is transferred to an overlapping layer by heating a specific black molten ink layer of And to execute. In the embodiment of the present invention, the superimposition control process sequentially overwrites the plurality of superimposition images corresponding to the sublimation ink layers of a plurality of colors with the ink-missing images remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer. Transfer to all layers of the sublimation ink layer of a plurality of colors after transfer.

The third aspect of the invention is embodied in various aspects similar to the first aspect of the invention and its specific aspect.

In the first aspect of the invention according to claim 1, the superimposed image generation unit generates a plurality of superimposed images different from each other corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors. In the color ink ribbon after the desired image is transferred to the transfer medium, the alignment portion is a multi-color sublimation ink after transfer in which a specific black molten ink layer after transfer is continuously arranged. The color ink ribbon is conveyed to the ribbon transfer unit so as to be overlapped with each layer in order. When a specific black molten ink layer after transfer is overlapped with each layer of sublimation ink layers of multiple colors after transfer, the superposition control unit identifies after transfer according to the superimposed image corresponding to the overlapped layer. By heating the black molten ink layer of No. 1 to the thermal transfer unit, the superimposed image overwritten by the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after the transfer is transferred to the overlapping layers. The superimposition control unit sequentially overwrites the plurality of superposed images corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors with the ink-missing images remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after the transfer, thereby performing the plurality of colors after the transfer. Transfer to all layers of the sublimable ink layer of. As a result, it is difficult to read the ink-missing image remaining on the specific black molten ink layer after transfer, and it is difficult to read the ink-missing image remaining on the color ink ribbon after transfer. Can be done.

In the specific embodiment according to claim 2, the image arrangement unit of the superimposed image generation unit generates a unit image of any one of a large number of different unit images based on the random numbers sequentially generated by the first random number generation unit. A plurality of unit images sequentially selected are arranged in an image forming region determined based on a desired image size. A combination of a plurality of unit images arranged by the image array unit is generated as each superimposed image of a plurality of superimposed images corresponding to each of the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors. As a result, since each superimposed image is an array of unit images selected based on a random number, the ink-missing image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer and the color ink ribbon after transfer It is possible to make it more difficult to read the remaining ink-missing image.

In the specific embodiment according to claim 3, when the polymerization amount setting unit of the superimposed image generation unit arranges a plurality of unit images in which the image arrangement unit is sequentially selected, the polymerization amount of two adjacent unit images overlapping each other. Is set for each superimposed image of a plurality of superimposed images corresponding to the sublimating ink layers of a plurality of colors. As a result, for each superimposed image, the amount of polymerization in which two adjacent unit images overlap is set, so that the ink-missing image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer and the color ink ribbon after transfer. It is possible to make it extremely difficult to read the ink-missing image remaining in the image.

In the specific aspect according to claim 4, among the plurality of superimposed images corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors, the ink missing image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer is overwritten. The polymerization amount set for the superimposed image of is set to be smaller than the polymerization amount set for the next superimposed image overwritten by the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer. As a result, it is possible to reduce that the transfer amount of the specific black molten ink layer after transfer to each layer of the multi-color sublimation ink layer after transfer is different for each layer of the multi-color sublimation ink layer. This makes it possible to reduce the occurrence of a large difference in difficulty in reading the ink-missing image remaining on the color ink ribbon after transfer.

In the specific embodiment according to claim 5, the image arrangement unit sequentially selects one of a large number of different character images based on the random numbers sequentially generated by the first random number generation unit, and desires the image. In the image forming region determined based on the size of the image of, a plurality of character images sequentially selected are arranged. When the polymerization amount setting unit arranges a plurality of character images in which the image arrangement part is sequentially selected, the polymerization in which two adjacent character images overlap in a direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the image of the character string in the desired image. The amount is set for each superimposed image of the plurality of superimposed images corresponding to the sublimating ink layers of the plurality of colors. As a result, for each superimposed image, the amount of polymerization in which two adjacent character images overlap in a direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the image of the character string in the desired image is set, so that a specific black melt after transfer is performed. It is extremely difficult to read the ink-missing image remaining in the ink layer and the ink-missing image remaining in the color ink ribbon after transfer in a direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the character strings in the desired image. be able to.

In the specific aspect according to claim 6, the size change range setting unit of the superimposed image generation unit increases or decreases the character size with respect to the basic character size defined for each character image of a large number of different character images. To set. The determination unit of the superimposed image generation unit sequentially specifies the character size within the size change range based on the random numbers sequentially acquired by the second random number acquisition unit, and a large number of different character images according to the sequentially specified character size. Determine the size of each character image of. As a result, the size of each character image of a large number of different character images is determined according to the character size sequentially specified based on the random number, so that the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer is obtained. , And, it is possible to make it extremely difficult to read the ink-missing image remaining on the color ink ribbon after transfer.

In the specific aspect according to claim 7, the overwriting head moving part of the thermal transfer part superimposes the superposed image overwritten on the ink-missing image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after the transfer. The overwriting thermal head is moved in the longitudinal direction of the color ink ribbon to transfer to the layer. As a result, the superimposed image can be reliably transferred to the sublimation ink layer while maintaining the state in which the specific black molten ink layer after transfer and the sublimation ink layer after transfer are overlapped.

In the specific aspect of claim 8, the printing head moving unit moves the printing thermal head along the first ribbon path portion. The overwriting head moving unit moves the overwriting thermal head along the second ribbon path portion. As a result, the desired image can be transferred to the transfer medium with high position accuracy by moving the thermal head for printing, and each superimposed image can be transferred to the sublimation ink layer with high position accuracy by moving the thermal head for overwriting. Can be done.

In the specific aspect of claim 9, the first ribbon path portion and the second ribbon path portion are arranged parallel to each other. A common head support supports the overwriting thermal head and the printing thermal head, respectively. The moving mechanism moves the head support in a predetermined path direction in which the first ribbon path portion and the second ribbon path portion extend. The head displacement mechanism displaces the printing thermal head so that the printing thermal head approaches or separates from the first ribbon path portion, and the overwriting thermal head approaches the second ribbon path portion. Or displace the overwriting thermal head so that it is separated. As a result, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the moving mechanism for moving the overwriting thermal head and the printing thermal head along the first ribbon path portion and the second ribbon path portion.

In the second aspect of the invention according to claim 10, the superimposed image generation unit generates a plurality of superimposed images different from each other corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors. In the color ink ribbon after the desired image is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium, the alignment part is a multi-color sublimation ink after transfer in which a specific black molten ink layer after transfer is continuously arranged. The color ink ribbon is conveyed to the ribbon transfer unit so as to be overlapped with each layer in order. When a specific black molten ink layer after transfer is overlapped with each layer of sublimation ink layers of multiple colors after transfer, the superposition control unit identifies after transfer according to the superimposed image corresponding to the overlapped layer. By heating the black molten ink layer of No. 1 to the thermal transfer unit, the superimposed image overwritten by the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after the transfer is transferred to the overlapping layers. The print control unit conveys the intermediate transfer medium to the medium transfer unit so that the intermediate transfer medium on which the desired image is transferred overlaps the print medium, so that the desired image is transferred from the intermediate transfer medium to the print medium. , Control the print transfer unit. The superimposition control unit sequentially overwrites the plurality of superposed images corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors with the ink-missing images remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after the transfer, whereby the plurality of colors after the transfer are transferred. Transfer to all layers of the sublimable ink layer of. An operation of transferring a superposed image overwritten by an ink-missing image remaining in a specific black molten ink layer after transfer to an overlapping layer, and an operation of transferring a desired image from a conveyed intermediate transfer medium to a print medium. The superimposition control unit and the print control unit operate in synchronization so that and are executed in parallel. As a result, the operation of transferring the superimposed image overwritten by the ink-missing image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer to the overlapping layers and the desired image from the conveyed intermediate transfer medium to the print medium. Since the transfer operation is executed in parallel, the overall operation time of the thermal transfer printing apparatus can be shortened.

In the third aspect of the invention according to claim 11, the superimposed image generation process generates a plurality of superimposed images different from each other corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors. In the color ink ribbon after the desired image is transferred to the transfer medium, the alignment process is a multi-color sublimation ink after transfer in which a specific black molten ink layer after transfer is continuously arranged. The color ink ribbon is conveyed to the ribbon transfer unit so as to be overlapped with each layer in order. When the superimposition control process superimposes a specific black molten ink layer after transfer on each layer of sublimation ink layers of multiple colors after transfer, the superimposition control process identifies the post-transfer according to the superimposition image corresponding to the overlapped layer. By heating the black molten ink layer of No. 1 to the thermal transfer unit, the superimposed image overwritten by the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after the transfer is transferred to the overlapping layers. The superimposition control process sequentially overwrites the plurality of superposed images corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors with the ink-missing images remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after the transfer, so that the plurality of colors after the transfer are transferred. Transfer to all layers of the sublimable ink layer of. As a result, it is difficult to read the ink-missing image remaining on the specific black molten ink layer after transfer, and it is difficult to read the ink-missing image remaining on the color ink ribbon after transfer. Can be done.

It is a front view which shows the mechanical structure of the thermal transfer printer 2 of the thermal transfer printing system 1 which is an embodiment of this invention. This is the front surface of the thermal transfer printer 2 when the head elevating mechanism 18 is enlarged and viewed from the front. It is a right side sectional view of the head elevating mechanism 18 cut according to the line AA shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the right side. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structure of the thermal transfer printer 2 and the information processing apparatus 3 which constitute a thermal transfer printing system 1. It is a flowchart which shows the transfer printing process which the main control processing unit 200 of a thermal transfer printer 2 executes. It is a flowchart which shows the initial operation which the main control processing unit 200 executes. It is a flowchart which shows the intermediate transfer process which the main control processing unit 200 executes. It is a flowchart which shows the printing task which the sub-control processing unit 202 of a thermal transfer printer 2 executes. It is a flowchart which shows the afterimage transfer process which the main control processing unit 200 executes. FIG. 2 is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 2, which is a front surface of the head elevating mechanism 18 viewed from the front in a state where the printing thermal head TH1 is positioned at a predetermined upper position close to the printing platen roller 66. .. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the right side of the head elevating mechanism 18 as viewed from the right in a state in which the printing thermal head TH1 is positioned at a predetermined upper position close to the printing platen roller 66 in the drawing corresponding to FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the random character string generation processing which the main control processing unit 200 executes. It is a flowchart which shows the initial setting process which the main control processing unit 200 executes. It is a flowchart which shows the X margin factor XM setting which the main control processing unit 200 executes. It is a flowchart which shows the random character selection process which the main control processing unit 200 executes. It is a flowchart which shows the random character size selection process which the main control processing unit 200 executes. FIG. 2 is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 2, which is a front surface of the head elevating mechanism 18 viewed from the front in a state where the overwriting thermal head TH2 is positioned at a predetermined lower position close to the overwriting platen roller 70. .. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the right side of the head elevating mechanism 18 in a state where the overwriting thermal head TH2 is positioned at a predetermined lower position close to the overwriting platen roller 70 in a drawing corresponding to FIG. Cueing of the transfer film 20 and cueing of the color ink ribbon 10 are completed, and between the thermal head TH1 for printing and the platen roller 66 for printing, the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20 and the color It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which overlapped with the yellow ink layer Ry of the ink ribbon 10, that is, the ink layer of a symbol "Y". It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the thermal head TH1 for printing is raised from the head origin position shown in FIG. 19 to a predetermined upper position. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the magenta ink layer Rm, that is, the ink layer of the symbol “M” overlaps with the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the cyan ink layer Rc, that is, the ink layer of a symbol "C" overlapped with the 1st film section T1 of the transfer film 20. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the black ink layer Rk, that is, the ink layer of a symbol "K" overlapped with the 1st film section T1 of the transfer film 20. Between the overwriting thermal head TH2 and the overwriting platen roller 70, the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, the ink layer of the symbol “K” is the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, that is, the symbol “Y”. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which overlapped with the ink layer. Between the overwriting thermal head TH2 and the overwriting platen roller 70, the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, the ink layer of the symbol "K" is the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, that is, the symbol "M". It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which overlapped with the ink layer. Between the overwriting thermal head TH2 and the overwriting platen roller 70, the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, the ink layer of the symbol "K" is the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer, that is, the symbol "C". It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which overlapped with the ink layer. The overwriting thermal head TH2 shows a state in which the head unit 14 has moved to the left by two ribbon sections from the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 26, that is, a state in which the head unit 14 has returned to the unit origin position. It is explanatory drawing. It is a drawing which shows the desired image which is the color image about an employee ID card and includes the character which shows an employee number and a name, and the face image which shows the upper body of an employee. When the yellow face image is transferred from the yellow ink layer Ry, that is, the ink layer of the symbol “Y” to the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20, the yellow ink layer Ry is transferred to the printing thermal head TH1 in FIG. It is an explanatory view seen from the side where is located. When the magenta face image is transferred from the magenta ink layer Rm, that is, the ink layer of the symbol “M” to the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20, the magenta ink layer Rm is transferred to the printing thermal head TH1 in FIG. It is an explanatory view seen from the side where is located. When the cyan face image is transferred from the cyan ink layer Rc, that is, the ink layer of the symbol “C” to the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20, the cyan ink layer Rc is transferred to the printing thermal head TH1 in FIG. It is an explanatory view seen from the side where is located. When characters representing employee numbers, names, etc. are transferred from the black ink layer Rk, that is, the ink layer of the symbol "K" to the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20, the black ink layer Rk in FIG. 23. Is an explanatory view seen from the side where the printing thermal head TH1 is located. (A) is an explanation showing the arrangement relationship between the character forming regions FR11, FR12, FR13 of the first line LN1, the character forming regions FR21, FR22, FR23 of the second line LN2, and the image forming region GR. FIG. 3B is an explanation showing a state in which the character forming regions FR11, FR12, and FR13 and the character forming regions FR21, FR22, and FR23 are displaced by the X deviation distance DX and the Y deviation distance DY. FIG. 6C is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement relationship of character forming regions FR1, FR2, and FR3 having three different random character sizes. When the X margin factor XM1 of a random character string consisting of alphabetic characters is set to the numerical value "0.65", the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol "K". It is explanatory drawing which looked at the black ink layer Rk after transfer in FIG. 24 from the side where the thermal head TH2 for overwriting is located when it was transferred to the yellow ink layer Ry of the above, that is, the ink layer of the symbol "Y". When the X margin factor XM1 of a random character string consisting of alphabetic characters is set to the numerical value "0.65", the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol "K". This is an explanatory view of the yellow ink layer Ry of No. 1, that is, the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer in FIG. 24 as viewed from the side where the overwriting platen roller 70 is located when the ink layer is transferred to the ink layer of the symbol “Y”. When the X margin factor XM1 of a random character string consisting of alphabetic characters is set to the numerical value "0.35", the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol "K". It is explanatory drawing which looked at the black ink layer Rk after transfer in FIG. 25 from the side where the thermal head TH2 for overwriting is located when it was transferred to the magenta ink layer Rm of the above, that is, the ink layer of the symbol "M". When the X margin factor XM1 of a random character string consisting of alphabetic characters is set to the numerical value "0.35", the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol "K". FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer in FIG. 25 when transferred to the ink layer of the symbol “M”, as viewed from the side where the overwriting platen roller 70 is located. When the X margin factor XM1 of a random character string consisting of alphabetic characters is set to the numerical value "0.05", the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol "K". It is explanatory drawing which looked at the black ink layer Rk after transfer in FIG. 26 from the side where the thermal head TH2 for overwriting is located when it was transferred to the cyan ink layer Rc of the above, that is, the ink layer of the symbol "C". When the X margin factor XM1 of a random character string consisting of alphabetic characters is set to the numerical value "0.05", the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol "K". It is explanatory drawing which saw the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer in FIG. 26 from the side where the platen roller 70 for overwriting is located when it was transferred to the cyan ink layer Rc of the above, that is, the ink layer of the symbol "C". When the X margin factor XM1 of a random character string consisting of alphabetic characters is set to the numerical value "0.65", the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol "K". It is explanatory drawing which looked at the black ink layer Rk after transfer in FIG. 24 from the side where the thermal head TH2 for overwriting is located when it was transferred to the yellow ink layer Ry of the above, that is, the ink layer of the symbol "Y". When the X margin factor XM1 of a random character string consisting of alphabetic characters is set to the numerical value "0.65", the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol "K". This is an explanatory view of the yellow ink layer Ry of No. 1, that is, the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer in FIG. 24 as viewed from the side where the overwriting platen roller 70 is located when the ink layer is transferred to the ink layer of the symbol “Y”. When the X margin factor XM1 of a random character string consisting of alphabetic characters is set to the numerical value "0.65", the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol "K". It is explanatory drawing which looked at the black ink layer Rk after transfer in FIG. 25 from the side where the thermal head TH2 for overwriting is located when it was transferred to the magenta ink layer Rm of the above, that is, the ink layer of the symbol "M". When the X margin factor XM1 of a random character string consisting of alphabetic characters is set to the numerical value "0.65", the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol "K". FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer in FIG. 25 when transferred to the ink layer of the symbol “M”, as viewed from the side where the overwriting platen roller 70 is located. When the X margin factor XM1 of a random character string consisting of alphabetic characters is set to the numerical value "0.65", the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol "K". It is explanatory drawing which looked at the black ink layer Rk after transfer in FIG. 26 from the side where the thermal head TH2 for overwriting is located when it was transferred to the cyan ink layer Rc of the above, that is, the ink layer of the symbol "C". When the X margin factor XM1 of a random character string consisting of alphabetic characters is set to the numerical value "0.65", the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol "K". It is explanatory drawing which saw the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer in FIG. 26 from the side where the platen roller 70 for overwriting is located when it was transferred to the cyan ink layer Rc of the above, that is, the ink layer of the symbol "C". In the modified example, when a continuous pattern image is set as the superimposed image, the continuous pattern image for the yellow image is the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, the yellow ink after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol “K”. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the black ink layer Rk after transfer in FIG. 24 as viewed from the side where the overwriting thermal head TH2 is located when the layer Ry, that is, the ink layer of the symbol “Y” is transferred. In the modified example, when a continuous pattern image is set as the superimposed image, the continuous pattern image for the yellow image is the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, the yellow ink after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol “K”. It is explanatory drawing which looked at the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer in FIG. 24 from the side where the overwriting platen roller 70 is located when it was transferred to the layer Ry, that is, the ink layer of the symbol "Y". In the modified example, when a continuous pattern image is set as the superimposed image, the continuous pattern image for the magenta image is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, the yellow ink after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol “K”. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the black ink layer Rk after transfer in FIG. 25 as viewed from the side where the overwriting thermal head TH2 is located when the layer Rm, that is, the ink layer of the symbol “M” is transferred. In the modified example, when a continuous pattern image is set as the superimposed image, the continuous pattern image for the magenta image is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, the magenta ink after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol “K”. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer in FIG. 25 when transferred to the layer Rm, that is, the ink layer of the symbol “M”, as viewed from the side where the overwriting platen roller 70 is located. In the modified example, when a continuous pattern image is set as the superimposed image, the continuous pattern image for the cyan image is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, the cyan ink after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol “K”. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the black ink layer Rk after transfer in FIG. 26 as viewed from the side where the overwriting thermal head TH2 is located when the layer Rc, that is, the ink layer of the symbol “C” is transferred. In the modified example, when a continuous pattern image is set as the superimposed image, the continuous pattern image for the cyan image is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, the cyan ink after transfer from the ink layer of the symbol “K”. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the transferred cyan ink layer Rc in FIG. 26 when transferred to the layer Rc, that is, the ink layer of the symbol “C”, as viewed from the side where the overwriting platen roller 70 is located.

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a thermal transfer printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The thermal transfer printing system 1 includes a thermal transfer printer 2 and an information processing device 3. The thermal transfer printer 2 is a printer that transfers and prints a desired image on a printing medium such as paper or a card by using a color ink ribbon and a transfer film on which an ink layer is transferred. The information processing device 3 is composed of a computer capable of communicating with the thermal transfer printer 2, and transmits image data and various commands to the thermal transfer printer 2. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the thermal transfer printer 2. The vertical direction and the horizontal direction are the directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 1, and the front-rear direction is a direction orthogonal to these directions, and the other drawings after FIG. 2 also show each direction.

<Mechanical configuration of thermal transfer printer 2>
In FIG. 1, the thermal transfer printer 2 includes a ribbon transfer mechanism 12 for conveying a color ink ribbon 10, a unit moving mechanism 16 for moving a head unit 14, a head elevating mechanism 18 for raising and lowering thermal heads TH1 and TH2, and a transfer film. It mainly includes a film transport mechanism 22 for transporting 20 and a printing mechanism 26 for transferring a desired image to the card 24.

The color ink ribbon 10 is a known ink ribbon that extends long in a strip shape, and a sublimable ink layer of three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan and a meltable ink layer of black form a set in the longitudinal direction. It is formed by being repeatedly arranged in. In the present embodiment, in the color ink ribbon 10, the yellow ink layer Ry, the magenta ink layer Rm, the cyan ink layer Rc, and the black ink layer Rk are arranged in the longitudinal direction in the order described above. One ribbon section of each of the four ink layers Ry, Rm, Rc, and Rk has a predetermined ribbon section length in the longitudinal direction, that is, a ribbon transport direction, and a predetermined ribbon section in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. It has a stroke width. The color ink ribbon 10 has a structure in which each ink layer is laminated on a strip-shaped base material.

In the transfer film 20, a part of each ink layer of the color ink ribbon 10 is superimposed and transferred as an image, and the transferred image is re-transferred to the card 24. It has an ink receiving layer laminated on the base material. The basic structure of the transfer film 20 is known from Japanese Patent No. 4207682 and the like. In this embodiment, the transfer film 20 has a large number of film compartments that are continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction. Each film compartment has a predetermined film compartment length approximately the same as the predetermined ribbon compartment length in the longitudinal direction, that is, the film transport direction, and a width approximately the same as the predetermined ribbon compartment width in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. Has a predetermined film compartment width and. A partition partition is arranged between two film compartments adjacent in the longitudinal direction.

<< Detailed configuration of the ribbon transfer mechanism 12 >>
The detailed configuration of the ribbon transport mechanism 12 will be described with reference to FIG. The ribbon transport mechanism 12 includes a ribbon supply support shaft 30, a ribbon winding support shaft 32, seven ribbon guide rollers 34A to 34G, and a ribbon winding motor 36. The ribbon supply support shaft 30 is rotatably attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2 in a state where a predetermined rotational resistance is applied. The ribbon supply spool 38 around which the color ink ribbon 10 is wound is configured to be insertable into the ribbon supply support shaft 30, and rotates together with the ribbon supply support shaft 30. The ribbon winding support shaft 32 is rotatably attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2. The ribbon take-up spool 40 on which the color ink ribbon 10 is taken up is configured to be insertable into the ribbon take-up support shaft 32, and rotates together with the ribbon take-up support shaft 32. The ribbon winding motor 36 is connected to the ribbon winding support shaft 32, and rotates the ribbon winding support shaft 32 in the clockwise direction in FIG. The ribbon take-up motor 36 has a built-in encoder that detects the amount of rotation. The encoder can generate a detection signal indicating the amount of the color ink ribbon 10 conveyed.

The seven ribbon guide rollers 34A to 34G are rotatably attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2. The ribbon guide rollers 34A and 34B are arranged so that the color ink ribbon 10 supplied from the ribbon supply spool 38 is horizontally conveyed from right to left. The ribbon guide roller 34C is arranged below the ribbon guide roller 34B at predetermined roller height intervals so that the color ink ribbon 10 passing through the ribbon guide roller 34B is conveyed downward. The ribbon guide roller 34D is arranged so that the color ink ribbon 10 passing through the ribbon guide roller 34C is horizontally conveyed from the left side to the right side.

The ribbon guide roller 34E is arranged at a position separated from the ribbon guide roller 34D to the lower left so that the color ink ribbon 10 folded back on the ribbon guide roller 34D is conveyed toward the lower left. The ribbon guide roller 34F receives the color ink ribbon 10 passing through the ribbon guide roller 34E. The ribbon guide rollers 34F and 34G are arranged so as to be close to the color ink ribbon 10 conveyed between the ribbon guide rollers 34C and 34D in the vertical direction, and the color ink ribbon 10 is directed from right to left. Are arranged so that they are transported horizontally. The ribbon take-up spool 40 winds up the color ink ribbon 10 passing through the ribbon guide roller 34G.

In the present embodiment, the ribbon guide rollers 34A and 34B form a ribbon transport path portion 42 for transporting the color ink ribbon 10 before the desired image is transferred. The ribbon guide rollers 34F and 34G are the color ink ribbon 10 after the transfer after the desired image is transferred, and form the ribbon transfer path portion 44 that conveys the color ink ribbon 10 after the transfer that has been transferred earlier. To do. The ribbon guide rollers 34C and 34D are the color ink ribbon 10 after the transfer after the desired image is transferred, and form the ribbon transport path portion 46 for transporting the color ink ribbon 10 after the transfer that has been transferred later. .. The ribbon transport path portion 42 and the ribbon transport path portion 46 are arranged at predetermined roller height intervals. The ribbon transport path portion 44 is arranged close to the ribbon transport path portion 46 in the vertical direction.

<< Detailed configuration of the unit movement mechanism 16 and the head elevating mechanism 18 >>
The detailed configuration of the unit moving mechanism 16 and the head elevating mechanism 18 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the head elevating mechanism 18 as viewed from the front, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional surface on the right side of the head elevating mechanism 18 cut along the line AA shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the right. Is.

(Detailed configuration of unit movement mechanism 16)
In FIG. 1, the head unit 14 includes a base frame 50 and an elevating support frame 52. The elevating support frame 52 is fixed to the base frame 50. The unit moving mechanism 16 includes a guide shaft 54, three guide rails 56 to 60, a drive belt 62, and a unit drive motor 64. The guide shaft 54 is fixed to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2 in a state of extending horizontally in the left-right direction. The three guide rails 56 to 60 are fixed to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2 at intervals in the vertical direction in a state of extending horizontally in the horizontal direction. The drive belt 62 is stretched between a pair of pulleys rotatably attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2 in a state of extending horizontally in the left-right direction. The unit drive motor 64 is connected to one of the pair of pulleys via a reduction mechanism.

In FIG. 3, the printing platen roller 66 is rotatably attached to the upper portion of the base frame 50 via a rotating shaft 68. The printing platen roller 66 is arranged above the ribbon transport path portion 42 and close to the ribbon transport path portion 42. The overwriting platen roller 70 is rotatably attached to the lower portion of the base frame 50 via the rotating shaft 72. The overwriting platen roller 70 is arranged below the ribbon transport path portion 44 and close to the ribbon transport path portion 44. The support shaft 74 is fixed to the front end of the elevating support frame 52 in a state of projecting forward from the front end of the elevating support frame 52. The guide roller 76 is rotatably attached to the front end of the rotating shaft 68 and fits into the guide rail 56. The guide roller 78 is rotatably attached to the front end of the rotating shaft 72 and fits into the guide rail 58. The guide roller 80 is rotatably attached to the front end of the support shaft 74 and fits into the guide rail 60. The guide block 82 is fixed to the rear end of the base frame 50 in a state of projecting rearward from the rear end of the base frame 50. The guide block 82 has a guide hole, and the guide shaft 54 fits into the guide hole.

The base frame 50 is attached to a part of the drive belt 62. When the unit drive motor 64 rotates, the base frame 50 can move in the left-right direction along the guide shaft 54 and the guide rails 56 to 60 by receiving a driving force from the drive belt 62. The unit drive motor 64 has a built-in encoder that detects the rotation direction and the amount of rotation. The encoder can generate a detection signal indicating the moving direction and the moving amount of the head unit 14 in the left-right direction.

(Detailed configuration of head elevating mechanism 18)
The head elevating mechanism 18 includes a head support plate 90, a pair of head elevating guide shafts 92 and 94, an elevating control cam 96, a drive gear 98, a pair of operating levers 100 and 102, a connecting shaft 104, and a head elevating mechanism. It includes a motor 106. In FIG. 2, the printing thermal head TH1 is attached to the upper end of the head support plate 90 and faces the printing platen roller 66. The overwriting thermal head TH2 is attached to the lower end of the head support plate 90 and faces the overwriting platen roller 70. In FIG. 3, the head elevating guide shaft 92 is fixed at a position close to the front end of the elevating support frame 52 in a vertically extending state, and the head elevating guide shaft 94 is vertically extended in a vertically extending support frame 52. It is fixed at a position close to the rear end. The head elevating guide shafts 92 and 94 guide the head support plate 90 so as to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction.

In FIG. 2, the cam support shaft 108 is fixed to the elevating support frame 52 in a state of projecting to the right from the elevating support frame 52. In FIG. 3, the elevating control cam 96 and the drive gear 98 are rotatably attached to the cam support shaft 108 around the cam support shaft 108. The elevating control cam 96 is fixed to the drive gear 98 and rotates integrally with the drive gear 98. The pair of operating levers 100 and 102 are swingably attached to the lift support frame 52 at a position close to the rear end of the lift support frame 52 by a common swing shaft 110.

In FIG. 2, the connecting shaft 104 is fixed to the head support plate 90 in a state of projecting to the right from the head support plate 90. A coil spring 112 is stretched between the operating lever 100 and the connecting shaft 104, and the operating lever 100 is constantly urged so that the operating lever 100 engages with the cam surface of the elevating control cam 96. A coil spring 114 is stretched between the operating lever 102 and the connecting shaft 104, and the operating lever 102 is constantly urged so that the operating lever 102 engages with the cam surface of the elevating control cam 96.

The head elevating motor 106 is fixed to the base frame 50 and incorporates an encoder that detects the rotation direction and the amount of rotation. The encoder generates a detection signal indicating the rotation direction and rotation amount of the head elevating motor 106. The small gear 116 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the head elevating motor 106 and meshes with the drive gear 98. The origin detection slit 118 is formed in the drive gear 98.

In FIG. 1, the head support plate 90 moves in the left-right direction and moves up and down in the vertical direction while supporting the thermal heads TH1 and TH2 between the ribbon transport path portion 42 and the ribbon transport path portion 46. Can be done.

<< Detailed configuration of the film transport mechanism 22 >>
The film transport mechanism 22 includes a film supply support shaft 120, a film take-up support shaft 122, four film guide rollers 124A to 124D, a film supply motor 126, and a film take-up motor 128. The film supply support shaft 120 is rotatably attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2. The film supply spool 130 around which the transfer film 20 is wound is configured to be insertable into the film supply support shaft 120 and rotates together with the film supply support shaft 120. The film take-up support shaft 122 is rotatably attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2. The film take-up spool 132 on which the transfer film 20 is taken up is configured to be insertable into the film take-up support shaft 122, and rotates together with the film take-up support shaft 122. The film supply motor 126 is connected to the film supply support shaft 120 and can rotate the film supply support shaft 120 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 to rewind the transfer film 20. The film take-up motor 128 is connected to the film take-up support shaft 122, and rotates the film take-up support shaft 122 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. The film supply motor 126 includes an encoder that detects the direction of rotation and the amount of rotation. The encoder of the motor 126 can generate a detection signal indicating the transfer direction and transfer amount of the transfer film 20. The film take-up motor 128 has a built-in encoder that detects the direction of rotation and the amount of rotation. The encoder of the motor 128 can generate a detection signal indicating the transfer direction and transfer amount of the transfer film 20.

The four film guide rollers 124A to 124D are rotatably attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2. The film guide rollers 124A and 124B are arranged so that the transfer film 20 supplied from the film supply spool 130 is horizontally conveyed from right to left. The film guide rollers 124C are arranged at intervals above the film guide rollers 124B so that the transfer film 20 passing through the film guide rollers 124B is conveyed upward. The film guide roller 124D is arranged so that the transfer film 20 passing through the film guide roller 124C is horizontally conveyed from the left to the right. The film take-up spool 132 winds the transfer film 20 passing through the film guide roller 124D. The film guide roller 124C and the film guide roller 124D form a film transport path portion 134 for transporting the transfer film.

<< Detailed configuration of the printing mechanism 26 >>
The printing mechanism 26 includes a heat roller 140, a pressing roller 142, a first carry-in roller set 144A and 144B, a second carry-in roller set 146A and 146B, a first carry-out roller set 148A and 148B, and a second. The unloading roller set 150A and 150B and the card transfer motor 152 are provided. A large number of rollers included in the printing mechanism 26 form a card transfer path 154 for horizontally transporting the card 24 from left to right in FIG. 1. The card transfer path 154 is arranged close to the film transfer path portion 134 formed by the film guide roller 124C and the film guide roller 124D.

The heat roller 140 is attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2 below the film transport path portion 134 so as to approach or separate from the film transport path portion 134 in the vertical direction. The pressing roller 142 is rotatably attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2 above the film transport path portion 134.

The first carry-in roller set 144A and 144B can rotate to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2 in order to carry the card 24 in the card transport direction toward the image retransfer position between the heat roller 140 and the pressing roller 142. Attached to. The second carry-in roller sets 146A and 146B are arranged on the downstream side of the first carry-in roller sets 144A and 144B in the card transport direction, and the thermal transfer printer 2 is used to carry in the card 24 toward the image retransfer position. It is rotatably attached to the frame of.

The first unloading roller sets 148A and 148B are rotatably attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2 in order to unload the card 24 in the card transport direction from the image retransfer position between the heat roller 140 and the pressing roller 142. Be done. The second unloading roller sets 150A and 150B are arranged on the downstream side of the first unloading roller set 148A and 148B in the card transport direction, and are placed in the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2 in order to unload the card 24 from the thermal transfer printer 2. It can be mounted rotatably.

The card transfer motor 152 includes a heat roller 140, a pressing roller 142, a first carry-in roller 144A, a second carry-in roller 146A, a first carry-out roller 148A, and a second carry-out roller 150A, respectively. Connected to rotate these rollers. The card transfer motor 152 has a built-in encoder that detects the direction of rotation and the amount of rotation. The encoder can generate a detection signal indicating the transport direction and the transport amount of the card 24.

≪Detailed configuration of various sensors≫
The thermal transfer printer 2 includes various sensors. The ribbon sensor SN1 is attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2 at a position close to the ribbon guide roller 34A. The ribbon sensor SN1 is composed of an optical sensor, and generates a detection signal according to the amount of light transmitted through each ink layer in order to detect that the black ink layer Rk of the color ink ribbon 10 has reached the sensor detection position.

The unit origin sensor SN2 is attached to the guide block 82 of the base frame 50. The unit origin sensor SN2 is composed of an optical sensor, and when the head unit 14 returns to the predetermined unit origin position shown in FIG. 1, it detects the detection piece 160 and generates a unit origin detection signal. In FIG. 1, the detection piece 160 is fixed to the left end of the guide shaft 54.

As shown in FIG. 3, the head origin sensor SN3 is attached to the front end of the elevating support frame 52 by the attachment plate 162. The head origin sensor SN3 is composed of an optical sensor, and when the origin detection slit 118 formed in the drive gear 98 reaches the sensor detection position, the origin detection slit 118 is detected and a head origin detection signal is generated. .. FIG. 3 shows a head origin detection state in which the head origin sensor SN3 detects the origin detection slit 118. In this head origin detection state, both the thermal heads TH1 and TH2 are located at predetermined head origin positions and are separated from the platen rollers 66 and 70 as shown in FIG.

The film sensor SN4 is attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2 at a position close to the film guide roller 124B. The film sensor SN4 is composed of an optical sensor, and generates a partition detection signal when the partition portion of the transfer film 20 reaches the sensor detection position.

The card tip sensor SN5 is attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2 so as to be located between the first carry-in roller set 144A and 144B and the second carry-in roller set 146A and 146B. The card tip sensor SN5 detects that the tip of the card 24 has passed the sensor detection position and the state in which the card 24 is inserted when the card 24 is inserted into a predetermined position of the thermal transfer printer 2 by the user. Then, the card tip detection signal and the card insertion detection signal are generated. The card rear end sensor SN6 is attached to the frame of the thermal transfer printer 2 so as to be located between the first unloading roller sets 148A and 148B and the second unloading roller sets 150A and 150B. The card rear end sensor SN6 detects that the rear end of the card 24 carried out by the first carry-out roller set 148A and 148B has passed the sensor detection position, and generates a card rear end detection signal.

<Electrical configuration of thermal transfer printing system 1>
The electrical configuration of the thermal transfer printing system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the thermal transfer printing system 1. In FIG. 4, the thermal transfer printer 2 includes a main control processing unit 200 and a sub control processing unit 202. The main control processing unit 200 includes a CPU and a data processing circuit such as a gate array. The program memory 210, the working memory 220, and the interface 230 are connected to the main control processing unit 200, respectively. The program memory 210 fixedly stores various programs such as a main processing program that controls the overall operation of the thermal transfer printer 2 and a program that executes the transfer printing process shown in FIG. 5, and various set values. To do. The working memory 220 temporarily stores various data sent from the outside through the interface 230 and the arithmetic processing results of the main control processing unit 200. Further, the program memory 210 stores image data representing characters in each language constituting a random character string. The main control processing unit 200 constitutes a computer together with storage means such as a program memory 210 and a working memory 220.

The main control processing unit 200 is connected to the external information processing device 3 through the interface 230 and the LAN 240. The information processing device 3 is composed of a personal computer, can create various image data, and transmit a print command and image data to the main control processing unit 200.

The main control processing unit 200 includes an operation unit 250, a display unit 260, a head drive circuit 270, 272, a unit drive circuit 274, a head elevating drive circuit 276, a ribbon winding drive circuit 278, a ribbon sensor SN1, and a unit origin sensor SN2. , And the head origin sensor SN3, respectively. The operation unit 250 includes various operation keys and the like, and is configured to be operable by the user in order to input and select various information. The display unit 260 is composed of display means such as a liquid crystal display and a lamp, and displays an operating state of the thermal transfer printer 2. The head drive circuits 270 and 272 heat-drive the print thermal head TH1 and the overwrite thermal head TH2, respectively, in accordance with the print control command supplied from the main control processing unit 200 and the image data. The unit drive circuit 274 rotates the unit drive motor 64 in accordance with a rotation control command from the main control processing unit 200. The head elevating drive circuit 276 rotates the head elevating motor 106 in accordance with a rotation control command from the main control processing unit 200. The ribbon winding drive circuit 278 rotates the ribbon winding motor 36 in accordance with a rotation control command from the main control processing unit 200.

The sub control processing unit 202 controls the overall operation of the print task according to the print task execution command from the main control processing unit 200. Like the main control processing unit 200, the sub control processing unit 202 includes a CPU and a data processing circuit such as a gate array. The program memory 212 and the working memory 222 are connected to the sub-control processing unit 202, respectively. The program memory 212 fixedly stores various programs such as a program that executes the printing task shown in FIG. 8 and various set values. The working memory 222 temporarily stores various data sent from the main control processing unit 200 and the calculation processing result of the sub control processing unit 202. The sub-control processing unit 202 constitutes a computer together with storage means such as a program memory 212 and a working memory 222.

Further, the sub-control processing unit 202 is connected to the film winding drive circuit 280, the film supply drive circuit 282, the card transfer drive circuit 284, the film sensor SN4, the card front end sensor SN5, and the card rear end sensor SN6, respectively. The film take-up drive circuit 280 rotates the film take-up motor 128 in accordance with a rotation control command from the sub-control processing unit 202. The film supply drive circuit 282 rotates the film supply motor 126 in accordance with a rotation control command from the sub-control processing unit 202. The card transfer drive circuit 284 rotates the card transfer motor 152 in accordance with a rotation control command from the sub control processing unit 202.

The information processing device 3 mainly includes an arithmetic processing unit 300, a program memory 310, a working memory 320, an image memory 330, an operation unit 340, and a display unit 350. The arithmetic processing unit 300 includes a data processing circuit such as a CPU. The program memory 310 fixedly stores various programs such as a main processing program that controls the overall operation of the information processing apparatus 3 and an image data generation processing program, and various set values. The working memory 320 temporarily stores the arithmetic processing result of the arithmetic processing unit 300. The image memory 330 is composed of a non-volatile memory capable of reading and writing data, and stores various types of image data created for printing on the card 24. The operation unit 340 includes an operable input operation means such as a keyboard and a mouse. The display unit 350 is composed of display means such as a liquid crystal display, and displays a screen necessary for creating image data.

<Operation and operation of the embodiment>
The operation and operation of the thermal transfer printing system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The operation of the thermal transfer printing system 1 will be broadly divided into a transfer printing process executed by the main control processing unit 200 and a printing task executed by the sub control processing unit 202. The processing of each step shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, 9 and 12 to 14 is a processing executed by the CPU of the main control processing unit 200, and the processing of each step shown in FIG. Is a process executed by the CPU of the sub-control processing unit 202.

≪Transfer printing process≫
The transfer printing process will be described with reference to FIG. With the power of the thermal transfer printer 2 turned on, the user operates the operation unit 340 of the information processing device 3 and transmits a print command to the main control processing unit 200 via the LAN 240 and the interface 230. The main control processing unit 200 reads the program for executing the transfer printing process shown in FIG. 5 from the program memory 210 according to the printing command, and starts executing the transfer printing process.

The initial operation is executed (SA1). The initial operation is an operation of setting the initial state of the thermal transfer printer 2 in order to print a desired image. The detailed processing of the initial operation is the processing shown in FIG. 6, which will be described later.

It is determined whether or not the image data has been received (SA2). When no image data has been received (SA2: NO), step SA2 is repeated. When the image data is received (SA2: YES), the process proceeds to step SA3. Specifically, the user operates the operation unit 340 of the information processing device 3, reads out image data representing a desired image to be printed on the card 24 from the image memory 330, and reads the image data via the LAN 240 and the interface 230. Is transmitted to the main control processing unit 200. When the main control processing unit 200 receives the image data and temporarily stores it in the working memory 220, step SA2 determines that the image data has been received. In the present embodiment, the desired image is a color image for creating the employee ID card shown in FIG. 28, and includes characters representing an employee number, a name, and the like, and a face image representing the upper body of the employee. The characters in the desired image are formed by a black ink layer, and the face image in the desired image is formed by three color ink layers of yellow, magenta, and cyan. Therefore, the image data includes character data representing characters and image data of each color. In FIG. 28, the desired image has an image forming region GR defined according to the size of the card 24. The image forming region GR is defined by the image height GH, which is the region height, and the image width GW, which is the region width. The image height GH is approximately the same height as the predetermined ribbon section length and the predetermined film section length, and the image width GW is approximately the same width as the predetermined ribbon section width and the predetermined film section width. ..

The count value RC of the internal counter of the main control processing unit 200 is set to "0" (SA3). The count value RC is added by "1" when the color ink ribbon 10 is conveyed by a predetermined ribbon section length.

An intermediate transfer process is performed (SA4). The intermediate transfer process is a process of transferring a desired image to the transfer film 20 by transferring each ink layer of the color ink ribbon 10 to the transfer film 20. The detailed processing of the intermediate transfer processing is the processing shown in FIG. 7, which will be described later.

The transfer request flag is set (SA5). The transfer request flag is a flag prepared for monitoring the execution status of the print task described later.

A print task execution command is generated (SA6). The print task execution command is transmitted from the main control processing unit 200 to the sub control processing unit 202. Upon receiving the print task execution command, the sub-control processing unit 202 reads the print task program shown in FIG. 8 from the program memory 212 and executes the print task. The detailed processing of the print task will be described later.

The count value RC of the internal counter of the main control processing unit 200 is set to "0" (SA7).

Afterimage transfer processing is performed (SA8). The afterimage transfer process is a process of overwriting a predetermined superimposed image on each ink layer of the color ink ribbon 10 after the desired image is transferred, thereby making the image remaining in each ink layer difficult to read. The detailed process of the afterimage transfer process is the process shown in FIG. 9, which will be described later.

It is determined whether or not the transfer request flag has been reset (SA9). When the transfer request flag has not been reset (SA9: NO), step SA9 is repeated. When the transfer request flag is reset (SA9: YES), the transfer printing process ends.

(Detailed processing of initial operation SA1)
The detailed processing of the initial operation SA1 will be described with reference to FIG. The thermal head returns to the head origin position (SB1). Specifically, the main control processing unit 200 transmits a rotation control command to the head elevating drive circuit 276 to rotate the head elevating motor 106 until the head origin sensor SN3 detects the origin detecting slit 118 of the drive gear 98. .. When the head origin sensor SN3 detects the origin detection slit 118 of the drive gear 98, the main control processing unit 200 sends a rotation stop command to the head elevating drive circuit 276 to stop the rotation of the head elevating motor 106. When the rotation of the head elevating motor 106 is stopped, the head support plate 90 that supports the thermal heads TH1 and TH2 is positioned at the head origin position shown in FIG.

The head unit returns to the unit origin position (SB2). Specifically, the main control processing unit 200 transmits a rotation control command to the unit drive circuit 274 until the unit origin sensor SN2 detects the detection piece 160 fixed to the guide shaft 54, and the head unit 14 in FIG. 1 transmits the rotation control command. The unit drive motor 64 is rotated so as to move to the left. When the unit origin sensor SN2 detects the detection piece 160, the main control processing unit 200 transmits a rotation stop command to the unit drive circuit 274 to stop the rotation of the unit drive motor 64. When the rotation of the unit drive motor 64 is stopped, the head unit 14 is positioned at the unit origin position shown in FIG.

A cue command for the transfer film 20 is generated (SB3). The cueing command of the transfer film 20 is transmitted from the main control processing unit 200 to the sub control processing unit 202. When the sub-control processing unit 202 receives the cueing command of the transfer film 20, the sub-control processing unit 202 reads out the program for cueing the transfer film 20 from the program memory 212 and executes the cueing of the transfer film 20. When the cueing of the transfer film 20 is started, the sub-control processing unit 202 transmits a rotation control command to the film winding drive circuit 280 until the film sensor SN4 detects the partition portion of the transfer film 20. , The film take-up motor 128 is rotated so that the transfer film 20 is taken up by the film take-up spool 132 in FIG. When the film sensor SN4 detects the partition portion of the transfer film 20, the sub-control processing unit 202 transmits a rotation stop command to the film winding drive circuit 280 to stop the rotation of the film winding motor 128. When the rotation of the film take-up motor 128 is stopped, the partition portion of the transfer film 20 is positioned at the sensor detection position of the film sensor SN4, and the cueing of the transfer film 20 is completed.

Cueing of the color ink ribbon 10 is executed (SB4). Specifically, the ribbon sensor SN1 transmits a detection signal representing the amount of light transmitted to each ink layer of the color ink ribbon 10 to the main control processing unit 200. The main control processing unit 200 determines whether or not the light transmission amount of the transmitted detection signal matches the light transmission amount of the black ink layer Rk, and continues until it is determined that the light transmission amounts of both light transmission amounts match. The 200 transmits a rotation control command to the ribbon winding drive circuit 278, and rotates the ribbon winding motor 36 so that the color ink ribbon 10 is wound by the ribbon winding spool 40 in FIG. When it is determined that the two light transmission amounts match, the main control processing unit 200 transmits a rotation stop command to the ribbon winding drive circuit 278 to stop the rotation of the ribbon winding motor 36. When the rotation of the ribbon take-up motor 36 is stopped, the tip of the ribbon section of the black ink layer Rk in the ribbon transport direction is positioned at the sensor detection position of the ribbon sensor SN1, and the cueing of the color ink ribbon 10 is completed. ..

It is determined whether or not the card 24 has been inserted into the predetermined position of the thermal transfer printer 2 (SB5). When it is not determined that the card 14 has been inserted (SB5: NO), step SB5 is repeated. When it is determined that the card 14 has been inserted (SB5: YES), the process proceeds to step SB6. Specifically, the main control processing unit 200 transmits a detection command for detecting the insertion status of the card 24 to the sub control processing unit 202. The sub-control processing unit 202 receives the detection signal from the card tip sensor SN5 according to the detection command. When the user inserts the card 24 at a predetermined position, the card tip sensor SN5 generates a card detection signal indicating a state of being shielded from light by the card 24 and transmits the card detection signal to the sub-control processing unit 202. The sub control processing unit 202 transmits the received card detection signal to the main control processing unit 200. When the main control processing unit 200 receives the card detection signal, it determines that the card 14 has been inserted.

A cue command for the card 24 is generated (SB6). The cue command of the card 24 is transmitted from the main control processing unit 200 to the sub control processing unit 202. When the sub-control processing unit 202 receives the cue command of the card 24, the sub-control processing unit 202 reads the program for cueing the card 24 from the program memory 212 and executes the cueing of the card 24. When the execution of cueing the card 24 is started, the sub-control processing unit 202 transmits a rotation control command to the card transfer drive circuit 284 until the card tip sensor SN5 detects the tip portion of the card 24 in the card transfer direction. Then, the card transfer motor 152 is rotated so that the card 24 is conveyed to the left in FIG. 1, that is, in the direction opposite to the card transfer direction. When the card tip sensor SN5 changes from the state where the card 24 is detected to the state where the card 24 is not detected, that is, when the tip portion of the card 24 is detected, the sub-control processing unit 202 sends a rotation stop command to the card. It is transmitted to the drive circuit 284 to stop the rotation of the card transfer motor 152. When the rotation of the card transfer motor 152 is stopped, the tip portion of the card 24 is positioned at the sensor detection position of the card tip sensor SN5, and the cueing of the card 24 is completed.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the thermal transfer printer 2 shown in FIG. In FIG. 19, the symbol "Y" attached to the color ink ribbon 10 represents one ribbon section of the yellow ink layer Ry, and the symbol "M" represents one ribbon section of the magenta ink layer Rm, and the symbol "M". "C" represents one ribbon section of the cyan ink layer Rc, and the symbol "K" represents one ribbon section of the black ink layer Rk. The symbol "T1" attached to the transfer film 20 represents the first film compartment of the transfer film 20, the symbol "T2" represents the second film compartment of the transfer film 20, and the symbol "T3" represents. Represents the third film compartment of the transfer film 20. In FIG. 19, the thermal heads TH1 and TH2 return to the head origin position in the vertical direction, and the head unit 14 on which the thermal heads TH1 and TH2 are mounted returns to the unit origin position in the horizontal direction. In FIG. 19, by positioning the partition portion of the transfer film 20 at the sensor detection position of the film sensor SN4, the cueing of the transfer film 20 in the transfer film transport direction is completed, and the black ink layer Rk of the color ink ribbon 10 is completed. The tip portion of the color ink ribbon 10, that is, the tip portion of the ribbon section of the symbol “K” is positioned at the sensor detection position of the ribbon sensor SN1, so that the cueing of the color ink ribbon 10 is completed in the ribbon transport direction. When the cueing of the transfer film 20 and the cueing of the color ink ribbon 10 are completed, the transfer film is formed between the thermal head TH1 for printing and the platen roller 66 for printing as shown in FIG. The first film section T1 of 20 and the yellow ink layer Ry of the color ink ribbon 10, that is, the ribbon section of the ink layer of the symbol “Y” are in an overlapping state.

(Detailed processing of intermediate transfer processing SA4)
The detailed processing of the intermediate transfer processing SA4 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The thermal head rises to a predetermined upper position for printing (SC1). Specifically, the main control processing unit is such that the head support plate 90 that supports the thermal heads TH1 and TH2 rises to a predetermined upper position separated by a predetermined distance from the head origin position shown in FIG. 200 transmits a rotation control command to the head elevating drive circuit 276 to rotate the head elevating motor 106. 10 and 11 show a state in which the head support plate 90 is raised to a predetermined upper position. At a predetermined upper position, the printing thermal head TH1 supported by the head support plate 90 is positioned close to the printing platen roller 66 according to the action of the elevating control cam 96 rotated by the head elevating motor 106. .. FIG. 20 shows a state in which the printing thermal head TH1 is raised from the head origin position shown in FIG. 19 to a predetermined upper position.

The printing thermal head TH1 transfers the desired image in one ribbon compartment (SC2). Specifically, the main control processing unit 200 reads the yellow image data from the work memory 220, transmits the yellow image data to the head drive circuit 270, and shifts the printing thermal head TH1 to the right in FIG. 20. A rotation control command for moving is transmitted to the unit drive circuit 274. The head drive circuit 270 heat-drives the printing thermal head TH1 according to the yellow image data, and the unit drive circuit 274 heats and drives the printing thermal head TH1 according to the rotation control command so that the printing thermal head TH1 is moved by one ribbon section. The unit drive motor 64 is rotated. As a result, a part of the yellow ink layer Ry forming the yellow image, that is, a part of the ink layer of the symbol “Y” shown in FIG. 20 is transferred to the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20. In FIG. 20, the positions of the thermal heads TH1, TH2, and the platen roller 66 for printing, which are indicated by the alternate long and short dash lines, are the positions when they are moved by one ribbon section.

The thermal head returns to the head origin position (SC3). Specifically, the main control processing unit is such that the head support plate 90 that supports the thermal heads TH1 and TH2 descends by a predetermined distance from a predetermined upper position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 20 to the head origin position. 200 transmits a rotation control command to the head elevating drive circuit 276 to rotate the head elevating motor 106. At the head origin position, the printing thermal head TH1 and the overwriting thermal head TH2 supported by the head support plate 90 are subjected to the printing platen roller 66 and the printing platen roller 66 according to the action of the elevating control cam 96 rotated by the head elevating motor 106. Positioning is performed in a state of being separated from the overwriting platen roller 70.

The head unit 14 is moved to the left by one ribbon compartment (SC4). Specifically, in a state where the thermal heads TH1 and TH2 are positioned at the head origin position, the main control processing unit 200 issues a rotation control command so that the head unit 14 is moved to the left by one ribbon section. It is transmitted to the unit drive circuit 274 to rotate the unit drive motor 64. The main control processing unit 200 indicates that the head unit 14 has been moved to the left by one ribbon section according to the detection signals representing the rotation direction and the amount of rotation generated from the encoder built in the unit drive motor 64. You can judge.

It is determined whether or not the count value RC of the internal counter of the main control processing unit 200 is “3” (SC5). When the count value RC is determined to be "3" (SC5: YES), the intermediate transfer process ends. When it is determined that the count value RC is not "3" (SC5: NO), the process proceeds to step SC6.

The count value RC is added by "1" (SC6). Since the count value RC was set to "0" in the previously executed step SA3, the count value RC is increased from "0" to "1" by the execution of step SC6.

The color ink ribbon 10 is wound up by one ribbon section (SC7). Specifically, the color ink ribbon 10 is wound by one ribbon section, and the magenta ink layer Rm, that is, the ink layer of the symbol “M” shown in FIG. 21 is the first film of the transfer film 20. The main control processing unit 200 transmits a rotation control command to the ribbon winding drive circuit 278 so as to overlap the compartment T1 to rotate the ribbon winding motor 36. The main control processing unit 200 determines that the color ink ribbon 10 has been wound by one ribbon section according to a detection signal representing the amount of rotation generated from the encoder built in the ribbon winding motor 36. Can be done. After executing step SC7, the process returns to step SC1.

The processing of steps SC1 to SC7 is executed as the second processing so that the magenta ink layer Rm is transferred to the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20. For intermediate transfer of the magenta ink layer Rm, in step SC2, the main control processing unit 200 reads the magenta image data from the working memory 220, transmits the magenta image data to the head drive circuit 270, and shows FIG. 21. In, a rotation control command for moving the printing thermal head TH1 to the right is transmitted to the unit drive circuit 274. The head drive circuit 270 heat-drives the printing thermal head TH1 according to the magenta image data, and the unit drive circuit 274 heats and drives the printing thermal head TH1 according to the rotation control command so that the printing thermal head TH1 is moved by one ribbon section. The unit drive motor 64 is rotated. As a result, a part of the magenta ink layer Rm forming the magenta image, that is, a part of the ink layer of the symbol “M” shown in FIG. 21 is transferred to the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20. In step SC6, the count value RC is increased from "1" to "2".

The processes of steps SC1 to SC7 are executed as the third process so that the cyan ink layer Rc is transferred to the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20. For the intermediate transfer of the cyan ink layer Rc, in step SC2, the main control processing unit 200 reads the cyan image data from the working memory 220, transmits the cyan image data to the head drive circuit 270, and shows FIG. 22. In, a rotation control command for moving the printing thermal head TH1 to the right is transmitted to the unit drive circuit 274. The head drive circuit 270 heat-drives the printing thermal head TH1 according to the cyan image data, and the unit drive circuit 274 heats and drives the printing thermal head TH1 according to the rotation control command so that the printing thermal head TH1 is moved by one ribbon section. The unit drive motor 64 is rotated. As a result, a part of the cyan ink layer Rc forming the cyan image, that is, a part of the ink layer of the symbol “C” shown in FIG. 22 is transferred to the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20. In step SC6, the count value RC is increased from "2" to "3".

The processing of steps SC1 to SC5 is executed as the fourth processing so that the black ink layer Rk is transferred to the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20. For intermediate transfer of the black ink layer Rk, in step SC2, the main control processing unit 200 reads character data from the work memory 220, transmits the character data to the head drive circuit 270, and in FIG. 23, the printing thermal A rotation control command for moving the head TH1 to the right is transmitted to the unit drive circuit 274. The head drive circuit 270 heats and drives the printing thermal head TH1 according to the character data, and the unit drive circuit 274 drives the unit so that the printing thermal head TH1 is moved by one ribbon section according to the rotation control command. The motor 64 is rotated. As a result, a part of the black ink layer Rk forming the characters, that is, a part of the ink layer of the symbol “K” shown in FIG. 23 is transferred to the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20. Since the count value RC was increased to "3" in step SC6 executed in the third process, it was determined that the count value RC was "3" in step SC5 executed in the fourth process. , The intermediate transfer process is completed.

When the intermediate transfer process is completed, the thermal heads TH1 and TH2 return to the head origin position by executing step SC3 of the fourth process, and the head unit 14 returns to the unit origin by executing step SC4 of the fourth process. It is in a state of returning to the position.

≪Detailed processing of printing tasks≫
The detailed processing of the printing task will be described with reference to FIG. When the print task execution command is generated in step SA6, the sub control processing unit 202 receives the print task execution command from the main control processing unit 200, and executes the print task program shown in FIG. 8 from the program memory 212. Start executing read and print tasks.

It is determined whether or not the transfer request flag is set (SD1). When it is determined that the transfer request flag is not set (SD1: NO), step SD1 is repeated. When it is determined that the transfer request flag is set (SD1: YES), the process proceeds to step SD2.

The transfer film 20 is positioned in the standby position (SD2). Specifically, the sub-control processing unit 202 is rotated-controlled so that the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20 is located at a predetermined standby position close to the second carry-in roller 146A as shown in FIG. 24. A command is transmitted to the film take-up drive circuit 280 to rotate the film take-up motor 128. The sub-control processing unit 202 corresponds to the distance from the sensor detection position of the film sensor SN4 to the predetermined standby position by the transfer film 20 according to the detection signal representing the amount of rotation generated from the encoder built in the film take-up motor 128. It can be determined that only the amount of transport to be carried is taken up.

The card 24 is positioned in the standby position (SD3). Specifically, the sub-control processing unit is located at the standby position where the tip portion of the card 24 in the card transport direction is sandwiched between the second carry-in rollers 146A and 146B as shown in FIG. 24. 202 transmits a rotation control command to the card transfer drive circuit 284 to rotate the card transfer motor 152. In the sub-control processing unit 202, the tip portion of the card 24 is set to a predetermined standby position from the sensor detection position of the card tip sensor SN5 according to the detection signal indicating the rotation direction and the rotation amount generated from the encoder built in the card transfer motor 152. It can be determined that only the amount of transportation corresponding to the distance to the vehicle has been transported.

The heat roller 140 rises to a position where the pressing roller 142 is pressurized (SD4). Specifically, the sub-control processing unit 202 raises the heat roller 140 as shown in FIG. 25 by driving the driving means for raising and lowering the heat roller 140. When the heated heat roller 140 pressurizes the pressing roller 142, the image can be transferred.

The transfer film 20 and the card 24 are conveyed in synchronization (SD5). Specifically, the sub-control processing unit 202 issues a rotation control command to the film winding drive circuit so that the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20 and the card 24 overlap each other in a predetermined positional relationship shown in FIG. It is transmitted to 280 and the card transfer drive circuit 284, respectively, to rotate the film take-up motor 128 and the card transfer motor 152, respectively.

It is determined whether or not the image of one film section has been transferred (SD6). When it is determined that the image of one film section has not been transferred (SD6: NO), the process returns to step SD5. When it is determined that the image of one film section has been transferred (SD6: YES), the process proceeds to step SD7. The sub-control processing unit 202 transfers the transfer film 20 corresponding to the film partition length in the film transport direction of one film section according to a detection signal representing the amount of rotation generated from the encoder built in the film take-up motor 128. It can be determined that only the quantity has been transported. By executing steps SD5 and SD6, the desired image transferred to the first film compartment T1 of the transfer film 20 is retransferred to one card 24.

The heat roller 140 descends to a position separated from the pressing roller 142 (SD7). Specifically, the sub-control processing unit 202 lowers the heat roller 140 as shown in FIG. 26 by driving the driving means for raising and lowering the heat roller 140.

The card 24 is carried out (SD8). Specifically, the sub-control processing unit 202 issues a rotation control command to the card transfer drive circuit 284 so that the card 24 is carried out from the thermal transfer printer 2 by the first and second carry-out roller sets 148A, 148B, 150A, 150B. To rotate the card transfer motor 152.

The transfer film 20 is rewound (SD9). Specifically, in FIG. 26, the sub-control processing unit 202 is positioned so that the partition portion on the tip end side of the first film compartment T1 of the transfer film 20 is located back to the sensor detection position of the film sensor SN4. A rotation control command is transmitted to the film supply drive circuit 282 to rotate the film supply motor 126 in a rotation direction corresponding to a direction opposite to the transfer direction of the transfer film 20. In the sub-control processing unit 202, the partition portion on the tip end side of the first film compartment T1 of the transfer film 20 is set according to the detection signal indicating the rotation direction and the rotation amount generated from the encoder built in the film supply motor 126. It can be determined that the film has been wound by the amount of transport corresponding to the distance from the position shown in FIG. 25 to the sensor detection position of the film sensor SN4 shown in FIG. 26. In the present embodiment, when the partition portion on the tip end side of the first film compartment T1 of the transfer film 20 returns to the sensor detection position of the film sensor SN4, the tip end side of the second film compartment T2 of the transfer film 20 The partition portion of the above can face the printing thermal head TH1 in a state where the head unit 14 is located at the unit origin position.

The transfer request flag is reset (SD10). After executing step SD10, the print task ends.

≪Detailed processing of afterimage transfer processing≫
The detailed processing of the afterimage transfer processing will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the main control processing unit 200 executes the afterimage transfer processing in parallel while the sub control processing unit 202 is executing the printing task.

Random character string generation processing is executed (SE1). In the random character string generation process, the black ink layer Rk after transfer after the characters in the employee ID card are transferred, the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer after the face image in the employee ID card is transferred, and the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer. This is a process for generating three types of random character strings, which are superimposed images used when transferring to the magenta ink layer Rm and the transferred cyan ink layer Rc. The detailed processing of the random character string generation processing will be described later.

The thermal head descends to a predetermined lower position for afterimage transfer (SE2). Specifically, the main control processing unit is such that the head support plate 90 that supports the thermal heads TH1 and TH2 descends to a predetermined lower position that is separated by a predetermined distance from the head origin position shown in FIG. 200 transmits a rotation control command to the head elevating drive circuit 276 to rotate the head elevating motor 106. 17 and 18 show a state in which the head support plate 90 is lowered to a predetermined lower position. At a predetermined lower position, the overwriting thermal head TH2 supported by the head support plate 90 is positioned close to the overwriting platen roller 70 according to the action of the elevating control cam 96 rotated by the head elevating motor 106. .. FIG. 24 shows a state in which the overwriting thermal head TH2 is lowered from the head origin position to a predetermined lower position. In FIG. 24, the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, the ink layer of the symbol “K” located below the thermal head TH2 for overwriting, is the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, that is, the symbol “Y” in the vertical direction. It is in a state of overlapping with the ink layer of.

The overwriting thermal head TH2 transfers a random character string which is a superimposed image in one ribbon section (SE3). Specifically, the main control processing unit 200 reads the image data of the random character string for the yellow image from the work memory 220, transmits the image data of the random character string to the head drive circuit 272, and shows FIG. 24. In, a rotation control command for moving the overwriting thermal head TH2 to the right is transmitted to the unit drive circuit 274. The head drive circuit 272 heats and drives the overwrite thermal head TH2 according to the image data of the random character string for the yellow image, and the unit drive circuit 274 heats and drives the overwrite thermal head TH2 according to the rotation control command. The unit drive motor 64 is rotated so as to be moved by the amount. As a result, a part of the black ink layer Rk after transfer corresponding to the random character string for the yellow image, that is, a part of the ink layer of the symbol “K” shown in FIG. 24 is the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer. That is, it is transferred to the ink layer of the symbol "Y". In FIG. 24, the positions of the thermal heads TH1, TH2, and the overwriting platen roller 70 shown by the alternate long and short dash line are the positions when they are moved by one ribbon section.

The thermal head returns to the head origin position (SE4). Specifically, the main control processing unit is such that the head support plate 90 that supports the thermal heads TH1 and TH2 rises by a predetermined distance from a predetermined lower position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 24 to the head origin position. 200 transmits a rotation control command to the head elevating drive circuit 276 to rotate the head elevating motor 106. At the head origin position, the printing thermal head TH1 and the overwriting thermal head TH2 supported by the head support plate 90 are subjected to the printing platen roller 66 and the printing platen roller 66 according to the action of the elevating control cam 96 rotated by the head elevating motor 106. Positioning is performed in a state of being separated from the overwriting platen roller 70.

It is determined whether or not the count value RC of the internal counter of the main control processing unit 200 is “2” (SE5). When it is determined that the count value RC is “2” (SE5: YES), the process proceeds to step SE9. When it is determined that the count value RC is not "2" (SE5: NO), the process proceeds to step SE6.

The count value RC is added by "1" (SE6). Since the count value RC was set to "0" in the previously executed step SA7, the count value RC is increased from "0" to "1" by the execution of step SE6.

The head unit 14 is moved to the left by half the ribbon section (SE7). Specifically, in a state where the thermal heads TH1 and TH2 are positioned at the head origin position, the main control processing unit 200 issues a rotation control command so that the head unit 14 is moved to the left by half the ribbon section. It is transmitted to the unit drive circuit 274 to rotate the unit drive motor 64. The main control processing unit 200 indicates that the head unit 14 has been moved to the left by half the ribbon section according to the detection signals representing the rotation direction and the amount of rotation generated from the encoder built in the unit drive motor 64. You can judge.

The color ink ribbon 10 is wound up by half the ribbon section (SE8). Specifically, the color ink ribbon 10 is wound by half the ribbon section, and the black ink layer Rk after transfer, that is, the ink layer of the symbol “K” is the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer in the vertical direction. That is, the main control processing unit 200 transmits a rotation control command to the ribbon winding drive circuit 278 so as to overlap the ink layer of the symbol “M” to rotate the ribbon winding motor 36. The main control processing unit 200 determines that the color ink ribbon 10 has been wound by half the ribbon section according to the detection signal representing the amount of rotation generated from the encoder built in the ribbon winding motor 36. Can be done. After executing step SE8, the process returns to step SE1.

A part of the black ink layer Rk after transfer corresponding to a random character string for a magenta image, that is, a part of the ink layer of the symbol “K” shown in FIG. 25 is the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, that is, The processing of steps SE1 to SE8 is executed as the second processing so as to be transferred to the ink layer of the symbol "M". In step SE1, the main control processing unit 200 reads the image data of the random character string for the magenta image from the working memory 220 for the transfer to the magenta ink layer Rm after the transfer, and the image of the random character string. The data is transmitted to the head drive circuit 272, and the rotation control command for moving the overwriting thermal head TH2 to the right in FIG. 25 is transmitted to the unit drive circuit 274. The head drive circuit 272 heats and drives the overwrite thermal head TH2 according to the image data of a random character string for the magenta image, and the unit drive circuit 274 heats and drives the overwrite thermal head TH2 according to the rotation control command. The unit drive motor 64 is rotated so as to be moved by the amount. As a result, a part of the black ink layer Rk after transfer corresponding to the random character string for the magenta image, that is, a part of the ink layer of the symbol “K” shown in FIG. 25 is the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer. That is, it is transferred to the ink layer of the symbol "M". In FIG. 25, the positions of the thermal heads TH1, TH2, and the overwriting platen roller 70 shown by the alternate long and short dash line are the positions when they are moved by one ribbon section. In step SE6, the count value RC is increased from "1" to "2".

A part of the black ink layer Rk after transfer corresponding to a random character string for a cyan image, that is, a part of the ink layer of the symbol “K” shown in FIG. 26 is the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer, that is, The processing of steps SE1 to SE5 is executed as the third processing so as to be transferred to the ink layer of the symbol "C". In step SE1, the main control processing unit 200 reads out the image data of the random character string for the cyan image from the working memory 220 for the transfer to the cyan ink layer Rc after the transfer, and the image of the random character string. The data is transmitted to the head drive circuit 274, and the rotation control command for moving the overwriting thermal head TH2 to the right in FIG. 26 is transmitted to the unit drive circuit 274. The head drive circuit 274 heats and drives the overwrite thermal head TH2 according to the image data of a random character string for the cyan image, and the unit drive circuit 274 heats and drives the overwrite thermal head TH2 according to the rotation control command. The unit drive motor 64 is rotated so as to be moved by the amount. As a result, a part of the black ink layer Rk after transfer corresponding to the random character string for the cyan image, that is, a part of the ink layer of the symbol “K” shown in FIG. 26 is the cyanta ink layer after transfer. It is transferred to Rc, that is, the ink layer of the symbol "C". In FIG. 26, the positions of the thermal heads TH1, TH2, and the overwriting platen roller 70 shown by the alternate long and short dash line are the positions when they are moved by one ribbon section. Since the count value RC was increased to "2" in step SE5 executed in the second process, it was determined that the count value RC was "2" in step SE5 executed in the third process. , The process proceeds to step SE9.

The head unit 14 is moved to the left by the two ribbon compartments (SE9). Specifically, in a state where the thermal heads TH1 and TH2 are positioned at the head origin position, the main control processing unit 200 issues a rotation control command so that the head unit 14 is moved to the left by two ribbon sections. It is transmitted to the unit drive circuit 274 to rotate the unit drive motor 64. The main control processing unit 200 indicates that the head unit 14 has been moved to the left by two ribbon sections according to a detection signal indicating the rotation direction and the amount of rotation generated from the encoder built in the unit drive motor 64. You can judge. After the execution of step SE9, the afterimage transfer process ends. FIG. 27 shows a state in which the overwriting thermal head TH2 is moved to the left by two ribbon sections from the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 26, that is, the head unit 14 is moved to the unit origin position. Indicates the restored state. At the unit origin position shown in FIG. 27, the partition partition portion on the tip end side of the second film compartment T2 of the transfer film 20 is positioned so as to face the printing thermal head TH1.

≪Detailed processing of random character string generation processing≫
The detailed processing of the random character string generation processing will be described with reference to FIG. The initial setting process is executed (SF1). The initial setting process is a process of setting various kinds of information for generating three kinds of random character strings for images of yellow, magenta, and cyan. The detailed processing of the initial setting processing will be described later.

A random number is acquired (SF2). In the present embodiment, the main control processing unit 200 stores a random number generation program for generating random numbers in the program memory 210, and when a random number acquisition request is generated by executing step SF2, the random number generation program is executed. Let it run. By the execution, one random number generated in step SF2 is acquired.

In the height direction of the image forming region GR of the desired image, the first height distance at which the random character string of the first line is arranged is set as the height distance LY according to the random number acquired in step SF1. Determined (SF3). Specifically, the first height position where the random character string of the first line LN1 is arranged is the position of the edge extending in the width direction of the image forming region GR, that is, (A) in FIG. 33. The position in the vertical direction of the upper edge of the image forming region GR shown in the above is set as the height reference position, and is a position separated by the first height distance LY1 from the height reference position. The first height distance LY1 is such that one integer is set according to the acquired random number between the value of the font size FS set as the basic size of each character of the random character string and the numerical value "0". Be selected. The negative value of this selected integer is set to the first height distance LY1. In the present embodiment, for the height distance LY, a negative value is the distance away from the height reference position in (A) of FIG. 33.

As shown in FIG. 33A, a large number of character forming regions such as character forming regions FR11, FR12, and FR13 are defined in the region in the left-right direction which is the width direction of the image forming region GR, and each character is formed. Each alphabet letter is placed in the area. The character forming area FR11 is a character forming area in which the first character of the random character string arranged in the first line LN1 is arranged, and the character forming area FR12 is arranged in the first line LN1. This is a character forming area in which the second character of the random character string is arranged. The character forming area FR21 is a character forming area in which the first character of the random character string arranged in the second line LN2 is arranged, and the character forming area FR22 is arranged in the second line LN2. This is a character forming area in which the second character of the random character string is arranged. Character forming regions Other character forming regions such as FR13 and FR23 are also defined character forming regions. In FIG. 33A, the position of the upper edge of the first row LN1 is upward from the height reference position, which is the position of the upper edge of the image forming region GR, and the first height distance LY1. Only far away.

Whether or not the height distance LY is smaller than the image height GH is determined (SF4). The image height GH is a region height set in the height direction of the image forming region GR. When it is determined that the height distance LY is equal to or greater than the image height GH (SF4: NO), the random character string generation process ends. When it is determined that the height distance LY is smaller than the image height GH (SF4: YES), the process proceeds to step SF5.

A random number is acquired (SF5). Step SF5 is executed in the same manner as step SF2, and one random number is acquired.

In the width direction of the image forming region GR of the desired image, the first width distance at which the first character of the random character string of the first line is arranged is acquired as the width distance LX in step SF5. It is determined according to a random number (SF6). Specifically, the first width position where the first character of the random character string of the first line LN1 is arranged is the position of the edge extending in the height direction of the image forming region GR, that is, The position in the left-right direction of the left end edge of the image forming region GR shown in FIG. 33 (A) is set as the width reference position, and is a position separated by the first width distance LX1 from the width reference position. One integer is selected according to the acquired random number between the value of the font size FS set as the basic size of each character of the random character string and the numerical value "0". The negative value of this selected integer is set to the first width distance LX1. In the present embodiment, for the width distance LX, a negative value is the distance to the left from the width reference position in (A) of FIG. 33.

As shown in FIG. 33A, a large number of character forming regions such as character forming regions FR11 and FR21 are defined in the vertical region which is the height direction of the image forming region GR, and each character forming region is defined. Each alphabet letter is placed in. The character forming area FR11 is the first column which is the leftmost column, and is a character forming area in which characters are arranged in the first row LN1, and the character forming area FR21 is the first column. This is a character forming area in which characters are arranged on the second line LN2. The character forming area FR12 is the second column and is the character forming area in which the characters are arranged in the second line LN2, and the character forming area FR22 is the second column and is the second column. This is a character forming area in which characters are arranged on the second line LN2. In FIG. 33 (A), the position of the left edge of the first row is the first width distance LX1 to the left from the width reference position, which is the position of the left edge of the image forming region GR. Only far away.

It is determined whether or not the width distance LX is smaller than the image width GW (SF7). The image width GW is a region width set in the width direction of the image forming region GR. When it is determined that the width distance LX is equal to or greater than the image width GW (SF7: NO), the process proceeds to step SF12. When it is determined that the width distance LX is smaller than the image width GW (SF7: YES), the process proceeds to step SF8.

Random character selection processing is executed (SF8). The random character selection process is a process of selecting each character of a random character string from a wide variety of characters according to a random number. The detailed processing of the random character selection processing will be described later.

Random character size selection processing is executed (SF9). The random character size selection process is a process of selecting the size of each character in a random character string from a large number of different character sizes according to a random number. The detailed processing of the random character size selection processing will be described later.

Character array processing is executed (SF10). Specifically, the characters selected in step SF8 are changed to the character size selected in step SF9, and are arranged in the width direction of the image forming region GR.

A new width distance LX is calculated (SF11). Specifically, the value obtained by adding the previous width distance LX to the value obtained by multiplying the X margin factor XM and the font size FS is determined as the new width distance LX. After executing step SF11, the process returns to step SF7. For example, when the X margin factor XM is set to the numerical value "1", in (A) of FIG. 33, the second width distance LX2, which is a new width distance, is a negative value. It is determined to be the sum of the width distance LX1 and the font size FS (-LX1 + FS).

For example, when the X margin factor XM is set to a value smaller than the numerical value "1", the value obtained by multiplying the X margin factor XM and the font size FS in step SF11 is an X deviation smaller than the font size FS. The distance is DX (= XM × FS). In FIG. 33 (B), the position of the right end edge of the character forming region FR12 is a position displaced to the right by the X deviation distance DX from the position of the right end edge of the character forming region FR11. The new width distance LX2 becomes the distance (-LX1 + DX). As a result, the position of the left end edge of the second character forming region FR12 of the first line LN1 is located to the right of the width reference position by a new width distance LX2. After executing step SF11, the process returns to step SF7. The processing of steps SF7 to SF11 is repeated until the arrangement of all the character forming regions of the first line LN1 is completed.

When it is determined that the width distance LX is equal to or greater than the image width GW (SF7: NO), a new height distance LY is calculated (SF12). Specifically, the value obtained by adding the previous height distance LY to the value obtained by multiplying the Y margin factor YM and the font size FS is determined as the new height distance LY. After executing step SF12, the process returns to step SF4. For example, when the Y margin factor YM is set to the numerical value "1", in (A) of FIG. 33, the second height distance LY2, which is a new height distance, is a negative value. It is determined to be the sum of the height distance LY1 and the font size FS (-LY1 + FS).

For example, when the Y margin factor YM is set to a value smaller than the numerical value "1", the value obtained by multiplying the Y margin factor YM and the font size FS in step SF12 is a Y deviation smaller than the font size FS. The distance is DY (= YM × FS). In FIG. 33 (B), the position of the lower edge of the character forming region FR21 is a position displaced downward by the Y deviation distance DY from the position of the lower edge of the character forming region FR11. The new width distance LY2 becomes the distance (-LY1 + DY). As a result, the position of the upper edge of the first character forming region FR21 of the second line LN2 becomes a position downward from the height reference position and separated by a new height distance LY2. After executing step SF12, the process returns to step SF4.

By executing the processes of steps SF5 and SF6 for the second line LN2, the first width distance LX1 of the first character forming region FR21 of the second line LN2 is set. The first width distance LX1 of the first character forming region FR21 of the second line LN2 is the first of the first line LN1 because the numerical values of the random numbers acquired in step SF5 are different. Although it is actually different from the first width distance LX1 of the character forming region FR11, in FIG. 33 (B), for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the first width distance LX1 has the same numerical value. To. For the second line LN2, the processes of steps SF7 to SF11 are repeated until the arrangement of all the character forming regions of the second line LN2 is completed. The processing of steps SF4 to SF12 is repeated for each line after the third line LN3.

(Detailed processing of initial setting processing)
The detailed processing of the initial setting processing will be described with reference to FIG. The image height GH and the image width GW are set (SG1). Specifically, the image height GH, which is the region height in the height direction of the image forming region GR, and the image width GW, which is the region width in the width direction of the image forming region, are determined according to the operation of the operation unit 250 by the user. It is set and temporarily stored in the working memory 220. In the present embodiment, the direction in which the character string "employee number 000111" is arranged is the width direction of the image forming area GR with respect to the image forming area GR on which the desired image of the employee ID card shown in FIG. 28 is formed. , The direction orthogonal to the direction in which the character strings are arranged is the height direction of the image forming region GR. For example, when the resolution of the desired image is 600 dpi, the image height GH is set to 1920 px in the number of pixels, and the image width GW is set to 1200 px in the number of pixels.

The written language is selected and set from a wide variety of languages (SG2). Specifically, the written language is selected and set according to the operation of the operation unit 250 by the user from various languages such as English and Arabic, and is temporarily stored in the working memory 220.

The font type is selected and set from a wide variety of font types (SG3). Specifically, the font type is selected and set according to the operation of the operation unit 250 by the user from among various font types such as Arial and Tahomma, and is temporarily stored in the working memory 220.

The font size FS is set (SG4). In the present embodiment, the height and width of the character forming region FR in which each character of the random character string is formed are defined to be the same. The font size FS, which is the basic size of the character, is the height of the character forming area FR and also the width of the character forming area FR. Specifically, the font size FS is set according to the operation of the operation unit 250 by the user, and is temporarily stored in the working memory 220. For example, the font size FS is set to 120 px in terms of the number of pixels.

The font size factor VF is set (SG5). The font size factor VF represents the rate at which the size of each character in the random character string is increased or decreased with respect to the font size FS. Specifically, the font size factor VF is set according to the operation of the operation unit 250 by the user, and is temporarily stored in the working memory 220. For example, a numerical value "0.2" is set as the font size factor VF.

The X margin factor XM is set (SG6). The X margin factor XM represents the ratio at which two adjacent characters in a random character string do not overlap in the arrangement direction of the character string. When the X margin factor XM is the numerical value "1", two adjacent characters do not overlap, but as the X margin factor XM becomes smaller than the numerical value "1", the amount of overlapping of the two adjacent characters increases. Detailed processing of the X margin factor XM setting will be described later.

The Y margin factor YM is set (SG7). The Y margin factor YM represents the ratio at which two adjacent random character strings do not overlap in the height direction of the image forming region GR. When the Y margin factor YM is the numerical value "1", two adjacent random character strings do not overlap, but the smaller the Y margin factor YM is than the numerical value "1", the larger the amount of overlapping of the two adjacent random character strings. Become. Specifically, the Y margin factor YM is set according to the operation of the operation unit 250 by the user, and is temporarily stored in the working memory 220. For example, a numerical value "0.7" is set as the Y margin factor YM. After the execution of step SG7, the initial setting process ends.

(Detailed processing of X margin factor XM setting)
The detailed processing of the X margin factor XM setting will be described with reference to FIG. It is determined whether or not the ink layer on which the random character string is transferred is the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer (SH1). Specifically, the main control processing unit 200 incorporates the amount of transportation of the color ink ribbon 10 into the ribbon winding motor 36 from the time when the color ink ribbon 10 is cueed in step SB4. It can be grasped according to the detection signal indicating the amount of rotation from the encoder. The main control processing unit 200 determines whether or not the ink layer on which the random character string is transferred is the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, based on the amount of transport to be grasped. When it is determined that the ink layer on which the random character string is transferred is the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer (SH1: YES), the process proceeds to step SH2. When the ink layer to which the random character string is transferred is not determined to be the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer (SH1: NO), the process proceeds to step SH3.

The X margin factor XM1 is set (SH2). Specifically, the X margin factor XM1 is set for the random character string for the yellow image according to the operation of the operation unit 250 by the user, and is temporarily stored in the working memory 220. For example, as the X margin factor XM1, a numerical value "0.65" is set for a random character string for a yellow image. After executing step SH2, the X margin factor XM setting is completed.

It is determined whether or not the ink layer on which the random character string is transferred is the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer (SH3). Specifically, the main control processing unit 200 transfers a random character string based on the amount of the color ink ribbon 10 transported from the time when the color ink ribbon 10 is cueed in step SB4. It is determined whether or not the ink layer is the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer. When it is determined that the ink layer to which the random character string is transferred is the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer (SH3: YES), the process proceeds to step SH4. When the ink layer to which the random character string is transferred is not determined to be the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer (SH3: NO), the process proceeds to step SH5.

The X margin factor XM2 is set (SH4). Specifically, the X margin factor XM2 is set for the random character string for the magenta image according to the operation of the operation unit 250 by the user, and is temporarily stored in the working memory 220. For example, as the X margin factor XM2, a numerical value "0.35" is set for a random character string for a magenta image. After executing step SH4, the X margin factor XM setting is completed.

It is determined whether or not the ink layer on which the random character string is transferred is the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer (SH5). Specifically, the main control processing unit 200 transfers a random character string based on the amount of the color ink ribbon 10 transported from the time when the color ink ribbon 10 is cueed in step SB4. It is determined whether or not the ink layer is the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer. When it is determined that the ink layer to which the random character string is transferred is the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer (SH5: YES), the process proceeds to step SH6. When it is not determined that the ink layer to which the random character string is transferred is the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer (SH5: NO), the X margin factor XM setting is completed.

The X margin factor XM3 is set (SH6). Specifically, the X margin factor XM3 is set for the random character string for the cyan image according to the operation of the operation unit 250 by the user, and is temporarily stored in the working memory 220. For example, as the X margin factor XM3, a numerical value "0.05" is set for a random character string for a cyan image. After executing step SH6, the X margin factor XM setting is completed.

(Detailed processing of random character selection processing)
The detailed processing of the random character selection processing will be described with reference to FIG. An array element of characters is set (SJ1). Specifically, various types of characters in the written language set in step SG2 are set as character array elements. For example, when the written language set in step SG2 is English, 26 characters, which are alphabetic characters A to Z stored in the program memory 210, are set as character array elements.

A random number is acquired (SJ2). In the present embodiment, the main control processing unit 200 stores a random number generation program for generating random numbers in the program memory 210, and when a random number acquisition request is generated by executing step SJ2, the random number generation program is executed. Let it run. By the execution, one random number generated in step SJ2 is acquired.

One selected character is determined according to the acquired random number (SJ3). Specifically, one character is selected from the character array elements set in step SJ1 according to the acquired random numbers. For example, one character is selected from the 26 alphabetic characters. After the execution of step SJ3, the random character selection process ends.

(Detailed processing of random character size selection processing)
The detailed processing of the random character size selection processing will be described with reference to FIG. The maximum random character size Smax is calculated (SK1). Specifically, the maximum random character size Smax is calculated by multiplying the value obtained by adding the font size factor VF to the numerical value "1" by the font size FS. For example, when the font size factor VF is set to the numerical value "0.2" and the font size FS is set to 120 px in the number of pixels, the maximum random character size Smax is 120 x (1 + 0.2) = It is 144 px. For example, as shown in FIG. 33 (C), the character forming region FR1 of the basic size has a height region of the font size FS and a width region of the font size FS. When the maximum random character size Smax is calculated according to the set font size factor VF, the character formation area FR2 includes a height area of the maximum random character size Smax and a width area of the maximum random character size Smax. Has.

The minimum random character size Smin is calculated (SK2). Specifically, the minimum random character size Smin is calculated by multiplying the value obtained by subtracting the font size factor VF from the numerical value "1" by the font size FS. For example, when the font size factor VF is set to the numerical value "0.2" and the font size FS is set to 120 px in the number of pixels, the minimum random character size Smin is 120 x (1-0.2). ) = 96 px. For example, as shown in FIG. 33 (C), the character forming region FR1 of the basic size has a height region of the font size FS and a width region of the font size FS. When the minimum random character size Smin is calculated according to the set font size factor VF, the character formation area FR3 includes a height area of the minimum random character size Smin and a width area of the minimum random character size Smin. Has.

A random number is acquired (SK3). In the present embodiment, the main control processing unit 200 stores a random number generation program for generating random numbers in the program memory 210, and when a random number acquisition request is generated by executing step SK3, the random number generation program is executed. Let it run. By the execution, one random number generated in step SK3 is acquired.

One random character size Si is determined according to the acquired random numbers. Specifically, in the range from the maximum random character size Smax to the minimum random character size Smin, one integer random character size Si is selected according to the acquired random numbers. After the execution of step SK4, the random character size selection process ends.

When the random character size Si is sequentially determined by the random character size selection process, each character forming region of the random character size Si is set to the X displacement distance DX (=) in the width direction of the image forming area GR by the processing of step SF11. Only XM × FS) is displaced. For example, in FIG. 33 (C), the character formation area FR1 having the font size FS, which is the basic size, the character formation area FR2 having the maximum random character size Smax, and the character forming area FR3 having the minimum random character size Smin. , Arranged to the right. The position of the right edge of the character forming region FR2 is located to the right from the position of the right edge of the character forming region FR1 by an X deviation distance DX, and is located at the right edge of the character forming region FR3. The position is a position separated from the position of the right end edge of the character forming region FR2 to the right by the X deviation distance DX.

<< Specific transfer mode in afterimage transfer processing >>
A specific transfer mode in the afterimage transfer process SA8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 28 to 45. As a specific transfer mode, two transfer modes will be described as an example. In the first transfer mode, the Y margin factor YM is set to the same numerical value for all three images in the generation of random character strings for the yellow image, the magenta image, and the cyan image, but X. This is a transfer mode in which the margin factor XM is set to a different numerical value corresponding to each of the three images. In the second transfer mode, the Y margin factor YM and the X margin factor XM are the same values for all three images in the generation of random character strings for the yellow image, the magenta image, and the cyan image. It is a transfer mode when it is set.

29 to 32 show that the face image and characters in the desired image are the first transfer film 20 from each ink layer of the yellow ink layer Ry, the magenta ink layer Rm, the cyan ink layer Rc, and the black ink layer Rk. It is explanatory drawing which looked at each ink layer from the side where the thermal head TH1 for printing is located when it was transferred to a film section T1. In each of the drawings of FIGS. 29 to 32, the upward direction is the ribbon transport direction of the color ink ribbon 10.

In FIGS. 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44, the random character strings are transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer to the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and transfer. It is explanatory drawing which looked at the black ink layer Rk after transfer to each color ink layer of the later cyan ink layer Rc from the side where the thermal head TH2 for overwriting is located. In each of the drawings of FIGS. 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44, the upward direction is the ribbon transport direction of the color ink ribbon 10. In FIGS. 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, and 45, the random character strings are transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer to the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and transfer. It is explanatory drawing which looked at each color ink layer after transfer to each color ink layer of the later cyan ink layer Rc from the side where the overwriting platen roller 70 is located. In each of the drawings of FIGS. 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, and 45, the downward direction is the ribbon transport direction of the color ink ribbon 10.

When the desired image shown in FIG. 28 is re-transferred to the card 24, the face image shown in FIG. 29 is formed as an afterimage on the transferred yellow ink layer Ry, and the transferred magenta ink layer Rm is formed. Is formed with the face image shown in FIG. 30 as an afterimage, and the face image shown in FIG. 31 is formed as an afterimage on the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer. Further, on the black ink layer Rk after transfer, the characters shown in FIG. 32 are formed as an ink-out image. Face images and characters formed as afterimages on each ink layer are personal information and are often confidential information. From the standpoint of preventing confidentiality leakage, three different random strings are generated for the yellow image, magenta image, and cyan image to make the information remaining in each ink layer difficult to read, and the black color after transfer. The ink layer Rk is transferred to the three color ink layers Ry, Rm, and Rc, respectively.

(First transcription mode in which the X margin factor XM is different)
The first transcription mode will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 34 to 39. In the first transfer aspect, the Y margin factor YM is set to a numerical value "0.7" for all three images, but the X margin factor XM is a yellow image, a magenta image, and a cyan image. Is set to the numerical value "0.65", the numerical value "0.35", and the numerical value "0.05", respectively. The desired image resolution is set to 600 dpi, the image height GH is set to 1920 px in pixels, and the image width GW is set to 1200 px in pixels. The written language is set to English. The font type is set to Arial. The font size FS is set to 120 px in pixels. The font size factor VF is set to the numerical value "0.2".

Random character strings for the yellow image are from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, in which the missing ink character image shown in FIG. 32 remains, to the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, in which the yellow face image shown in FIG. 29 remains. When transferred to, as shown in FIG. 34, an image in which the image of the random character string of ink out is overwritten by the character image of ink out is formed in the black ink layer Rk after transfer, and is shown in FIG. An image in which the image of the random character string of the black ink is overwritten on the yellow face image is formed on the yellow ink layer Ry after the transfer. As a result, in the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the character image without ink and the yellow face image become difficult to read.

The random character string for the magenta image is from the black ink layer Rk after transfer in which the character image of missing ink shown in FIG. 34 remains, to the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer in which the face image of magenta shown in FIG. 30 remains. When transferred to, as shown in FIG. 36, an image in which the image of the random character string without ink is overwritten with the character image without ink is formed on the black ink layer Rk after transfer, and is shown in FIG. 37. An image in which the image of the random character string of the black ink is overwritten on the magenta face image is formed on the magenta ink layer Rm after the transfer. As a result, in the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, the character image without ink and the face image of magenta become difficult to read.

Random character strings for the cyan image are from the transferred black ink layer Rk where the missing ink character image shown in FIG. 36 remains, to the transferred cyan ink layer Rc where the cyan face image shown in FIG. 31 remains. When the image is transferred to, as shown in FIG. 38, an image in which the image of the random character string without ink is overwritten with the character image without ink is formed on the black ink layer Rk after transfer, and is shown in FIG. 39. An image in which the image of the random character string of the black ink is overwritten on the cyan face image is formed on the cyan ink layer Rc after the transfer. As a result, in the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer, the character image without ink and the cyan face image become difficult to read. Further, as shown in FIG. 38, in the black ink layer Rk after transfer, the character image without ink cannot be read at all.

In the first transfer mode, the black ink layer Rk is applied to the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20, the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer. The black ink transfer ratio, which is transferred respectively, is calculated according to a simulation method performed based on a character image in a desired image and a random character string for each color ink image. As a result of the calculation, the black ink transfer ratio of the black ink layer Rk to the first film section T1 is 4.35%, and the black ink transfer ratio of the black ink layer Rk to the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer is 4.35%. Is 31.59%, and the black ink transfer ratio of the black ink layer Rk to the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer is 33.22%, and the black ink layer Rk is transferred to the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer. The black ink transfer ratio is 30.66%. As a result, in the first transfer mode, the X margin factor XM corresponds to the yellow image, the magenta image, and the cyan image, respectively, with the numerical values “0.65”, the numerical values “0.35”, and the numerical values. By setting to "0.05", the transfer is performed so that the black ink transfer ratios to the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer do not differ significantly. The later black ink layer Rk can be transferred. Since the black ink transfer ratios do not differ significantly, there is a large difference in the difficult-to-read state of the facial image remaining in the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer. It can be prevented from occurring. Here, the black ink transfer ratio is the black color transferred from the black ink layer at the time of the first transfer or the second transfer with respect to the total amount of black ink in the black ink layer before transfer in one ribbon section. Represents the percentage of ink amount.

(Second transcription mode in which the X margin factor XM is the same)
The second transcription mode will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 40 to 45. In the second transfer mode, the Y margin factor YM is set to the numerical value "0.7" common to the three images, and the X margin factor XM is set to the numerical value "0.65" common to the three images. Set. The desired image resolution is set to 600 dpi, the image height GH is set to 1920 px in pixels, and the image width GW is set to 1200 px in pixels. The written language is set to English. The font type is set to Arial. The font size FS is set to 120 px in pixels. The font size factor VF is set to the numerical value "0.2".

Random character strings for the yellow image are from the black ink layer Rk after transfer, in which the missing ink character image shown in FIG. 32 remains, to the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, in which the yellow face image shown in FIG. 29 remains. As shown in FIG. 40, an image in which the image of the random character string of ink out is overwritten by the character image of ink out is formed in the black ink layer Rk after transfer, and is shown in FIG. 41. An image in which the image of the random character string of the black ink is overwritten on the yellow face image is formed on the yellow ink layer Ry after the transfer. As a result, in the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the character image without ink and the yellow face image become difficult to read.

The random character string for the magenta image is from the black ink layer Rk after transfer in which the character image of missing ink shown in FIG. 40 remains to the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer in which the face image of magenta shown in FIG. 30 remains. When transferred to, as shown in FIG. 42, an image in which the image of the random character string without ink is overwritten with the character image without ink is formed on the black ink layer Rk after transfer, and is shown in FIG. 43. An image in which the image of the random character string of the black ink is overwritten on the magenta face image is formed on the magenta ink layer Rm after the transfer. As a result, in the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, the character image without ink and the face image of magenta become difficult to read.

Random character strings for the cyan image are from the transferred black ink layer Rk where the missing ink character image shown in FIG. 42 remains, to the transferred cyan ink layer Rc where the cyan face image shown in FIG. 31 remains. When transferred to, as shown in FIG. 44, an image in which the image of the random character string without ink is overwritten with the character image without ink is formed on the black ink layer Rk after transfer, and is shown in FIG. An image in which the image of the random character string of the black ink is overwritten on the cyan face image is formed on the cyan ink layer Rc after the transfer. As a result, in the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer, the character image without ink and the cyan face image become difficult to read. Further, the black ink layer Rk after transfer shown in FIG. 44 is in a state where it is easier to confirm the existence of a character image of ink loss as compared with the black ink layer Rk after transfer shown in FIG. 38, but the ink is missing. The character image of is difficult to read.

In the second transfer mode, the black ink layer Rk is applied to the first film section T1 of the transfer film 20, the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer. The black ink transfer ratio, which is transferred respectively, is calculated according to a simulation method performed based on a character image in a desired image and a random character string for each color ink image. As a result of the calculation, the black ink transfer ratio of the black ink layer Rk to the first film section T1 is 4.35%, and the black ink transfer ratio of the black ink layer Rk to the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer is 4.35%. Is 31.86%, and the black ink transfer ratio of the black ink layer Rk to the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer is 21.80%, and the black ink layer Rk is transferred to the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer. The black ink transfer ratio is 13.32%. As a result, in the second transfer mode, the X margin factor XM is set to the numerical value "0.65" in common for the yellow image, the magenta image, and the cyan image, so that the yellow after transfer is used. The black ink transfer ratios to the ink layer Ry, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer are different. Due to the difference in the black ink transfer ratio, there is a difference in the difficult-to-read state of the facial image remaining in the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer.

<Effect of embodiment>
In the present embodiment, the black ink remaining in the black ink layer Rk after transfer shown in FIG. 32 is the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and the transfer shown in FIGS. 29 to 31. It is dispersed in the subsequent cyan ink layer Rc and transferred to each of them. As a result, the missing ink character image remaining in the black ink layer Rk after transfer can be made difficult to read, and the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and cyan after transfer can be made difficult to read. The face image remaining on the ink layer Rc can also be made difficult to read.

In the present embodiment, the X margin factor XM determines the amount by which two adjacent characters in a random character string do not overlap in the width direction of the image forming region GR, which is the direction in which the characters in the desired image are arranged. , Set. The X-margin factor XM is set to a different numerical value for each of the three types of random character strings generated for the three-color images of yellow, magenta, and cyan. As a result, by setting the X margin factor XM, a random character string in which the characters overlap in the direction in which the characters in the desired image are arranged is transferred, so that the characters in the desired image are surely difficult to read. Can be done. Further, since the X margin factor XM is set to a different numerical value for each of the three types of random character strings, it is possible to surely make the character image of the ink missing that remains in the black ink layer after transfer difficult to read.

In this embodiment, three types of random character strings are generated for the three color images of yellow, magenta, and cyan. For the generation of the three types of random character strings, the X margin factor XM is set to a smaller value as the random character string to be transcribed later. By setting this X margin factor XM, the amount of polymerization in which two adjacent characters of the random character string overlap is larger as the random character string is transferred later. As a result, there is a large difference in the transfer ratio of the black ink transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer to the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a difference in the unreadable state of the facial images remaining in the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer.

In this embodiment, three types of random character strings are generated for the three color images of yellow, magenta, and cyan. The X margin factor XM, the Y margin factor YM, and the font size factor VF are set for the generation of the three types of random character strings. By setting the X margin factor XM, the amount of polymerization in which two adjacent characters of a random character string on one line overlap is set, and by setting the Y margin factor YM, the amount of polymerization in which two adjacent lines of a random character string overlap. Is set. By setting the font size factor VF, the size of each character in the random character string changes in the size change range determined based on the factor VF, that is, from the minimum random character size Smin to the maximum random character size Smax. To do. As a result, a random character string rich in unexpected changes can be easily generated, and the image remaining on the color ink ribbon 10 after transfer can be made more difficult to read.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 28, the desired image has a relatively large size character "○ × Co., Ltd." and "the above person proves that he / she is an employee of the Company". Includes characters of relatively small size. The font size factor VF is set by the process of step SG5 in case the character size of the desired image is significantly different. The setting value of the font size factor VF is the font size FS, which is the basic size according to the operation of the operation unit 250 by the user in order to make the characters of the maximum size and the characters of the minimum size in the desired image difficult to read. It is set to the rate of increasing or decreasing the font size. As a result, by setting the font size factor VF, it is possible to surely make the characters to be kept secret difficult to read even in a desired image including characters having greatly different character sizes.

In the present embodiment, the afterimage transfer treatment in which the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer to the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer. SA8 is executed in parallel with the processing of steps SD1 to SD10 of the printing task of retransferring the desired image from the transfer film 20 to the card 24. As a result, since the execution time of the afterimage transfer process is not particularly required in the overall operation of the thermal transfer printer 2, the image remaining on the color ink ribbon 10 after the transfer can be quickly made difficult to read.

In the present embodiment, in the image formation range GR, the height position of the first row LN1 in which the random character string is arranged is based on the first height distance LY1 randomly determined by the process of step SF3. It is determined. The first width position where the first character of the random character string of each line is arranged is determined based on the first width distance LX1 randomly determined by the process of step SF6. As a result, even at the edge portion of the image formation range GR, each character of the random character string changes unexpectedly, which makes it more difficult to read the image remaining on the color ink ribbon 10 after transfer. it can.

In the present embodiment, the ribbon transport path portion 42 in which the color ink ribbon 10 before the desired image is transferred is conveyed, and the ribbon transport path portion 44 in which the color ink ribbon 10 after the transfer, which has been transferred earlier, is conveyed. And the ribbon transport path portion 46, which is the color ink ribbon 10 after transfer after the desired image is transferred, and the color ink ribbon 10 after transfer after transfer is transported, are arranged in parallel with each other. Ribbon. The printing thermal head TH1 and the overwriting thermal head TH2 are mounted on one head unit 14, and the head unit 14 moves along the three ribbon transport path portions 42 to 46 by the unit moving mechanism 16. As a result, the mechanical configuration of the thermal transfer printer 2 can be miniaturized as compared with the configuration in which the printing thermal head TH1 and the overwriting thermal head TH2 individually move along the ribbon transport path portion.

In the present embodiment, the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer to each color ink layer of the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer. At that time, the black ink layer Rk after transfer and each color ink layer are stopped in an overlapping state, while the overwriting thermal head TH2 is moved by the unit moving mechanism 16. As a result, the random character string is positioned in each color ink layer after transfer, as compared with the configuration in which the random character string is transferred while the ribbon winding motor moves the ribbon after transfer without moving the overwriting thermal head. It can be transferred with high accuracy.

In the present embodiment, the black ink layer Rk after transfer is positioned so as to overlap each color ink layer of the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer. As shown in FIGS. 24 to 26, the winding of the color ink ribbon 10 by the ribbon winding motor 36 and the movement of the overwriting thermal head TH2 by the unit drive motor 64 ”are executed. As a result, the random character string is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer to all the color ink layers of the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, the magenta ink layer Rm after transfer, and the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer. At this time, it is not necessary to change the ribbon transport path portions 44 and 46 to which the color ink ribbon 10 after transfer is conveyed, which simplifies the mechanical configuration of the thermal transfer printer 2 and simplifies the mechanical configuration of the color ink ribbon 10 after transfer. The transport accuracy can be stabilized.

<Correspondence of configuration>
The thermal transfer printing system 1 or the thermal transfer printer 2 is an example of the thermal transfer printing apparatus of the present invention. The color ink ribbon 10 is an example of the color ink ribbon of the present invention, and the yellow ink layer Ry, the azenta ink layer Rm, and the cyan ink layer Rc are examples of the sublimation ink layers of a plurality of colors of the present invention, and the black ink. The layer Rk is an example of the black meltable ink layer of the present invention. The card 24 is an example of the transfer medium and the print medium of the present invention. The transfer film 20 is an example of the transfer medium and the intermediate transfer medium of the present invention. The printing mechanism 26 is an example of the printing transfer unit of the present invention. The ribbon transport mechanism 12 is an example of the ribbon transport unit of the present invention. The thermal head TH1 for printing, the thermal head TH2 for overwriting, and the unit moving mechanism 16 are examples of the thermal transfer unit of the present invention. The printing thermal head TH1 is an example of the printing thermal head of the present invention. The overwriting thermal head TH2 is an example of the overwriting thermal head of the present invention. The unit moving mechanism 16 is an example of the overwriting head moving portion and the printing head moving portion of the present invention, and is an example of a moving mechanism for moving the head support of the present invention. The head unit 14 is an example of the head support of the present invention. The film transport mechanism 22 is an example of the medium transport unit of the present invention. The head elevating mechanism 18 is an example of the head displacement mechanism of the present invention. The ribbon transport path portion 42 is an example of the first ribbon transport path portion of the present invention, and the ribbon transport path portions 44 and 46 are examples of the second ribbon transport path portion of the present invention. The program memory 210 is an example of a storage unit that stores the unit image of the present invention. The combination of the main control processing unit 200 and the random character string generation processing SE1 is an example of the superimposed image generation unit of the present invention, and the random character string generation processing SE1 is an example of the superimposed image generation processing of the present invention. The combination of the main control processing unit 200 and the processing of steps SE2 to SE9 is an example of the alignment unit of the present invention, and the processing of steps SE2 to SE9 is an example of the alignment processing of the present invention. The combination of the main control processing unit 200 and the processing of steps SE2 to SE4 is an example of the superimposition control unit of the present invention, and the processing of steps SE2 to SE4 is an example of the superimposition control processing of the present invention. The combination of the main control processing unit 200 and the processing of step SJ2 is an example of the first random number acquisition unit of the present invention. The combination of the main control processing unit 200 and the processing of steps SF3 to SF12, SJ1 and SJ3 is an example of the image arrangement unit of the present invention. The combination of the main control processing unit 200, the processing of step SG6, and the operation unit 250 is an example of the polymerization amount setting unit of the present invention. The combination of the main control processing unit 200, the processing of steps SG4, SG5, SK1 and SK2, and the operation unit 250 is an example of the size change range setting unit of the present invention. The combination of the main control processing unit 200 and the processing of step SK3 is an example of the second random number acquisition unit of the present invention. The combination of the main control processing unit 200 and the processing of step SK4 is an example of the determination unit of the present invention. The combination of the main control processing unit 200 and the processing of steps SD1 to SD10 is an example of the print control unit of the present invention.

[Modification example]
The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. An example of the modification will be described below.

(1) In the present embodiment, a random character string is used as a superimposed image transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer to each color ink layer such as the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer, but the superimposed image is Not limited to random strings. For example, a continuous pattern image in which patterns of one type or a plurality of types of shapes are continuously arranged may be used as a superimposed image. For example, a continuous pattern image has a pattern forming region. By arranging a plurality of the continuous pattern images in the height direction and the width direction of the image forming region GR, they are arranged over the entire region of the image forming region GR as shown in FIG. The pattern forming region is a region having a predetermined number of height pixels in the height direction of the image forming region GR and having a predetermined number of width pixels in the width direction of the image forming region GR. In this modification, the continuous pattern image for the magenta image displaces the continuous pattern image for the yellow image in the width direction by the number of pixels of the X offset ratio with respect to the predetermined number of width pixels of the pattern forming region. , It is generated by displacing the pattern forming region in the height direction by the number of pixels of the Y offset ratio with respect to the predetermined number of height pixels. The continuous pattern image for the cyan image displaces the continuous pattern image for the magenta image in the width direction by the number of pixels of the X offset ratio with respect to the predetermined number of width pixels of the pattern forming region, and the pattern forming region. It is generated by shifting in the height direction by the number of pixels of the Y offset ratio with respect to the predetermined number of height pixels. Here, the X offset ratio is the ratio of the number of pixels displaced in the width direction to the predetermined number of width pixels, and the Y offset ratio is the ratio of the number of pixels displaced in the height direction to the predetermined number of height pixels. .. 46 to 51 are drawings corresponding to FIGS. 34 to 39. FIG. 46 shows a thermal for overwriting the black ink layer Rk after transfer in FIG. 24 when a continuous pattern image for a yellow image is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer to the yellow ink layer Ry after transfer. It is explanatory drawing seen from the side where the head TH2 is located. FIG. 47 shows a platen for overwriting the transferred yellow ink layer Ry in FIG. 24 when a continuous pattern image for a yellow image is transferred from the transferred black ink layer Rk to the transferred yellow ink layer Ry. It is explanatory drawing seen from the side where the roller 70 is located. FIG. 48 shows a thermal for overwriting the black ink layer Rk after transfer in FIG. 25 when a continuous pattern image for a magenta image is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer to the yellow ink layer Rm after transfer. It is explanatory drawing seen from the side where the head TH2 is located. FIG. 49 shows a platen for overwriting the transferred magenta ink layer Rm in FIG. 25 when a continuous pattern image for a magenta image is transferred from the transferred black ink layer Rk to the transferred magenta ink layer Rm. It is explanatory drawing seen from the side where the roller 70 is located. FIG. 50 shows a thermal for overwriting the black ink layer Rk after transfer in FIG. 26 when a continuous pattern image for a cyan image is transferred from the black ink layer Rk after transfer to the cyan ink layer Rc after transfer. It is explanatory drawing seen from the side where the head TH2 is located. FIG. 51 shows a platen for overwriting the transferred cyan ink layer Rc in FIG. 26 when a continuous pattern image for a cyan image is transferred from the transferred black ink layer Rk to the transferred cyan ink layer Rc. It is explanatory drawing seen from the side where the roller 70 is located.

(2) In the present embodiment, the printing thermal head TH1 and the overwriting thermal head TH2 are integrally raised and lowered by the head raising and lowering mechanism 18 mounted on the head unit 14. The head elevating mechanism 18 is configured to include an elevating control cam 96, a pair of operating levers 100 and 102, a head elevating motor 106, and the like, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, the head elevating mechanism 18 may include a feed screw shaft and a nut member screwed into the feed screw shaft instead of the elevating control cam 96 and the pair of operating levers 100 and 102. , A rack, and a pinion that meshes with the rack. Further, the printing thermal head TH1 and the overwriting thermal head TH2 may be configured to move up and down individually with respect to the head unit 14.

(3) In the present embodiment, the main control processing unit 200 and the sub control processing unit 202 are provided, the afterimage transfer processing SA8 is executed by the main control processing unit 200, and steps SD1 to SD10 of the printing task are sub-controlled. The configuration is executed by the processing unit 202, and the afterimage transfer processing SA8 and the printing task steps SD1 to SD10 are executed in parallel, but the configuration is not limited to this configuration. For example, one control processing unit may execute steps SD1 to SD10 of the printing task first, and then execute the afterimage transfer processing SA8.

(4) In the present embodiment, one written language is set by the process of step SG2 in order to generate a random character string, and a large number of characters of the set written language are set by the process of step SF8. Of these, one character is randomly selected and arranged, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, in the process of step SG2, a plurality of written languages are set, and in the process of step SF8, one character is randomly selected and arranged from a large number of characters in the set written language. May be. Specifically, when English and Arabic are set as written languages by the processing of step SG2, 26 kinds of English alphabetic characters and Arabic Arabic characters are processed by the processing of step SF8. A random character string may be generated by randomly selecting and arranging one character from the 28 types of characters.

(5) In the present embodiment, the font size FS, which is the basic size of each character of the random character string, is set according to the operation of the operation unit 250 by the user in the process of step SG4. Not limited. For example, for characters in a desired image, the maximum and minimum character sizes are detected based on the character data representing the characters in the desired image, from the maximum character size to the minimum character size. In the range, the largest character size in the desired image may be determined as the font size FS, or the font size FS may be determined based on the average value of the maximum character size and the minimum character size. It may be a determined configuration.

(6) In the present embodiment, each character of various characters in the written language set by the process of step SG2 serves as a component of the superimposed image as a unit image, but various images are used as the superimposed image. To. For example, as a unit image, a geometric pattern such as a rhombus pattern or a pattern that abstracts plants and animals may be used in addition to the characters in the written language. Further, as the superimposed image, as shown in FIG. 46, a continuous pattern image drawn in the entire area of the image forming area GR may be used.

(7) In the first transfer mode of the present embodiment, the X margin factor XM corresponds to the yellow image, the magenta image, and the cyan image, respectively, with a numerical value of “0.65” and a numerical value of “0.35”. , And the numerical value "0.05", while the Y margin factor YM is set to the numerical value "0.7" in common for the three images, but the setting method is not limited to this. For example, the Y margin factor YM may also be set to a different numerical value corresponding to the yellow image, the magenta image, and the cyan image, respectively.

(8) In the present embodiment, the color ink ribbon 10 is configured such that the yellow ink layer Ry, the magenta ink layer Rm, the cyan ink layer Rc, and the black ink layer Rk are repeatedly arranged as one set. It is not limited to this configuration. For example, the color ink ribbon 10 may be configured as a set including an overcoat layer in addition to the yellow ink layer Ry, the magenta ink layer Rm, the cyan ink layer Rc, and the black ink layer Rk. When the color ink ribbon 10 includes an overcoat layer, it is conceivable that the desired image is directly transferred from the color ink ribbon 10 to the card 24 without using the transfer film 20. When the overcoat layer is transferred to the card 24, the transferred overcoat layer becomes concave due to the convex shape of the meltable black ink layer that forms the characters in the desired image transferred to the cart 24. Deform. Since the concave shape formed on the overcoat layer after transfer is a shape corresponding to a character that should be kept secret, it is necessary to make it difficult to read. In the modification including the overcoat layer, a configuration is adopted in which the random character string is transferred from the overcoat layer after transfer to the black ink layer after transfer by the overwriting thermal head TH2. The random character string may be a random character string dedicated to the overcoat layer after transfer, or may be a random character string used for the cyan ink layer after transfer. Further, an operation means for switching between a mode in which the color ink ribbon not including the overcoat layer is used and a mode in which the color ink ribbon including the overcoat layer is used is provided, and the afterimage transfer process SA8 is processed according to the operation of the operation means. The contents may be switched.

(9) In the present embodiment, the external information processing device 3 capable of communicating with the thermal transfer printer 2 is configured to generate image data representing a desired image, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, the thermal transfer printer 2 may be configured to have a function of generating image data representing a desired image. Alternatively, the thermal transfer printer 2 may have a function of downloading and storing image data representing a desired image from an external information providing server in which a large number of types of image data representing a desired image are stored.

(10) In the present embodiment, a standard size card is adopted as the printing medium, but the printing medium is not limited to the card. For example, as the print medium, a clear file or paper having a size larger than that of the card may be adopted.

1 Thermal transfer printing system 2 Thermal transfer printer 3 Information processing device 10 Color ink ribbon 12 Ribbon transfer mechanism 14 Head unit 16 Unit movement mechanism 18 Head lifting mechanism 20 Transfer film 22 Film transfer mechanism 24 Card 26 Printing mechanism 42, 44, 46 Ribbon transfer path Part 200 Main control processing unit 202 Sub control processing unit 210 Program memory 250 Operation unit 330 Image memory Ry Yellow ink layer Rm Magenta ink layer Rc Cyan ink layer Rk Black ink layer TH1 Printing thermal head TH2 Overwriting thermal head

Claims (11)

A color ink ribbon that extends long in a strip shape, and is a color ink ribbon formed by repeatedly arranging a sublimative ink layer of a plurality of colors and one black meltable ink layer in a longitudinal direction as a set. A thermal transfer printing apparatus including a ribbon transporting unit for transporting ink and a thermal transfer unit for transferring a desired image to a transfer medium by heating a color ink ribbon.
A superimposed image generator that generates multiple superimposed images that are different from each other corresponding to each of the sublimable ink layers of multiple colors.
In the color ink ribbon after the desired image has been transferred to the transfer medium, the specific black molten ink layer after transfer is sequentially arranged in each layer of the sublimable ink layers of multiple colors after transfer. The alignment part that conveys the color ink ribbon to the ribbon transfer part so that it overlaps with
When a specific black molten ink layer after transfer overlaps each layer of sublimation ink layers of multiple colors after transfer, the specific black molten ink after transfer follows the superimposed image corresponding to the overlapped layer. A superimposition control unit that transfers a superposed image overwritten by an ink-missing image remaining in a specific black molten ink layer after transfer to an overlapping layer by heating the layer to a thermal transfer unit is provided.
The superimposition control unit sequentially overwrites the plurality of superposed images corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors with the ink-missing images remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after the transfer, thereby performing the plurality of colors after the transfer. A thermal transfer printing device that transfers to all layers of the sublimating ink layer. The superimposed image generator
A storage unit that stores a large number of different unit images,
The first random number acquisition unit that acquires random numbers, and
One of a large number of different unit images is sequentially selected based on the random numbers sequentially acquired by the first random number acquisition unit, and sequentially in an image forming region determined based on a desired image size. It is provided with an image array unit for arranging a plurality of selected unit images.
The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a combination of a plurality of unit images arranged by an image array unit is generated as each superimposed image of a plurality of superimposed images corresponding to each of a plurality of color sublimating ink layers. When arranging a plurality of unit images in which the image arrangement unit is sequentially selected, the superimposed image generation unit determines the amount of polymerization in which two adjacent unit images overlap, and the superimposed image corresponding to a sublimation ink layer of a plurality of colors. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a polymerization amount setting unit for setting each superimposed image. Of the plurality of superimposed images corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors, the amount of polymerization set for the superimposed image to be overwritten by the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer is set. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the polymerization amount is set to be smaller than the polymerization amount set for the next superimposed image overwritten by the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer. The desired image comprises an image of a character string that is transferred to the transfer medium by heating the black meltable ink layer.
The storage unit stores a large number of different character images representing a large number of different characters as a large number of different unit images.
The image array unit sequentially selects one of a large number of different character images based on the random numbers sequentially generated by the first random number generation unit, and determines an image based on a desired image size. In the formation area, a plurality of character images that are sequentially selected are arranged, and
When arranging a plurality of character images in which the image arrangement unit is sequentially selected, the polymerization amount setting unit superimposes two adjacent character images in a direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the character strings in the desired image. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the amount is set for each superimposed image of a plurality of superimposed images corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors. The storage unit stores a large number of different character images representing a large number of different characters as a large number of different unit images.
The superimposed image generator
A size change range setting unit that sets the size change range in which the character size is increased or decreased with respect to the basic character size defined for each character image of many different character images.
A second random number acquisition unit that acquires random numbers, and
Based on the random numbers sequentially acquired by the second random number acquisition unit, the character size within the size change range is sequentially specified, and the size of each character image of a large number of different character images is determined according to the sequentially specified character size. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising a determination unit. The thermal transfer part
Overwriting thermal head and
The overwriting thermal head is moved in the longitudinal direction of the color ink ribbon in order to transfer the superimposed image overwritten by the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after transfer to the overlapping sublimating ink layer. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an overwriting head moving unit. A first ribbon path portion formed so that the color ink ribbon is conveyed so that the color ink ribbon faces the transfer medium, and a ribbon portion transferred earlier among the transferred color ink ribbons. A ribbon path including a second ribbon path portion formed so that the transferred color ink ribbon is conveyed so as to overlap the later transferred ribbon portion.
Thermal head for printing and
A printing head moving portion for moving the printing thermal head along the first ribbon path portion is provided.
The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the overwriting head moving unit moves the overwriting thermal head along a second ribbon path portion. The first ribbon path portion and the second ribbon path portion are arranged parallel to each other.
The overwriting head moving part and the printing head moving part are
A common head support that supports the thermal head for overwriting and the thermal head for printing, respectively.
A moving mechanism that moves the head support in a predetermined path direction in which the first ribbon path portion and the second ribbon path portion extend.
The printing thermal head is displaced so that the printing thermal head approaches or separates from the first ribbon path portion, and the overwriting thermal head approaches or separates from the second ribbon path portion. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a head displacement mechanism that displaces the overwriting thermal head as described above. A color ink ribbon that extends long in a strip shape, and is a color ink ribbon formed by repeatedly arranging a sublimative ink layer of a plurality of colors and one black meltable ink layer as a set in the longitudinal direction. A ribbon transfer unit that conveys the ink, a medium transfer unit that conveys the intermediate transfer medium, a thermal transfer unit that transfers a desired image to the intermediate transfer medium by heating the color ink ribbon, and a desired transfer to the intermediate transfer medium. A thermal transfer printing apparatus including a print transfer unit for transferring an image of the above to a print medium.
A superimposed image generator that generates multiple superimposed images that are different from each other corresponding to each of the sublimable ink layers of multiple colors.
In the color ink ribbon after the desired image has been transferred to the intermediate transfer medium, the specific black molten ink layer after transfer is sequentially arranged in each layer of the sublimable ink layers of multiple colors after transfer. The alignment part that conveys the color ink ribbon to the ribbon transfer part so that it overlaps with
When a specific black molten ink layer after transfer overlaps each layer of sublimation ink layers of multiple colors after transfer, the specific black molten ink after transfer follows the superimposed image corresponding to the overlapped layer. A superimposition control unit that transfers a superposed image overwritten by an ink-missing image remaining in a specific black molten ink layer after transfer to an overlapping layer by heating the layer to a thermal transfer unit.
The intermediate transfer medium is conveyed to the medium transfer unit so that the intermediate transfer medium on which the desired image is transferred overlaps the print medium, and the print transfer unit is transferred so that the desired image is transferred from the intermediate transfer medium to the print medium. Equipped with a print control unit to control
The superimposition control unit sequentially overwrites the plurality of superposed images corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors with the ink-missing images remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after the transfer, thereby performing the plurality of colors after the transfer. Transfer to all layers of the sublimation ink layer of
An operation of transferring a superposed image overwritten by an ink-missing image remaining in a specific black molten ink layer after transfer to an overlapping layer, and an operation of transferring a desired image from a conveyed intermediate transfer medium to a printing medium. A thermal transfer printing device in which the superimposition control unit and the print control unit operate in synchronization so that they are executed in parallel. A color ink ribbon that extends long in a strip shape, and is a color ink ribbon formed by repeatedly arranging a sublimative ink layer of a plurality of colors and one black meltable ink layer in a longitudinal direction as a set. A computer that controls a thermal transfer printing apparatus including a ribbon transfer unit for transporting ink and a thermal transfer unit for transferring a desired image to a transfer medium by heating a color ink ribbon.
Superimposed image generation processing that generates multiple superposed images that are different from each other corresponding to each of the sublimable ink layers of multiple colors.
In the color ink ribbon after the desired image has been transferred to the transfer medium, the specific black molten ink layer after transfer is sequentially arranged in each layer of the sublimable ink layers of multiple colors after transfer. The alignment process of transporting the color ink ribbon to the ribbon transport section so that it overlaps with
When a specific black molten ink layer after transfer overlaps each layer of sublimation ink layers of multiple colors after transfer, the specific black molten ink after transfer follows the superimposed image corresponding to the overlapped layer. By heating the layer to the thermal transfer unit, a superimposition control process of transferring the superimposed image overwritten by the ink loss image remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after the transfer to the overlapping layer is executed.
The superimposition control process sequentially overwrites a plurality of superposed images corresponding to the sublimable ink layers of a plurality of colors with the ink-missing images remaining in the specific black molten ink layer after the transfer, thereby performing the plurality of colors after the transfer. A thermal transfer control program that transfers to all layers of the sublimation ink layer.

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