JP6919450B2 - Thermal transfer system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer system that thermally transfers an overcoat layer to a card printed in a previous step.

Generally, in an ID card, image information such as a photograph of the cardholder's face and text information such as the cardholder's address, name, and date of birth are printed on the card. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes an ID card manufacturing apparatus including a plurality of printing units and manufacturing an ID card from image information and character information associated with each other by an ID number.

Further, the overcoat layer is thermally transferred to the card on which the image information and the character information are printed in order to protect the image information and the character information.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-137198

As a thermal transfer system that thermally transfers the overcoat layer, a system having a platen roller and a heating body including a heating head that sandwiches the ink ribbon and the card between the platen rollers and transfers the overcoat layer of the ink ribbon to the card. It has been known.

In such a thermal transfer system, the heating head has an uneven shape on its surface, but if the degree of surface roughness of this uneven shape becomes large, the ink ribbon is scratched and the scratch is transferred to the card side. .. Further, if the degree of surface roughness of the uneven shape of the heating head becomes large, the ink ribbon may not slide smoothly with respect to the heating head, and the ink ribbon may stop. Furthermore, in general, the heating head is replaced every time the surface of the heating head deteriorates, and the actual situation is that the cost is incurred every time the heating head is replaced.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such a point, and is a thermal transfer capable of smoothly running the ink ribbon without damaging the ink ribbon and suppressing the frequency of replacement of the heating head. The purpose is to provide a system.

The present invention uses an ink ribbon having a support layer and an overcoat layer to transfer the overcoat layer to an object to be transferred in a thermal transfer system, in which a delivery unit that delivers the ink ribbon and a downstream unit downstream of the transmission unit. The ink ribbon and the transfer body are sandwiched between the platen roller arranged on the side and provided on the transfer body side and the platen roller provided on the support layer side of the ink ribbon. A transfer device having a heating body that transfers the overcoat layer of the ink ribbon to the transfer target, and a winding unit that is arranged on the downstream side of the transfer device and winds up the transferred ink ribbon. The heating body has a heating head and a metal plate arranged on the ink ribbon side of the heating head, and the surface roughness (Ra) of the surface of the metal plate on the ink ribbon side is 0.004. This is a thermal transfer system having a friction coefficient of about 0.02 μm and a surface of the metal plate on the ink ribbon side of 0.2 or less.

The present invention is a thermal transfer system in which the surface of the metal plate on the ink ribbon side is buffed.

The present invention is a thermal transfer system in which the metal plate is made of a copper plate or an aluminum plate.

The present invention is a thermal transfer system in which the heating head includes a ceramic substrate.

According to the present invention, the ink ribbon can be smoothly run without damaging the ink ribbon, and the frequency of replacement of the heating head can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a thermal transfer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a heated body of the thermal transfer system shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a heated body of the thermal transfer system. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the entire card issuing system incorporating the thermal transfer system according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an ink ribbon.

<Embodiment of the present invention>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. First, with reference to FIG. 4, the entire card issuing system 35 for issuing cards will be described.

<Card issuance system>
As shown in FIG. 4, the card issuing system 35 is provided in the casing 46 and above the casing 46 to store a large number of cards and sequentially to store cards (transferred body) 14 (see FIG. 1) such as an ID card. A card hopper 31 for discharging and a printing device 30 provided on the downstream side of the card hopper 31 for printing image information and character information on the surface of the card are provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, on the downstream side of the printing device 30, a first protective sheet (also referred to as an overcoat layer) 13b for protecting image information and character information printed on the surface of the card is placed on the surface of the card. A first protective sheet forming portion 39 as a thermal transfer system according to the invention is provided. Further, on the downstream side of the first protective sheet forming portion 39, a second protective sheet forming portion 40 as a thermal transfer system is provided, which further provides a second protective sheet on the first protective sheet 13b. Further, on the downstream side of the second protective sheet forming portion 40, a sorting mechanism 44 for distributing the cards to the accumulating portion 45 is provided.

In the present embodiment, an IC chip (not shown) in which the owner's image information and character information are electronically stored may be mounted in the card 14. In this case, the reader / writer 37 shown in FIG. 4 may write the image information and the character information on the IC chip of the card 14.

Further, in the present embodiment, the owner's image information or character information may be printed not only on the front surface of the card 14 but also on the back surface surface. In this case, image information and character information may be printed on the back surface of the card by the back surface printing unit 38 shown in FIG.

<Thermal transfer system>
Next, the first protective sheet forming portion 39 and the second protective sheet forming portion 40 constituting the thermal transfer system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Hereinafter, the first protective sheet forming portion 39 will be described, but the second protective sheet forming portion 40 also has substantially the same configuration as the first protective sheet forming portion 39.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first protective sheet forming portion 39 overcoats a card 14 such as an ID card using an ink ribbon 13 including at least the support layer 13a and the overcoat layer 13b shown in FIG. The layer 13b is heated and transferred, and the first protective sheet forming portion 39 constitutes the thermal transfer system according to the present invention. The first protective sheet forming section (hereinafter, a thermal transfer system hereinafter) 39, a transmitting unit 25 for feeding the ink ribbon 13 in the direction indicated by the arrow R _1, arranged in the delivery direction downstream of the ink ribbon 13 of the delivery unit 25 a transfer device 18A which is disposed on the downstream side of the transfer device 18A, and includes a winding section 26 for winding the ink ribbon 13 already transferred in the direction indicated by the arrow R _2, a. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink ribbon 13 is guided from the delivery unit 25 to the transfer device 18A by the guide roller 16, and is wound from the transfer device 18A through the release roller 17 to the winding unit 26.

On the other hand, the card 14 is conveyed to the transfer device 18A by the introduction line 11 and is discharged from the transfer device 18A to the outside via the discharge line 12.

Next, the transfer device 18A will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer device 18A has a rubber platen roller 19 that supports the card 14, and a heating body 18 that is provided so as to face the platen roller 19 with the ink ribbon 13 and the card 14 interposed therebetween. .. As shown in FIG. 1, the heating body 18 is provided on the support layer 13a side of the ink ribbon 13. Then, the card 14 and the ink ribbon 13 are nipped (sandwiched) by the heating body 18 and the platen roller 19, and the overcoat layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 is heated by the heating body 18. As a result, the overcoat layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 is transferred to the card 14.

The transfer device 18A will be further described. As described above, the transfer device 18A has a rubber platen roller 19 and a heating body 18, of which the heating body 18 is arranged on the heating head 18a including the ceramic substrate and the ink ribbon 13 side of the heating head 18a. It has a metal plate 20 and. The ceramic substrate constituting the heating head 18a has a surface roughness (arithmetic mean roughness Ra) of 0.1 to 0.3 μm and a friction coefficient of the surface of 0.4 to 0.8.

On the other hand, the metal plate 20 has a thickness of 0.3 to 0.5 mm, and has a metal plate main body 20a that comes into contact with the ink ribbon 13 and a support plate 20b that is connected to the metal plate main body 20a. As a whole, it has an L-shaped cross section (see FIG. 2).

The metal plate 20 is made of copper or aluminum, and is made of a thin plate as a whole and has excellent thermal conductivity. Therefore, the heat from the heating head 18a can be smoothly transferred to the ink ribbon 13 side via the metal plate 20.

Further, the metal plate 20 is buffed in advance, and its surface roughness (arithmetic mean roughness) is 0.004 to 0.02 μm.

After that, the metal plate is subjected to surface treatment such as plating treatment, coating treatment, and vapor deposition treatment, and the surface of the metal plate 20 has excellent slipperiness, wear resistance, and heat resistance.

Specifically, the metal plate 20 is subjected to surface treatment of NIFGRIP manufactured by ULVAC, Inc.

In this NIFGRIP treatment, electroless nickel and fluororesin are co-deposited in a treatment liquid, a film is formed on a copper or aluminum base material using this treatment liquid, and fluororesin is placed in the film in terms of volume ratio. It refers to a process in which electroless nickel in the film and fluororesin are firmly adhered to each other by performing heat treatment after forming a film with a content of 30%.

This NIFGRIP treatment is a surface treatment technique capable of forming a highly functional composite film having excellent adhesion between a base material and a film, and excellent releasability, non-adhesiveness, slipperiness, and corrosion resistance.

By such surface treatment, the surface of the metal plate 20 as a whole has a surface roughness (arithmetic mean roughness Ra) of 0.004 to 0.02 μm and a friction coefficient of 0.2 or less, preferably about 0. It becomes .1.

By the way, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the heating head 18a of the heating body 18 is fixed to the support frame 21 via the intermediate plate 24 by the mounting bolts 22. The metal plate 20 provided on the ink ribbon 13 side of the heating head 18a is fixed to the support frame 21 by fixing the support plate 20b to the support frame 21 with mounting bolts 23. By fixing the metal plate 20 to the support frame 21 for fixing the heating head 18a in this way, the metal plate 20 can be easily installed, and in order to install the metal plate 20, it is necessary to provide a separate support mechanism. No.

Next, the configuration of the ink ribbon 13 having the support layer 13a and the overcoat layer 13b will be described with reference to FIG.

In the present invention, the support layer (base material) 13a is preferably a material having mechanical strength to such an extent that there is no problem in handling even in a heated state because heat is applied during thermal transfer. Examples of the material of such a support layer include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, 1,4-polycyclohexylene methylene terephthalate film, polyethylene naphthalate film, polyphenylene sulfide film, polystyrene film, polypropylene film, polysulphon film, and aramid film. , Polycarbonate film, polyvinyl alcohol film, cellophane, cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate, polyethylene film, polyvinyl chloride film, nylon film, polyimide film, ionomer film and the like. The thickness of the support layer is preferably 2 μm or more and 20 μm or less, and more preferably 4 μm or more and 10 μm or less.

As the overcoat layer 13b, a heat-meltable coat layer or a heat-sublimable coat layer can be used. The overcoat layer 13b covers the image information and the character information printed on the surface of the card 14 from above to protect the image information and the character information.

Each component of the thermal transfer system 39, for example, the transfer device 18A, the delivery unit 25, the winding unit 26, and the like are driven and controlled by the control unit 35A incorporated in the card issuing system 35.

<Operation of the present embodiment>
Next, the operation of the thermal transfer system 39 according to the present embodiment having such a configuration will be described.

First, the printing device 30 on the upstream side sends a card 14 such as an ID card on which image information and character information are printed on the surface in advance to the thermal transfer system 39 side. At this time, the control unit 35A drives the introduction line 11 to convey the card 14 toward the transfer device 18A, and the heater unit 15 preheats the card 14. On the other hand, the control unit 35A drives the take-up unit 26 to send the ink ribbon 13 from the transmission unit 25 toward the transfer device 18A.

At this time, tension is applied to the ink ribbon 13 by the brake mechanism built in the delivery unit 25.

When the card 14 reaches between the heating body 18 composed of the heating head 18a of the transfer device 18A and the metal plate 20 and the platen roller 19, the heating head 18a of the heating body 18 is driven by the control unit 35A, and the heating head 18a is driven. Presses the ink ribbon 13 against the card 14 while heating the ink ribbon 13 via the metal plate body 20a of the metal plate 20. As a result, the overcoat layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 is transferred onto the card 14. As a result, the image information and the character information pre-printed on the card 14 by the printing device 30 on the upstream side are covered and protected by the overcoat layer 13b.

On the other hand, the ink ribbon 13 transferred by the heating body 18 of the transfer device 18A is peeled from the card 14 via the peeling roller 17 and wound around the winding unit 26.

During this time, the heating head 18a presses the ink ribbon 13 against the card 14 while heating the ink ribbon 13 via the metal plate body 20a of the metal plate 20. At this time, the ink ribbon 13 is heated while traveling on the metal plate 20, and as described above, the surface roughness (Ra) of the metal plate 20 is 0.004 to 0.02 μm. And the coefficient of friction is 0.2 or less. Therefore, the ink ribbon 13 can smoothly run on the metal plate 20, and is not stopped by friction on the metal plate 20 or broken by an excessive force. Further, the ink ribbon 13 is not scratched, and the scratches on the ink ribbon 13 are not transferred to the card 14. Further, since the metal plate 20 is made of copper or aluminum having excellent thermal conductivity, the heat of the heating head 18a can be smoothly transferred to the ink ribbon 13 side.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the ink ribbon 13 can smoothly run on the metal plate 20 of the heating body 18, so that the ink ribbon 13 can be caught on the heating body 18 or the ink ribbon 13 can be caught on the heating body 18. The scratches are not transferred to the card 14.

Further, since the heating head 18a can be protected by the metal plate 20, the metal plate may be replaced due to aging, and the frequency of replacement of the expensive heating head can be suppressed.

11 Introduction line 12 Discharge line 13 Ink ribbon 13a Support layer 13b Overcoat layer 14 Card 15 Heater part 16 Guide roller 17 Peeling roller 18 Heater 18A Transfer device 18a Heating head 19 Platen roller 20 Metal plate 20a Metal plate body 20b Support plate 21 Support frame 22 Mounting bolt 23 Mounting bolt 25 Sending part 26 Winding part

Claims (4)

In a thermal transfer system that transfers the overcoat layer to an object to be transferred using an ink ribbon having a support layer and an overcoat layer.
A delivery unit that sends out the ink ribbon and
The ink ribbon and the transfer body are placed between the platen roller arranged on the downstream side of the delivery portion and provided on the transfer body side and the platen roller provided on the support layer side of the ink ribbon. A transfer device having a heating body that is sandwiched and transferred the overcoat layer of the ink ribbon to the transfer target body.
It is arranged on the downstream side of the transfer device and includes a take-up portion for winding the transferred ink ribbon.
The heating body has a heating head and a metal plate arranged on the ink ribbon side of the heating head, and the surface roughness (Ra) of the surface of the metal plate on the ink ribbon side is 0.004 to 0. A thermal transfer system having a friction coefficient of .02 μm and a surface of the metal plate on the ink ribbon side of 0.2 or less. The thermal transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the metal plate on the ink ribbon side is buffed. The thermal transfer system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the metal plate is made of a copper plate or an aluminum plate. The thermal transfer system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heating head includes a ceramic substrate.

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