JP6989944B2 - Thermal transfer device attachment and thermal transfer device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is provided in a thermal transfer device capable of thermally transferring a functional layer such as a printing layer or an adhesive layer from one transfer sheet to the other transfer sheet by heating and pressurizing, and how complicated the pattern is particularly complicated. However, the present invention relates to an attachment of a thermal transfer device and a thermal transfer device that enable thermal transfer printing capable of easily forming a print layer on clothing such as a T-shirt or other object to be transferred.

As a thermal transfer method capable of thermally transferring a functional layer such as a printing layer or an adhesive layer from one transfer sheet to the other transfer sheet, "transfer sheet and transfer sheet" according to Patent Document 1 of Kowa Technoa Co., Ltd. is used. The printing method that was used is known. The printing method according to Patent Document 1 (hereinafter referred to as "printing") uses two sheets, an A transfer sheet and a B transfer sheet, as a set, and even if it is a fine and delicate pattern, clothing such as a T-shirt. It is possible to print accurately on the surface, and the cost of printing is not affected by the complexity and delicacy of the pattern, and has the advantage of being constant and low cost. Furthermore, anyone with a color printer can easily print, and the printed pattern does not come off no matter how many times it is washed, and it has excellent wash resistance.

Japanese Patent No. 5265301

By the way, in the thermal transfer method described in this document, it is necessary to perform thermal pressing with a thermal press machine at a temperature of 130 ° C. and a pressure of 250 g / cm ² for 15 seconds. However, since the thermal press machine is large and expensive, there is a drawback that the implementation of the thermal transfer method described in this document is limited to a professional company equipped with the thermal press machine. Therefore, the thermal transfer method itself can be carried out at low cost, and despite the high demand from consumers to print the patterns and characters designed at home on their favorite fabric, it is very difficult to carry out at home. There was a problem.
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and is a thermal transfer apparatus capable of performing thermal transfer printing as described in Patent Document 1 easily and inexpensively without requiring a large and expensive thermal press machine. It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment and a thermal transfer device.

As a result of diligent research by the inventor of the present invention in order to solve the above problems, a transfer sheet is used for a certain distance on the outlet side of the rotating roller that heats and pressurizes using a rotating roller type heating / pressurizing device. If the transfer is guided while holding the guide portion and the temperature of the transfer sheet is adjusted at the guide portion, an inexpensive commercially available device having a heating / pressurizing roller (for example, without using an expensive hot press) (for example). It has been found that a commercially available laminator or the like enables thermal transfer by the method described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent No. 5265301.

Specifically, the attachment of the thermal transfer device according to claim 1 is at least arranged so as to heat and pressurize while transporting the second sheet in a state of being superposed on the first sheet on which the print layer is formed. A thermal transfer device provided with a pair of heating / pressurizing rollers for thermally transferring a functional layer from the second sheet to the first sheet or thermally transferring the printing layer from the first sheet to the second sheet. An attachment of the heating / pressurizing roller so as to guide the transfer of the first sheet and the second sheet in contact with at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet. It has a flat plate arranged on the outlet side and a peeling assisting portion provided along the outlet edge of the flat plate to assist the peeling of the first sheet and the second sheet, and the peeling assisting portion . Is configured so that the edge of the flat plate on the outlet side is inclined from a direction orthogonal to the transport direction so as to be carried out from the corners of the first sheet and the second sheet. ..
The number of the first sheet or the second sheet may be a plurality of sheets, and the number of the heating / pressurizing rollers may be two or more. Further, the temperature adjusting member may be one that comes into contact with both the first sheet and the second sheet from both sides of the first sheet and the second sheet, or any one of them. It may be in contact with only one side.

According to this configuration, the functional layer such as the adhesive layer and the printing layer are transferred between the first sheet and the second sheet while being heated and pressurized by the heating / pressing roller. The first sheet and the second sheet carried out from the heating / pressurizing roller are guided in the transport direction while being superposed by a temperature adjusting member having a guide function, and the flat plate is guided. The transferred functional layer or print layer is stabilized by the heat retaining function or the like.
Therefore, by using a commercially available inexpensive device (for example, a commercially available laminator) as a thermal transfer device and attaching an attachment having the above configuration to the device, a large and expensive thermal press machine is not required, and the patent document can be easily and inexpensively applied. It becomes possible to carry out thermal transfer printing as described in 1.
Further, since the outlet edge of the flat plate is formed diagonally with respect to the transport direction of the first sheet and the second sheet, the first sheet and the second sheet having a rectangular shape from the flat plate are formed. The sheet is carried out from the corner portion, and the first sheet and the second sheet can be easily peeled off by using the corner portion as a clue.

As another embodiment of the present invention, a carry-in guide for carrying in the first sheet and the second sheet in a rectangular shape diagonally with respect to the heating / pressurizing roller is provided on the inlet side of the heating / pressurizing roller. It may be provided in.
If the square-shaped first sheet and the second sheet are diagonally carried into the heating / pressurizing roller by using such a carry-in guide, the square-shaped first sheet from the temperature adjusting member can be carried in. The first sheet and the second sheet will be carried out from the corners, and the first sheet and the second sheet can be easily peeled off by using the corners as clues.

As described in claim 2, the flat plate may have a portion having fins for promoting cooling of the first sheet and the second sheet, and a portion not forming the fins. good.
By doing so, for example, the functional layer or the printed layer transferred by cooling by the cooling unit is stabilized, and the peeling start portion of the first sheet and the second sheet continues to keep warm. It is also possible to make it easy to peel off.

Further, as described in claim 3, the flat plate may be replaceable with another flat plate having a different length in the transport direction . For this purpose, a plurality of attachments having different lengths in the transport direction of the flat plate are prepared, and appropriate according to the transfer conditions such as the type of the first and second transfer sheets, the sheet thickness, the heating temperature and the pressing force. It also includes being configured to replace it with a length.

The thermal transfer device of the present invention has a configuration including an attachment having the above configuration, and as described in claim 4, a first sheet on which a print layer is formed and a second sheet are superposed on the first sheet. A thermal transfer device that thermally transfers the functional layer from the second sheet to the first sheet or thermally transfers the printed layer from the first sheet to the second sheet by heating and pressurizing in the combined state. In at least a pair of heating units arranged so as to heat and pressurize the first sheet and the second sheet while passing through the first sheet and the second sheet in a superposed state. It has a pressurizing roller and an attachment attached to the outlet side of the heating / pressurizing roller, and the attachment is in contact with at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet. The flat plate arranged on the outlet side of the heating / pressurizing roller and the corners of the first sheet and the second sheet are carried out so as to guide the transportation of the sheet and the second sheet. As described above, a configuration having a peeling assisting portion formed by inclining the edge of the flat plate on the outlet side from a direction orthogonal to the transport direction and assisting the peeling of the first sheet and the second sheet. There is.

A preferred embodiment of the thermal transfer apparatus of the present invention and its attachment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, thermal transfer is performed in a state where the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 are overlapped with each other, and an adhesive layer or the like is applied from the second transfer sheet 22 to the first transfer sheet 21. In addition to the case of transferring the functional layer of the above, the printing layer (including those formed by handwriting) such as characters and patterns formed on the first transfer sheet 21 is used as the second transfer sheet 22 (final product). Not limited to cloth products such as clothing, towels, swords, and flags, other transfer members such as sheets, panels, and posters made of paper or resin, as well as between the first transfer sheet 21 and the final product. It will be described as including the case of thermal transfer to (including those used in the middle).

FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating the overall configuration of the thermal transfer device of the present invention.
The thermal transfer device 1 is arranged on the outlet side of a pair of heating / pressurizing rollers 11.11 rotatably opposed to each other in the housing 10 and the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11, and is arranged to face each other vertically. It has a temperature adjusting member 12 as an attachment formed of two flat plates 121 and 122.
In the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11, the lower heating / pressurizing roller 11 is connected to a drive body M such as a motor, and the upper heating / pressurizing roller 11 pressurizes the lower heating / pressurizing roller 11. A pressure adjusting member 13 for adjusting the pressure is provided. Using this pressure adjusting member 13, the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 are applied to the pressure required for thermal transfer (for example, 250 g / cm ² when the same thermal transfer method as the method of Patent Document 1 is used). Allows pressurization.

Although not shown in particular, a temperature-adjustable heater is provided inside the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11, and the surface temperature of the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11 is the temperature required for thermal transfer (the temperature required for thermal transfer). It can be heated to around 130 ° C.).
If the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11 can be heated to the temperature required for thermal transfer (for example, around 130 ° C.), the housing 10, the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11, the drive body M, and the adjusting member 13 A commercially available laminator can be preferably used as the main body of the thermal transfer device composed of such as.

On the outlet side of the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11 in the transport direction, a temperature adjusting member 12 in which two flat plates 121 and 122 are arranged facing each other is arranged.
The entire length of the upper edge of the metal plate 121 in the width direction is formed as the peeling auxiliary portion 123. If the thickness of the flat plate 121 is thin and there is a risk of damaging the first transfer sheet 21 or the second transfer sheet 22, the edge of the flat plate 121 may be bent upward or the thickness may be increased. The peeling auxiliary portion 123 may be formed.
As shown in (b), the peeling assisting portion 123 is inserted between the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11 in a superposed state, and is carried out from the outlet of the temperature adjusting member 12 to the first transfer sheet 21 and the first transfer sheet 21. By grasping one end of the upper first transfer sheet 21 of the second transfer sheets 22 and lifting the first transfer sheet 21 along the peeling assisting portion 123, the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 21 are lifted. Assists in peeling from the transfer sheet 22.

The flat plates 121 and 122 constituting the temperature adjusting member 12 can be formed of a metal plate such as aluminum or stainless steel, and the gap between the flat plates 121 and 122 is formed by the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet that are overlapped with each other. It is almost the same as the thickness of the sheet 22. By doing so, the temperature adjusting member 12 is in a state where the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 carried out from the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11 are overlapped by the upper and lower flat plates 121 and 122. You will be guided to the exit of.
It is preferable that the size of the gap between the flat plates 121 and 122 can be adjusted according to the change in thickness due to the change in the type of the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22, but the gap A plurality of temperature adjusting members 12 having different dimensions may be prepared so that they can be replaced with the temperature adjusting members 12 having the optimum gap dimensions.

Further, when the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 come into contact with the flat plates 121 and 122, respectively, between the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 and the flat plates 121 and 122. Heat is exchanged. That is, while the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 pass through the temperature adjusting member 12 from the heating / pressurizing roller 11, the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 are the first. The temperature is maintained at a temperature that stabilizes the thermal transfer of the printing layer or the functional layer from the transfer sheet 21 to the second transfer sheet 22.

Therefore, the length (length from the inlet to the outlet) L of the temperature adjusting member 12 in the transport direction is the thermal conductivity and wall thickness (related to the materials of the flat plates 121 and 122) of the flat plates 121 and 122, and the first. The transfer speed of the transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 (related to the rotation speed of the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11. For example, when the same thermal transfer method as the method of Patent Document 1 is used, the passing time is about 15 seconds. The optimum length L is set so that the thermal transfer of the printed layer or the functional layer can be stabilized, based on the temperature gradient of the temperature adjusting member 12 and the temperature gradient.

FIG. 2A is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature change of the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 from the inlet to the outlet of the temperature adjusting member 12 and the length L from the inlet to the outlet. ..
The three graphs (indicated by the symbols I, II, and III) show that the inlet temperature is Ti ₁ , Ti ₂ , and Ti ₃ (Ti ₁ <Ti ₂ <Ti ₃ ), respectively, and T ₀ is the optimum temperature at the outlet. be.
In each inlet temperature pattern, the length L that reaches the optimum temperature T ₀ at the outlet is obtained. In this example, when the respective lengths L are L1, L2, and L3, the outlet temperature of the temperature adjusting member 12 in each pattern becomes the optimum temperature T ₀ , so that the length is long when the inlet temperature is Ti ₁ . The L may be set to L1, the length L may be set to L2 when Ti ₂ , and the length L may be set to L3 when Ti ₃ .

The length L of the temperature adjusting member 12 can be adjusted in order to obtain the optimum length L according to the type of the printing layer, the type of the functional layer, the type of the first transfer sheet 21, the second transfer sheet 22, and the like. It is preferable to do so. A plurality of temperature adjusting members 12 having different lengths L may be prepared so that they can be replaced with the temperature adjusting members 12 having the optimum length L.

Even if the length L of the temperature adjusting member 12 is set so that the outlet temperature becomes the optimum temperature T ₀ as shown in the graph of FIG. 2 (a), the above may be performed depending on the mode of the temperature gradient from the inlet to the outlet. Thermal transfer of the printed layer or the functional layer may not be performed stably.
FIG. 2B is a graph showing the optimum temperature gradient of the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 from the inlet to the outlet of the temperature adjusting member 12. For example, as shown in the three graphs (indicated by reference numerals I, II, and III), the inlet temperature Ti and the optimum temperature T ₀ at the outlet of each pattern are the same, but the thermal transfer of the printed layer or the functional layer is performed. It is assumed that the optimum temperature gradient that can be stably performed is indicated by reference numeral I.
Therefore, in the pattern indicated by reference numeral II, it is necessary to keep the temperature on the outlet side while promoting cooling on the inlet side to bring the temperature gradient closer to that indicated by reference numeral I, and in the pattern indicated by reference numeral III, it is necessary to keep the temperature on the inlet side. It is necessary to improve the property and bring the temperature gradient closer to that indicated by the symbol I.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a temperature adjusting member 12 in which heat insulating portions 121a and 122a and cooling portions 121b and 122b are provided together on flat plates 121 and 122.
In the example of FIG. 3A, the heat retention on the inlet side is enhanced by increasing the wall thickness on the inlet side of the flat plates 121 and 122 and stacking another member having high heat retention, while the outlet side is for cooling. The cooling performance is improved by providing fins.
By doing so, the temperature gradient shown by reference numeral III in FIG. 2B can be brought closer to the temperature gradient shown by reference numeral I.

In the example of FIG. 3B, fins are formed on the inlet side of the flat plates 121 and 122, but by gradually reducing the size of the fins from the inlet side to the outlet side, a rapid temperature drop can be achieved. It is suppressing.
By doing so, the temperature gradient shown by reference numeral II in FIG. 2B can be brought closer to the temperature gradient shown by reference numeral I.

In this way, by equipping the temperature adjusting member 12 with the heat insulating portions 121a, 122a and the cooling portions 121b, 122b, it is possible to achieve higher stabilization of thermal transfer and facilitation of peeling.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the thermal transfer device of the present invention.
When the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 are square, it is easier to peel them off from the triangularly pointed corners.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the square first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 are inclined with respect to the transport direction (direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1). It is inserted into the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11. On the inlet side of the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11, a carry-in guide 14 having a width on which the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 in an inclined state can be placed is provided, and the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11 are heated. The pressure rollers 11 and 11 are larger than the total width of the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 in a tilted state. For example, when the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 are A4 size, it is preferable to prepare a carry-in guide 14 and heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11 having a width larger than this and having a width of A3 size or more. ..
As shown in FIG. 4B, the temperature adjusting member 12 is formed by inserting the rectangular first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 into the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11 at an oblique angle. From the outlet, the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 are carried out from the triangularly pointed corners. Then, the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 may be peeled off from this corner.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the thermal transfer device of FIG.
In this embodiment, instead of inserting the square first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 into the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11 at an oblique angle, the temperature adjustment in which the peeling assisting portion 123 is formed is formed. The edge on the outlet side of the member 12 is inclined from a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. By doing so, as shown in FIG. 5B, the square first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 are carried out from the corners from the outlet of the temperature adjusting member 12, and FIG. 4 The first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 can be peeled off from the corners in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited by the above description.
For example, a heater may be provided on the temperature adjusting member 12, and the temperature may be adjusted by the heater, or the heat of the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11 may be propagated to the temperature adjusting member 12. Further, by dividing the heater into a plurality of parts and adjusting the temperature for each heater or by partially providing a heater, it becomes possible to provide the heat insulating portions 121a and 122a and the cooling portions 121b and 122b together. By providing a heater in this way and allowing the heat of the heating / pressurizing rollers 11 and 11 to be propagated to the temperature adjusting member 12, for example, the outlet temperature and the temperature gradient are optimally maintained even if the outside air temperature changes. Will be possible.
Further, the case where the first transfer sheet 21 and the second transfer sheet 22 are stacked one by one has been described, but even if the number of the first transfer sheet 21 or the second transfer sheet 22 is two or more. good.
Further, in the above description, the temperature adjusting member 12 is described as having two upper and lower flat plates 121 and 122, but only one of the upper flat plate 121 and the lower flat plate 122 may be used.

The thermal transfer apparatus of the present invention can be suitably applied to the thermal transfer printing method described in Japanese Patent No. 5265301, but can also be applied to other thermal transfer printing methods that perform thermal transfer by heating and pressurizing. Further, it can be applied not only to the thermal transfer of the printing layer but also to the thermal transfer of the functional layer such as the adhesive layer. Further, it can be applied not only to clothing such as T-shirts and cloth products such as towels, banners and flags, but also to thermal transfer to other transferred members such as sheets, panels or posters made of paper or resin.

(A) is a perspective view illustrating the overall configuration of the thermal transfer device of the present invention, and (b) is a schematic side view illustrating the operation of the thermal transfer device of the present invention. In the figure explaining the operation of the temperature control member of the present invention, (a) is a graph explaining the relationship between the inlet temperature and outlet temperature of the temperature control member and the length in the transport direction, and (b) is from the inlet of the temperature control member. It is a graph which shows the temperature gradient to an outlet. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the temperature control member which provided both a cooling part and a heat-retaining part. It is a perspective view explaining the structure for carrying out a square first transfer sheet and the second transfer sheet from the corners thereof, and the operation thereof. It is a perspective view explaining another embodiment of FIG.

1 Thermal transfer device 10 Housing 11 Heating / pressurizing roller 12 Temperature adjusting member 121, 122 Flat plate 123 Peeling assisting part 13 Pressurizing adjustment member 14 Carry-in guide 21 First transfer sheet 22 Second transfer sheet M Drive (motor)
L Length of temperature control member in transport direction

Claims (4)

The second sheet is provided with at least a pair of heating / pressurizing rollers arranged so as to heat / pressurize while transporting the second sheet in a state of being superposed on the first sheet on which the print layer is formed. An attachment of a thermal transfer device that thermally transfers the functional layer from the first sheet to the first sheet or thermally transfers the print layer from the first sheet to the second sheet.
It is arranged on the outlet side of the heating / pressurizing roller so as to guide the transportation of the first sheet and the second sheet in a state of being in contact with at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet. Flat plate and
A peeling assisting portion provided along the outlet edge of the flat plate to assist the peeling between the first sheet and the second sheet, and a peeling assisting portion.
Have,
The peeling assisting portion is formed by inclining the edge of the flat plate on the outlet side from a direction orthogonal to the transport direction so that the first sheet and the second sheet are carried out from the corners. Being,
Attachment of thermal transfer device featuring. The attachment of the thermal transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the flat plate has a portion having fins for promoting cooling of the first sheet and the second sheet, and a portion not forming the fins. .. The attachment of the thermal transfer device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the flat plate can be replaced with another flat plate having a different length in the transport direction . By heating and pressurizing the first sheet on which the print layer is formed and the second sheet on the first sheet, the functional layer is formed from the second sheet to the first sheet. In a thermal transfer device for thermal transfer or thermal transfer of the printed layer from the first sheet to the second sheet.
At least a pair of heating / pressurizing arrangements so as to heat / pressurize the first sheet and the second sheet while passing the first sheet and the second sheet in a superposed state. With Laura,
The attachment attached to the outlet side of the heating / pressurizing roller and
Have,
The attachment is an outlet of the heating / pressurizing roller so as to guide the transfer of the first sheet and the second sheet in a state of being in contact with at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet. The flat plate placed on the side and
The first sheet and the first sheet are formed by inclining the edge of the flat plate on the outlet side from a direction orthogonal to the transport direction so as to be carried out from the corners of the first sheet and the second sheet. A peeling assisting part that assists in peeling from the second sheet,
A thermal transfer device characterized by having .

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