JP7139836B2 - Printing device and sticker paper - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing on sticker paper. The present invention also relates to a seal paper suitable as a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet.

Thermal transfer recording methods such as a thermal fusion transfer method and a thermal sublimation transfer method are widely used as printers for personal computers, video printers, and the like. In particular, the thermal sublimation transfer method has excellent density gradation expressibility comparable to that of silver halide photography, and is therefore also applied to prints of portraits taken with electronic cameras and video cameras.

Thermal transfer image-receiving sheets on which images are formed by the thermal transfer recording method are used in a wide variety of applications, and typical examples include printing proofs, image output, design and design output using CAD/CAM, CT scans, and endoscopes. Various medical analysis equipment such as cameras, recording of output such as measuring instruments, substitute for instant photos, output of face photos to identification cards, ID cards, credit cards and other cards, amusement parks, game centers, etc. There are composite photos and commemorative photos in amusement facilities such as museums and aquariums.

Along with such diversification of uses, a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet has been provided that can be attached to an arbitrary attachment object after image formation. For example, a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet in which a surface sheet consisting of an image-forming receiving layer and a base layer is bonded to a releasing base sheet via an adhesive layer, after transferring an image to the receiving layer, , can be peeled off at the peeling portion, and can be attached to an arbitrary object with an adhesive layer.

JP-A-7-40476 JP-A-10-244770

Roll paper dye-sublimation printers are used in a variety of situations, taking advantage of their advantages such as printing speed, complete dry processing, and ability to handle a wide range of print sizes. Printing on sticker paper is also in business as a value-added product. The sticker paper is a rolled paper formed by rolling a sticker paper to which an adhesive is applied and a backing paper for supporting the sticker paper together. In addition, some stickers are pre-cut into various shapes to make it easier for users to use them.

In order to print in accordance with the shape of the precut, the paper is sometimes provided with holes for position detection.

The printer detects this hole with a light transmission sensor or the like, and prints an image matched with the precut shape.

As a method of detecting the position of the pre-cut pattern, a method of printing markings on the front or back side of the paper is also conceivable. However, this method is the most rational because it is possible to make a detection hole in the paper in the same process as the paper is pre-cut, and the purpose of positioning can be achieved without a large increase in manufacturing costs. It is believed that there is.

However, this method can only deal with one type of pre-cut shape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a seal paper that can handle a plurality of types of pre-cut patterns without making the printing apparatus complicated in structure.

The printing apparatus of the present invention has a base sheet and a surface sheet detachably bonded to the base sheet, and prints on the peeled portion of the seal paper extending in one direction. In the printing apparatus, wherein the surface sheet is provided with a plurality of peeling portions by cutting in the thickness direction, the seal paper is provided with information display portions spaced apart in the one direction. , the information display section comprises at least one opening, the peeling section is arranged in each area on the sticker paper corresponding to each information display section, and the printing device moves the sticker paper in the one direction. an information reading device for reading information from the information display portion of the sticker paper conveyed by the conveying device; a printing device for printing on the peeling portion; and a control device for controlling the printing device. The control device has storage means for storing print data corresponding to the information of the information display unit, and operates the printing device according to the print data corresponding to the information read by the information reading device. It is characterized by controlling.

In one aspect of the printing apparatus of the present invention, the information reading device is arranged on one side of the sticker paper, and is arranged on the other side of the sticker paper and a light emitting element that emits light toward the sticker paper. and a light receiving element for receiving light from the light emitting element that has passed through the opening.

In one aspect of the printing apparatus of the present invention, at least one of the regions differs from the other regions in at least one of the shape of the peeled portions, the number of peeled portions, the size of the peeled portions, and the arrangement of the peeled portions.

In one aspect of the printing apparatus of the present invention, at least some of the openings are long openings extending in the one direction, and the printing apparatus cuts the sticker paper in the width direction at both ends of the long openings. and a cutter for printing sheets.

The sticker paper of the present invention has a base sheet and a surface sheet detachably bonded to the base sheet, and the surface sheet is provided with a plurality of peeling portions by cutting in the thickness direction. In the seal paper extending in one direction, information display portions are provided at intervals in the one direction, and the information display portion comprises at least one opening corresponding to each information display portion. The peeling portion is arranged in each region on the sticker paper, and at least some of the information display portions have a different number of openings or an opening length in the one direction from the other information display portions have different apertures.

In one aspect of the sticker paper of the present invention, at least one region differs from other regions in at least one of the shape of the peeling portion, the number of peeling portions, the size of the peeling portion, and the arrangement of the peeling portions.

In one aspect of the seal paper of the present invention, at least some of the openings extend in the one direction.

In one aspect of the sticker paper of the present invention, an opening extending in the one direction is provided between some of the information display portions in the one direction.

In one aspect of the sticker paper of the present invention, perforations extending in a direction connecting the information display portions are provided in the one direction.

In one aspect of the seal paper of the present invention, the openings are arranged at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the perforation, and have a shape in which the width of the opening decreases toward the perforation.

The sticker paper of the present invention has a base sheet and a surface sheet detachably bonded to the base sheet, and the surface sheet is provided with a plurality of peeling portions by cutting in the thickness direction. In the seal paper extending in one direction, information display portions are provided at intervals in the one direction, and the information display portion comprises at least one opening corresponding to each information display portion. The peeling portion is arranged in each region on the seal paper, and one of the openings included in the information display portion extends in the one direction over the entire region.

With the printing apparatus and sticker paper of the present invention, printing can be performed on the peeling portion according to the information on the information display portion. For example, even if the shape, size, number, arrangement, etc. of the peeling portions are different in each region between the information display portions, it is possible to print on each peeling portion.

1 is a schematic side view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seal paper according to an embodiment; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seal paper according to an embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of part of the sticker paper according to the embodiment; 1 is a perspective view of a seal paper according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seal paper according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 is a correlation diagram between aperture and sensor output; FIG. It is a shape explanatory drawing of opening. 1 is a perspective view of a seal paper according to an embodiment; FIG. It is shape explanatory drawing of an opening and a perforation. It is shape explanatory drawing of an opening and a perforation. 1 is a perspective view of a seal paper according to an embodiment; FIG. It is a shape explanatory drawing of opening.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus (a thermal transfer printing apparatus in this embodiment) according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III--III in FIG. This thermal transfer printing apparatus prints an image by sublimation transferring yellow, magenta, and cyan onto the printing sheet 7 .

The thermal transfer printing apparatus uses a thermal transfer sheet 5 in which a Y layer containing a yellow dye, an M layer containing a magenta dye, a C layer containing a cyan dye, and a surface protective (OP) layer are sequentially provided, and a printing sheet 7 is used. The thermal head 1 prints an image (including characters) by sublimation transfer of Y, M, and C onto the peeling portions 21 to 24 and forms a protective layer on the image. The thermal transfer sheet 5 and thermal head 1 are well known.

A thermal transfer sheet supply section 3 formed by winding a thermal transfer sheet 5 is provided on the downstream side of the thermal head 1 , and a thermal transfer sheet collection section 4 is provided on the upstream side of the thermal head 1 . A thermal transfer sheet 5 delivered from a thermal transfer sheet supply section 3 passes through a thermal head 1 and is collected by a thermal transfer sheet collection section 4 .

A rotatable platen roll 2 is provided below the thermal head 1 . The printing unit 14 including the thermal head 1 and the platen roll 2 sandwiches the printing sheet 7 and the thermal transfer sheet 5 and heats the thermal transfer sheet 5 to thermally transfer ink onto the printing sheet 7 to form an image.

On the upstream side of the thermal head 1, a rotatably drivable capstan roller 9a for conveying the print sheet 7 and a pinch roller 9b for pinching the print sheet 7 between the capstan roller 9a are provided. .

On the upstream side of the thermal head 1, an optical sensor 11 is provided as an information reading device for detecting an information display portion 20 (see FIG. 2) formed on the printing sheet 7, which will be described later.

The photographic printing sheet 7 is wound around a photographic paper roll 6 and fed out from the photographic paper roll 6 . A driving unit 13 including a photographic paper roll 6, a capstan roller 9a, and a pinch roller 9b feeds (conveys to the front side) and winds (conveys to the rear side) the photographic printing sheet 7. FIG.

The control device 10 controls the driving of each part of the thermal transfer printing apparatus and performs printing processing. In the printing process, first, the printing sheet 7 and the Y layer are aligned, and the thermal head 1 is brought into contact with the platen roll 2 via the printing sheet 7 and the thermal transfer sheet 5 . Next, the capstan roller 9a and the thermal transfer sheet collecting section 4 are rotationally driven, and the print sheet 7 and the thermal transfer sheet 5 are fed rearward. During this time, the areas of the Y layer are selectively heated by the thermal head 1 based on the image data, and Y is sublimated and transferred from the thermal transfer sheet 5 onto the print sheet 7 .

After sublimation transfer of Y, the thermal head 1 is raised and separated from the platen roll 2 . Next, the print sheet 7 and the M layer are aligned. In this case, the print sheet 7 is fed forward by a distance corresponding to the print size, and the thermal transfer sheet 5 is fed backward by a distance corresponding to the margin between the Y layer and the M layer.

M and C are sequentially sublimated onto the print sheet 7 in the same manner as the method of sublimation transfer of Y, and an image is formed on a predetermined portion of the print sheet 7 . Next, the OP layer is transferred over the entire image by the thermal head 1 to form a protective layer.

After that, the print sheet 7 is cut in the width direction by a cutter 8 on the downstream side to cut out print sheets 7a. The print sheet 7a is discharged from a discharge port (not shown). In the printing process, one set of ink layers is used to form an image by transferring coloring materials to the printing sheet 7 for one screen (one print sheet 7a).

As shown in FIG. 3 , the printing sheet 7 is obtained by laminating and integrating a base sheet 71 and a top sheet 73 with an adhesive layer 72 . Separation portions 21 to 24 are formed by cuts (half cuts) 74 reaching the surface of 71 .

In this embodiment, peeling portions 21, 22, 23 and 24 are arranged in this order in each region L between the information display portions 20 and 20 from one side to the other side of the print sheet 7. . The stripped portions 21 and 22 are substantially rectangular, and the stripped portion 23 is substantially elliptical. Two of these peeling portions 21 , 22 , 23 are arranged in each area L in the longitudinal direction of the printing sheet 7 . The peeling portion 24 has an elongated rectangular shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the printing sheet 7, and only one peeling portion 24 is provided in each area L. As shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the peeling portions 21 to 24 and the information display portion 20 are omitted from the roll-shaped portion of the printing sheet. A section 30 is likewise provided.

The shape, size, and arrangement of the peeling portions are not limited to those shown in FIG.

The information display section 20 is configured by one substantially rectangular opening 20a in this embodiment.

The sensor 11 has a light-emitting element arranged on one side of the print sheet 7 and a light-receiving element arranged on the other side. When the opening 20a passes between the light emitting element and the light receiving element, the light receiving level of the light receiving element becomes H, and the pulse width changes according to the length of the opening 20a (the length in the longitudinal direction of the printing sheet 7; the same shall apply hereinafter). A pulse signal is output from the sensor 11 .

In the storage unit of the control device 10, there is a printing data including data representing the pattern (position, shape and size) of the peeling portions 21 to 24 shown in FIG. Data is stored in association with the information display section 20 . The storage unit also stores print data associated with data of other types of information display units.

When a pulse signal corresponding to the information display section 20 is input from the sensor 11, the control device 10 reads print data corresponding to the input signal from the storage section and performs printing according to this print data. As a result, a unique image is printed on each of the peeling portions 21 to 24, as illustrated on the print sheet 7a in FIG. The printed peeling portions 21 to 24 can be peeled off from the print sheet 7a and attached to the target object.

FIG. 4 shows a print sheet 7A having an information display portion 20A constituted by two openings 20a arranged close to each other in the longitudinal direction of the sheet. Peeling portions 25 to 32 are provided in each region between the information display portions 20A, 20A.

The stripped portions 25 to 28 are rectangular. Three peeling portions 30 are provided in the longitudinal direction of the sheet. The stripped portions 29, 31, 32 are elongated and rectangular.

When the information display section 20A passes the sensor 11, two pulse signals corresponding to the openings 20a, 20a are output. The control device 10 reads out the print data corresponding to this signal from the storage section and prints on the peeling sections 25 to 32 .

FIG. 5 shows an example of a print sheet having an information display portion with another structure. The information display portion 20B of the printing sheet 7B in FIG. 5A is composed of three openings 20a. The information display portion 20C of the printing sheet 7C in FIG. 5B is composed of one opening 20a and one opening 20b having a larger opening length than the opening 20a. The information display portion 20D of the print sheet 7D shown in FIG. 5C is composed of one opening 20c having a larger opening length.

When each information display section 20B passes the sensor 11, three pulse signals are output from the information display section 20B, and two pulse signals with a small pulse width and a large pulse width are output from the information display section 20C. One pulse signal having a larger pulse width is output from the information display section 20D.

In this manner, by changing the number and length of the openings of the information display portion and combining them, it is possible to display many kinds of peeling portion patterns.

When the print sheet has one type of pattern of the peeling portion, the print sheet is provided with one type of information display portion. When the print sheet has peeling portions of two or more types of patterns, the corresponding number of types of information display portions are provided on the print sheet.

An example is shown in FIG. In the print sheet 7E of FIG. 6, an information display portion 20B having three openings 20a and an information display portion 20A having two openings 20a are provided alternately in the longitudinal direction of the print sheet.

In the region where the information display portion 20A is arranged on the front side and the information display portion 20B is arranged on the rear side, the peeling portions 25 to 32 having the pattern shown in FIG. 4 are provided.

Peeling portions 33 to 37 are provided in a region where the information display portion 20B is arranged on the front side and the information display portion 20A is arranged on the rear side.

In FIG. 6, part of the information display section 20A is in the area _LA , and part of the information display section 20B is in the area _LB. In this case, the control program of the control device 10 is set so that the information display section 20B shows the print data of the area _LA and the information display section 20A shows the print data of the area _LB.

In the present invention, the opening that constitutes at least part of the information display portion may extend over substantially the entire area L in the longitudinal direction of the print sheet. FIG. 7 shows a print sheet 7F according to one example.

In this print sheet 7F, the information display portion 20F is composed of a short opening 20a and a long opening 20f. When the information display section 20F passes through the sensor 11, as shown in FIG. 8, a signal having a first pulse (a) with a small pulse width and a second pulse (b) with a large pulse width is output. .

In response to this signal, the control device 10 prints on the peeling portions 40 to 47 of the printing sheet 7F.

_In this embodiment, the opening 20f extends across the planned cutting lines C1 and _C2 . Therefore, when the print sheet 7F is cut along the planned cutting lines C ₁ and C ₂ after printing, the print sheet 7a is divided into halves 7a′ and 7a″.

In FIG. 7, the information display section 20F consists of a combination of the openings 20a and 20f, but it may consist of only one elongated opening 20f as shown in FIG. 9(a). As shown in (b), it may consist of two openings 20a, 20a and one opening 20f, or as shown in FIG. 9(c), one opening 20b and one opening 20f. It may consist of. As shown in FIG. 9(d), an opening 20g having one end (or both ends) of an elongated opening having a large width may be used. The opening 20h may be semicircular.

Perforations 50 may be provided as in the printing sheet 7G of FIG. 10 instead of the elongated opening. At both ends of the perforation 50, as shown in FIG. An information display section 20G is configured by the opening 20i or by the openings 20i and 20j.

In FIG. 10, the stripped portions 40 to 47 of the pattern of FIG. 7 are provided, but stripped portions of other patterns may be provided.

In the print sheet 7a obtained by cutting the print sheet 7G along the planned cutting lines C1 and _C2 , perforations ₅₀ are provided so as to traverse. Also, notches 51 derived from the pointed portions of the openings 20i and 20j are formed on both sides of the print sheet 7a at both ends of the perforations 50. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the print sheet 7a can be easily separated into two pieces along the perforations 50. - 特許庁

The openings 20i and 20j are pentagonal, but the width of the openings 20i and 20j may be reduced toward the perforations. It may be semicircular or the like.

As shown in FIG. 12(c), a perforation 50 may also be provided between the nearest openings 20i and 20j.

In the above embodiments, the information display section has a substantially rectangular, triangular, pentagonal or similar shape, but as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, information display sections of other shapes may be provided. The information display portion 20H of the print sheet 7H in FIG. 13 is substantially trapezoidal, and has a concave shape in which a portion corresponding to the base of the trapezoid is recessed inside the trapezoid. FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b) respectively show the shape of the information display part imitating the number "1" or "2".

FIGS. 14(c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) respectively show the shape of the information display part imitating the capital letter of the alphabet. (e) simulates "B", and (f) and (g) simulate "C".

Since numbers and alphabets are ideograms, as shown in FIG. 14, the information display section imitating them is easy to visually distinguish from other information display sections, and the information display section and the peeling portion pattern corresponding to the printed sheet are easy to distinguish. people can easily know. In addition, the information display part imitating numbers, alphabets, other letters, figures, symbols, etc. is also excellent in design.

The above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention, and the present invention may be made into aspects other than those described above.

1 thermal bed 5 thermal transfer sheet 7, 7A to 7H printing sheet (seal paper)
10 Control device 11 Optical sensor 20, 20A-20D, 20F-20H Information display unit 20a-20j Opening 21-37, 40-47 Peeling unit 50 Perforation 71 Base sheet 72 Adhesive layer 73 Surface sheet 74 Notch

Claims (8)

It has a base sheet and a surface sheet detachably bonded to the base sheet, extends in one direction, and has a plurality of peeling portions formed by cutting in the thickness direction of the surface sheet. A printing device for printing on the peeling portion of the seal paper,
The sticker paper is provided with an information display portion at intervals in the one direction,
The information display unit comprises at least one opening,
The peeling part is arranged in each area on the sticker paper corresponding to each information display part,
at least some of the openings are long openings extending in the one direction;
The printing device is
a transport device for transporting the sticker paper in the one direction;
an information reading device that reads information from the information display portion of the sticker sheet conveyed by the conveying device;
a printing device that prints on the peeling portion;
a cutter that cuts the sticker paper in the width direction at both ends of the long opening to form print sheets;
a control device for controlling the printing device,
The control device has storage means for storing data representing the pattern of the peeling portion corresponding to the information of the information display portion, and operates the printing device according to the data corresponding to the information read by the information reading device. A sticker paper printing apparatus characterized by controlling: The information reading device
a light-emitting element that is arranged on one side of the sticker paper and emits light toward the sticker paper, and a light-receiving element that is arranged on the other side of the sticker paper and receives light from the light-emitting element that has passed through the opening. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: at least one of said regions, with another region;
the shape of the peeled part,
the number of stripped portions,
3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the size of the peeling portion and the arrangement of the peeling portion is different. It has a base sheet and a surface sheet that is detachably attached to the base sheet, and the surface sheet is provided with a plurality of peeling portions by cutting in the thickness direction, and extends in one direction. In the sticker paper that
Information display units are provided at intervals in the one direction,
The information display unit comprises at least one opening,
The peeling part is arranged in each area on the sticker paper corresponding to each information display part,
At least some of the information display sections have openings with a different number of openings or different opening lengths in the one direction from other information display sections ,
A seal paper , wherein perforations extending in a direction connecting the information display portions are provided in the one direction . at least one of said regions, with another region;
the shape of the peeled part,
the number of stripped portions,
5. The sticker paper according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the size of the peeling portion and the arrangement of the peeling portion is different. 6. The sticker paper according to claim 4 , wherein at least part of said opening extends in said one direction. 7. The seal paper according to any one of claims 4 to 6 , wherein openings having a width that decreases toward the perforation are arranged at both ends of the perforation in the longitudinal direction. It has a base sheet and a surface sheet that is detachably attached to the base sheet, and the surface sheet is provided with a plurality of peeling portions by cutting in the thickness direction, and extends in one direction. In the sticker paper that
Information display units are provided at intervals in the one direction,
The information display unit comprises at least one opening,
The peeling part is arranged in each area on the sticker paper corresponding to each information display part,
The seal paper, wherein one of the openings included in the information display portion extends in the one direction over the entire region.

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