JP7338366B2 - Layer transfer device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a layer transfer device for transferring a transfer layer onto a sheet.

Conventionally, as a layer transfer film cartridge that can be attached to and detached from a housing of a layer transfer device, there is known one that includes a supply reel on which a multilayer film is wound and a take-up reel for winding the multilayer film ( See Patent Document 1). In this technique, a layer transfer film cartridge is provided with a structure for guiding the multilayer film in order to change the advancing direction of the multilayer film.

JP-A-7-290685

By the way, the inventors of the present application have found that a part of the structure for guiding the multilayer film is provided in the housing of the layer transfer device, and the rest of the structure for guiding the multilayer film is provided in the film cartridge for layer transfer. We are thinking of reducing the weight of the film cartridge for . However, in this case, when the layer transfer film cartridge is attached and detached, there is a risk that the structure provided in the layer transfer film cartridge may interfere with the structure provided in the housing, limiting the degree of freedom in design. occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a layer transfer apparatus capable of increasing the degree of freedom in design.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a layer transfer device according to the present invention is a layer transfer device for transferring a transfer layer onto a sheet, comprising: a housing body having an opening; and a film cartridge for layer transfer that supports a multilayer film having the transfer layer and a support layer that supports the transfer layer.
The casing main body is a guide shaft that guides the multilayer film, and is positioned at a first position and in a state in which the layer transfer film cartridge is attached to the casing main body. A guide shaft is provided which is movable between a second position remote from the portion of the film cartridge.

According to this configuration, by moving the guide shaft to the second position when attaching and detaching the layer transfer film cartridge, it is possible to prevent the layer transfer film cartridge from interfering with the guide shaft. This increases the degree of freedom in design.

Further, the guide shaft located at the first position overlaps a part of the layer transfer film cartridge when projected in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction along the guide shaft, and is located at the second position. The guide shaft may be configured so as not to overlap a part of the layer transfer film cartridge when projected in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction along the guide shaft.

Further, the housing body may further include a holding member that holds the guide shaft, and the holding member may be rotatably supported by the housing body.

The layer transfer device may further include a cover for opening and closing the opening, and the guide shaft may move from the second position to the first position when the cover is closed.

According to this, since the guide shaft moves to the first position when the cover is closed, the guide shaft can be reliably arranged at the proper position when transferring the transfer layer to the sheet.

Further, in the process of closing the cover, the guide shaft may move from the second position to the first position because the cover presses the holding member.

The holding member is a first arm that is rotatably supported by the housing body, and is rotatably supported by the first arm that supports one end of the guide shaft and the housing body. a second arm supporting the other end of the guide shaft; and a first lever formed on the first arm, wherein the first lever extends in an axial direction along the guide shaft. A first lever located on the side opposite to the second arm with respect to the arm, and a second lever formed on the second arm, wherein the first lever is positioned with respect to the second arm in the axial direction. a second lever located on the opposite side of the arm, wherein in the process of closing the cover, the cover presses the first lever and the second lever so that the guide shaft moves to the second position; to the first position.

Further, the guide shaft may move from the first position to the second position in the process of removing the layer transfer film cartridge from the housing body.

Since the guide shaft moves to the second position in the process of removing the layer transfer film cartridge, it is possible to prevent the guide shaft from becoming an obstacle when the layer transfer film cartridge is mounted next time.

In the process of removing the layer transfer film cartridge from the housing body, the layer transfer film cartridge presses the holding member, thereby moving the guide shaft from the first position to the second position. may

Moreover, a spring may be further provided for biasing the guide shaft from the first position toward the second position.

According to this, when the cover presses the holding member when the cover is closed, the guide shaft moves from the second position to the first position against the biasing force of the spring. Then, when the cover is opened, the guide shaft moves from the first position to the second position by the biasing force of the spring as the cover moves away from the holding member. Therefore, when removing the layer transfer film cartridge, the guide shaft is arranged at a position where it does not interfere with the removal of the layer transfer film cartridge, so that the removal of the layer transfer film cartridge can be easily performed.

In addition, the casing main body includes a first guide shaft that contacts the multilayer film to change the direction of travel of the multilayer film, and a first guide shaft that contacts the multilayer film guided by the first guide shaft to change the direction of the multilayer film. a second guide shaft for changing the traveling direction of the film, and the layer transfer film cartridge contacts the multilayer film guided by the second guide shaft to change the traveling direction of the multilayer film. A film guide member may be provided, the guide shaft may be the second guide shaft, and the part of the layer transfer film cartridge may be the film guide member.

Further, the layer transfer film cartridge includes a supply reel on which the multilayer film is wound, and a take-up reel for winding the multilayer film, and the film guide member rotates the take-up reel. It may be a shaft extending axially along an axis, the shaft being immovable in a direction that changes the distance from the supply reel.

According to the present invention, since it is possible to prevent the layer transfer film cartridge from being caught by the guide shaft when the layer transfer film cartridge is attached and detached, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in design.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is the figure (a) which shows the layer transfer apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and sectional drawing (b) which shows the structure of a multilayer film. It is a figure which shows the state which opened the cover of the layer transfer apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a layer transfer film cartridge and a housing body; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation of mounting the layer transfer film cartridge to the housing body; It is a diagram (a) showing a state in which the second guide shaft is located at the second position, and a diagram (b) showing a state in which the second guide shaft is located at the first position. It is a figure which shows the modification of a layer transfer apparatus, the figure (a) which shows the state in which the 2nd guide shaft is located in the 2nd position, and the figure (b) which shows the state in which the 2nd guide shaft is located in the 1st position. is. It is the perspective view (a) and sectional drawing (b) which show the film cartridge for layer transfer which concerns on a 2nd modification. It is the perspective view (a) and sectional drawing (b) which show the film cartridge for layer transfer which concerns on a 3rd modification.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following description, first, the overall structure of the layer transfer device will be briefly described, and then the structure of the characteristic portion of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the layer transfer device 1 forms a toner image on a sheet S with an image forming device such as a laser printer, and then transfers the toner image on the sheet S with a foil of aluminum or the like. Apparatus for transferring layers. That is, the layer transfer device 1 forms a foil image on the sheet S by transferring the foil onto the toner image on the sheet S. As shown in FIG. The layer transfer device 1 includes a housing 2 , a sheet transport section 10 , a film supply section 30 and a transfer section 50 .

The housing 2 is made of resin or the like, and includes a housing main body 21 and a cover 22 . The housing body 21 has an opening 21A (see FIG. 2) at the top. The opening 21A is an opening for attaching and detaching a layer transfer film cartridge FC, which will be described later, to the housing body 21 . The cover 22 is a member for opening and closing the opening 21A. The cover 22 is rotatably supported by the housing body 21 . The cover 22 is rotatable between a closed position (position shown in FIG. 1A) for closing the opening 21A and an open position (position shown in FIG. 2) for opening the opening 21A.

The sheet conveying section 10 includes a sheet supply mechanism 11 and a sheet discharge mechanism 12 . The sheet conveying unit 10 is rotationally driven by a main motor M, which will be described later. The sheet supply mechanism 11 is a mechanism that conveys the sheets S on a sheet tray (not shown) one by one toward the transfer section 50 .

The sheet ejection mechanism 12 is a mechanism that ejects the sheet S that has passed through the transfer section 50 to the outside of the housing 2 .

The film supply unit 30 is a part that supplies the multilayer film F so as to overlap the sheet S conveyed from the sheet supply mechanism 11 . The film supply unit 30 includes a layer transfer film cartridge FC, a first guide shaft 41, a second guide shaft 42 as an example of a guide shaft, and a main motor M as a drive source. The first guide shaft 41 and the second guide shaft 42 are provided on the housing body 21 (see FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 2, the layer transfer film cartridge FC can be attached to and detached from the housing body 21 through the opening 21A. The layer transfer film cartridge FC is a cartridge that supports the multilayer film F, and mainly includes a supply section 310, a winding section 350, and a shaft 43 as an example of a film guide member. The supply section 310 mainly has a supply reel 31 . The winding unit 350 mainly has a winding reel 35 . A multilayer film F is wound around the supply reel 31 .

As shown in FIG. 1(b), the multilayer film F is a film composed of multiple layers. Specifically, the multilayer film F has a support layer F1 and a supported layer F2. The support layer F1 is a tape-shaped transparent substrate made of a polymeric material, and supports the supported layer F2. The supported layer F2 has, for example, a release layer F21, a transfer layer F22, and an adhesive layer F23. The peeling layer F21 is a layer for facilitating peeling of the transfer layer F22 from the support layer F1, and is arranged between the support layer F1 and the transfer layer F22. The release layer F21 contains a transparent material such as a wax-based resin that can be easily separated from the support layer F1.

The transfer layer F22 is a layer to be transferred to the toner image and includes foil. A foil is a thinly rolled metal such as gold, silver, copper, or aluminum. Also, the transfer layer F22 contains a coloring material such as gold, silver, or red, and a thermoplastic resin. The transfer layer F22 is arranged between the release layer F21 and the adhesive layer F23.

The adhesive layer F23 is a layer for facilitating adhesion of the transfer layer F22 to the toner image. The adhesive layer F23 contains a material that easily adheres to the toner image heated by the transfer unit 50, which will be described later, such as vinyl chloride resin or acrylic resin.

The supply reel 31 is made of resin or the like, and has a supply shaft portion 31A around which the multilayer film F is wound. One end of the multilayer film F is fixed to the supply shaft portion 31A.

The take-up reel 35 is made of resin or the like, and has a take-up shaft portion 35A for winding the multilayer film F thereon. The other end of the multilayer film F is fixed to the take-up shaft portion 35A. The winding shaft portion 35A is rotationally driven by the main motor M. As shown in FIG.

When the layer transfer film cartridge FC is new, the roll-shaped multilayer film F wound around the supply reel 31 has a maximum diameter, and the take-up reel 35 is wound with the multilayer film F. The diameter of the roll-shaped multilayer film F wound on the take-up reel 35 is the minimum. At the end of the service life of the layer transfer film cartridge FC (when the multilayer film F is used up), the diameter of the roll-shaped multilayer film F wound around the take-up reel 35 is maximized, and the supply reel 31 has a The diameter of the roll-shaped multilayer film F which is not wound with the film F or is wound around the supply reel 31 is minimized.

The first guide shaft 41 is a shaft that guides the multilayer film F. As shown in FIG. Specifically, the first guide shaft 41 contacts the multilayer film F drawn from the supply reel 31 to change the traveling direction of the multilayer film F. As shown in FIG. The first guide shaft 41 is made of SUS (stainless steel).

The second guide shaft 42 is a shaft that guides the multilayer film F. As shown in FIG. Specifically, the second guide shaft 42 contacts the multilayer film F guided by the first guide shaft 41 to change the traveling direction of the multilayer film F. As shown in FIG. The second guide shaft 42 is made of SUS.

When the layer transfer film cartridge FC is attached to the housing body 21, the first guide shaft 41 and the second guide shaft 42 are aligned with the first surface FA ( (see FIG. 1(b)). Further, in the state where the layer transfer film cartridge FC is attached to the housing body 21, the first surface FA and the first surface FA among the surfaces of the multilayer film F stretched between the first guide shaft 41 and the second guide shaft 42 are arranged. The second surface FB (see FIG. 1B), which is the surface on the opposite side and is formed by the supported layer F2 including the transfer layer F22, is the sheet S conveyed by the sheet conveying unit 10 and the pressure roller. 51 and contact.

The shaft 43 is a member made of SUS or the like for adjusting the angle of the multilayer film F when peeling the multilayer film F from the sheet S, and is in contact with the second surface FB of the multilayer film F. The shaft 43 contacts the multilayer film F guided by the second guide shaft 42 to change the traveling direction of the multilayer film F. As shown in FIG. The shaft 43 extends axially. As the shaft 43 is pressed against the second surface FB of the multilayer film F stretched between the second guide shaft 42 and the take-up reel 35, the traveling direction of the multilayer film F guided by the second guide shaft 42 is changed. is changed, and the angle of the multilayer film F bent with the second guide shaft 42 as a starting point (hereinafter also referred to as "peeling angle") is adjusted to be a sharper angle. Specifically, the peeling angle is determined by the portion of the multilayer film F stretched between the first guide shaft 41 and the second guide shaft 42 and the portion stretched between the second guide shaft 42 and the shaft 43. is the angle between The sharper the peeling angle, that is, the smaller the peeling angle, the easier it is for the sheet S that has passed through the second guide shaft 42 to be peeled from the multilayer film F. The first guide shaft 41 and the second guide shaft 42 may be rotatably supported by the housing body 21 or may be non-rotatably supported. Further, the shaft 43 may be rotatably or non-rotatably supported by a support member 90, which will be described later.

The first guide shaft 41 guides the multi-layer film F pulled out from the supply reel 31 so as to overlap the sheet S conveyed with the surface on which the toner image is formed facing down. The first guide shaft 41 changes the conveying direction of the multilayer film F pulled out from the supply reel 31 and guides the multilayer film F substantially parallel to the sheet S conveying direction.

The second guide shaft 42 contacts the multilayer film F that has passed through the transfer section 50, and changes the conveying direction of the multilayer film F that has passed through the transfer section 50 to a direction different from the conveying direction of the sheet S, so that the multilayer film It is a peeling roller that guides F away from the sheet S. The multilayer film F that has passed through the transfer section 50 and is conveyed while overlapping the sheet S is guided in a direction different from that of the sheet S when passing through the second guide shaft 42 and separated from the sheet S.

The transfer portion 50 is a portion for transferring the transfer layer F22 onto the toner image formed on the sheet S by applying heat and pressure while the sheet S and the multilayer film F are stacked. The transfer section 50 includes a pressure roller 51 and a heating roller 61 . The transfer unit 50 heats and presses the sheet S and the multilayer film F in a nip portion between the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61 .

The pressure roller 51 is a roller in which a cylindrical cored bar is covered with a rubber layer made of silicone rubber. The pressure roller 51 is arranged above the multilayer film F and is capable of contacting the back surface of the sheet S (the surface opposite to the surface on which the toner image is formed).

Both ends of the pressure roller 51 are rotatably supported by the cover 22 . The pressure roller 51 sandwiches the sheet S and the multilayer film F between itself and the heating roller 61 , and is rotated by the main motor M so that the heating roller 61 is driven to rotate. With the sheet S and the multilayer film F sandwiched between the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61, the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61 rotate, whereby the sheet S and the multilayer film F are conveyed. be.

The heating roller 61 is a roller in which a heater is arranged inside a cylindrically formed metal tube, and heats the multilayer film F and the sheet S. As shown in FIG. The heating roller 61 is arranged below the multilayer film F and is in contact with the first surface FA of the multilayer film F. As shown in FIG.

In the layer transfer device 1 configured as described above, the sheets S placed on a sheet tray (not shown) with the surface of the sheets S facing downward are conveyed one by one toward the transfer section 50 by the sheet supply mechanism 11 . be. The sheet S is superimposed on the multilayer film F supplied from the supply reel 31 on the upstream side of the transfer section 50 in the sheet conveying direction, and conveyed to the transfer section 50 in a state in which the toner image of the sheet S and the multilayer film F are in contact with each other. be.

In the transfer section 50, the sheet S and the multilayer film F are heated and pressed by the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51 when passing through the nip portion between the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61, and the toner image is formed. A transfer layer F22 is transferred thereon. In the following description, the transfer of the transfer layer F22 to the toner image is also simply referred to as "layer transfer".

After the layer transfer is performed, the sheet S and the multilayer film F are transported to the second guide shaft 42 while being in close contact with each other. When the sheet S and the multilayer film F pass through the second guide shaft 42, the conveying direction of the multilayer film F changes to a direction different from the conveying direction of the sheet S, so the multilayer film F is peeled off from the sheet S.

The multilayer film F separated from the sheet S is taken up by the take-up reel 35 . On the other hand, the sheet S from which the multilayer film F has been peeled is discharged outside the housing 2 by the sheet discharge mechanism 12 with the surface to which the foil has been transferred facing downward.

As shown in FIG. 3, the layer transfer film cartridge FC includes a connecting portion 70, a handle 80, and a support member 90 in addition to the supply portion 310, the winding portion 350, and the shaft 43 described above. The supply unit 310 has a supply case 32 in addition to the supply reel 31 described above. Further, the winding unit 350 includes a winding case 36 in addition to the winding reel 35 described above. In the following description, the first axial direction along the rotation axis X1 of the supply reel 31 or the second axial direction along the rotation axis X2 of the take-up reel 35 is also simply referred to as the "axial direction". Further, in the following description, the inter-axis direction along the straight line connecting the rotation axes X1 and X2 is also simply referred to as the "inter-axis direction".

The supply case 32 is a case that accommodates the supply reel 31, and is formed in a hollow, substantially columnar shape. Specifically, the supply case 32 accommodates therein the multilayer film F wound around the supply shaft portion 31A of the supply reel 31 . The supply shaft portion 31A of the supply reel 31 protrudes outward from each end surface of the supply case 32 in the axial direction.

The supply case 32 is engaged with or fixed to the connecting portion 70 so as not to rotate with respect to the connecting portion 70 about the rotation axis X1. The supply case 32 has a flat surface 32B on a part of the outer peripheral surface. The plane 32B extends in the axial direction and the inter-axial direction. The layer transfer film cartridge FC is supported by the housing body 21 by bringing the plane 32B into contact with the plane portion of the housing body 21 (see FIG. 1). The supply reel 31 is rotatably supported by the supply case 32 and the connecting portion 70 .

The take-up case 36 is a case that accommodates the take-up reel 35, and is formed in a hollow columnar shape. Specifically, the take-up case 36 accommodates therein the multilayer film F wound around the take-up shaft portion 35A of the take-up reel 35 . A winding shaft portion 35A of the winding reel 35 protrudes outward from each end surface of the winding case 36 in the axial direction.

The winding case 36 is engaged with or fixed to the connecting portion 70 so as not to rotate with respect to the connecting portion 70 around the rotation axis X2. The take-up reel 35 is rotatably supported by the take-up case 36 and the connecting portion 70 . The take-up reel 35 has the above-described take-up shaft portion 35A and take-up gear 35C. The winding gear 35C is a gear that receives a driving force from the main motor M. As shown in FIG. The winding gear 35C is provided at one axial end of the winding shaft portion 35A. More specifically, a part of the winding shaft portion 35A is formed in a D shape, and by fitting a D-shaped hole formed in the winding gear 35C, the winding gear 35C is attached to the winding shaft portion 35A. It is non-rotatably fixed.

The connecting portion 70 is a member that connects the supply portion 310 and the winding portion 350 . The connecting portion 70 has a first connecting portion 71 and a second connecting portion 72 . The first connecting portion 71 and the second connecting portion 72 extend in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. Specifically, the first connecting portion 71 and the second connecting portion 72 are elongated plates extending in the axial direction along a straight line connecting the rotation axis X1 of the supply reel 31 and the rotation axis X2 of the take-up reel 35. formed. The first connecting portion 71 and the second connecting portion 72 are positioned away from the multilayer film F. As shown in FIG.

The first connecting portion 71 connects one end of the supply portion 310 in the axial direction and one end of the winding portion 350 in the axial direction. Specifically, the first connecting portion 71 connects one end of the supply shaft portion 31A and one end of the winding shaft portion 35A. Specifically, the first connecting portion 71 has holes through which the supply shaft portion 31A and the winding shaft portion 35A penetrate at both ends in the axial direction. The first connecting portion 71 is arranged between the winding gear 35C and the winding case 36 in the axial direction.

The second connecting portion 72 connects the other end of the supply portion 310 in the axial direction and the other end of the winding portion 350 in the axial direction. Specifically, the second connecting portion 72 connects the other end of the supply shaft portion 31A and the other end of the winding shaft portion 35A. Specifically, the second connecting portion 72 has holes through which the supply shaft portion 31A and the winding shaft portion 35A penetrate at both ends in the axial direction.

The supply case 32 and the winding case 36 are arranged between the first connecting portion 71 and the second connecting portion 72 in the axial direction.

The handle 80 is a part that allows the user's finger to be hooked. The handle 80 has a first handle 81 and a second handle 82 spaced apart from the first handle 81 in the axial direction.

The first handle 81 is made of resin or the like, and is arranged in the supply portion 310 so as to extend in the axial direction. Specifically, the first handle 81 is supported by the supply case 32 . The first handle 81 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the supply case 32 in a direction that intersects the rotation axis X1, more specifically, in a direction orthogonal thereto.

The second handle 82 is made of resin or the like, and is arranged on the winding portion 350 so as to extend in the axial direction. Specifically, the second handle 82 is supported by the winding case 36 . The second handle 82 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the winding case 36 in a direction that intersects the rotation axis X1, more specifically, in a direction orthogonal thereto.

The shaft 43 is arranged in the winding section 350 . The shaft 43 has a circular axial shape extending along the axial direction. The shaft 43 is arranged away from the take-up reel 35 , more specifically the take-up case 36 .

The support member 90 is a member that supports the shaft 43 . The support member 90 has a first side plate 91 and a second side plate 92 . The first side plate 91 and the second side plate 92 are plate-shaped members extending radially outward of the take-up reel 35 from the rotation axis X2 of the take-up reel 35, and are generally fan-shaped, tapering toward the radially outer side. is formed in The first side plate 91 and the second side plate 92 have holes through which the winding shaft portion 35A passes. The first side plate 91 and the second side plate 92 are fixed to the winding case 36 or the connecting portion 70 . As a result, the shaft 43 cannot move in the direction in which the distance from the supply reel 31 changes.

The first side plate 91 supports one axial end of the shaft 43 . The first side plate 91 is arranged between the winding case 36 and the first connecting portion 71 in the axial direction.

The second side plate 92 supports the other axial end of the shaft 43 . The second side plate 92 is arranged between the winding case 36 and the second connecting portion 72 in the axial direction.

The layer transfer film cartridge FC is attachable to and detachable from the housing body 21 in a predetermined direction orthogonal to the axial direction and the axial direction. In addition, in the following description, the predetermined direction is also referred to as the "attachment/detachment direction". In the present embodiment, the direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the inter-axial direction is the attachment/detachment direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. A direction facing an angle (for example, an angle within a range of ±20°) may be the attachment/detachment direction.

The housing body 21 has a first guide GD1 and a second guide GD2. The first guide GD1 is a groove that guides the supply shaft portion 31A of the supply reel 31 when the layer transfer film cartridge FC is attached to and detached from the housing body 21 . The first guide GD1 extends along the attachment/detachment direction described above, and guides the supply shaft portion 31A in the attachment/detachment direction. The first guides GD1 are provided at one end and the other end of the housing body 21 in the axial direction.

The second guide GD2 is a groove that guides the take-up shaft portion 35A of the take-up reel 35 when the layer transfer film cartridge FC is attached to or detached from the housing body 21 . The second guide GD2 extends along the attachment/detachment direction described above, and guides the winding shaft portion 35A in the attachment/detachment direction. The second guides GD2 are provided at one end and the other end of the housing body 21 in the axial direction.

The housing body 21 further includes a holding member H1. The holding member H1 is a member that holds the second guide shaft 42 . Here, when the layer transfer film cartridge FC is attached to the housing body 21, the second guide shaft 42, the heating roller 61 and the first guide shaft 41 extend along the axial direction.

The holding member H1 is rotatably supported by the housing body 21 . Specifically, the holding member H1 is rotatable around a rotation axis X3 along the axial direction. More specifically, in this embodiment, the holding member H1 can be stopped at any position within the rotation range by frictional force with the housing body 21 . That is, for example, even if the user pinches and rotates the holding member H1 with a finger and removes the finger from the holding member H1 in a state where the second guide shaft 42 is positioned between the first position and the second position, the holding member H1 can be held. Member H1 maintains its position.

The holding member H1 is made of resin or the like. The holding member H1 has a first arm H11, a second arm H12, a first lever H13, a second lever H14, and a connecting wall H15.

The first arm H11 extends along the attachment/detachment direction. The first arm H11 holds one end of the second guide shaft 42 . Specifically, one end of the first arm H11 holds one axial end of the second guide shaft 42 in the extending direction of the first arm H11. The first arm H11 is rotatably supported by the housing body 21 about the rotation axis X3. Specifically, in the extending direction of the first arm H11, the other end of the first arm H11 is rotatably supported by the housing body 21 about the rotation axis X3.

The second arm H12 extends along the attachment/detachment direction. The second arm H12 holds the other end of the second guide shaft 42 . Specifically, one end of the second arm H12 holds the other axial end of the second guide shaft 42 in the extending direction of the second arm H12. The second arm H12 is rotatably supported by the housing body 21 about the rotation axis X3. Specifically, in the extending direction of the second arm H12, the other end of the second arm H12 is rotatably supported by the housing body 21 about the rotation axis X3.

The first lever H13 is formed to protrude in the axial direction along the second guide shaft 42 from the first arm H11. The first lever H13 is located on the opposite side of the first arm H11 to the second arm H12 in the axial direction along the second guide shaft 42 . In other words, in the axial direction along the second guide shaft 42, the first arm H11 is positioned between the first lever H13 and the second arm H12.

The second lever H14 is formed to protrude in the axial direction along the second guide shaft 42 from the second arm H12. The second lever H14 is located on the opposite side of the second arm H12 from the first arm H11 in the axial direction along the second guide shaft 42 . In other words, in the axial direction along the second guide shaft 42, the second arm H12 is positioned between the second lever H14 and the first arm H11.

The connecting wall H15 connects the first arm H11 and the second arm H12. In the extending direction of the first arm H11 and the second arm H12, one ends of the first arm H11 and the second arm H12, which respectively hold both ends of the second guide shaft 42 in the axial direction, protrude from the connecting wall H15.

The second guide shaft 42 held by the holding member H1 is movable between a first position indicated by a two-dot chain line and a second position indicated by a solid line. Specifically, the second guide shaft 42 is movable between a first position and a second position closer to the heating roller 61 than the first position. In other words, the second guide shaft 42 is positioned farther from the shaft 43 than the first position shown in FIG. It is movable between a second position shown in 5(a). The housing main body 21 is provided with a restricting portion (not shown) that restricts the movement range of the second guide shaft 42 from the first position to the second position. Specifically, the restricting portion restricts the rotation range of the holding member H1 so that the second guide shaft 42 can move only between the first position and the second position. When the second guide shaft 42 is positioned at the first position, the restricting portion abuts against the holding member H1, thereby causing the second guide shaft 42 positioned at the first position to move from the second position to the first position. That is, further movement in the direction away from the heating roller 61 is stopped. Further, the restricting portion abuts on the holding member H1 even when the second guide shaft 42 is positioned at the second position, and the second guide shaft 42 positioned at the second position moves toward the second position from the first position. , that is, stop moving further toward the heating roller 61 .

As shown in FIG. 5(b), the second guide shaft 42 positioned at the first position overlaps a portion of the layer transfer film cartridge FC, more specifically, the shaft 43 when projected in the mounting/demounting direction. As a result, when the second guide shaft 42 is positioned at the first position, it is possible to set the peeling angle of the multilayer film F on the second guide shaft 42 to an appropriate angle. A proper angle refers to an angle of less than 90°.

Further, when the second guide shaft 42 is positioned at the first position, the holding member H1 overlaps the support member 90 when projected in the attachment/detachment direction. As a result, when the layer transfer film cartridge FC is removed from the housing body 21 with the second guide shaft 42 positioned at the first position, the holding member H1 is lifted by the supporting member 90, thereby The guide shaft 42 moves from the first position to the second position. That is, in the process of removing the layer transfer film cartridge FC from the housing main body 21, the layer transfer film cartridge FC presses the holding member H1, thereby moving the second guide shaft 42 from the first position to the second position. Move to This makes it possible to remove the layer transfer film cartridge FC satisfactorily.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the second guide shaft 42 positioned at the second position does not overlap the layer transfer film cartridge FC when projected in the attachment/detachment direction. Furthermore, when the second guide shaft 42 is positioned at the second position, the holding member H1 that holds the second guide shaft 42 also does not overlap the layer transfer film cartridge FC when projected in the attaching/detaching direction.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the axial distance between the first connecting portion 71 and the second connecting portion 72 is greater than the axial length of the second guide shaft 42 and the maximum axial dimension of the holding member H1. is also getting bigger. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the second guide shaft 42 is positioned at the second position, the second guide shaft 42 and the holding member H1 are projected in the attaching/detaching direction to the layer transfer film. It does not overlap with the cartridge FC. As a result, when the second guide shaft 42 is positioned at the second position, the layer transfer film cartridge FC can be attached and detached without interfering with the second guide shaft 42 and the holding member H1. It is possible.

The cover 22 includes a pressing member 22A that presses the second guide shaft 42 from the second position shown in FIG. 5(a) toward the first position shown in FIG. 5(b). The pressing member 22A is fixed to the cover 22 and presses the second guide shaft 42 from the second position toward the first position when the cover 22 is closed. Note that the pressing member 22A may be the cover 22 itself, or may be, for example, a protrusion that protrudes from a portion of the cover 22 .

22 A of press members are arrange|positioned in the axial direction in the position corresponding to the 1st lever H13 of the holding member H1, and the 2nd lever H14 (refer FIG. 3). The pressing member 22A on the one end side is arranged at a position where it can come into contact with the first lever H13. Also, the pressing member 22A (not shown) on the other end side is arranged at a position where it can come into contact with the second lever H14 (see FIG. 3). As a result, each pressing member 22A presses the first lever H13 and the second lever H14 in the process of closing the cover 22, thereby moving the second guide shaft 42 from the second position toward the first position. is configured to

Next, the effects of the layer transfer device 1 according to this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the user grasps the handle 80 and mounts the layer transfer film cartridge FC to the housing body 21 from above, the film cartridge FC is suspended between the supply case 32 and the take-up case 36. A multilayer film F (see FIG. 2) contacts the first guide shaft 41 and the second guide shaft 42 of the housing body 21 . After that, when the layer transfer film cartridge FC is further moved toward the mounting position, the multilayer film F is stretched between the supply case 32, the first guide shaft 41, the second guide shaft 42, and the take-up case 36. Passed.

When the cover 22 is closed after the layer transfer film cartridge FC is attached to the housing body 21, the pressing member 22A comes into contact with the levers H13 and H14 of the holding member H1 as shown in FIG. 5(a). . After that, when the user further closes the cover 22, the pressing member 22A presses the respective levers H13 and H14, thereby rotating the holding member H1, and as shown in FIG. Axle 42 moves from the second position toward the first position. When the cover 22 is completely closed, the holding member H1 that has been rotated by being pressed by the pressing member 22A stops, and the movement of the second guide shaft 42 also stops, and the second guide shaft 42 moves to the first position. to stop.

By stretching the multilayer film F between the shaft 43 and the second guide shaft 42 that has reached the first position, the peeling angle of the multilayer film F on the second guide shaft 42 is regulated to an appropriate angle.

When removing the layer transfer film cartridge FC from the housing main body 21, the user manually rotates the holding member H1 after opening the cover 22, thereby moving the second guide shaft 42 from the first position to the second position. move to position. Thereby, when removing the layer transfer film cartridge FC, it is possible to suppress interference between the layer transfer film cartridge FC and the holding member H1. Further, when the user pulls out the layer transfer film cartridge FC without rotating the holding member H1, the support member 90 of the layer transfer film cartridge FC comes into contact with the holding member H1, thereby causing the holding member to move. H1 is pressed by the support member 90 to rotate. Thereby, the second guide shaft 42 moves from the first position toward the second position. Therefore, when removing the layer transfer film cartridge FC, it is possible to prevent the layer transfer film cartridge FC from being caught by the holding member H1 (second guide shaft 42) and becoming difficult to remove.

According to the above, the following effects can be obtained in this embodiment.
By allowing the second guide shaft 42 to be arranged at the second position, the layer transfer film cartridge FC is less likely to remain interfering with the second guide shaft 42, and the layer transfer film cartridge FC can be attached/detached in the attaching/detaching direction. can be done. This can increase the degree of freedom in design. Note that "the layer transfer film cartridge FC interferes with the second guide shaft 42" means that the layer transfer film cartridge FC does not directly contact the second guide shaft 42 and holds the second guide shaft 42. It also includes contacting and interfering with the member H1.

Since the second guide shaft 42 moves to the first position when the cover 22 is closed, the second guide shaft 42 can be reliably placed at the proper position during layer transfer. The peeling angle can be set to an appropriate angle by the shaft 43.

Since the second guide shaft 42 moves toward the second position in the process of removing the layer transfer film cartridge FC, even if the user does not operate to move the second guide shaft 42 to the second position, the film cartridge can be removed. The FC can be removed from the housing body 21 .

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be used in various forms as exemplified below. In the following description, members having substantially the same structure as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), the housing body 21 moves the second guide shaft 42 from the first position shown in FIG. 6(b) to the second position shown in FIG. 6(a). A spring SP may be further provided for biasing toward. Specifically, in this embodiment, the spring SP is a torsion spring, one end of which engages a portion of the holding member H1 and the other end of which engages a portion of the housing body 21 . In the above-described embodiment, the restricting portion abuts on the holding member H1 when the second guide shaft 42 is positioned at the first position, thereby preventing the second guide shaft 42 positioned at the first position from the heating roller 61. It was decided to stop moving further away, but in this configuration it is not necessary to do so.

According to this, when the pressing member 22A presses the holding member H1 when the cover 22 is closed, the second guide shaft 42 moves from the second position in FIG. 6A against the biasing force of the spring SP. Move to the first position of (b). When the cover 22 is opened, the second guide shaft 42 is moved from the first position to the second position by the biasing force of the spring SP as the cover 22 moves away from the holding member H1. Therefore, when the layer transfer film cartridge FC is attached and detached, the second guide shaft 42 is arranged at the second position where it does not interfere with the attachment and detachment of the layer transfer film cartridge FC. work can be done more easily.

The spring SP is not limited to a torsion spring, and may be, for example, a leaf spring, a coil spring, a wire spring, or the like.

In the above embodiment, the pressing member 22A presses the levers H13 and H14 of the holding member H1, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the pressing member may be configured to press the arms H11 and H12 of the holding member H1. That is, the second guide shaft may move from the second position to the first position by the pressing member pressing any part of the holding member in the process of closing the cover. Alternatively, the pressing member may directly press the second guide shaft 42 .

In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the second guide shaft moves during the process of closing the cover is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and when the cover is closed, the second guide shaft moves from the second position to the first position. You can move to For example, in the case of a configuration further comprising an open/close sensor for detecting that the cover is closed, and a drive source such as a motor and a drive mechanism such as a gear train for moving the second guide shaft, the cover is closed. The drive source may be driven to move the second guide shaft from the second position to the first position on the condition that the open/close sensor detects the opening.

In the above embodiment, the pressing member 22A that presses the holding member H1 is provided on the cover 22, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the pressing member may be provided on the housing body. Specifically, for example, the pressing member may be configured to be movable with respect to the housing body, and a driving source or driving mechanism for moving the pressing member may be provided. Alternatively, the user may manually move the second guide shaft without providing the pressing member on the housing.

In the above embodiment, the second guide shaft 42 is configured to be rotatable about the rotation axis X3, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second guide shaft can be linearly slidable. There may be.

In the above embodiment, the second guide shaft 42 was exemplified as the guide shaft and the shaft 43 was exemplified as part of the layer transfer film cartridge, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the guide shaft may be the first guide shaft. Further, the part of the layer transfer film cartridge may be any part that can be switched between a state of overlapping with the guide shaft and a state of not overlapping with the guide shaft by moving the guide shaft between the first position and the second position. It may be the take-up case 36 .

In the above-described embodiment, the cylindrical shaft 43 was used as the film guide member, but the present invention is not limited to this. blade BD1 may be used. Further, for example, it may be a flat cylindrical blade BD2 as shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b). Blade BD2 has a hole for passing multilayer film F therethrough. In other words, the blade BD2 has a first wall BD21 facing the first surface FA of the multilayer film F (see FIG. 1) and a second wall BD22 facing the second surface FB of the multilayer film F (see FIG. 1). have For example, when the layer transfer film cartridge FC is detached from the housing body 21, the multilayer film F stretched between the supply reel 31 and the take-up reel 35 is not stretched and hangs down a little. may be In this case, the multilayer film F is in contact with the second wall BD22 and out of contact with the first wall BD21. On the other hand, when the layer transfer film cartridge FC is attached to the housing body 21, for example, during execution of layer transfer, the multilayer film F stretched between the supply reel 31 and the take-up reel 35 is positioned on the first guide shaft. 41, the second guide shaft 42 and the blade BD2. At this time, the multilayer film F is in contact with the first wall BD21 and out of contact with the second wall BD22. In other words, the first wall BD21 can come into contact with the multilayer film F stretched between the supply reel 31 and the take-up reel 35 from a non-contact state. The first wall BD21 comes into contact with the multilayer film F guided by the second guide shaft 42 and changes the advancing direction of the multilayer film F. As shown in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the connecting portion 70 is composed of two connecting portions 71 and 72, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of connecting portions may be one (for example, only the first connecting portion). Moreover, the connection part should just connect the supply part and the winding part, for example, may connect the supply case and the winding case.

In the above embodiment, a device for transferring a transfer layer onto a toner image on a sheet S was exemplified as a layer transfer device, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the layer transfer device may be a device that transfers a transfer layer onto an ink image formed on a sheet, or a device that transfers a transfer layer to a sheet with a thermal head.

In the above-described embodiment, the transfer layer F22 containing foil was exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the transfer layer does not contain foil or coloring material, for example, and may be formed of a thermoplastic resin.

In the above embodiment, the multilayer film F is composed of four layers, but the present invention is not limited to this. good.

The connecting portion may be integrally formed with the supply case or the winding case, and may be indirectly connected to the supply reel or the winding reel via the supply case or the winding case. The connecting part may be in the shape of a rod fixed to the supply case and the winding case instead of the plate shape. The connecting portion may be made of resin or metal.

The structure for fixing the winding case and the supply case to the connecting portion may be of any structure. For example, the winding case and the supply case may be directly fixed to the connecting portion. Further, for example, the connecting portions 91 and 92 and the winding case 36 in FIG. A take-up gear 35C or the like may be attached through the end of the take-up shaft portion 35A of the take-up reel 35 inside. In this case, the take-up reel 35 is rotatably supported by the hollow member.

Each element described in the above embodiment and modifications may be implemented in any combination.

1 layer transfer device 21 housing body 21A opening 42 second guide shaft 43 shaft F multilayer film F1 support layer F22 transfer layer FC layer transfer film cartridge S sheet

Claims (10)

A layer transfer device for transferring a transfer layer to a sheet,
a housing body having an opening;
a layer transfer film cartridge that is detachable from the housing body through the opening and supports a multilayer film having the transfer layer and a support layer that supports the transfer layer;
The layer transfer film cartridge includes a film guide member that contacts the multilayer film and changes the traveling direction of the multilayer film,
The housing body is a guide shaft for separating the multilayer film from the sheet by guiding the multilayer film having the transfer layer transferred to the sheet together with the film guide member in a direction different from the conveying direction of the sheet . A first position where the film is peeled from the sheet , and a second position which is farther from the film guide member of the layer transfer film cartridge than the first position when the layer transfer film cartridge is attached to the housing body. with a guide shaft movable between
the guide shaft located at the first position overlaps the layer transfer film cartridge when projected in the mounting/dismounting direction of the layer transfer film cartridge;
A layer transfer device, wherein the guide shaft positioned at the second position does not overlap the layer transfer film cartridge when projected in the attachment/detachment direction. The housing body further includes a holding member that holds the guide shaft,
2. A layer transfer apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said holding member is rotatably supported by said housing body. further comprising a cover for opening and closing the opening,
3. A layer transfer apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said guide shaft moves from said second position to said first position when said cover is closed. 4. The layer transfer apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the guide shaft moves from the second position to the first position when the cover presses the holding member in the process of closing the cover. The holding member is
a first arm rotatably supported by the housing body, the first arm supporting one end of the guide shaft;
a second arm rotatably supported by the housing body, the second arm supporting the other end of the guide shaft;
a first lever formed on the first arm and located on the opposite side of the first arm to the second arm in the axial direction along the guide shaft;
a second lever formed on the second arm, the second lever positioned on the opposite side of the second arm to the first arm in the axial direction;
5. In the process of closing the cover, the cover presses the first lever and the second lever, thereby moving the guide shaft from the second position to the first position. A layer transfer device as described. 6. The layer transfer device according to claim 4 , wherein the guide shaft moves from the first position to the second position in the process of removing the layer transfer film cartridge from the housing body. . In the process of removing the layer transfer film cartridge from the housing body, the guide shaft is moved from the first position to the second position by pressing the holding member by the layer transfer film cartridge. 7. A layer transfer device according to claim 6 . 6. The layer transfer device according to claim 4 , further comprising a spring that biases the guide shaft from the first position toward the second position. The housing body is
a first guide shaft that comes into contact with the multilayer film to change the traveling direction of the multilayer film;
a second guide shaft that contacts the multilayer film guided by the first guide shaft and changes the traveling direction of the multilayer film;
9. The layer transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide shaft is the second guide shaft. The layer transfer film cartridge comprises:
a supply reel around which the multilayer film is wound;
a take-up reel for taking up the multilayer film,
10. The film guide member according to claim 9 , wherein the film guide member is a shaft extending in an axial direction along the rotation axis of the take-up reel, and is a shaft that cannot move in a direction in which the distance from the supply reel changes. A layer transfer device as described.

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