JPH0839771A - Device for closely setting sheet-shaped transfer medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To bring a sheet-shaped transfer medium automatically into close contact with the outer surface of a cylindrical target when an image formed on the sheet-shaped transfer medium is thermally transferred to the outer surface of the cylindrical target. CONSTITUTION:A first and second circular elastic bodies 18, 20 each having therein a heating element are rotatable and a biasing means biases the bodies 18, 20 in a predetermined direction. A third circular elastic body 22 is vertically movable and rotatable, and a rotary drive means causes at least one of the bodies 18, 20, 22 to rotate. The body 22 is disposed on the inner side of a cylindrical target and the bodies 18, 20 are disposed outside the cylindrical target so as to be located on the opposite sides of the body 22, respectively. The biasing means biases the bodies 18, 20 toward the interior of the circular target. A sheet-shaped transfer medium is inserted into between the target and the body 18 so as to be brought into close contact with the outer surface of the target successively.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention, when an image formed on a sheet-shaped transfer medium is transferred to the outer surface of a cylindrical target by heat, the sheet-shaped transfer medium is brought into close contact with the outer surface of the cylindrical target. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been proposed an apparatus for transferring an arbitrary image such as a photograph or a video still image onto the outer surface of a cylindrical target such as a mug cup. In this apparatus, as shown in FIG. 3A, first, a mug cup 10 having a transfer special resin applied on its outer surface and a sheet-shaped transfer medium 12 as shown in FIG. 3B are prepared. This sheet-shaped transfer medium 12
Has heat resistance and an image is formed by thermal transfer or sublimation ink. To form this image, in the case of a photograph or a picture, the image scanner takes in it as image data into the computer, and in the case of video data, one frame thereof is taken into the computer as image data. These image data are printed on a sheet-shaped transfer medium by a sublimation printer. The image is
It can be color or monochrome.

A sheet-shaped transfer medium 12 on which an image is formed
Is temporarily fixed to the outer surface of the mug cup 10 with a tape or the like so that the thermal transfer or sublimation ink side is on the inside.
Next, the mug cup 10 is set in a heater as shown in FIG. This heater includes a pair of metal heating members 14 having curved surfaces, a heat-resistant elastic body 16 attached to the curved surfaces, and a heater (not shown) for heating the heating member 14. Member 14 and elastic body 1 heated to several hundred degrees
6 moves so as to sandwich and press the mug 10 in the direction of the arrow to heat the sheet-shaped transfer medium. By this heating, the thermal transfer or sublimation type ink is melted, and the image can be transferred to the outer surface of the mug cup 10 as shown in FIG. 3C.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned process of transferring an image to a mug cup, before heating the outer surfaces of the sheet-shaped transfer member 12 and the mug cup 10, the sheet-shaped transfer member 12 is moved to the mug cup. Since it is only temporarily fixed with the tape between the outer surfaces of 10, the air often enters between the sheet-shaped transfer member 12 and the outer surface of the cup during heating by the heating member 14. Because of the air, the ink of the sheet-shaped transfer member does not come into direct contact with the outer surface of the cup, so that even if the ink melted, it did not soak into the resin reliably. In such a case, conventionally, after heating to some extent,
The mug cup 10 was removed from the heater of FIG. 4, and the air between the sheet-shaped transfer member 12 and the outer surface of the cup was expelled using a spatula or the like. Then, the mug cup 10 was set again in the heater.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for automatically adhering a sheet-shaped transfer medium to the outer surface of a cylindrical target.

[0006]

According to the present invention, when an image formed on a sheet-shaped transfer medium is transferred to the outer surface of a cylindrical target by heat, the sheet-shaped transfer medium is transferred onto the outer surface of the cylindrical target. It is a device that makes them adhere to each other. To this end, the present invention has a heating element inside and a first rotatable element.
And a second circular elastic body, a biasing means for biasing the first and second circular elastic bodies in a predetermined direction, a third circular elastic body that can move up and down, and a first circular shape, a first circular shape, and a second circular elastic body. Rotation driving means for rotating at least one of the three cylindrical elastic bodies. Of these, the third circular elastic body is arranged inside the cylindrical target, and the first and second circular elastic bodies are arranged outside the cylindrical target at positions sandwiching the third circular elastic body. The biasing means biases the first and second circular elastic bodies toward the inside of the cylindrical target. Then, the sheet-shaped transfer medium is inserted between the cylindrical target and the first circular elastic body, and while heating the outer surfaces of the sheet-shaped transfer medium and the cylindrical target, the sheet-shaped transfer medium is transferred onto the outer surface of the cylindrical target. Will be closely attached to.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a schematic plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 as viewed from the right. First circular elastic body 18 and second
The circular elastic body 20 is an elastic body such as heat-resistant rubber, and a heating element such as a heater is inserted inside the elastic body.
These heating elements are properly connected to a power source (not shown). These circular elastic bodies 18 and 20 are provided with a support frame 24.
(FIG. 2 shows only for the elastic body 20) and is rotatably attached. A groove for a support frame is provided on the surface of the base 26, and the support frame 24 can slide on the base 26 along the groove. A wall 28 is provided on the base 26, and a biasing means 30 (for example, only the support frame 24 is shown in FIG. 2), which is a spring, is provided between the wall 28 and the support frame 24. Therefore, the biasing means includes the first and second circular elastic bodies 1
8 and 20 along the groove of the base 26 with the mug cup 10
Bias in the direction of.

A third circular elastic body 22 such as rubber is attached to one end of a shaft 32, and the shaft 32 extends upward through an opening at one end of an arm 34. Arm 3
A rotary shaft 36 is attached to the other end of 4, and is connected to the shaft 32 by a belt 38. The vertical portion of arm 34 is attached to control mechanism 40. In the control mechanism, a mechanism for moving the arm 34 in the vertical direction and a motor (rotation driving means) for rotating the shaft 36.
Is arranged. Therefore, the third circular elastic body 22 can move up and down and rotate,

In order to bring the sheet-shaped transfer medium 12 on which the image is formed into close contact with the outer surface of the mug cup 10, first, the third circular elastic body 22 is raised to dispose the mug cup 10 at the position shown in the figure. To do. Next, the third circular elastic body 22 is lowered and placed inside the mug cup 10. Due to the action of the biasing means 30, the first and second circular elastic bodies 18, 20
Is biased toward the mug cup 10, and the mug cup 10 is supported at three points by these first to third circular elastic bodies.
In particular, the heated first and second circular elastic bodies 18, 20
Ensures line contact with the outer surface of the mug cup 10.

Next, when the sheet-shaped transfer medium 12 is applied between the mug cup 10 and the first circular elastic body 18 and the third circular elastic body 22 is rotated by the motor, the sheet-shaped transfer medium 12 is moved to the mug cup. It is sequentially inserted between the outer surface of 10 and the first circular elastic body 18. At this time, since the ink of the sheet-shaped transfer medium 12 is melted, the pressure of the biasing means 30 causes the ink to sequentially adhere to the outer surface of the mug cup 10. Since the second circular elastic body 20 further presses the sheet-shaped transfer medium 22 against the mug cup 10, the degree of adhesion is further increased.

After the entire surface of the sheet-shaped transfer medium 12 is brought into close contact with the mug cup 10, the mug cup is set in the heater shown in FIG. 4 and further heated to reliably transfer the image to the mug cup 10. . Then, the mug is cooled to complete the mug on which the image is transferred as shown in FIG. 3C.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the motor that is the rotation driving means may rotate and drive the first or second circular elastic body instead of the third circular elastic body. Further, the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 may be integrated so that the heating can be automatically performed continuously after the automatic contact. Further, in the case of automatic heating, the heat capacity of the heating elements of the first and second circular elastic bodies may be increased, and the first and second circular elastic bodies may repeatedly heat the outer surface of the cylindrical target. Further, the cylindrical target may be a vase, a cup, etc. other than the mug cup.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, the sheet-shaped transfer medium on which the image is formed can be automatically brought into close contact with the outer surface of the cylindrical target.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a process of transferring an image formed on a sheet-shaped transfer medium to the outer surface of a cylindrical target by heat.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 cylindrical target 12 sheet-shaped transfer medium 18 first circular elastic body 20 second circular elastic body 22 third circular elastic body 30 biasing means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for transferring an image formed on a sheet-shaped transfer medium to an outer surface of a cylindrical target by heat, the apparatus having a heating element inside, and rotatable first and second circular elastic bodies. Biasing means for biasing the first and second circular elastic bodies in a predetermined direction, a third circular elastic body capable of vertical movement and rotation, and at least one of the first, second and third circular elastic bodies Rotation driving means for rotating the individual pieces, the third circular elastic body is disposed inside the cylindrical target, and the first and second circular elastic bodies are outside the cylindrical target. The biasing means is disposed at a position sandwiching the body, and the biasing means biases the first and second circular elastic bodies in a direction toward the inside of the cylindrical target, and between the cylindrical target and the first circular elastic body. Insert the sheet transfer medium To, sheet-like transfer medium contact apparatus characterized by going to the sheet-like transfer medium by sequentially close contact with the outer surface of the cylindrical target.