JPH10114152A - Image recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the recording without error of the interrelations of a combination of images recorded on a transfer medium by preventing an error in the combination of a first image and a second image from occurring in such a manner that the interrelations of the combination of the first image and the second image are established. SOLUTION: A character/line graph image and a gradation image are recorded on a transfer medium 7 using three different types of device such as an image recording device 100, a character/line graph recording device 200 and an image transfer device 30. A bar code recorded in the transfer medium 7 is read using a sensor 8a. Further, the bar codes of the character/line graph image and the gradation image which are read, are collected and it is confirmed whether the combination is correct. It this case, an area in which a face image is recorded, of an intermediate transfer recording medium is stacked on the transfer medium in which information on the attribute of an individual is recorded, and the transfer recording medium and the transfer medium are pressed with the help of a hot stamper 5 and a lower backing table. Finally, only the face image is transferred to the transfer medium 7 from the intermediate transfer recording medium and is recorded in the transfer medium and the transfer medium is ejected to an ejected paper cassette 9b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for recording an image on an intermediate transfer recording medium by transferring the image recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium from the intermediate transfer recording medium to the object by a thermal transfer recording method. And an image recording method. In particular, when there are a plurality of images to be recorded on the transfer object, and at least one of the images is an image to be recorded via the intermediate transfer recording medium, the correspondence between the plurality of images to be recorded on the transfer object is incorrect. The present invention relates to an image recording method capable of recording without recording.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, a post-printing transfer method (image transfer method using an intermediate transfer recording medium) capable of forming an image on various transfer media other than dedicated paper has been proposed. One of the uses of the post-printing transfer method is an ID card use.
In the case of the ID card application, the image to be recorded mainly includes two types: a gradation image which is a photograph of the face of the subject and a character / line drawing image for recording personal information such as a name. To record a gradation image, various recording methods such as a heat-sensitive fusion transfer method, a heat-sensitive sublimation transfer method, an electrophotographic method, and an ink-jet method can be used, but the heat-sensitive sublimation transfer method is used because high printing quality can be obtained. Particularly preferably used. On the other hand,
For recording of line drawing images, various recording methods such as a heat-sensitive melting transfer method, a heat-sensitive sublimation transfer method, an electrophotographic method, and an ink-jet method can be used, but from the viewpoint of sharpness and machine readability, a sharp outline is obtained. A heat-sensitive melt transfer system and an electrophotographic system capable of recording are preferably used.

As described above, when different image recording methods are used for recording a gradation image and a character / line image,
The following two types of processes are mainly used as an image forming process on a transfer target body by a post-printing transfer method.

After a gradation image and a character / line image are recorded together on one intermediate transfer recording medium, these images are transferred and recorded from the intermediate transfer recording medium onto a transfer target. After the gradation image is once recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium, it is transferred and recorded from the intermediate transfer recording medium to the transfer target, and the character / line image is directly recorded on the transfer target.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of an image recording apparatus using the above process. The image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 records an image on a transfer target by an image recording unit, a character / line drawing recording unit, and an image transfer unit. The image recording section is a section for transferring and recording a gradation image on the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 by a thermal sublimation transfer method. The character / line drawing recording section is a part for transferring and recording a character / line drawing image on the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 on which an image has been formed by a heat-sensitive fusion transfer method. The image transfer unit transfers the gradation image and the character / line image from the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 in which the gradation image and the character / line image are recorded in combination with the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium. 7 is a portion to be further transferred and recorded. The image recording unit presses the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 and the thermal transfer sheet 2 under pressure between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4 to transfer the coloring material of the thermal sublimation transfer type thermal transfer sheet 2 to the intermediate transfer recording medium 1. Record a gradation image. The character / line drawing recording unit is disposed downstream of the image recording unit, and records the character / line drawing image on the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 on which the gradation image has been recorded, which is transported from the image recording unit. The character / line image recording unit, when the gradation image is recorded in the image recording unit, combines the gradation image with the gradation image to form a set of images, and transfers the character / line image to the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the gradation image is recorded. Record in 1. The character / line image recording unit transfers the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 and the thermal transfer sheet 2a of the heat-sensitive fusion transfer method to the thermal head 3a and the platen roller 4.
The color material of the thermal transfer sheet 2a is transferred to the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 at a position corresponding to the recorded gradation image, and a character / line image is recorded. As a result, a set of image images in which the gradation image and the corresponding character / line image are recorded at predetermined positions on the intermediate transfer recording medium. The image transfer unit is disposed downstream of the character / line image recording unit, and is an intermediate transfer recording medium 1 on which a gradation image and a character / line image are conveyed from the character / line image recording unit and have been recorded as a set of images. Then, the set of images is collectively transferred to the transfer receiving body together with the receiving layer and recorded. The image transfer section shown in the figure presses the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 against the transfer receiving body 7 between the hot stamper 5 and the lower support 6 by flat-pressure heating, so that a gray scale image and A set of images including character / line drawing images is transferred to the transfer target 7 and recorded. Then, a gradation image is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium by the image recording unit, a character / line image is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium by the character / line image recording unit, and a set of images is transferred onto the transfer target by the image transfer unit. Is usually performed continuously.

Next, FIG. 10 shows an example of the configuration of an image recording apparatus using the above process. In the image recording apparatus shown in the figure, similarly to the apparatus shown in FIG. 9 which performs the above-described process, an image is recorded on an object to be transferred by an image recording unit, a character / line image recording unit, and an image transfer unit. The recording unit differs in that a character / line drawing image is recorded directly on a transfer target. The image recording section is a section for transferring and recording a gradation image on the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 by a thermal sublimation transfer method. The character / line drawing recording unit is a part for transferring and recording a character / line drawing image on the transfer target body 7 by a heat-sensitive fusion transfer method. The image transfer section transfers the gradation image together with the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 from the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 on which the gradation image has been recorded to the transfer receiving body 7 on which the character / line image has been recorded. Then, this is a part in which the gradation image and the character / line drawing image are combined as one set of images. The image recording unit presses the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 and the thermal transfer sheet 2 under pressure between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4 to transfer the coloring material of the thermal sublimation transfer type thermal transfer sheet 2 to the intermediate transfer recording medium 1. Record a gradation image.
The character / line drawing recording unit records the character / line drawing image, which is combined with the gradation image recorded by the image recording unit, into a set of images, on the transfer-receiving body 7. The character / line image recording unit presses the thermal transfer sheet 2a of the heat-sensitive fusion transfer system and the transfer receiving body 7 through the thermal head 3a and the platen roller 4a, and transfers the color material of the thermal transfer sheet 2a to the transfer receiving body 7. Letter /
Record the line drawing image. The image transfer unit is disposed downstream of the image recording unit and the character / line image recording unit, and is conveyed from the character / line image recording unit from the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 on which the gradation image is recorded and conveyed from the image recording unit. The gradation image is transferred and recorded together with the receiving layer on the transferred body 7 on which the character / line image has been recorded. The image transfer unit shown in the figure presses the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 against the transfer target 7 between the hot stamper 5 and the lower support 6 by flat-pressure heating, and a gradation image is transferred from the intermediate transfer recording medium. The image is transferred and recorded on the transfer object 7. As a result, a set of images in which the gradation image and the corresponding character / line drawing image are recorded at predetermined positions on the transfer receiving body 7. The recording of the gradation image on the intermediate transfer recording medium by the image recording unit and the recording of the character / line drawing image on the base material by the character / line drawing recording unit are performed in parallel or before and after. However, when both are performed, the recording (transfer) of the gradation image on the transfer target body by the image transfer unit is usually continuously performed.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the above process, a character / line drawing image is recorded on a transfer object by a character / line image recording apparatus, and the transfer of the gradation image through an intermediate transfer recording medium is performed. The recording on the recording medium can be performed by an image recording / transferring device. Note that the character / line image recording device 700 in FIG. 11 is the same as the character / line image recording unit in the device in FIG. 10, and the image recording / transfer device 800 is the same as the image recording unit and image transfer unit in the device in FIG. Except that the paper cassette 9a and the paper discharge cassette 9b are explicitly illustrated, the same reference numerals are used, and a description thereof will be omitted. As described above, the character / line image recording and the image recording / transfer are performed by separate devices, because the gradation speed of the character / line image is slower than that of the character / line image. However, this is because the overall processing speed is improved. In this case, for example,
The line drawing image is recorded on the transfer object, and then, while manually checking the character / line drawing image recorded on the transfer object and confirming the gradation image to be combined, the image is set in the apparatus one by one. And a process of recording a gradation image on a transfer target via an intermediate transfer recording medium.

[0008]

However, in the above process, the gradation image and the character / line drawing image are recorded separately because the recording systems are different, so that when a transfer error of the transfer object occurs, For example, when the image is recorded, the correspondence between the gradation image and the character / line image may be lost, for example, when the power is turned off after being stopped halfway. In addition, when a combination of a gradation image and a character / line drawing image is recorded by manually checking the correspondence while visually confirming the combination, it is troublesome and troublesome, and there is a possibility that a combination error may occur. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus using a post-printing transfer system in which a plurality of images are recorded on a transfer object, at least one of which is recorded via an intermediate transfer recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording method capable of recording a correspondence of a combination of a plurality of images recorded on a transfer object without mistake.

[0010]

Therefore, according to the image recording method of the present invention, an image is formed on a receiving layer of an intermediate transfer recording medium provided with at least a releasable receiving layer on one side of a base sheet by a thermal transfer recording method. After the recording, the surface of the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the image is recorded and the object to be transferred are overlapped, and the image recorded in the receiving layer is transferred to the object to be transferred together with the receiving layer, whereby the image is transferred to the object to be transferred. In the thermal transfer recording method of recording, the images recorded on the same transfer object include a first image and a second image, and the first image and the second image recorded on the same transfer object. At least one of the first image and the second image is recorded in order to obtain the correspondence of the combination with the identification information for identifying the correspondence for the combination with the other image. The first image and the second When the images are recorded in combination, to recognize the identification information, the first image and the second
The correspondence between the combination of the first image and the second image is set so as to prevent the occurrence of an error in the combination of the first image and the second image.
For example, the first image is a gradation image, the second image is a character / line drawing image, and the identification information is a character, a barcode, or the like. The character / line drawing image is an image including one or both of a character and a line drawing.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In an image recording method according to the present invention,
Since at least one of the plurality of images to be formed on the transfer object is recorded on the transfer object via recording on the intermediate transfer recording medium, the plurality of images recorded on the transfer object are Depending on which of the images is to be recorded via the intermediate transfer recording medium, or depending on the connection relationship between the recording process on the intermediate transfer recording medium and the recording process on the object to be transferred, various embodiments may be used. possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when a first image is recorded on an intermediate transfer recording medium, identification information capable of identifying the image to be recorded is recorded together with the first image on the intermediate transfer recording medium. Then, before the second image is combined with the first image and recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium or the transfer-receiving body, the identification information is recognized and the second image to be recorded is recorded. This is a method for determining the correspondence between a combination of an image and a first image. One of the methods is to first record a first image together with identification information on the same intermediate transfer recording medium, and then take a correspondence relationship of the combination based on the identification information and associate a second image with the first image. This is a method of recording at a position that becomes a set of images. In this case, the first and second
The intermediate transfer recording medium on which the image has been formed may be used immediately for recording the image on the object to be transferred, or may be used for recording the image on the object to be transferred after being temporarily stored or interrupted. Another method is to record the first image together with the identification information on the intermediate transfer recording medium, and then record the second image on the object to be transferred and simultaneously copy the first image from the intermediate transfer recording medium. Until the first and second images are recorded on the same transfer target and combined into one set of images, the identification information of the first image recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium is recognized, 2
This is a method of establishing a correspondence relationship between a combination of the first image and the first image.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when a second image is recorded on an object to be transferred or an intermediate transfer recording medium, identification information capable of identifying the second image to be recorded is transmitted to the second image. In recording the second image together with the second image on the transfer object or the intermediate transfer recording medium, and then recording the first image on the transfer object via recording on the intermediate transfer recording medium, Until the first image and the second image are combined and recorded, the correspondence between the combination of the first image to be recorded and the second image to be recognized by recognizing the identification information. It is a method to take. According to one of the methods, when a second image is recorded on an object to be transferred, identification information capable of identifying the second image to be recorded is provided along with the second image together with the second image. The first image and the second image are combined by recording on the transfer body, and then recording the first image on the intermediate transfer recording medium, and further recording from the intermediate transfer recording medium on the transferred body. This is a method of recognizing the identification information and recording the correspondence between the first image to be recorded and the second image before recording. Another method is that, when the second image is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium, identification information capable of identifying the recorded second image is recorded together with the second image. When the first image is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium through the recording on the intermediate transfer recording medium and further recorded on the object to be transferred, the first image is interposed with the second image on the intermediate transfer recording medium. This is a method of recognizing the identification information when combined and recorded on a recording medium, and associating a combination of a first image to be recorded with a second image.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the first image is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium, the first image is recorded together with first identification information capable of identifying the first image. on the other hand,
When the second image is recorded on the object to be transferred or the intermediate transfer recording medium separate from the intermediate transfer recording medium, second identification information capable of identifying the second image is recorded. After both images are recorded together with the identification information, before the first image and the second image are combined and recorded on the transfer object, the first identification information and the This is a method of recognizing the second identification information and comparing the two pieces of identification information to obtain a correspondence relationship between the combination of the first image and the second image. One of the methods is
When recording the first image on the intermediate transfer recording medium, the first image
Is recorded together with the first identification information capable of identifying the image of
On the other hand, when the second image is recorded on the transfer object, the second identification information capable of identifying the second image is recorded, and after these, the second image is recorded. By recording the first image from the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the first image is recorded on the transfer target, the first image and the second image are recorded.
When the first image and the second image are recorded in combination, the first and second identification information are recognized, and the two pieces of identification information are collated to correspond to the combination of the first image and the second image. A way to get involved. Another method is a method in which first and second images are recorded in advance on each of two separate and independent intermediate transfer recording media, and when the first image is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium. Is recorded together with first identification information capable of identifying the first image. On the other hand, when recording the second image on an intermediate transfer recording medium separate from the intermediate transfer recording medium, The second image is recorded together with second identification information capable of identifying the second image, and thereafter, the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the first image is recorded, and the second image on which the second image is recorded. When the first image and the second image are combined from another intermediate transfer recording medium and recorded on the transfer target, the first and second identification information are recognized, and the two identification information are compared. By doing so, the correspondence between combinations of the first image and the second image is determined. Another method is to previously record the first and second images on the same intermediate transfer recording medium but different areas,
When recording the first image on the intermediate transfer recording medium, the first image
Is recorded together with the first identification information capable of identifying the image of
On the other hand, when recording the second image in an area different from the area where the first image is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium without establishing the combination of the first and second images, the second image The second image is recorded together with the second identification information capable of identifying the second image, and thereafter, the first image and the second image are recorded from the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the first image and the second image are recorded. When recording the second image in combination with the transfer target, the first image
And a method of recognizing a combination of the first image and the second image by recognizing the first identification information and the second identification information.

In the above-described various forms of the image recording method of the present invention, the contents of the identification information used are not limited as long as they can serve as a means for associating the combination of the first and second images. Information may be used, and there is no particular limitation. For example, an image recorded with identification information
This is identification information that can be identified. Specifically, in the case of an ID card or the like, the ID number is common to the first image and the second image, and is the ID number. When the identification information of the first image and the identification information of the second image are not common, the identification information may be identification information for identifying an image combined with the image instead of identification information for an image recorded together with the identification information. . Further, as the external form of the identification information, optically readable information such as a barcode or a character can be used. Further, usually, barcodes and characters are binary images and also character / line drawing images. Alternatively, as the identification information, magnetic information, that is, magnetically readable information in a form of magnetic recording on the magnetic recording layer or a form of forming the magnetic recording layer itself in a pattern can be used. In addition,
The identification information may be in a machine-readable form, and is not limited thereto.

In order to record identification information as optically readable information, it is possible to use a color material or the like used for image recording of a gradation image or a character / line drawing image. For example, a thermal transfer sheet of a heat-sensitive melting transfer method or a heat-sensitive sublimation transfer method can be used. Also, when one image is recorded by an image recording method via an intermediate transfer recording medium by a thermal transfer method, while the other image is recorded by an electrophotographic method other than the thermal transfer method,
An electrophotographic toner can be used. As the identification information, a dedicated one can be used as a thermal transfer sheet or the like for recording identification information different from that for image recording, but it can also be used in common. For example, a sheet in which a color material layer for recording identification information is provided on a thermal transfer sheet for image recording is used. The color material layer for image recording and the color material layer for recording identification information may be the same recording method or different recording methods. Specifically, when a heat-sensitive melt transfer type color material layer is used for recording a character / line image and for identifying information of the character / line image, a single heat-sensitive melt transfer type heat transfer sheet is used in common. it can. In this case, the color material layer for recording the identification information may or may not be partitioned for image recording. The section is provided, for example, by providing a color material layer for recording identification information in a face-sequential manner with a color material layer for image recording, or at a side edge of the color material layer for image recording. Further, the color material layer for recording identification information and the color material layer for image recording on the same thermal transfer sheet may be a color material layer made of the same material or a color material layer made of different materials. When a color material layer of the thermal sublimation transfer method is used for recording a gradation image and a color material layer of a thermal fusion transfer method is used for recording identification information for the gradation image, the color for identification information recording is used. One thermal transfer sheet can be provided by providing the material layer in a color sequential manner with the color material layer for image recording, or by providing, for example, on the side edge of the color material layer for image recording according to the recording position of the identification information. Can be shared. Also, the color material layer for identification information recording can be used as a color material layer of a thermal sublimation transfer system, and a single thermal transfer sheet can be used as a color material layer made of the same material or a different material. When the identification information is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium, the identification information may be transferred and recorded together with the image recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium. Alternatively, the identification information may not be transferred and recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium. It may be left on a recording medium. Further, as the optically readable information, a thermosensitive coloring layer is provided on the intermediate transfer recording medium, and when recording an image on the intermediate transfer recording medium, the image recording thermal head is selectively heated. It can be colored and the identification information can be recorded.

In the case where the identification information is magnetically readable information, a magnetic recording layer such as a magnetic stripe for magnetic recording is provided on the intermediate transfer recording medium so that the identification information can be recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium. Information can be recorded. When a magnetic stripe or the like is provided on the intermediate transfer recording medium, it may be provided in a region where an image is not recorded, for example, in a side end portion.
In order to provide the magnetic recording layer on the intermediate transfer recording medium, when recording an image on the intermediate transfer recording medium, the magnetic recording layer may be transferred from a dedicated or common thermal transfer sheet or may be provided at the time of manufacturing the intermediate transfer recording medium. . In the case where the magnetic recording layer is provided in a pattern, the image may be transferred from a dedicated heat transfer sheet or a common heat transfer sheet when recording an image on the intermediate transfer recording medium. In the case where magnetic information is recorded on the transfer object, if the transfer object has a magnetic recording layer such as a magnetic stripe, it can be used as a recording medium.

Next, in the various embodiments described above, the contents of the first image and the second image are not particularly limited, but specifically, the first image is a gradation image. ,
The second image is a character / line drawing image. By the way, in the case of an ID card or the like, a name or an ID number is often recorded as a character / line drawing image by a heat-sensitive fusion transfer method capable of forming a sharp outline. In addition, a name, an ID number, and the like can often be used as identification information of a character / line drawing image. on the other hand,
The identification information preferably has a sharp outline to ensure machine reading. Therefore, information which can be used for identification information such as a name and an ID number included in the character / line drawing image without recording the identification information separately when recording the character / line drawing image is used as the identification information. You may. In this case, there is no need to prepare a thermal transfer sheet dedicated to identification information or a shared thermal transfer sheet provided with a dedicated color material layer.

Next, the recorded identification information may be detected by a sensor corresponding to the identification information. When the identification information is optically readable, the barcode may be read by a barcode reader, the OCR characters may be read by an OCR reader, or a reading device having a function similar to these. The OCR characters include not only OCR characters whose fonts are specified for OCR in JIS and the like, but also OCR characters.
There is no particular limitation as long as the character can be read by any of the above methods, and includes any character that can be read optically. The wavelength of the light source used in these readers and the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the light receiving element may be appropriately selected in consideration of the spectral characteristics of the identification information (bar code, text, etc.) to be recorded. The wavelength range to be used may be any of ultraviolet light, visible light, and infrared light, and is not particularly limited. The identification information is magnetically readable. If the identification information is information recorded on the magnetic recording layer or information from a patterned magnetic recording layer, it is read by a magnetic head or the like.

The method for obtaining the correspondence of the combination of the first image and the second image is not particularly limited.
For example, both the identification information of the first image and the identification information of the second image are respectively recorded, and both recorded identification information are read and compared and collated to determine whether the combination is correct or not. There is a method of recognizing and establishing a correspondence (see Example 1). Also, identification information of one of the first image and the second image is recorded together with the image, and this is read, and other images to be combined with the read identification information are usually read by a plurality of candidates. There is a method of selecting from among the above and taking the correspondence of the combination of the first image and the second image (see Examples 2, 3 and 4). When the identification information of one of the first image and the second image is recorded together with the image, as in the latter case, the other image which has a correspondence relationship with the previously recorded image in combination Is
Images that are expected to have a corresponding relationship (for example, the host computer has identification information of the recording order of the previously recorded image, and from this, images corresponding to a combination are expected. One of them), and when recording the image, use a host computer or a recording device to check the identification information of the image with the identification information of the previously recorded image. Then, there is a method of finally confirming the correspondence of the combination.

FIG. 12 shows an example of an ID card with a face photograph as an example of a print obtained by the image recording method of the present invention. ID card 1 with face photo in the same figure
0 has, as a character / line drawing image 11, personal attribute information 12 composed of characters representing a name, an ID number, and the like, and a bar code 13 representing an ID number of an individual serving as identification information.
A face photograph image is provided as the gradation image 14. The barcode 13 as identification information is an image included in the character / line image 11. FIG. 13 shows another example of an ID card with a face photograph. ID card 10 with face photo in FIG.
Is used as identification information by reading an ID number in personal attribute information by OCR. That is, the character /
As the line drawing image 11, characters representing an ID number used as a name or identification information are recorded as characters readable by OCR. The personal attribute information 12 includes an OCR character 13a indicating an individual ID number in addition to the name, and the personal identification information 12 is the character / line drawing image 11. The OCR character 13a is an image included in the character / line drawing image 11.
In addition, as a print obtained by the image recording method of the present invention,
It can be used for various certificates such as ID cards, passports, commuter passes, passbooks, and the use is not particularly limited.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The image recording method of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In Example 1 below, FIG.
As for the identification information 13 as exemplified in 2, the printed matter recorded on the transfer target body can be obtained. Further, the character / line drawing image includes a bar code indicating an individual ID number as identification information for establishing a correspondence relationship between the combination of the character / line drawing image and the gradation image. In Examples 2 and 3, FIG.
As described above, a print is obtained in which the OCR character in the personal identification information is also the identification information 13a. In the fourth embodiment, no identification information is recorded on the print.

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIG. 1, an image recording apparatus 100, a character / line image recording apparatus 200, an image transfer apparatus 3
00, a character / line drawing image and a gradation image are recorded on the transfer target 7. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the data flow during the printing operation. In the image recording apparatus 100, the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 and the thermal transfer sheet 2 of the heat-sensitive sublimation transfer method are pressed into contact with each other through the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4, and a personal face image is formed on the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 as a gradation image. Record. At this time, in the same image recording as the gradation image recording, the same color material layer having the cyan dye of the same thermal transfer sheet as that used for the gradation image recording is used in the vicinity of the face image recording area. An ID number for identifying an individual is recorded as a bar code as identification information. On the other hand, in the character / line image recording apparatus 200, the transfer-receiving body 7 conveyed from the paper feed cassette 9a and the thermal transfer sheet 2a of the thermal fusion transfer method are pressed into contact with each other through the thermal head 3a and the platen roller 4a, and the name and the ID number are pressed. A character / line drawing image representing personal attribute information such as is directly recorded on the transfer-receiving body 7 and discharged to the paper discharge cassette 9b. At this time, near the recording area of the character / line drawing image, an ID number for specifying an individual is recorded as a barcode as identification information for the character / line drawing image on the same thermal transfer sheet. Note that the recording of the gradation image and the identification information on the intermediate transfer recording medium by the image recording device 100 and the recording of the character / line image and the identification information on the transfer target by the character / line image recording device 200 are respectively described above. Performed independently.

Next, the image receiving apparatus 300 is loaded with the transferred object 7 on which personal attribute information is recorded by the above-described method and the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 on which an individual's face image is recorded. When the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 on which the face image is recorded is conveyed to an image transfer section where the hot stamper 5 and the lower support 6 are located, a bar code recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium is read by the sensor 8. On the other hand, the transferred body 7 on which the personal attribute information is recorded is
When the sheet is conveyed from the sheet cassette 9a to the image transfer section, the barcode recorded on the transfer object 7 is read by the sensor 8a. Then, the read barcodes are compared with each other, and if it is confirmed that the combination is correct, the area where the face image of the intermediate transfer recording medium is recorded by the hot stamper and the lower support is used as the personal attribute. The information is recorded on the object to be transferred, and then pressed to transfer only the face image from the intermediate transfer recording medium (the barcode recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium is not transferred) to the object to be transferred and recorded. It is discharged to the cassette 9b. If the combination is not correct, the image transfer is not performed, an error display indicating that is performed, and the face image is not transferred from the intermediate transfer recording medium to the transfer target.

Further, the flow of the above printing operation will be described with reference to FIG. The character / line drawing image of the personal attribute information, the gradation image of the face photograph, and the bar code of the personal ID number serving as the identification information are all transmitted from the host computer to the image recording device, the character / line drawing recording device, Line drawing data, characters /
The apparatus is passed as line drawing identification data, (gradation) image data, and image identification data, and each device operates individually under the control of the host computer. In the image recording apparatus, the image data and the image identification data thereof are received by the data processing unit, and necessary data processing is performed. Then, the thermal head is driven by the thermal head driving unit, and the face image and the barcode of the image identification information are converted. Is recorded on an intermediate transfer recording medium. In the character / line drawing recording device, the character / line drawing data and the character / line drawing identification data are received by the data processing unit, and the necessary data processing is performed. A barcode serving as line drawing identification information is recorded on the transfer target. Then, in the image transfer device, the face image recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium is transferred and recorded on the transfer target on which the personal attribute information is recorded, according to a print instruction from the host computer. At this time, the control unit reads the bar code of the character / line drawing identification information and the bar code of the image identification information with the respective sensors, and identifies the results by the respective identification units to identify the character / line drawing identification data and the image identification data. The data is received as data, the correspondence of the combination of images is determined by collating these data, and the face image recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium is transferred and recorded on the transfer target body by the hot stamper.

(Embodiment 2) As shown in FIG. 2, a character / line drawing image and a gradation image are recorded on a transfer object by two types of devices, a character / line drawing recording device 200 and an image recording / transferring device 400. . The image recording / transferring device 400 is a device in which the image recording device 100 and the image transfer device 300 of FIG. 1 can be integrated and can be performed at one time, and includes an image recording unit and an image transfer unit respectively corresponding thereto. In the second embodiment, OCR characters in personal identification information recorded by a character / line drawing recording unit are used instead of barcodes as identification information. Sensors and identification units are not for barcode identification,
It is for character identification. Character / line drawing recording device 200
The configuration and operation of the image, thereby recording the image, identification information,
This is the same as the character / line drawing recording apparatus 200 of the first embodiment. That is, in the character / line image recording apparatus 200, the transfer-receiving body 7 conveyed from the paper feed cassette 9a and the thermal transfer sheet 2a of the thermal fusion transfer method are pressed into contact with each other through the thermal head 3a and the platen roller 4a, and the name and the ID number are pressed. A character / line drawing image representing personal attribute information such as is directly recorded on the transfer-receiving body 7 and discharged to the paper discharge cassette 9b. At this time, of the personal attribute information recorded as the character / line drawing image, an ID number for specifying an individual is recorded in OCR characters.
A character is used as identification information for the character / line drawing image.
Next, the image receiving / transferring member 7 on which the personal attribute information is recorded by the above method is loaded into the image recording / transferring device 400. Image recording /
The transfer device 400 records the transfer-receiving body 7 on which the personal attribute information is recorded from the paper feed cassette 9a to the image transfer section where the hot stamper 5 and the lower support 6 are located. The OCR character having the ID number is read by the sensor 8a belonging to the image recording unit. Then, a face image corresponding to the ID number read by the sensor 8a of the image recording unit is recorded. That is, the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 and the thermal transfer sheet 2 of the heat-sensitive sublimation transfer method are pressed against each other through the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4 to record a face image on the intermediate transfer recording medium 1. Further, in the image transfer section, the hot stamper and the lower support are used to press the area of the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the face image is recorded on the transfer target on which the attribute information of the individual is recorded. The operation of transferring the face image from the recording medium to the transfer-receiving body and recording the image is performed, and the image is discharged to the paper discharge cassette 9b.

Further, the flow of the above printing operation will be described with reference to FIG. Character / line image of personal attribute information including personal ID number recorded in the form of OCR characters as identification information,
All the gradation images of the face photograph are passed from the host computer to the character / line drawing recording device and the image recording / transferring device as character / line drawing data and (gradation) image data, respectively, and each device is controlled by the host computer. It is similar to the first embodiment in that it operates individually. However, in the first embodiment, the correspondence between the character / line drawing image and the face image is determined by (the control unit of) the image transfer device.
This is performed by the host computer using the transfer device. That is, first, the host computer records a character / line drawing image including an OCR character as character / line drawing identification information on a transfer target body using a character / line drawing recording device. Next, the host computer uses the image transfer / recording device to record the OCR recorded on the transfer target body on which the face image is to be recorded.
The character / line drawing identification information is obtained from the character, and a face image corresponding to the character / line drawing image recorded on the transfer object is determined.
The face image is recorded on the transfer object using an image transfer / recording device. First, the host computer passes character / line drawing data (including character / line drawing identification data to be OCR characters) to the character / line drawing recording device. The character / line drawing recording device converts the character / line drawing data received by the data processing unit into
After performing necessary data processing, the thermal head is driven by the thermal head driving unit, and a character / line image including OCR characters as character / line image identification information is recorded on the transfer object. Next, the host computer instructs the image recording / transfer device to read the OCR characters recorded on the transfer object. The image recording / transferring device has an image recording unit and an image transfer unit under the control of a printer controller, and a reading command is processed by the image recording unit under the control of the printer controller. That is, the printer controller of the image recording / transferring device reads the OCR characters by a sensor belonging to the image recording unit, identifies the result by the identification unit, recognizes the result as character / line drawing identification data, and stores the character / line drawing identification data in the host computer. Send to Then, the host computer receives the character / line drawing identification data and selects image data (usually from a plurality of candidates) corresponding to the character / line drawing identification data in combination with the character / line drawing identification data.
The correspondence between the line drawing image and the face image is determined, and the selected image data is sent to the image recording / transferring device. Upon receiving the image data, the printer controller of the image recording / transfer device passes the image data to the data processing unit of the image recording unit, performs necessary data processing, drives the thermal head by the thermal head driving unit, and outputs the face image. Is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium. Subsequently, the printer controller instructs the image transfer unit to print the image, and transfers the face image recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium to a transfer target on which personal attribute information is recorded.
Record.

(Embodiment 3) Recording apparatus 500 shown in FIG.
Is a device that integrates the character / line drawing recording device 200 and the image recording / transferring device 400 shown in FIG. 2 so that a character / line drawing image and a gradation image can be recorded on the transfer object 7 at a time. Further, this is an apparatus corresponding to the conventional apparatus of FIG. The recording device 500 includes an image recording unit, a character / line image recording unit, and an image transfer unit. First, in the character / line image recording unit, the transferred body 7 conveyed from a paper feed cassette (not shown) and the thermal transfer sheet 2a of the thermal fusion transfer method are pressed into contact with each other through the thermal head 3a and the platen roller 4a. A character / line drawing image representing personal attribute information such as an ID number
Record directly to At this time, of the personal attribute information recorded as the character / line drawing image, an ID number for specifying an individual is recorded as an OCR character, and this OCR character is used as identification information for the character / line drawing image. Recorded transfer object 7
Is transferred to the image transfer unit and is placed on the lower receiving table 6. While the object is being conveyed from the character / line image recording unit to the image transfer unit, the OCR characters recorded on the object are read by the sensor 8a belonging to the image recording unit. Then, a face image corresponding to the identified character / line image is recorded. That is, in the image recording section, the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 and the thermal transfer sheet 2 of the heat-sensitive sublimation transfer method are pressed into contact with each other through the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4, and the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 is pressed.
Record the face image in the The intermediate transfer recording medium on which the face image is recorded is immediately conveyed to the image transfer unit. In the image transfer section,
The area where the face image of the intermediate transfer recording medium is recorded is pressed by the hot stamper and the lower support so that the face image is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the personal attribute information is recorded, and the face image is received from the intermediate transfer recording medium. The image is transferred to a transfer body, recorded, and discharged to a paper discharge cassette (not shown).

Further, the flow of the above printing operation will be described with reference to FIG. Similarly to the second embodiment, the character / line image and the facial image gradation image of the personal attribute information including the personal ID number recorded in the form of the OCR character as the identification information are all transmitted from the host computer to the printer controller of the recording device. These are passed as character / line drawing data and (gradation) image data, respectively. The recording device has a character / line image recording unit, an image recording unit, and an image transfer unit under the control of a printer controller.
As in the second embodiment, the correspondence between the character / line drawing image and the face image is determined by the host computer using the recording device. That is, first, the host computer
Using a recording device, a character / line image including an OCR character as character / line image identification information is recorded on a transfer object. Next, the host computer obtains the character / line drawing identification information from the OCR character recorded on the transfer target on which the face image is to be recorded by using the recording device, and obtains the character / line drawing recorded on the transfer target. A face image corresponding to the image is determined, and the face image is recorded on the transfer object using a recording device. First, the host computer sends the character (OCR character /
The character / line drawing data (including the line drawing identification data) is passed to the recording device. Upon receiving the character / line drawing data from the printer controller, the recording device passes the character / line drawing data to the data processing unit of the character / line drawing recording unit to perform necessary data processing, and then drives the thermal head by the thermal head driving unit. Then, the character / line drawing image including the OCR character as the character / line drawing identification information is recorded on the transfer object. Next, the host computer instructs the recording device to read the OCR characters recorded on the transfer object. The read command is processed by the image recording unit under the control of the Puritan controller. The printer controller of the recording device reads the OCR characters with a sensor belonging to the image recording unit, identifies the result with the identification unit, recognizes the character / line drawing identification data, and sends the character / line drawing identification data to the host computer. Then, the host computer receives the character / line drawing identification data and selects image data (usually from a plurality of candidates) corresponding to the character / line drawing identification data in combination with the character / line drawing identification data. The correspondence between the image data and the face image is determined, and the selected image data is sent to the recording device. Upon receiving the image data, the printer controller of the recording device passes the image data to the data processing unit of the image recording unit, performs necessary data processing, drives the thermal head by the thermal head driving unit, and converts the face image into an intermediate image. Record on a transfer recording medium. Subsequently, the printer controller instructs the image transfer unit to perform printing, and transfers and records the face image recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium to a transfer target on which personal attribute information is recorded.

(Embodiment 4) Recording apparatus 600 shown in FIG.
Is obtained by adding a character / line image recording mechanism to the image recording / transferring device 400 of FIG. 2 and recording a combined face image and character / line image on one intermediate transfer recording medium.
This is an apparatus that can transfer and record these images collectively on a transfer target. The recording device 600 includes an image recording unit, a character / line image recording unit, and an image transfer unit. In the fourth embodiment, a barcode is used as the identification information in place of the OCR character as in the first embodiment. The sensor and the identification unit are not for identifying the OCR character but for identifying the barcode. First, in the image recording unit, the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 and the thermal transfer sheet 2 of the heat-sensitive sublimation transfer method are pressed into contact with each other through the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4, and the face image is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 as a gradation image. I do. At this time, an ID number for identifying an individual is recorded as a bar code in the vicinity of the face image recording area using a color material layer having a cyan dye of the same thermal transfer sheet used for recording the gradation image, as identification information. I do. The intermediate transfer recording medium 1 on which the face image has been recorded is immediately conveyed to the character / line image recording unit. While the intermediate transfer recording medium is being conveyed from the image recording section to the character / line drawing recording section, the barcode recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium is read by the sensor 8 belonging to the character / line drawing recording section. In the character / line image recording unit, an intermediate transfer recording medium 1 and a thermal transfer sheet
a through the thermal head 3a and the platen roller 4a, and prints a character / line image on the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 as personal attribute information such as a name and an ID number corresponding to the identification information of the face image. The intermediate transfer recording medium 1 on which the face image and the character / line drawing image are recorded is immediately conveyed to an image transfer section where the hot stamper 5 and the lower support 6 are provided. On the other hand, the transferred object 7 is conveyed from a paper feed cassette (not shown) and placed on the lower receiving table 6. Then, in the image transfer section, the hot stamper and the lower support are used to press the area of the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the face image and the character / line drawing image are recorded onto the transfer target, and press the area from the intermediate transfer recording medium. The face image and the character / line image are transferred and recorded together with the receiving layer on the transfer receiving body (the barcode recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium is not transferred), and discharged to a paper discharge cassette (not shown). The barcode recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium is not transferred or recorded on the transfer target.

Further, the flow of the above printing operation will be described with reference to FIG. The character / line image data of the personal attribute information and the gradation image of the face photograph including the barcode indicating the personal ID number as the identification information are all transmitted from the host computer to the printer controller of the recording apparatus, respectively. ) Passed as image data. The recording device has a character / line image recording unit, an image recording unit, and an image transfer unit under the control of a printer controller. As in the second embodiment, the correspondence between the character / line drawing image and the face image is determined by the host computer using the recording device. That is, first,
The host computer records the face image including the barcode as the image identification information on the intermediate transfer recording medium using the recording device. Next, the host computer uses the recording device to obtain image identification information from the barcode recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium, and obtains a character / line image corresponding to the face image recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium. An image is determined, the character / line drawing image is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium using a recording device, and a face image and a character / line drawing image are further recorded on a transfer target. First, the host computer passes image data (including a barcode image as identification information) to the recording device. When the recording device receives the image data from the printer controller, the image data is passed to the data processing unit of the image recording unit to perform necessary data processing, and then the thermal head is driven by the thermal head driving unit, so that the face image and the A barcode serving as image identification information is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium. Next, prior to recording the character / line drawing image at a position corresponding to the recorded face image on the same intermediate transfer recording medium, the host computer performs recording to acquire the image identification information recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium. The apparatus instructs the apparatus to read a barcode recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium. The read command is a character /
This is processed by the line drawing recording unit. The printer controller of the printing apparatus reads the barcode with a sensor belonging to the character / line image recording unit, identifies the result by the identification unit, recognizes the result as image identification data, and sends the image identification data to the host computer. Then, the host computer receives the image identification data and selects character / line drawing data (usually from a plurality of candidates) which is combined with the image identification data and has a corresponding relationship, thereby obtaining the face image and the character / line drawing data. The correspondence between the image and the image is determined, and the selected character / line drawing data is sent to the recording device. Upon receiving the character / line drawing data, the printer controller of the recording device passes the character / line drawing data to the data processing unit of the character / line drawing recording unit and performs necessary data processing.
The thermal head is driven by the thermal head driving unit, and the character / line image is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium.
Subsequently, the printer controller instructs the image transfer unit to perform printing, and transfers and records the face image and the character / line image recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium to the transfer target.

[0032]

According to the image recording method of the present invention, the image recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium is further transferred from the intermediate transfer recording medium to the object by the thermal transfer recording method, so that the image is transferred to the object. In an image recording method for recording an image,
In particular, when there are a plurality of images to be recorded on the transfer object, and at least one of the images is an image to be recorded via the intermediate transfer recording medium, the correspondence between the plurality of images to be recorded on the transfer object is incorrect. You can record without. In particular, when recording is performed separately by changing the recording method such as the heat-sensitive sublimation transfer method and the heat-sensitive melt transfer method between the gradation image and the character / line drawing image, it is possible to prevent a combination of images having different recording methods from being mixed. Also, in terms of the apparatus, when a transfer error of the transfer object occurs, when one of the images is recorded, the power is turned off after being stopped halfway, or when each image is recorded by an individual apparatus, the floor may be shifted. There is no possibility that the combination of the toned image and the character / line drawing image is broken and a matching error occurs. Further, compared with the case where the comparison of the combination of the gradation image, the character / line drawing image, and the like and the images having different recording methods is performed by visual confirmation by hand, labor can be saved and human error can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus that performs an embodiment according to an image recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus that performs another embodiment according to the image recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus that performs another embodiment according to the image recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus that performs another embodiment according to the image recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a printing operation of the image recording method performed by the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a printing operation of the image recording method performed by the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a printing operation of the image recording method performed by the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a printing operation of the image recording method performed by the apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus that performs one mode of a conventional image recording method.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus that performs another mode in a conventional image recording method.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus that performs another mode in a conventional image recording method.

FIG. 12 is an external view of an ID card with a face photograph (identification information = barcode) as an example of a transfer target obtained by the image recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an external view of another example of the ID card with a face photograph (identification information = OCR characters).

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 intermediate transfer recording medium 2, 2 a thermal transfer sheet 3, 3 a thermal head 4, 4 a platen roller 5 hot stamper 6 lower receiving stand 7 transferred object 8 sensor 9 a paper feed cassette 9 b paper discharge cassette 10 ID card with face photo (printed matter) 11) Character / line drawing image 12 Personal attribute information 13 Barcode (identification information) 13a OCR character (identification information) 14 Gradation image (face photograph) 100 Image recording device 200 Character / line drawing recording device 300 Image transfer device 400 Image recording / Transfer device 500 Recording device 600 Recording device 700 Character / line drawing recording device 800 Image transfer / recording device

Claims (7)

[Claims] Claims: 1. An intermediate transfer recording medium having at least one releasable receiving layer provided on one surface of a base sheet,
After recording the image by the thermal transfer recording method, by superimposing the surface of the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the image is recorded and the object to be transferred, and transferring the image recorded in the receiving layer to the object to be transferred together with the receiving layer, In the thermal transfer recording method for recording an image on an object, an image recorded on the same object is a first image and a second image.
At least when recording the first image or the second image in order to establish the correspondence of the combination of the first image and the second image recorded on the same transfer object. On the other hand, identification information for associating a combination with the other image is also recorded, and the first image and the second image are recorded.
An image recording method for recognizing the identification information until a combination of the first image and the second image is recorded and establishing a correspondence relationship between the combination of the first image and the second image. 2. When recording a first image on an intermediate transfer recording medium, identification information capable of identifying the image to be recorded is stored in the first image.
Is recorded on the intermediate transfer recording medium together with the image of
Before combining the first image with the first image and recording it on the intermediate transfer recording medium or the object to be transferred, the identification information is recognized and the second image to be recorded and the first image are recorded. 2. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein a correspondence relationship of combinations of the following is obtained. 3. When the second image is recorded on a medium to be transferred or an intermediate transfer recording medium, identification information capable of identifying the second image to be recorded is recorded together with the second image. The first image and the second image are recorded on the transferred object or the intermediate transfer recording medium, and then, when the first image is recorded on the transferred object via the recording on the intermediate transfer recording medium. Before the combination is recorded, the first image to be recorded is recognized by recognizing the identification information and the second image.
The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein a correspondence relationship of a combination with the image is taken. 4. When the first image is recorded on an intermediate transfer recording medium, the first image is recorded together with first identification information capable of identifying the first image, while the second image is recorded on the medium to be transferred. Alternatively, when recording on the intermediate transfer recording medium separate from the intermediate transfer recording medium or on the same intermediate transfer recording medium, second identification information capable of identifying a second image is recorded, and the first When the image and the second image are recorded in combination,
2. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the first identification information and the second identification information are recognized, and a combination of the first image and the second image is collated. 5. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is recorded as one of barcode, character, and magnetic information. 6. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the first image is a gradation image, and the second image is a character / line drawing image. 7. The image recording method according to claim 1, wherein the second image is a character / line drawing image including identification information.