JPH10114195A - Device and method for forming image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance a quality of a transfer printed image to a transferred body by interposing a leaf-shaped member forming a non-transfer area between a bonding layer and a transferred body before a heat pressurizing stage of an intermediate transfer medium when a transfer printed image of the bonding layer is transferred to a transferred body by heat pressurizing an intermediate transfer medium to a transferred body. SOLUTION: In an article in which a printed image on an intermediate transfer medium 6 is transferred to a transferred body l of a passport or the like, a supply reel 51 of an adhesion sealing material 53 is provided as a leaf-shaped member forming a non-transfer area by interposing between a bonding layer of the intermediate transfer medium 6 and the transferred body 1. That is, an adhesion part of the adhesion sealing material 53 of the intermediate transfer medium 6 is determined a non-transfer area. And a tray 2 moves to a carriage/ejection position after heated and pressurized by a heat roller 40, at this time, an unnecessary sealing material 53 on the transferred body 1, a printed image layer of the intermediate transfer medium 6 which is not effected a thermal adhesion to the transferred body 1 and a burr, a rubbish or the like of a fragment thereof is removed by pressurize-contacting with an upper side of the transferred body 1 by a light adhesion tape 42.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for transferring an image onto a transfer medium by heating and pressing an intermediate transfer medium on which an image is formed on a transfer object.
In particular, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method for forming an arbitrary non-transferred area of any shape on an object to which an image has been transferred.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of writing an image on an intermediate transfer medium based on image information, in addition to a printing method which is actually used most frequently, a thermal transfer recording method described in the present invention, an electrophotographic method, An ink jet method, various transfer recording methods using a photopolymerized recording material, and the like can be cited as technically possible examples.

[0003] It is technically difficult to directly form an image on a final recording medium (final product) to which an image is to be provided by using these image forming methods, the mass productivity is poor, or the cost is high. In the case where there are some problems such as the above, a method of forming an image on the intermediate transfer medium as described above, and then applying the image to the final product by transfer is adopted. I have.

In the case where the image forming method is a thermal transfer recording method using a sublimable dye, for example, a thermal transfer ribbon having a sublimable dye coated on a base film so as to be capable of thermal transfer is used as a final transfer. By overlaying a transfer target that can be a recording medium and selectively heating the thermal transfer ribbon and the transfer target based on image data prepared using a thermal head or the like, a desired image is formed on the transfer target. The fact that transfer recording is possible is widely and generally known as a known fact.

According to this method, for example, when the face of each person or the like is individually recorded on an individual transfer-receiving body,
An advantage that cannot be seen by the printing method is obtained in that a large number of images different from each other can be easily recorded as a color image with rich gradation on a transfer receiving body. If it is attempted to print such a record of the face of each person by a printing method, it is generally uneconomical since a great deal of cost, labor and time are generally required.

However, thermal transfer recording methods using sublimable dyes also have disadvantages. That is, the materials that can be dyed with the sublimable material are limited, and can be applied only to a transfer target made of a limited material such as, for example, polyester, acrylic resin, and vinyl chloride resin.

In order to perform thermal transfer recording using a sublimable dye in spite of using a material other than the above as a material to be transferred, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. As disclosed in JP-A-81093, in an image writing section using a transfer ribbon of a sublimable dye and a thermal head, first, an image is written on a film-like intermediate transfer medium having an adhesive layer, and then transferred. There has been proposed a method in which an image on an intermediate transfer medium is heated and pressed together with the adhesive layer on an object to be transferred by using a transfer roller, and the image is transferred to the object to be transferred.

[0008] This method is only an example of a sublimable dye. However, in an image forming method for an image-receiving member on which an image cannot be directly formed for various reasons, an image is formed once on an intermediate transfer medium. And the method of transferring the image to the transfer target body together with the layer (image layer) on which the image is formed is basically all common. Hereinafter, this recording method will be referred to as an indirect transfer method. .

[0009]

When transferring a layer (including a hologram and a preprint, etc .; hereinafter, this layer is referred to as an image layer) on which an image is formed on an object to be transferred, the object is transferred. To form an area where the image is not to be transferred onto the transfer body (for example, a sign panel or a stamp column) as a non-transfer area, a heating / pressing method using a heat roller having a plate-shaped mold as a heating / pressing member is selected. (Contact / non-contact) or selection of a heating unit by a thermal head.

However, even if a heat roller having a plate-shaped mold is used as the heating / pressing member, if the transfer object has irregularities, the mold cannot cleanly separate the contact portion from the non-contact portion. Even if a plate-shaped mold is formed on a heat roller with an elastomer layer to prevent this, the mold itself does not have a stable shape due to its elasticity, and it is not possible to create a clean non-contact portion. there were.

Furthermore, it is impossible to arbitrarily change the position and shape of the non-transferred portion, and there is a problem that the heat roller must be replaced every time to respond. Also, regarding the selection of the heating section by the thermal head, if there is unevenness on the non-transferring body, there is absolutely no force. Above all, foreign matter, etc. hits the thermal head and is likely to be damaged. There was a problem that it was a pressure means.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems. A non-transfer area (for example, a signature area, a semiconductor, a magnetic stripe, a hologram, a transmitting / receiving The transfer image is drawn on the adhesive layer of the intermediate transfer medium for the transfer object having the electronic element of the above, and the transfer image is transferred to the transfer object by transferring the adhesive layer of the intermediate transfer medium to the transfer object. When the indirect transfer method is used, the contour of the non-transferred area of the transferred object is accurately formed, so that the quality of the transferred image on the transferred object having such a non-transferred area is improved, and mass production is possible. It is an object of the present invention to propose an image forming apparatus and an image forming method. In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention heats and presses the intermediate transfer medium, on which the transfer image is drawn on the adhesive layer, onto the transfer-receiving member, so that the transfer image of the adhesive layer is An image forming apparatus for transferring an intermediate transfer medium to a transfer object, wherein an intermediate step is performed between the adhesive layer of the intermediate transfer medium and the transfer object before a step of heating and pressing the intermediate transfer medium to the transfer object. And a flaky member for forming a non-transfer region.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming method, an intermediate transfer medium having a transfer image drawn on the adhesive layer is heated and pressurized on the transfer object to transfer the transfer image of the adhesive layer to the transfer object. Forming a non-transferring member between the adhesive layer of the intermediate transfer medium and the object to be transferred before the step of heating and pressing the intermediate transfer medium to the object to be transferred; The method is characterized in that a region is formed.

According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect and the image forming method of the ninth aspect, the adhesive layer at the place where the adhesive seal is affixed, for example, as a flaky member, is formed by applying heat and pressure to the transfer object. Adhesion is not performed, and a non-transfer area can be formed on the transfer object.

Further, by using an adhesive seal, label, film, or the like which is arranged and attached to the release paper as the flaky member, the position, size, or shape of the adhesive seal on the release paper can be variously selected and selected. The position, size, and shape of the non-transfer area on the transfer target can be arbitrarily set.

In particular, if the adhesive seal is formed in a roll shape and the sticking means of the adhesive seal to be attached to the intermediate transfer medium can be arbitrarily changed in the attaching position, the non-transferred part can be arbitrarily transferred on the transfer object. An area can be created. For example, the position of the non-transfer area can be changed by displacing the support shaft of the roll in the width direction of the adhesive seal or adjusting the feed amount of the adhesive seal in the longitudinal direction.

Further, in case that the shape of the non-transfer area changes due to the shape or form of the transfer object such as a plastic card or passport, a plurality of seals to be attached to the intermediate transfer medium are prepared. By arranging the shape type in multiple blocks and adjusting the roll feed amount,
By allowing the size or shape of the adhesive seal to be changed, one or more non-transfer regions of various sizes and shapes can be created on the transfer target.

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus for transferring an image transferred from an adhesive layer to an object to be transferred by heating and pressing an intermediate transfer medium having an image transferred on the adhesive layer to the object to be transferred. Before the step of heating and pressurizing the intermediate transfer medium to the object to be transferred, a release coating is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer medium on which an image is written, and the intermediate transfer medium is heated. It is characterized in that a coating film forming means for forming a non-transfer area of the adhesive layer on the transfer object at the time of pressing is provided.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming method, an intermediate transfer medium having a transfer image drawn on the adhesive layer is heated and pressurized on the transfer object, thereby transferring the transfer image of the adhesive layer to the transfer object. Forming a release coating on a surface of the intermediate transfer medium on which an image is to be written, prior to a step of heating and pressing the intermediate transfer medium to the transfer object; Forming a non-transfer area of the adhesive layer on the transfer object at the time of heating and pressing.

The formation of the non-transfer area can be realized by coating a release liquid on the intermediate transfer medium in addition to the above-mentioned sticking of the sealing material. According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect and the image forming method of the tenth aspect, the part adhesive layer to which the release liquid is applied on the intermediate transfer medium is not thermally bonded to the transfer target even by applying heat and pressure. The location can be a non-transfer area. In addition, the liquid referred to here includes not only a perfect liquid such as oil but also a colloid such as sol and gel, and means a liquid fluid such as grease, paste, paint, etc., whose viscosity is improved by a soap base or powder. I do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first or second aspect, the heating and pressurizing means contacts the heat roller having an elastomer layer on its surface or the intermediate transfer medium. Or a heat belt having a pressure layer of an elastomer layer on the back side of the heat belt.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the transfer roller or the transfer belt is provided with a heat roller having an elastomer layer on the surface which comes into contact with the intermediate transfer medium, or the elastomer is provided on the back surface of the surface which comes into contact with the intermediate transfer medium. Since the transfer belt is constituted by a heat belt having a layer, even if the transfer object has irregularities, the irregularities can be absorbed by the elastomer layer, and the image can be transferred to the entire surface of the pressure transfer object having the irregularities.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of any one of the first to third aspects, the image forming apparatus heats and pressurizes the object to be transferred, and then presses and contacts the object to be transferred. A light-adhesive member for removing an unnecessary layer existing on the transfer area is provided.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the unnecessary seal material remaining on the transfer object and the image layer of the intermediate transfer medium not thermally bonded to the transfer object (also serving as the image receiving layer). (Including a thermal adhesive layer) and fragments thereof such as burrs and dust can be removed by adhering to a light adhesive roller or a light adhesive tape, so that a good transfer receiving body can be provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of any one of the first, third, and fourth aspects,
The flaky member is made of an adhesive sealing material, and a sticking position on the intermediate transfer medium can be changed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, a release treatment is performed on a side of the adhesive sealing material that does not adhere to the intermediate transfer medium.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the second, third, and fourth aspects,
The coating film forming means comprises a liquid having releasability and a hygroscopic member impregnated with the liquid paint.

If the means for applying the liquid having the releasability is a porous plate such as a sponge, the plate is impregnated with the liquid and applied. A transfer area can be created. If a mechanism for moving the application means is provided so that the position where the liquid is applied can be arbitrarily changed, or if a plurality of plates to be applied are facilitated, the size or shape of the liquid to be applied can be freely changed. One or more non-transferred regions of various sizes and shapes can be created.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive seal which comes into contact with the transfer object (the surface which does not adhere to the intermediate transfer medium) is impregnated with a release material such as a silicon-based or fluorine-based material. By performing a release process such as coating, even if the transfer target material is easily heat-bonded (for example, coated paper coated with a thermoplastic resin), these easily heat-bonded materials can be used as an adhesive seal. Since it does not adhere or adhere, a good non-transfer area can be created.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the seventh aspect, the liquid having releasability is one of a silicon-based material, a fluorine-based material, and a fluorosilicone-based material. It is characterized by containing.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the release coating film for forming the non-transfer area contains a substance having a physical property, the material to which the transfer object is easily thermally bonded (for example, a thermoplastic material). Coated paper coated with resin)
Since these materials that easily adhere to the heat do not adhere to or adhere to the adhesive seal, a good non-transfer area can be created.

The reason why the indirect transfer is good is that an image having a rich gradation can be formed by sublimation transfer even on an object to which sublimation transfer cannot be performed, and that an image can be formed even on an uneven or rough surface. What you can do.

[0033]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and reference numerals 1 and 1 'denote transfer objects such as plastic cards and passports. The transfer members 1, 1 'are detachably set on a tray 2 (2') fixed to a frame or a chassis of the image forming apparatus, and are fixed on the tray 2 'at a right portion in FIG. Then, the image is transferred to the left portion of FIG. 1 and the image is transferred.

The positions of the transfer object 1 and the tray 2 indicated by solid lines are positions when the image on the intermediate transfer medium 6 is heated and pressed on the transfer object 1 by the heat roller 40. The tray 2 has wheels 4 and 5 and moves left and right in FIG. 1 along the rail 3 by an actuator (not shown) and a drive system provided on the frame.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an intermediate transfer medium comprising a transfer film having an adhesive layer formed on a base film. The intermediate transfer medium is supplied from a supply reel 23 and is provided with guide rollers 13, 15, 1
6 and 39 and the conveying rollers 17 and 18 (rotational direction h when proceeding) and 20, 19 (rotational direction d when proceeding), and are guided to the take-up reel 24. In this embodiment, a hologram image layer made of a hologram is formed inside the adhesive layer of the intermediate transfer medium 6, and the transfer position of the hologram image and the transfer target 1 is placed on either the adhesive layer or the base film. A registration mark for aligning the position is drawn, and the registration mark is detected by an optical registration mark sensor 11 disposed between the supply reel 23 and the platen roller 10.

The intermediate transfer medium 6 is supplied from the supply reel 23 to the guide roller 13, the platen roller 10, and the guide roller 1.
5, 16, 39, and the transfer rollers 17, 18, 19, and 20, tension is applied to the take-up reel 24. Further, when the clamp rollers 8 and 9 are fixed to the peripheral surface of the platen roller 10, the registration mark sensor 11 The interval is adjusted so that a predetermined image drawn on the adhesive layer of the intermediate transfer medium 6 is located at a predetermined distance in the circumferential direction of the platen roller 10 based on the position. By detecting the registration mark of the intermediate transfer medium 6 by the registration mark sensor 11,
The transfer image on the adhesive layer is aligned on the platen roller 10. Above the registration mark sensor 11, a cleaning pad 12 is provided.
Is for removing dust on the adhesive layer side on which the image of the intermediate transfer medium 6 is written, and removes dust on the image surface of the intermediate transfer medium together with a neutralization brush (not shown).

The peripheral surface of the platen roller 10 is coated on the elastomer layer with a fluorine-based polymer compound. Clamp rollers 8 and 9 held by arms (not shown) are provided on both left and right sides of the platen roller 10 with air. The platen roller 10 is provided so as to be able to abut and separate from the peripheral surface of the platen roller 10 by an actuator such as a cylinder. At the time of image writing, the arms are tilted due to the contraction of the air cylinder, and the clamp rollers 8 and 9 are moved by the platen roller 10 via the intermediate transfer medium 6.
Of the intermediate transfer medium 6 and the platen roller 10
Fixed to Reference numeral 25 denotes a cleaning roller for removing dust on the peripheral surface of the platen roller 10.

In this embodiment, two types of thermal transfer using a sublimation dye and a molten ink are performed in image writing.
The ink ribbon 7 is supplied from a supply reel 26, and is taken up by guide rollers 34, 35, 36, and 37, transport rollers 28 (rotational direction g when traveling), 29, and cleaning rollers 32 and 33 that also serve as guide rollers. 27
And the thermal head 38 writes an image on the intermediate transfer medium 6 based on the image information. In addition, in order to distinguish between each color or each printing method (for example, sublimation heat transfer and fusion heat transfer), the ink ribbon 7 is distinguished by reading a sensor mark formed on the ink ribbon in advance by the interrupter sensors 30 and 31. And alignment.

The intermediate transfer medium 6 having the transfer image formed on the adhesive layer by the thermal head 38 is clamped by the clamp arms 8 and 9.
Is separated from the platen roller 10 and the transfer roller 1
By rotating 7, 18, 19, and 20 in the d and h directions, the sheet is sent to the upper surface of the tray 2. The intermediate transfer medium 6 on the transfer medium 1 mounted on the tray 2 is heated and pressed on the transfer medium 1 by lowering the heat roller 40 in the direction b, so that an image (image reception) of the intermediate transfer medium is received. A so-called image layer such as a heat bonding layer serving as a layer, a hologram layer, a protective layer (not shown), and the like are transferred to the transfer target 1.

The heat roller 40 has a halogen lamp heater 41 inside, is a hollow cylinder blackened inside, and has conductive heat-curable silicone rubber on the surface and a fluorine-based polymer compound on the outermost surface. A reverse-crown-shaped heat roller rotates the peripheral speed (rotation direction is r) slightly faster than the conveying speed of the intermediate transfer medium or the transfer object, thereby preventing wrinkles of the intermediate transfer medium. .

The surface temperature of the heat roller 40 is detected by the temperature sensor 21 and is kept constant by a temperature controller (not shown) or the like. A cleaning roller 22 for keeping the surface of the heat roller 40 clean at all times is provided near the heat roller 40.

Near the lower part of the heat roller 40, there are provided safety shutters C and C 'that open and close with each other. The safety shutters C and C are opened when heating and pressing, and the heat roller 40 is moved to the tray 2 side. Then, the image layer of the intermediate transfer medium 6 is transferred to the transfer target 1 by heating and pressing. At the time of the vertical lowering and raising, the cleaning roller 22 and the temperature sensor 21 also lower and raise together.

On the side of the platen roller 10 and below the thermal head 38, the adhesive layer of the intermediate transfer medium 6 and the transfer And a supply reel 51 of an adhesive seal material 53 as a flaky member that forms a non-transfer region by being interposed therebetween. An adhesive material such as an acrylic or rubber adhesive is applied to the adhesive surface A of the adhesive seal material 53. The adhesive seal material 53 is lightly adhered and held on the adhesive transport film 52, and is sent from the supply reel 50 to the take-up reel 51.

The adhesive sealing material 53 is conveyed in the l-direction by a pressure transfer roller 54 being sent from the supply reel 50 to the take-up reel 51, and is transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium on the platen roller 10 on the pressure transfer roller 54. 6 at a predetermined position on the adhesive layer B. The support surface C of the adhesive surface A of the adhesive seal material 53 of the transport film 52 is provided with a light-adhesive separate treatment (release treatment).
Is given. The back surface D of the support surface C of the transport film 52
Is subjected to a separation process (release process) such as a silicon-based material having a strong releasability, so that the adhesive material of the adhesive seal material 53 does not adhere to the transport film 52.

When sticking the adhesive seal material 53 onto the intermediate transfer medium 6, the pressure-feed conveyance roller 54 is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium on the platen roller 10 as shown in FIG.
Except when the adhesive seal material 53 is attached to the intermediate transfer medium 6, as shown in FIG. 2, the adhesive seal material, the transport film and the like are retracted so as not to contact the intermediate transfer medium.

The intermediate transfer medium 6 to which the adhesive seal material 53 is adhered is heated and pressed on the transfer object 1 by the heat roller 40 after moving the transfer image onto the transfer object 1. Since the thermal adhesive layer B also serving as an image receiving layer on the surface of the image layer of the intermediate transfer medium 6 is covered with the adhesive seal material 53 at the portion where the material 53 is affixed, it does not come into contact with the transferred object 1.
The portion to which the adhesive seal material 53 is attached is a non-transfer area.

Heat and pressure are applied by the heat roller 40, and the safety shutters C and C 'are opened and closed to open the heat roller 4.
After 0 rises, the tray 2 moves to the loading / unloading position shown by the dotted line. When the tray 2 returns to the loading / unloading position, the lightly-adhesive light-adhesive tape 42 disposed above the transferred object 1 ′ and the tray 2 ′ comes into pressure contact with the upper surface of the transferred object 1. As a result, the unnecessary sealing material 53 remaining on the transfer object 1, the image layer of the intermediate transfer medium 6 not thermally bonded to the transfer object 1 (including the heat bonding layer also serving as the image receiving layer), and the like. Debris such as burrs and dust are adhered to the light adhesive tape 42 and removed. As a result, a non-transfer area is provided at a predetermined position on the transfer object 1, and a completed body of the transfer object 1 on which an image is transferred over the entire surface can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the transport film 5
For 2, the film with different peel strength on both sides was used.
In the example shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, as in the case of a normal sticker sheet (sticker seal), the adhesive sealing material 63 is lightly adhered to the release-treated side of the release sheet 62 that has been subjected to release processing on one side only. You can use what you have.

That is, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4,
When the pressure-sensitive adhesive material 63 is conveyed onto the pressure-conveying roller 54, the diameter of the pressure-sensitive conveying roller 54 is reduced so that the pressure-sensitive adhesive material 63 is naturally separated from the release sheet 62. A peeled end E of the sealing material 63 is formed. In this state, as shown in FIG. 4, if the adhesive side of the adhesive sealing material 63 is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer medium 6 and then pressed by the pressing roller 65, the intermediate transfer medium 6 can be used without using a special release film. The adhesive seal material 63 can be stuck on 6.

[0051]

[Experimental Example] In this embodiment, the inventors conducted an experiment by sticking an adhesive sealing material on an intermediate transfer medium under the following conditions.

The transfer member 1 is made of paper, PET sheet which has been subjected to easy adhesion treatment, vinyl chloride card, ABS resin card,
A primer-coated polycarbonate sheet was selected.

As the adhesive seal material 53, the adhesive material is an acrylic or rubber material, and the base material is a paper base, an aluminum base, a PET base, a PET base + non-adhesive aluminum deposition,
Paper base + non-adhesive side fluorine coat, paper base + non-adhesive side silicon coat, fluororesin base material (adhesive material is silicon type), aluminum base + non-adhesive side fluorine coat, aluminum base + silicon coat, PET base + non-adhesive side fluorine coat, PET base + non-adhesive side silicon coat, etc. were used.

Further, as an adhesive layer of the intermediate transfer medium 6, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate / copolymer, vinyl chloride / vinyl
Vinyl acetate / copolymer + polyester, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate / copolymer + acrylic resin, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate / copolymer + vinyl chloride, etc. were used.

As the light adhesive tape 42 for removing burrs and the like, a drafting tape manufactured by Scotch (No. 2) is used.
30), Scotch Mending Tape (No. 81)
0), a self-bonding tape was used as an experiment, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Further, the heat roller 40 uses a halogen lamp heater as a heat source, and the temperature control detects the roller surface temperature and performs the temperature control by feedback. The core of the heat roller 40 was made of high tension aluminum (A5056), the inner surface of the inside of the cylinder was blackened, and the stainless steel brush was used to connect the case to the ground. The roller surface of the heat roller 40 was an elastomer layer, and was made of conductive heat-curable silicone rubber. The material of the roller surface of the heat roller 40 is made of a copolymer of ethylene tetrafluoride and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether, and the roller surface shape is an inverted crown type in which the center is dented, and the peripheral speed is slightly higher than the medium transport speed. In this way, the transfer between the intermediate transfer medium 6 and the transfer object 1 is minimized so as to match the linear moving speed of the transfer object 1 on the tray 2 as much as possible. The roller temperature of the heat roller 40 was heated and pressed at 162 ° C.

According to this experiment, it was possible to form a transfer region having a beautiful outline on the transfer member 1 for forming a good non-transfer region.

Next, an embodiment in which a non-transfer area is formed by coating a release liquid on an intermediate transfer medium will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present invention, the release liquid includes not only a complete liquid such as oil but also a colloid such as a sol or a gel, and is a liquid such as grease, paste, paint or the like whose viscosity is improved by a soap base or powder. Including fluid.

In FIG. 5, the configuration of the image forming apparatus is basically substantially the same as in FIGS. In the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a release coating film is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer medium 6 on which the image is to be written before the step of heating and pressurizing the intermediate transfer medium 6 on the object 1 to be transferred. A porous sponge-like plate 60 is provided as a coating film forming means for forming a non-transfer area of the adhesive layer on the transfer target 1 when the intermediate transfer medium 6 is heated and pressed. The sponge-like plate 60 is made to release the release liquid,
By imprinting on the intermediate transfer medium 6, a non-transfer area is formed (coated). Thereafter, when heat and pressure are applied by the heat roller 40, since the release liquid is present in the heat bonding layer also serving as the image receiving layer which is the surface layer of the intermediate transfer medium 6, the heat bonding layer and the transfer receiving body are thermally bonded. Nothing is done.

The release liquid to be impregnated into the sponge-like plate 60 is stored in the tank 61 in advance, and is moved by the actuator (not shown) via the hinges 64 and 63 to the arm 6.
By shaking 5, the intermediate transfer medium 6 can be stamped. Also, so that the plate 60 can be uniformly imprinted on the intermediate transfer medium.
The head can be slightly swung by the spring 62.

After the release coating film is formed on the intermediate transfer medium 6, the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape 42 is brought into pressure contact with the light adhesive tape 42 at the loading / unloading position of the tray 2 indicated by the dotted line. Unnecessary release liquid remaining on the transfer target 1, image layers that are not thermally bonded to the transfer target 1 (including a heat bonding layer also serving as an image receiving layer), and burrs and debris that are fragments thereof. Is removed from the light adhesive tape 42.

When imprinting on the intermediate transfer medium 6,
The plate 60 is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium 6 on the platen roller 10 as shown in FIG. 5, but the arm 65 is moved rearward to move the plate 60 from the intermediate transfer medium 6 except when the stamp is performed, as shown in FIG. evacuate.

For this embodiment, the inventors coated the release liquid on the intermediate transfer medium under the following conditions,
We succeeded in creating a good non-transfer area on the transfer target.

As the transfer object 1, paper, an easily bonded PET sheet, a vinyl chloride card, an ABS resin card,
A primer-coated polycarbonate sheet was used. The release liquid may be dimethylsilicon-based, perfluoropolyether-based, fluorosilicone-based, white oil, poly-α-olefin oil, or a mixture of the above liquid with a lithium soap group or polytetrafluoroethylene powder to increase the viscosity. The raised one was used. Further, as the adhesive layer of the intermediate transfer medium 6, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate / copolymer, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate / copolymer + polyester, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate / copolymer + acrylic resin, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate / copolymer + chloride Vinyl was used. As the light adhesive tape 42 for removing burrs, etc., a drafting tape (No. 230) manufactured by Scotch, a mending tape (No. 810) manufactured by Scotch, a self-bonding tape, etc. were used. Needless to say, it is not limited to those. For the heat roller 40, a halogen lamp heater was used as a heat source, and the temperature was controlled by detecting the surface temperature of the roller and performing feedback control. The core is made of cylindrical high tension aluminum (A5056) and the inner surface of the cylinder is blackened.
The case was grounded with a stainless steel brush. The roller surface elastomer layer was made of conductive heat-curable silicone rubber, and the roller surface material was made of a copolymer of ethylene tetrafluoride and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether. The roller surface shape is an inverted crown type, and the peripheral speed of the roller peripheral surface is slightly higher than the medium transport speed. The roller temperature during heating and pressing was 160 ° C.

According to this experiment, it was possible to form a transfer region having a beautiful outline on the transfer member 1 to form a good non-transfer region.

Thus, for example, when the shape of the non-transferred area of the object to be transferred changes, such as when a hologram, a memory IC, or the like and a portion that should not be heated and pressed can change in various ways. It is not necessary to replace the heat roller, and mass productivity is improved.

[0067]

As described above in detail, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect and the image forming method of the ninth aspect, the adhesive layer at the portion where the adhesive seal is applied as the flaky member, for example. Is not thermally bonded to the transfer target by heating and pressing, and a non-transfer area can be formed on the transfer target.

Further, by using an adhesive seal, label, film, or the like which is arranged and attached to release paper as a flaky member, the position, size, or shape of the adhesive seal on the release paper can be variously aligned and selected. The position, size, and shape of the non-transfer area on the transfer target can be arbitrarily set.

In particular, if the adhesive seal is formed into a roll shape and the sticking means for the adhesive seal to be attached to the intermediate transfer medium can be arbitrarily changed in the attaching position, the non-transferred portion can be arbitrarily transferred onto the transfer object. An area can be created. For example, the position of the non-transfer area can be changed by displacing the support shaft of the roll in the width direction of the adhesive seal or adjusting the feed amount of the adhesive seal in the longitudinal direction.

Thus, for example, when the shape of the non-transferred area of the object to be transferred changes, such as when a portion having a hologram, a memory IC, and the like, which must not be heated and pressed, can change in various ways, It is not necessary to replace the heat roller, and mass productivity is improved.

Further, in case that the shape of the non-transfer area changes due to the shape or form of the transfer object such as a plastic card or passport, a plurality of seals to be attached to the intermediate transfer medium are prepared. By arranging the shape type in multiple blocks and adjusting the roll feed amount,
By allowing the size or shape of the adhesive seal to be changed, one or more non-transfer regions of various sizes and shapes can be created on the transfer target.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect and the image forming method of the tenth aspect, the portion adhesive layer of the intermediate transfer medium to which the release liquid has been applied is not thermally bonded to the transfer target even by applying heat and pressure. Therefore, this portion can be used as a non-transfer region. The liquid referred to here includes not only perfect liquids such as oil but also colloids such as sols and gels.
It means a liquid fluid such as grease, paste, paint, etc., whose viscosity has been improved by a soap base or powder.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, the transfer roller or the transfer belt is provided with a heat roller having an elastomer layer on the surface that comes into contact with the intermediate transfer medium, or the elastomer is placed on the back surface of the surface that comes into contact with the intermediate transfer medium. Since the transfer belt is constituted by a heat belt having a layer, even if the transfer object has irregularities, the irregularities can be absorbed by the elastomer layer, and the image can be transferred to the entire surface of the pressure transfer object having the irregularities.

According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, the unnecessary seal material remaining on the transfer object or the image layer of the intermediate transfer medium that is not thermally bonded to the transfer object (also serves as the image receiving layer). (Including a thermal adhesive layer) and fragments thereof such as burrs and dust can be removed by adhering to a light adhesive roller or a light adhesive tape, so that a good transfer receiving body can be provided.

If the means for applying the liquid having releasability is a porous plate such as a sponge, the plate is impregnated with the liquid and applied, so that it is easy and delicate. A transfer area can be created. If a mechanism for moving the application means is provided so that the position where the liquid is applied can be arbitrarily changed, or if a plurality of plates to be applied are facilitated, the size or shape of the liquid to be applied can be freely changed. One or more non-transferred regions of various sizes and shapes can be created.

According to the image forming apparatus of the sixth and seventh aspects, the surface of the adhesive seal that contacts the transfer target (the surface that does not adhere to the intermediate transfer medium) is impregnated with a release material such as a silicon-based or fluorine-based material. By performing a release process such as coating, even if the transfer target material is easily heat-bonded (for example, coated paper coated with a thermoplastic resin), these easily heat-bonded materials can be used as an adhesive seal. Since it does not adhere or adhere, a good non-transfer area can be created.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the release coating film for forming the non-transfer area contains a substance having a physical property, the material to which the transfer object is easily thermally bonded (for example, a thermoplastic material). Coated paper coated with resin)
Since these materials that easily adhere to the heat do not adhere to or adhere to the adhesive seal, a good non-transfer area can be created.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration when an adhesive sealing material is attached by an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention when an adhesive sealing material is not attached.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration when an adhesive sealing material is attached by an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention when an adhesive sealing material is not attached.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration when a release coating is formed by the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration when a plate is released by an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transfer receiving body 2 Tray 6 Intermediate transfer medium 7 Ink ribbon 10 Platen roller 42 Light adhesive tape 53 Adhesive sealing material 60 Sponge-shaped plate 63 Adhesive sealing material

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for transferring a transfer image of an adhesive layer to a transfer object by heating and pressing an intermediate transfer medium on which a transfer image is drawn on an adhesive layer to a transfer object, wherein the intermediate transfer medium is Before the step of heating and pressurizing the object to be transferred, a flaky member is provided between the adhesive layer of the intermediate transfer medium and the object to form a non-transfer area. Image forming apparatus. 2. An image forming apparatus for transferring a transfer image of an adhesive layer to a transfer object by heating and pressurizing an intermediate transfer medium on which a transfer image is drawn on an adhesive layer to a transfer object, wherein the intermediate transfer medium is provided. Before the step of heating and pressing the transfer medium, a release coating is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer medium on which an image is to be written, and the transfer coating is formed on the transfer medium when the intermediate transfer medium is heated and pressed. Further comprising a coating film forming means for forming a non-transfer area of the adhesive layer. 3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said heating and pressurizing means includes a heat roller having an elastomer layer on a surface thereof, or an application of an elastomer layer on a back surface in contact with said intermediate transfer medium. An image forming apparatus comprising: a heat belt having a pressure layer. 4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after heating and pressurizing the transfer-receiving body, the image-forming apparatus is brought into pressure contact with the transfer-receiving body so as to eliminate unnecessary portions existing on the non-transfer area. An image forming apparatus comprising a light adhesive member for removing a layer. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flaky member is made of an adhesive seal material, and a sticking position on the intermediate transfer medium can be changed. An image forming apparatus comprising: 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the side of the adhesive seal material that does not adhere to the intermediate transfer medium is subjected to a release treatment. 7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said coating film forming means comprises a liquid having releasability and a hygroscopic member impregnated with said liquid paint. An image forming apparatus comprising: 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said liquid having releasability contains one of silicon-based, fluorine-based, and fluorosilicon-based substances singly or in combination. Image forming apparatus. 9. An image forming method for transferring a transfer image of an adhesive layer to a transfer object by heating and pressing an intermediate transfer medium on which a transfer image is drawn on an adhesive layer to the transfer object, the method comprising: Before the step of heating and pressing the medium to the transfer object,
An image forming method, wherein a non-transfer area is formed by interposing a flaky member between the adhesive layer of the intermediate transfer medium and the transfer object. 10. An image forming method for transferring a transfer image of an adhesive layer to a transfer member by heating and pressing an intermediate transfer medium having a transfer image drawn on the bond layer to the transfer member,
Prior to the step of heating and pressurizing the intermediate transfer medium to the object to be transferred, a release coating is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer medium on which an image is written, and the intermediate transfer medium is heated and pressurized when the intermediate transfer medium is heated and pressurized. An image forming method, wherein a non-transfer area of the adhesive layer is formed on a transfer target.