TW202128451A - Heat transfer system and heat transfer method - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable the surface of an overcoat layer on an image receiving paper to be made smooth, and to simplify a manufacturing process. A heat transfer system 10 comprises: an ink ribbon supply unit 11; a thermal head 20; a platen roller 15; and an ink ribbon winding unit 12. The thermal head 20 includes a heating resistor 22 and a line heater 23 provided from the upstream side toward the downstream side. The heating resistor 22 of the thermal head 20 transfers a colored layer 3 and an overcoat layer 4 of an ink ribbon 1 to an image receiving paper 5. The line heater 23 heats and smooths the overcoat layer 4. Either one of the thermal head 20 and the platen roller 15 can move in a conveyance direction of the ink ribbon 1.

Description

Thermal transfer system and thermal transfer method

This disclosure is about thermal transfer systems and thermal transfer methods. The thermal transfer system and the transfer method smooth the surface of the printed matter obtained by thermally transferring the colored layer and the covering layer on the sensor paper.

The colored layer and the covering layer are thermally transferred to the induction paper to produce printed matter. At this time, the colored layer is transferred to the sensitive paper together with the coating layer for protecting the colored layer. Generally, the coating layer is transferred by the heating of the thermal transfer head.

By the way, the thermal transfer head includes a plurality of heating resistor elements arranged on a flat surface. Use this thermal transfer head to transfer the coating onto the sensor paper. Inconsistent and dispersive heat is generated from each heating resistor element. In this case, the surface of the coating layer becomes rough, and light is diffused. In this case, printed matter with no gloss can be obtained.

In order to make the surface of the coating layer smooth, a technology was developed that only heated the coating layer and softened the surface of the coating layer in the next process. However, in order to heat the coating layer in the next process, the manufacturing process becomes complicated. [Prior Technical Literature] [Patent Literature]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-195711

[The problem to be solved by the invention]

The present disclosure is made in consideration of such points, and provides a thermal transfer system and a thermal transfer method that can smooth the surface of the coating layer on the sensor paper. With this thermal transfer system and thermal transfer method, the manufacturing process is simplified. [Methods to solve the problem]

The present disclosure is a thermal transfer system, which uses a printing belt to thermally transfer a colored layer and a covering layer to a sensor paper. The printing belt has a supporting layer and a plurality of the aforementioned colored layers sequentially arranged on the supporting layer. And the coating layer; the thermal transfer system is provided with: a printing belt supply part which supplies the printing belt; a thermal transfer head which is arranged on the downstream side of the printing belt in the conveying direction of the printing belt supply part, The colored layer and the covering layer of the printing belt are thermally transferred to the induction paper, and are arranged along the conveying direction of the printing belt; and an imprint roller, which is arranged facing the thermal transfer head , Holding the printing belt and the induction paper together with the thermal transfer head; the thermal transfer head has: a heating resistor, and a linear heater provided on the heating resistor on the downstream side of the conveying direction of the printing belt; At least one of the imprint roller and the thermal transfer head is movable along the conveying direction of the printing belt.

The present disclosure is a thermal transfer system, wherein the thermal transfer head has a thermal transfer head body, the heating resistor system is arranged on the thermal transfer head body, and includes a conveyance along orthogonal to the printing belt A plurality of heating resistor elements arranged in the direction of the direction, the linear heater is provided on the thermal transfer head body, and includes a linear heater extending in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the printing belt Resistor body.

The present disclosure is a thermal transfer system, wherein the thermal transfer head body has a ceramic layer and a glass layer arranged on the ceramic layer.

The present disclosure is a thermal transfer system, wherein the aforementioned heating resistor system is covered by a heating resistor protective layer, and the aforementioned linear heater is covered by a linear heater protective layer.

The present disclosure is a thermal transfer method that uses a thermal transfer system, wherein the thermal transfer method includes: supplying the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller Process; while holding the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller, while heating the printing belt by the heating resistor of the thermal transfer head, the printing belt is colored The process of thermally transferring the layer and the aforementioned covering layer to the aforementioned induction paper; the process of separating the aforementioned thermal transfer head and the aforementioned embossing roller from each other, and pulling back the aforementioned induction paper and the aforementioned printing belt; making the aforementioned thermal transfer head or It is the process of moving the imprinting roller along the conveying direction of the printing belt, and moving the linear heater of the thermal transfer head to a position facing the imprinting roller; and moving the induction paper The process in which the printing belt is held between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller, and the coating layer on the induction paper is heated by the linear heater of the thermal transfer head to make it soft and smooth. .

The present disclosure is a thermal transfer method that uses a thermal transfer system, wherein the thermal transfer method includes: supplying the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller Process; while holding the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller, while heating the printing belt by the heating resistor of the thermal transfer head, the printing belt is colored The process of thermally transferring the layer to the aforementioned induction paper; the process of separating the aforementioned thermal transfer head and the aforementioned embossing roller from each other; the aforementioned thermal transfer head or the aforementioned embossing roller is moved along the conveying direction of the aforementioned printing belt , The process of moving the linear heater of the thermal transfer head to the position facing the embossing roller; while holding the induction paper and the printing belt on the thermal transfer head and the embossing roller The process of thermally transferring the coating layer to the induction paper while heating the printing belt by the linear heater of the thermal transfer head; making the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller The process of separating and pulling back the induction paper and the printing belt; and while holding the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the embossing roller, the thermal transfer head The linear heater is used to heat the coating layer on the induction paper to make it soft and smooth.

The present disclosure is a thermal transfer method that uses a thermal transfer system, wherein the thermal transfer method includes: supplying the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller Process; while holding the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller, while heating the printing belt by the heating resistor of the thermal transfer head, the printing belt is colored The process of thermally transferring the layer to the aforementioned induction paper; the process of separating the aforementioned thermal transfer head and the aforementioned embossing roller from each other; making the aforementioned thermal transfer head or the aforementioned embossing roller move in the conveying direction of the aforementioned printing belt, The process of moving the linear heater of the thermal transfer head to a position opposed to the imprinting roller; and while holding the induction paper and the printing belt on the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller In between, while the printing belt is heated by the linear heater of the thermal transfer head, the covering layer is thermally transferred to the induction paper, and the linear heater is used to heat the induction paper on the The covering layer makes it soft and smooth. [Effects of the invention]

As described above, according to the present disclosure, the surface of the coating layer formed on the sensor paper is smoothed. In addition, according to the present disclosure, the manufacturing process is simplified.

<The first embodiment>

Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

Here, FIGS. 1 to 8B are diagrams showing the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, based on FIGS. 1 to 3, the thermal transfer system 10 of the first embodiment will be described. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the thermal transfer system 10 is a device that thermally transfers the induction paper 5 by a sublimation method to produce a printed image. Here, the thermal transfer system 10 uses a printing belt 1. The printing belt 1 has: a support layer 2 made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET); the support layer 2 includes a cyan (C) , Magenta (M), Yellow (Y), 3 types of colored layers 3; and covering layer (OP) 4 (please refer to Figure 8A and Figure 8B).

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the supporting layer 2 of the printing tape 1 is repeatedly arranged in this order with a coloring layer 3 composed of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) layers. With cladding layer 4.

Such a thermal transfer system 10 is a sublimation-type thermal transfer system, and includes a printing belt supply unit 11 that supplies the printing belt 1 (conveys the printing belt 1). On the downstream side in the conveying direction of the printing belt 1 of the printing belt supply section, a thermal transfer head 20 is arranged for thermally transferring the coloring layer 3 and the covering layer 4 of the printing belt 1 to the induction paper 5. On the downstream side in the conveying direction of the printing belt 1 of the thermal transfer head 20, a printing tape winding section 12 is arranged, which winds the printing tape 1 thermally transferred by the thermal transfer head.

In addition, an imprint roller 15 is arranged corresponding to the thermal transfer head 20. The printing belt 1 and the induction paper 5 are held between the thermal transfer head 20 and the embossing roller 15. Then, the coloring layer 3 and the covering layer 4 on the printing belt 1 are thermally transferred to the sensor paper 5 by the heat of the thermal transfer head 20. In addition, a guide roller 13 is provided between the thermal transfer head 20 and the imprint roller 15 and the printing tape winding part 12.

Next, the thermal transfer head 20 will be described based on FIGS. 4 to 7B. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7B, the thermal transfer head 20 has a thermal transfer head main body 21 and a heating resistor 22 provided on the thermal transfer head main body 21. With respect to the heating resistor 22, a linear heater 23 is provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the printing tape 1.

The heating resistor 22 and the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 face the printing belt 1 side (please refer to FIGS. 1 to 3). At this time, the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 is installed at the downstream end of the printing belt 1 of the thermal transfer head in the conveying direction.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7B, the thermal transfer head body 21 of the thermal transfer head 20 includes a ceramic layer 21a and a glass layer 21b disposed on the ceramic layer 21a. In addition, the heating resistor 22 provided on the thermal transfer head body 21 includes a plurality of heating resistors arranged on the glass layer 21b and arranged in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the printing tape Element 22a. A space is formed between the heater resistor elements 22a. Next, each heater resistor element 22a is covered with the heater resistor protective layer 22b.

In addition, the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 includes a linear heater resistor 23a of a single structure extending in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the printing tape 1. The linear heater resistor 23a is covered by the linear heater protective layer 23b.

Here, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the heating resistor 22 of the thermal transfer head 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the heater resistor element 22a of the heater resistor 22 is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the printing belt 1 (the width direction of the thermal transfer head). In FIG. 5, the heater resistor elements 22a are connected to each other by a wiring 26, and the wiring 26 is even connected to an integrated circuit (IC), which will be described later, not shown. Then, the current from the integrated circuit flows through each heater resistor element 22a and wiring 26.

In addition, FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20. Fig. 7A is a perspective view showing a thermal transfer head. Fig. 7B is an enlarged view of the thermal transfer head. As shown in FIG. 6, the linear heater resistor 23a of the linear heater 23 is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the printing belt 1, that is, in the width direction of the thermal transfer head. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 7B, the linear heater resistor 23a of the linear heater 23 is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the printing belt 1, that is, from both ends of the width direction of the thermal transfer head toward Electric current flows in the center of the thermal transfer head 20.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, wiring 26 made of Al wires is provided on the glass layer 21b. This wiring 26 is connected to the heater resistor element 22 a of the heating resistor 22 and the linear heater resistor 23 a of the linear heater 23.

In addition, the thermal transfer head body 21 of the thermal transfer head 20 is provided with a cover 25 for protecting an integrated circuit (IC) not shown.

Hereinafter, the thermal transfer head 20 will be further explained. The heater resistor elements 22a constituting the heater resistor 22 of the thermal transfer head 20 are arranged with an interval therebetween. Each heater resistor element 22a corresponds to the pixel of the printed matter, and the temperature of each heater resistor element 22a can be controlled. As the heating resistor 22 of the thermal transfer head 20, all known configurations can be used. A gap may be provided between the heater resistor elements 22a, or other members such as a heat insulating material may be provided.

In addition, the thermal transfer head 20 and the embossing roller 15 are configured to be pressurable by clamping the printing belt 1 and the sensor paper 5 by a specific pressure. For example, a general thermal transfer head 20 can press the printing belt 1 and the induction paper 5 with a pressure of 20-30N. Furthermore, the thermal transfer head 20 or the imprinting roller 15 may also be installed in a manner capable of adjusting the pressure of pressing the sensor paper 5, and the vertical position can be controlled by a driving means such as a motor. That is, the thermal transfer head 20 or the imprinting roller 15 may be mounted so as to be capable of automatically pressing the printing belt 1 and the induction paper 5 with a specific pressure, and can be mounted oscillatingly through an elastic member or the like. The thermal transfer head 20 and the imprinting roller 15 may also be installed in a manner such that a predetermined position is fixed according to the vertical position. In addition, as described later, any one of the thermal transfer head 20 and the imprint roller 15 can move along the conveying direction of the printing belt 1. According to this, the heating resistor 22 or the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 is moved to a position opposed to the imprint roller 15 as required.

Next, the material of the thermal transfer head 20 will be described. The thermal transfer head body 21 of the thermal transfer head 20 has a ceramic layer 21a as a heat-radiating substrate and a glass layer 21b as a heat resistance layer as described above.

In addition, the heater resistor element 22a of the heating resistor 22 and the linear heater resistor 23a of the linear heater 23 are made of, for example, Ta2N, W, Cr, Ni-Cr, SnO2, and the like. The heater resistor element 22a and the linear heater resistor 23a are formed by thin film shape techniques such as vacuum evaporation, CVD, and sputtering. In addition, the wiring 26 is composed of, for example, Al wires. As the heating resistor protective layer 22b and the linear heater protective layer 23b, Ta2O3, Si3N4, SiC, etc. are used. Furthermore, a layer having oxidation resistance made of SiO2 or the like may be provided on the wiring 26 side, and the heating resistor protective layer 22b and the linear heater protective layer 23b may have a two-layer structure.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the effect of the present embodiment having such a configuration, that is, the thermal transfer method, will be described. 1 to 3 show the cyan layer area C, the magenta layer area M, the yellow layer area Y, and the covering layer 4 area OP of the coloring layer 3 in the printing belt 1. In addition, the area of the printing belt 1 that has not been thermally transferred is represented by a solid line, and the area that has been thermally transferred is represented by a dotted line.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, between the thermal transfer head 20 and the impression roller 15, the printing belt 1 is supplied from the printing belt supply unit 11. The embossing roller 15 is arranged to face the thermal transfer head 20. At the same time, the induction paper 5 is also sent between the thermal transfer head 20 and the embossing roller 15. In this case, the heating resistor 22 of the thermal transfer head 20 is positioned opposite to the imprint roller 15.

Secondly, the printing belt 1 and the induction paper 5 are held between the thermal transfer head 20 and the embossing roller 15. At this time, the printing belt 1 is heated by the heating resistor 22 of the thermal transfer head 20. In addition, the colored layer 3 composed of the cyan, magenta, and yellow layers of the printing belt 1 is thermally transferred onto the sensor paper 5 by a sublimation transfer method.

During this period, the surface temperature of the heating resistor 22 is maintained at about 200°C.

Then, the printing belt 1 is heated by the heating resistor 22 of the thermal transfer head 20. In addition, the covering layer 4 of the printing belt 1 is thermally transferred to the coloring layer 3 formed of the cyan, magenta, and yellow layers on the sensitive paper 5. During this period, the surface temperature of the heating resistor 22 is maintained at about 150°C to 160°C. Moreover, the linear heater 23 does not operate at this stage.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the thermal transfer head 20 and the embossing roller 15 are separated from each other. After that, the printing tape 1 is pulled back toward the printing tape supply unit 11 side. The induction paper 5 is also pulled back in the same direction as the printing belt 1.

Next, one of the thermal transfer head 20 and the imprint roller 15, for example, the imprint roller 15 moves in the horizontal direction (the conveying direction of the printing belt 1) as shown in FIG. 2. As a result of this, the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 reaches a position opposed to the impression roller 15.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the thermal transfer head 20 is close to the impression roller 15. Then, the printing belt 1 and the induction paper 5 are supplied between the thermal transfer head 20 and the impression roller 15 again. At this time, the covering layer 4 thermally transferred on the coloring layer 3 of the induction paper 5 is heated by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20.

At this time, the covering layer 4 of the printing belt 1 has been thermally transferred to the induction paper 5. Therefore, the covering layer 4 on the induction paper 5 is heated by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 via the support layer 2 of the printing belt 1 (see FIGS. 3 and 8B).

In this case, the linear heater 23 is maintained at about 120°C to 130°C. Next, the covering layer 4 on the induction paper 5 is heated by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 to become soft, and the surface of the covering layer 4 becomes smooth.

In this way, the colored layer 3 composed of cyan, magenta, and yellow layers can be thermally transferred onto the sensor paper 5. Then, the covering layer 4 can be thermally transferred to the induction paper 5. Then, the coating layer 4 is heated to smooth the surface of the coating layer 4. This can produce glossy prints.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the covering layer 4 on the induction paper 5 is heated by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20, and the surface of the covering layer 4 is made smooth by making it soft. . When the covering layer 4 on the induction paper 5 is heated by the heating resistor 22 including a plurality of heater resistor elements 22a of the thermal transfer head 20, it is formed on the covering layer 4: due to the heater resistor The fine uneven shape of the element 22a. In this case, it is expected that the surface of the coating layer 4 will diffuse due to the uneven shape of the coating layer 4 and the printed matter will become matte. According to this embodiment, the surface of the coating layer 4 is smoothed by heating the coating layer 4 by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20, whereby the surface of the printed matter has gloss.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the thermal transfer head 20 is used to heat the coating layer 4 transferred on the induction paper 5 to smooth the surface of the coating layer 4. Therefore, in order to heat the coating layer 4, it is not necessary to separately provide a coating layer heating device different from the thermal transfer head 20. In addition, according to this embodiment, the colored layer 3 and the covering layer 4 are transferred to the sensor paper 5 by the heating resistor 22 of the thermal transfer head 20. Then, using the same thermal transfer head 20, the coating layer 4 is heated by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20, so that the surface of the coating layer 4 is smoothed. Therefore, the overall structure of the device is not complicated and simplified.

<The second embodiment> Next, the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12.

The second embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 differs only in the thermal transfer method, and the other configurations are slightly the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8B.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8B are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

Hereinafter, the effect of this embodiment, that is, the thermal transfer method, will be explained with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12.

9 to 12 show: the area C of the cyan layer, the area M of the magenta layer, the area Y of the yellow layer, and the area OP of the coating layer 4 of the coloring layer 3 in the printing belt 1. In addition, the area of the printing belt 1 that has not been thermally transferred is represented by a solid line, and the area that has been thermally transferred is represented by a dotted line.

First, as shown in FIG. 9, between the thermal transfer head 20 and the impression roller 15, the printing belt 1 is supplied from the printing belt supply unit 11. The embossing roller 15 is arranged to face the thermal transfer head 20. At the same time, the induction paper 5 is also sent between the thermal transfer head 20 and the embossing roller 15. In this case, the heating resistor 22 of the thermal transfer head 20 is positioned opposite to the imprint roller 15.

Secondly, the printing belt 1 and the induction paper 5 are held between the thermal transfer head 20 and the embossing roller 15. At this time, the printing belt 1 is heated by the heating resistor 22 of the thermal transfer head 20. Then, the colored layer 3 composed of the cyan, magenta, and yellow layers of the printing belt 1 is thermally transferred onto the sensor paper 5 by a sublimation transfer method.

During this period, the surface temperature of the heating resistor 22 is maintained at about 200°C.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the thermal transfer head 20 and the embossing roller 15 are separated from each other, and then the sensing paper 5 is pulled back.

Next, one of the thermal transfer head 20 and the imprint roller 15, for example, the imprint roller 15 moves in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 10, that is, the conveying direction of the printing belt 1. As a result of this, the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 reaches a position opposed to the impression roller 15.

Then the thermal transfer head 20 approaches the impression roller 15. Next, the printing belt 1 and the induction paper 5 are held between the thermal transfer head 20 and the embossing roller 15.

Next, the printing belt 1 is heated by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20. In addition, by the sublimation transfer method, the covering layer 4 of the printing belt 1 is thermally transferred to the coloring layer 3 composed of the cyan, magenta, and yellow layers on the sensitive paper 5.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the thermal transfer head 20 and the imprinting roller 15 are separated from each other, and then the printing belt 1 is pulled back toward the printing belt supply 11 side. The induction paper is also pulled back in the same direction as the printing belt 1.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the thermal transfer head 20 is close to the impression roller 15. Then, the printing belt 1 and the induction paper 5 are supplied between the thermal transfer head 20 and the impression roller 15 again. At this time, the covering layer 4 thermally transferred on the coloring layer 3 of the induction paper 5 is heated by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20.

At this time, the covering layer 4 from the printing belt 1 has been thermally transferred to the induction paper 5. Therefore, the covering layer 4 on the induction paper 5 is heated by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 via the support layer 2 of the printing belt 1 (see FIGS. 12 and 8B).

At this time, the linear heater 23 is maintained at about 120°C to 130°C. Next, the covering layer 4 on the induction paper 5 is heated by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 to become soft, and the surface of the covering layer 4 becomes smooth.

In this way, the colored layer 3 composed of cyan, magenta, and yellow layers can be thermally transferred onto the sensor paper 5. Furthermore, the coating layer 4 can be thermally transferred on the induction paper 5. Furthermore, by heating the coating layer 4, the surface of the coating layer 4 is smoothed, and a glossy printed matter can be produced.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the covering layer 4 on the induction paper 5 is heated by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20, and the surface of the covering layer 4 is made smooth by making it soft. . In this case, the coating layer 4 on the sensitive paper 5 has an uneven shape corresponding to the colored layer 3 made up of cyan, magenta, and yellow layers. In this case, it is expected that the surface of the coating layer 4 will diffuse due to the uneven shape of the coating layer 4 and the printed matter will become matte. According to this embodiment, the surface of the coating layer 4 is smoothed by heating the coating layer 4, whereby the surface of the printed matter has gloss.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the thermal transfer head 20 is used to heat the coating layer 4 transferred on the induction paper 5 to smooth the surface of the coating layer 4. Therefore, in order to heat the coating layer 4, it is not necessary to separately provide a coating layer heating device different from the thermal transfer head 20. In addition, according to this embodiment, the colored layer 3 is thermally transferred to the sensor paper 5 by the heating resistor 22 of the thermal transfer head 20. Then, using the same thermal transfer head 20, the coating layer 4 is thermally transferred by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20. The surface of the coating layer 4 is smoothed by heating the coating layer 4 by the linear heater 23. Therefore, the overall structure of the device is not complicated and simplified.

<The third embodiment> Next, the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 14.

The third embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 to 14 differs only in the thermal transfer method, and the other configurations are slightly the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8B.

In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 to 14, the same parts as in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8B are denoted by the same symbols and detailed descriptions are omitted.

Hereinafter, the effect of this embodiment, that is, the thermal transfer method, will be explained with reference to FIGS. 13 to 14. FIGS. 13 to 14 show the area C of the cyan layer, the area M of the magenta layer, the area Y of the yellow layer, and the area OP of the coating layer 4 of the coloring layer 3 in the printing belt 1. In addition, the area of the printing belt 1 that has not been thermally transferred is represented by a solid line, and the area that has been thermally transferred is represented by a dotted line.

First, as shown in FIG. 13, between the thermal transfer head 20 and the impression roller 15, the printing belt 1 is supplied from the printing belt supply unit 11. The embossing roller 15 is arranged to face the thermal transfer head 20. At the same time, the induction paper 5 is also sent between the thermal transfer head 20 and the embossing roller 15. In this case, the heating resistor 22 of the thermal transfer head 20 is positioned opposite to the imprint roller 15.

Secondly, the printing belt 1 and the induction paper 5 are held between the thermal transfer head 20 and the embossing roller 15. At this time, the printing belt 1 is heated by the heating resistor 22 of the thermal transfer head 20. In addition, the colored layer 3 composed of the cyan, magenta, and yellow layers of the printing belt 1 is thermally transferred onto the sensor paper 5 by a sublimation transfer method.

During this period, the surface temperature of the heating resistor 22 is maintained at about 200°C.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the thermal transfer head 20 and the embossing roller 15 are separated from each other.

Next, one of the thermal transfer head 20 and the imprint roller 15, for example, the imprint roller 15 moves in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 14, that is, the conveying direction of the printing belt 1. As a result of this, the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 reaches a position opposed to the impression roller 15.

Then the thermal transfer head 20 and the impression roller 15 approach again. Next, the printing belt 1 and the induction paper 5 are held between the thermal transfer head 20 and the embossing roller 15 again.

Next, the printing belt 1 is heated by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20. At this time, the covering layer 4 of the printing belt 1 is thermally transferred to the coloring layer 3 formed of the cyan, magenta, and yellow layers on the sensitive paper 5 by a sublimation transfer method.

At this time, by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 continuously heating the printing belt 1, the coating layer 4 on the induction paper 5 is heated to become soft, and the surface of the coating layer 4 becomes smooth.

In this case, the linear heater 23 is maintained at about 120°C to 130°C. Then, the covering layer 4 on the induction paper 5 is heated by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 to become soft, and the surface becomes smooth.

In this way, the colored layer 3 composed of cyan, magenta, and yellow layers can be thermally transferred onto the sensor paper 5. Furthermore, on the induction paper 5, the coating layer 4 is heated while thermally transferring the coating layer 4 to smooth the surface of the coating layer 4, thereby making it possible to produce a glossy printed matter.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the printing belt 1 is heated by the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 on the induction paper 5 so that the covering layer 4 is thermally transferred to the induction paper 5. At the same time, the coating layer 4 is made soft and the surface of the coating layer 4 is smoothed. In this case, there are cases in which the coating layer 4 on the sensitive paper 5 is formed with a concavo-convex shape corresponding to the colored layer 3 composed of cyan, magenta, and yellow layers. In this case, it is expected that the surface of the coating layer 4 will diffuse due to the uneven shape of the coating layer 4 and the printed matter will become matte. According to this embodiment, by heating the printing belt 1, the covering layer 4 can be thermally transferred to the induction paper 5. At the same time, by smoothing the surface of the covering layer 4, the surface of the printed matter has gloss.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the thermal transfer head 20 is used to heat the coating layer 4 transferred on the induction paper 5 to smooth the surface of the coating layer 4. Therefore, in order to heat the coating layer 4, it is not necessary to separately provide a coating layer heating device different from the thermal transfer head 20. In addition, according to this embodiment, the colored layer 3 is thermally transferred to the sensor paper 5 by the heating resistor 22 of the thermal transfer head 20. Then, using the same thermal transfer head 20, the linear heater 23 of the thermal transfer head 20 heats the coating layer 4 while thermally transferring, so that the surface of the coating layer 4 is smoothed. Therefore, the overall structure of the device is not complicated and simplified.

1: printing tape 2: Support layer 3: Coloring layer 4: Coating layer 5: Induction paper 10: Thermal transfer system 11: Printing belt supply department 12: Printing tape winding part 13: Guide roller 15: Imprinting roller 20: Thermal transfer head 21: Thermal transfer head body 22: Heating resistor 23: Linear heater 25: Lid

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a thermal transfer method using the thermal transfer system of the first embodiment. [Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a thermal transfer method using the thermal transfer system of the first embodiment. [Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a thermal transfer method using the thermal transfer system of the first embodiment. [Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the thermal transfer head. [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the heating resistor of the thermal transfer head. [Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the linear heater of the thermal transfer head. [Fig. 7A] Fig. 7A is a perspective view showing a thermal transfer head. [Fig. 7B] Fig. 7B is an enlarged view showing the thermal transfer head. [Fig. 8A] Fig. 8A is a cross-sectional view showing the printing tape. [Fig. 8B] Fig. 8B is a diagram showing a state where the coating layer is smoothed by heating by the thermal transfer head. [Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a thermal transfer method using the thermal transfer system of the second embodiment. [Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a thermal transfer method using the thermal transfer system of the second embodiment. [Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a thermal transfer method using the thermal transfer system of the second embodiment. [Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a thermal transfer method using the thermal transfer system of the second embodiment. [Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a thermal transfer method using the thermal transfer system of the third embodiment. [Fig. 14] Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a thermal transfer method using the thermal transfer system of the third embodiment.

1: printing tape

5: Induction paper

10: Thermal transfer system

11: Printing belt supply department

12: Printing tape winding part

13: Guide roller

15: Imprinting roller

20: Thermal transfer head

21: Thermal transfer head body

22: Heating resistor

23: Linear heater

25: Lid

C: Area of the cyan layer

M: area of magenta layer

OP: area

Y: Area of the yellow layer

Claims (7)

A thermal transfer system, which uses a printing belt to thermally transfer a colored layer and a coating layer to an induction paper. The printing belt has a support layer, and a plurality of the aforementioned colored layers and the aforementioned coating that are sequentially arranged on the support layer Layer; The thermal transfer system has: The printing tape supply unit, which supplies the aforementioned printing tape; The thermal transfer head is arranged on the downstream side of the printing belt conveying direction of the printing belt supply unit to thermally transfer the colored layer and the covering layer of the printing belt to the induction paper and follow the printing The belt is configured according to the conveying direction; and An embossing roller, which is arranged opposite to the thermal transfer head, and holds the printing belt and the induction paper together with the thermal transfer head; The thermal transfer head has: a heating resistor, and a linear heater arranged on the downstream side of the printing belt in the conveying direction of the heating resistor; At least one of the imprint roller and the thermal transfer head is movable along the conveying direction of the printing belt. Such as the thermal transfer system of claim 1, in which, The aforementioned thermal transfer head has a thermal transfer head body, The heating resistor system is arranged on the thermal transfer head body, and includes a plurality of heating resistor elements arranged along a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the printing belt, The linear heater is provided on the thermal transfer head body, and includes a linear heater resistor extending in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the printing tape. The thermal transfer system of claim 2, wherein the thermal transfer head body has a ceramic layer and a glass layer disposed on the ceramic layer. Such as the thermal transfer system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The aforementioned heating resistor system is covered by the protective layer of the heating resistor, The aforementioned linear heater is covered by the linear heater protective layer. A thermal transfer method using the thermal transfer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer method includes: The process of supplying the aforementioned induction paper and the aforementioned printing belt between the aforementioned thermal transfer head and the aforementioned embossing roller; While holding the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller, the printing belt is heated by the heating resistor of the thermal transfer head, and the colored layer and The process of thermal transfer of the aforementioned covering layer to the aforementioned induction paper; Separate the thermal transfer head and the embossing roller from each other, and pull back the process of the induction paper and the printing belt; The process of moving the thermal transfer head or the embossing roller along the conveying direction of the printing belt, and moving the linear heater of the thermal transfer head to a position facing the embossing roller ;as well as While holding the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller, the linear heater of the thermal transfer head heats the coating layer on the induction paper to make it Soft and smooth engineering. A thermal transfer method using the thermal transfer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer method includes: The process of supplying the aforementioned induction paper and the aforementioned printing belt between the aforementioned thermal transfer head and the aforementioned embossing roller; While holding the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller, the printing belt is heated by the heating resistor of the thermal transfer head to heat the colored layer The project transferred to the aforementioned induction paper; The process of separating the aforementioned thermal transfer head and the aforementioned embossing roller from each other; The process of moving the thermal transfer head or the embossing roller along the conveying direction of the printing belt, and moving the linear heater of the thermal transfer head to a position facing the embossing roller ； While holding the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller, the printing belt is heated by the linear heater of the thermal transfer head to heat the coating layer The project transferred to the aforementioned induction paper; Separate the thermal transfer head and the embossing roller from each other, and pull back the process of the induction paper and the printing belt; and While holding the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller, the linear heater of the thermal transfer head heats the coating layer on the induction paper to make it Soft and smooth engineering. A thermal transfer method using the thermal transfer system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer method includes: The process of supplying the aforementioned induction paper and the aforementioned printing belt between the aforementioned thermal transfer head and the aforementioned embossing roller; While holding the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller, the printing belt is heated by the heating resistor of the thermal transfer head to heat the colored layer The project transferred to the aforementioned induction paper; The process of separating the aforementioned thermal transfer head and the aforementioned embossing roller from each other; The process of moving the thermal transfer head or the embossing roller in the conveying direction of the printing belt, and moving the linear heater of the thermal transfer head to a position facing the embossing roller; as well as While holding the induction paper and the printing belt between the thermal transfer head and the imprinting roller, the printing belt is heated by the linear heater of the thermal transfer head to heat the coating layer The process of transferring to the induction paper, and heating the covering layer on the induction paper by the linear heater to make it soft and smooth.

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