WO2004087429A2 - Systeme et procede permettant d'utiliser des inscriptions sur un materiau en bande et materiau en bande portant lesdites inscriptions - Google Patents

Systeme et procede permettant d'utiliser des inscriptions sur un materiau en bande et materiau en bande portant lesdites inscriptions Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2004087429A2
WO2004087429A2 PCT/US2004/009565 US2004009565W WO2004087429A2 WO 2004087429 A2 WO2004087429 A2 WO 2004087429A2 US 2004009565 W US2004009565 W US 2004009565W WO 2004087429 A2 WO2004087429 A2 WO 2004087429A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
foil
indicia
donor web
length
web
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2004/009565
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2004087429A3 (fr
Inventor
Mark Godden
Lisa Brant
Thomas Gordon
Original Assignee
Gerber Scientific Products, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. filed Critical Gerber Scientific Products, Inc.
Priority to US10/528,442 priority Critical patent/US20060209161A1/en
Publication of WO2004087429A2 publication Critical patent/WO2004087429A2/fr
Publication of WO2004087429A3 publication Critical patent/WO2004087429A3/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
    • B41M5/382—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes
    • B41M5/38207—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes characterised by aspects not provided for in groups B41M5/385 - B41M5/395
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J17/00—Mechanisms for manipulating page-width impression-transfer material, e.g. carbon paper
    • B41J17/36—Alarms, indicators, or feed-disabling devices responsible to material breakage or exhaustion
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H26/00—Warning or safety devices, e.g. automatic fault detectors, stop-motions, for web-advancing mechanisms
    • B65H26/06—Warning or safety devices, e.g. automatic fault detectors, stop-motions, for web-advancing mechanisms responsive to predetermined lengths of webs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/41—Winding, unwinding
    • B65H2301/414—Winding
    • B65H2301/4148—Winding slitting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/12—Surface aspects
    • B65H2701/124—Patterns, marks, printed information
    • B65H2701/1242—Patterns, marks, printed information printed information
    • B65H2701/12422—Patterns, marks, printed information printed information codes or the like which can be used for further processing, e.g. relative to consumed or still available material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2801/00—Application field
    • B65H2801/03—Image reproduction devices
    • B65H2801/12—Single-function printing machines, typically table-top machines

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to web material used in an apparatus for generating an image and, more particularly, to web material having indicia disposed thereon.
  • Conventional thermal transfer apparatus for generating an image or a graphic product includes a mechanism for advancing receiver web material, also referred to as sheet or strip material, that will have an image generated thereon, and a mechanism for bringing a thermal printhead in contact with the sheet material such that a donor web material is interposed between the sheet material and the thermal printhead.
  • Conventional donor web material also referred to as foil or foil material, includes a clear foil with dry transferable film applied to one side thereof.
  • the foil material is typically rolled onto a supply roll and is displaced in foil housing. During a work operation to generate an image, the foil material is pulled from the supply roll onto a take-up roll and the dry transferable film from the foil material is selectively transferred from the foil onto the sheet material through a thermal printing process to generate an image on the sheet material.
  • the foil material is typically available in numerous colors to generate multicolored images. Each work operation usually requires a predetermined length of foil material of each color. A machine operator is typically required to estimate, by visually observing the supply roll, whether sufficient length of material remains on the supply roll to generate the desired image.
  • estimation aides that allow the operator to make a more educated guess.
  • One such estimation aide is a window formed on an end plug of the supply roll to allow the operator to view the diameter of the remaining foil material.
  • Another estimation aide includes labeling lines formed on the end plug of the supply roll for the operator to estimate remaining length of such foil material based on the labeling lines.
  • both of these methods still require estimation. Such estimations are fairly unreliable since the foil is extremely thin, thereby leaving much room for error.
  • the length determining schemes for sheet material are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,708,901, and 4,768,410 assigned to Gerber Scientific Products, Inc., a common assignee with the present application.
  • the '901 and '410 patents disclose a sheet material with code, readable by sensors /computers, to indicate remaining length of the sheet material.
  • the foil material is different from and much more sensitive than the sheet material.
  • the foil includes a slippery surface on the non-resin side thereof to ensure that the foil does not adhere to the thermal printhead to avoid any potential damage to the printhead.
  • the foil itself is extremely thin. Thus, if any matter is placed onto the foil, such as a label or heavy ink, it may interfere with the balance and subsequently with the printing process, resulting in potential wrinkling of the foil. Even slight difference in thickness may interfere with the thermal transfer process, resulting in poor quality of the final product. Moreover, interference with the printing area of the foil is also not acceptable. The printing area of the foil must remain free to allow proper printing of the image.
  • the foil is relatively fragile, it is desirable to minimize handling of the foil.
  • a donor web for use in a thermal printer comprises a foil having a transfer side and a non-transfer side.
  • a layer of thermal transfer material is disposed on the transfer side of the foil material.
  • Indicia is ink-jetted to the foil.
  • the indicia includes information pertaining to at least one of the length of used foil and the length of unused foil so that an operator can determine whether there is enough foil left for a printing operation.
  • the indicia is disposed on the non-transfer side and at a longitudinal edge portion of the foil in order to not affect or otherwise damage the printing portion of the foil.
  • the indicia is preferably white or black in order to be clearly visible against various colors of the thermal transfer material.
  • a method of applying indicia on a donor web comprises providing a foil having a transfer side and a non-transfer side.
  • the transfer side includes a layer of thermal transfer material disposed thereon.
  • Indicia is deposited onto the foil during a spooling operation.
  • the indicia includes information about the foil such as, for example, the length of used foil or the length of unused foil.
  • the indicia is deposited onto the non-transfer side and at a longitudinal edge of the foil.
  • the indicia is deposited at spaced intervals from each other along a length of the foil.
  • the depositing is preferably accomplished by spraying ink such as, for example, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) type ink onto the foil.
  • ink such as, for example, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) type ink
  • MEK methyl ethyl ketone
  • white or black ink is used in order to be visible against various colors of the thermal transfer material.
  • a system for applying indicia onto a donor web comprises a slitter apparatus for advancing and cutting a donor web into predetermined widths and advancing the donor web onto supply rolls.
  • the donor web includes a foil having a transfer side carrying a layer of thermal transfer material, and a non-transfer side.
  • At least one inkjet head is for applying indicia onto a longitudinal edge portion of the foil of the donor web at spaced intervals along a length thereof as the web is advanced onto supply rolls.
  • the system includes a first inkjet for applying white ink, and a second inkjet for applying black ink.
  • a donor web cassette for a thermal transfer printer comprises a housing including a supply roll and a take-up roll.
  • a donor web is accommodated by the housing and is coupled to the supply roll and the take-up roll.
  • the housing defines an opening between the supply roll and the take-up roll to expose for viewing a portion of the donor web within the opening.
  • Indicia is ink-jetted to the donor web.
  • the indicia includes information of at least one of a length of used donor web and a length of unused donor web.
  • the donor web includes a foil having a transfer side and a non-transfer side, wherein a layer of thermal transfer material is disposed on the transfer side of the foil material, and wherein the indicia is ink-jetted to and spaced from one another along a length of the foil.
  • the indicia is disposed on the non-transfer side and at a longitudinal edge portion of the foil in order to not affect or otherwise damage the printing portion of the foil.
  • a color of the indicia is either white or black in order to be visible against various colors of the thermal transfer material.
  • a web for use in a thermal printer comprises a sheet material, and indicia ink-jetted to the sheet material.
  • the indicia includes information of at least one of a length of used sheet material and a length of unused sheet material.
  • the sheet material is either a donor web or a receiver web.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded, side elevational view schematically showing a printing apparatus
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a receiver web with indicia thereon in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of donor web material disposed in a cassette having indicia ink-jetted thereon; and FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a system for generating indicia on web material in accordance with the present invention.
  • an apparatus 10 for generating an image on a receiver web or strip material 12 comprises a top portion 14 and a bottom portion 16.
  • the strip material 12 has longitudinal edges 18.
  • the top portion 14 includes a mechanism such as, for example, a pinch roller 20 for advancing the strip material 12.
  • the top portion 14 further includes a printhead 22 and a device, such as a cassette 24, for accommodating a donor web 26 interposed between the printhead and the receiver web 12.
  • the bottom portion 16 includes a stationary or roller platen 28, a friction wheel 30 driven by a motor drive 31, and can optionally include sensors 32, 34 for tracking the longitudinal edges 18 of the strip material 12.
  • the bottom portion 16 can include a detector 36, such as an encoder, for tracking an actual longitudinal position of the strip material 12.
  • the cassette 24 includes a supply roll 38 and a take-up roll 40.
  • the supply roll 38 and the take-up roll 40 each include a core 42 having a donor web 26 wound thereon.
  • the donor web 26 includes a foil having a film or transfer side 46 and a non-film or non-transfer side 48.
  • a dry transferable film or thermal transfer material 50 is disposed on the transfer side 46.
  • the thermal transfer material 50 includes a printable work portion disposed between longitudinal edge portions 52 of the foil.
  • the foil includes indicia 54 on the non-transfer side 48 and at one of the longitudinal edge portions 52 thereof .
  • the indicia 54 includes information pertaining to the foil.
  • the indicia 54 indicates a length of the foil remaining on the supply roll 38 for consumption during a work operation (i.e., length of unused foil).
  • the indicia 54 can indicate a length of the foil wound on the take-up roll 40 which has already been consumed during one or more previous work operations (i.e., length of used foil).
  • the indicia 54 can include information regarding other attributes of the foil such as, for example, the color of the thermal transfer material 50.
  • the indicia 54 can indicate in either feet, meters, both, as well as subdivisions thereof, the length that remains on the supply roll 38.
  • the indicia 54 is preferably spaced at predetermined intervals along a length of the foil.
  • the spacing between the indicia 54 can be selected depending upon the application and the desired accuracy of measurement. However, the distance between the indicia 54 should be smaller than the distance between the supply roll 38 and the take-up roll 40. Because the typical length between a supply roll and a take-up roll of a cassette is at least 20 cm, the distance between the indicia 54 is preferably approximately 10 cm (or 100 mm) or less in order to ensure that the indicia is always visible between the supply roll 38 and the take-up roll 40.
  • the indicia 54 is in either white or black ink to ensure that the indicia is clearly visible against various colors of the thermal transfer material 50 in order to be easily read by an operator, or is otherwise detectable by sensors.
  • the indicia 54 can be printed in any color that visibly contrasts with a color of the thermal transfer material 50 without departing from the scope of the present invention.
  • the indicia 54 is preferably disposed within one of the longitudinal edge portions 52 of the foil to ensure that the indicia does not interfere with subsequent image generating process.
  • the indicia 54 is printed on the non-transfer side 46 of the foil.
  • a typical slitter apparatus used during fabrication of foil on the donor web 26 includes a subsystem for applying film onto the foil (not shown) and rolling the foil into a roll.
  • the slitter apparatus 102 cuts the donor web 26 into predetermined widths and then spools the donor web onto supply rolls 104, 106 of predetermined length.
  • the system 100 further comprises at least one inkjet head disposed substantially adjacent to at least one of longitudinal edge portions 52 of the donor web 26.
  • a first inkjet head 108 and a second inkjet head 110 are disposed along each of the longitudinal edge portions 52 of the donor web 26.
  • one of the inkjet heads on each side of the donor web 26 is dedicated to forming indicia by spraying white ink, and the other of the inkjet heads on each side of the donor web is dedicated to spraying black ink.
  • any color ink that visibly contrasts with a color of the thermal transfer material can be selected without departing from the scope of the present invention.
  • the color of the ink to be sprayed is user selectable and is chosen based on which color ink is determined by the operator to be more effectively visible against the various colors of the thermal transfer material.
  • any type of continuous ink-jet device can be used, one type of system that is preferred is Video Jet manufactured by Video Jet Systems, Inc.
  • the device includes an encoder for establishing placement of the indicia on the web material.
  • a dryer 112 is disposed downstream of an associated pair of inkjet heads 108, 110 in the direction of web advancement along the slitter apparatus 102 for drying the ink sprayed thereon.
  • the dryer 112 is a conventional hot air dryer.
  • inkjet heads 108, 110 and the dryer 112 are shown positioned upstream of the slitter apparatus 102 relative to the direction of web movement, it should be understood that the inkjet heads and the dryer can be positioned downstream of the slitter apparatus without departing from the scope of the present invention.
  • the roll of the foil material is placed into the slitter apparatus 102.
  • the slitter apparatus 102 quickly spools the foil material from an original roll 114 onto the supply rolls 104, 106 in predetermined lengths while also cutting the foil material into predetermined widths.
  • at least one of the inkjet heads 108, 110 prints the indicia 54 on an associated longitudinal edge portion 52 of the foil at spaced intervals of, for example, approximately 10 cm, indicating a length remaining on the supply roll or a length wound on the take-up roll.
  • the indicia preferably includes characters or numbers, as shown in FIG.
  • the characters can be oriented as shown or rotated 90 degrees relative to that illustrated in order to minimize the width of the characters, and thereby ensure that the characters do not interfere with the functional area occupied by the thermal transfer material.
  • the dryers 112 can be used to ensure that the sprayed ink for forming the indicia 54 is dried prior to the foil being rolled onto the supply rolls 104, 106.
  • the necessity for a dryer is determined by the operating speed of the slitter apparatus 102. For example, in some situations, the foil material is spooled at 140 meters per minute. At such speeds, it is preferable to use a dryer to ensure that the ink is dry prior to being spooled.
  • One advantage of the present invention is that the information regarding remaining length of usable foil material is easily visible to an operator. Additionally, the length remaining information is precise and accurate and does not require guesswork and estimation. Furthermore, the ink-jetted indicia does not require additional hardware within the foil housing that can be expensive and subject to potential mechanical and/ or electrical failure.
  • the non-film side of the foil usually includes a slip coating such that the slippery surface of the foil does not adhere to the thermal printhead to avoid potential damage to the printhead. Additionally, the foil is extremely thin and sensitive. Thus, if the balance of the foil is effected even slightly, the foil is subject to wrinkling during work operations.
  • One type of ink that can effectively be used and is adherable is methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) type ink.
  • MEK methyl ethyl ketone
  • the indicia is printed within the longitudinal edge portions for several reasons.
  • the thickness of the ink may interfere with the thermal transfer process.
  • the indicia may interfere with the image itself.
  • the indicia includes a machine-readable indicia that is read by indicia reading means (not shown) disposed in the system.
  • indicia reading means such an optical sensor, magnetic sensor, or bar code sensor, for reading and relaying information regarding the donor web material.
  • the receiver web material 12 includes indicia 55 along one of the longitudinal edges 18 thereof that is ink-jetted during a spooling process of the receiver web material.
  • the indicia can include length remaining data and /or other data regarding the receiver web material.
  • the indicia may be operator readable, such as actual length remaining, and /or machine-readable indicia, as discussed above.
  • a further advantage of the present invention is that the indicia is applied during the spooling process, thereby minimizing handling of the web material. Minimizing of handling of the web material is especially critical for donor web material.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Thermal Transfer Or Thermal Recording In General (AREA)
  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une bande donneuse à utiliser dans une imprimante de transfert thermique, qui comprend une feuille présentant une face destinée au transfert et une face non destinée au transfert. Une couche de matériau de transfert thermique est disposée sur la face de transfert du matériau en feuille. Des inscriptions sont imprimées par jet d'encre sur la feuille. Ces inscriptions comprennent des informations concernant au moins la longueur de feuille utilisée ou la longueur de feuille inutilisée de façon qu'un opérateur puisse déterminer si la quantité de feuille restante est suffisante pour une impression. De préférence, les inscriptions sont disposées sur la face non destinée au transfert et au niveau d'une partie bordure longitudinale de la feuille pour ne pas affecter ni endommager la partie d'impression de la feuille. Il est à noter également que lesdites inscriptions sont de préférence imprimées à l'encre noir ou blanc de manière à être clairement visibles par rapport à diverses couleurs du matériau de transfert thermique. Lesdites inscriptions peuvent également être disposées sur une bande de réception.
PCT/US2004/009565 2003-03-28 2004-03-29 Systeme et procede permettant d'utiliser des inscriptions sur un materiau en bande et materiau en bande portant lesdites inscriptions WO2004087429A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/528,442 US20060209161A1 (en) 2003-03-28 2004-03-29 System and method of employing indicia on web material and web material using same

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US45846203P 2003-03-28 2003-03-28
US60/458,462 2003-03-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004087429A2 true WO2004087429A2 (fr) 2004-10-14
WO2004087429A3 WO2004087429A3 (fr) 2005-03-24

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PCT/US2004/009565 WO2004087429A2 (fr) 2003-03-28 2004-03-29 Systeme et procede permettant d'utiliser des inscriptions sur un materiau en bande et materiau en bande portant lesdites inscriptions

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2004087429A2 (fr)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030025027A1 (en) * 2001-08-02 2003-02-06 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Production managing method for photo film production

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS63278889A (ja) * 1987-05-11 1988-11-16 Nec Corp 転写式プリンタ
JPH0220379A (ja) * 1988-07-08 1990-01-23 Fujitsu Ltd リボン残量検知方法

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030025027A1 (en) * 2001-08-02 2003-02-06 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Production managing method for photo film production

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2004087429A3 (fr) 2005-03-24

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