WO2019004343A1 - 熱転写印画装置及び熱転写印画方法 - Google Patents
熱転写印画装置及び熱転写印画方法 Download PDFInfo
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- WO2019004343A1 WO2019004343A1 PCT/JP2018/024546 JP2018024546W WO2019004343A1 WO 2019004343 A1 WO2019004343 A1 WO 2019004343A1 JP 2018024546 W JP2018024546 W JP 2018024546W WO 2019004343 A1 WO2019004343 A1 WO 2019004343A1
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- layer
- ink
- ink ribbon
- thermal transfer
- thermal head
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- 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
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
- B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
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- 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
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
- B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
- B41J2/325—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
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- 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
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/22—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of impact or pressure on a printing material or impression-transfer material
- B41J2/23—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of impact or pressure on a printing material or impression-transfer material using print wires
- B41J2/235—Print head assemblies
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- 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
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
- B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
- B41J2/35—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads providing current or voltage to the thermal head
- B41J2/355—Control circuits for heating-element selection
- B41J2/36—Print density control
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- 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
- B41J35/00—Other apparatus or arrangements associated with, or incorporated in, ink-ribbon mechanisms
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- 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
- B41J35/00—Other apparatus or arrangements associated with, or incorporated in, ink-ribbon mechanisms
- B41J35/16—Multicolour arrangements
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- 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
- B41M5/34—Multicolour thermography
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- 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
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- 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
- B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
- B41J2202/30—Embodiments of or processes related to thermal heads
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a thermal transfer printing apparatus and a thermal transfer printing method.
- a thermal transfer printer that sandwiches an ink ribbon and a printing paper between a thermal head and a platen roll, applies heat to the ink ribbon from the thermal head, and transfers the ink of the ink ribbon to the printing paper in a pattern corresponding to an image. It is done.
- the ink ribbon In the ink ribbon, a plurality of sets of a dye layer in which a yellow layer, a magenta layer, and a cyan layer are provided surface-sequentially are provided in succession.
- the ink ribbon fed from the ink ribbon supply roll formed by winding the ink ribbon is collected by the ink ribbon collection roll through the thermal head.
- the ink ribbons have slightly different individual ink contents (ink application amounts) depending on the production plant and the production date. Even when the same printing energy is applied by the thermal head, the density of the image formed on the printing paper is different between the case where the ink ribbon having a large ink content is used and the case where the ink ribbon having a small ink content is used. Differently, the image quality was uneven.
- the ink ribbon Even if the ink ribbon has the same ink content, it is formed on the printing paper due to the difference in the surrounding environment (temperature, humidity) until it is installed in the thermal transfer printer, and the difference in the installation environment of the thermal transfer printer. The image density was different, and the image quality was uneven.
- the present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and has an object of providing a thermal transfer printing apparatus and a thermal transfer printing method capable of stabilizing the image quality of an image to be printed.
- the thermal transfer printing apparatus comprises an ink ribbon having a thermal head and a platen roll, and in which a set of ink layers including a yellow layer, a magenta layer, and a cyan layer provided in a surface-sequential manner is continuously provided.
- a thermal transfer printing apparatus which superimposes printing paper and transports between the thermal head and the platen roll, and the thermal head heats the ink ribbon to transfer ink and forms an image on the printing paper.
- the senor includes a light emitting unit that emits light to the ink ribbon, and a light receiving unit that receives light transmitted through the ink ribbon.
- the senor is provided between an ink ribbon supply unit for supplying the ink ribbon and the thermal head.
- the senor is provided between the thermal head and an ink ribbon recovery unit that recovers a used ink ribbon.
- the senor includes an ink content of a printing area used when forming an image on the printing paper, and an ink content of an unprinted area not used for forming an image. To detect.
- the ink ribbon is provided with a yellow layer, a magenta layer, a cyan layer, and a protective layer in a face-sequential manner, and the thermal head is an image formed on the printing paper.
- the protective layer is transferred onto the light emitting portion for irradiating the ink ribbon with light, and the light receiving portion for receiving light transmitted through the ink ribbon, the yellow layer, the magenta layer or the light receiving portion.
- the thermal transfer printing method comprises the steps of feeding a printing paper from a printing paper roll, and an ink in which a plurality of ink layers including a yellow layer, a magenta layer, and a cyan layer are sequentially provided.
- a printing paper from a printing paper roll
- an ink in which a plurality of ink layers including a yellow layer, a magenta layer, and a cyan layer are sequentially provided.
- Using an ink layer of one of the ribbons transferring yellow, magenta and cyan onto a printing paper with a thermal head to form an image, detecting the ink content of the ink layer, and detecting And controlling the energy to be applied to the thermal head at the time of image formation based on the ink content.
- the thermal transfer printing method detects the ink content of the ink layer before forming an image.
- the ink content of the printing area used when forming the image on the printing paper in the ink layer, and the unprinted area not used for the image formation is added to the ink content of the
- the image quality of an image to be printed can be stabilized regardless of the ink content of the ink ribbon and the surrounding environment.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of an ink ribbon. It is a flowchart explaining the thermal transfer printing method by 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the thermal transfer printing method by 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the thermal transfer printing apparatus by 3rd Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the example of the printing area and the unprinted area of an ink ribbon. It is a flowchart explaining the thermal transfer printing method by 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the thermal transfer printing method by 4th Embodiment.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a plan view of an ink ribbon used in the thermal transfer printing apparatus.
- the thermal transfer printing apparatus carries out sublimation transfer of yellow, magenta and cyan onto a printing sheet (printing paper, image receiving paper) to print an image.
- a Y layer 51 containing yellow dye, an M layer 52 containing magenta dye, a C layer 53 containing cyan dye, and a protective (OP) layer 54 are provided in a face-sequential manner.
- the ink ribbon 5 may further be provided with a black (Bk) melt layer.
- the thermal transfer printing apparatus is provided with a thermal head 1 that performs sublimation transfer of Y, M, and C onto a printing sheet 7 (printing paper) using the ink ribbon 5 to print an image, and forms a protective layer on the image. There is.
- An ink ribbon supply unit 3 formed by winding the ink ribbon 5 is provided downstream of the thermal head 1, and an ink ribbon recovery unit 4 is provided upstream of the thermal head 1.
- the ink ribbon 5 delivered from the ink ribbon supply unit 3 passes through the thermal head 1 and is collected by the ink ribbon collection unit 4.
- a rotatable platen roll 2 is provided below the thermal head 1.
- the printing unit 40 including the thermal head 1 and the platen roll 2 sandwiches the printing sheet 7 and the ink ribbon 5 and heats the ink ribbon 5 to thermally transfer the ink onto the printing sheet 7 to form an image.
- the printing unit 40 heats the OP layer 54 to laminate a protective layer on the image.
- the protective layer surface becomes matte tone with low glossiness
- the laminating energy by the printing unit 40
- the protective layer surface has glossiness with high glossiness become.
- a rotatably driven capstan roller 9a for transporting the printing sheet 7 and a pinch roller 9b for pressing the printing sheet 7 onto the capstan roller 9a are provided.
- the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, the C layer 53, and the OP layer 54 are sequentially formed on one surface of the base material layer from the ink ribbon recovery unit 4 side.
- a plurality of sets (one screen) of ink layers 50 including the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, the C layer 53, and the OP layer 54 are continuously provided.
- the sizes of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52 and the C layer 53 are respectively slightly larger than the size of the image for one screen formed on the printing sheet 7.
- the OP layer 54 is preferably made of a transparent material having adhesiveness, light resistance, and the like.
- the base material layer is a layer for supporting the ink layer 50, and a material having a certain degree of heat resistance and strength known in the related art can be used.
- a material having a certain degree of heat resistance and strength known in the related art can be used.
- polyethylene terephthalate film, polyethylene naphthalate film, polystyrene film, polypropylene film, polycarbonate film and the like can be mentioned.
- a back layer is provided on the other side of the base layer, that is, the side opposite to the side on which the ink layer 50 is provided.
- the thermal head 1 heats the ink ribbon 5 from the back layer side.
- the back layer has a function of improving the heat resistance so that the ink ribbon 5 is not deformed by the heat at the time of thermal transfer, and improving the travelability of the thermal head 1 at the time of thermal transfer to suppress sticking and the like.
- the back layer can be generally formed by applying and drying a binder resin to which a lubricant, a surfactant, inorganic particles, organic particles, pigments and the like are added.
- the printing sheet 7 is wound around the printing paper roll 6 and fed from the printing paper roll 6. Any known printing sheet can be used as the printing sheet 7.
- the printing sheet 7 is fed out (conveyed forward) and taken up (conveyed backward) by the drive unit 30 including the printing paper roll 6, the capstan roller 9a, and the pinch roller 9b.
- the printing sheet 7 on which the image formation and the lamination of the protective layer have been performed in the printing unit 40 is cut out as a printed sheet 7a by the cutter 8 on the downstream side.
- the print sheet 7a is discharged from a discharge port (not shown).
- a sensor 20 for detecting the ink content of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52 and the C layer 53 of the ink ribbon 5 delivered from the ink ribbon supply unit 3 is provided. It is done.
- the sensor 20 includes a light emitting unit 21 that emits light to the ink ribbon 5 (Y layer 51, M layer 52, and C layer 53), and a light receiving unit 22 that receives transmitted light transmitted through the ink ribbon 5.
- the light emitting unit 21 that emits light to the ink ribbon 5 (Y layer 51, M layer 52, and C layer 53)
- a light receiving unit 22 that receives transmitted light transmitted through the ink ribbon 5.
- a plurality of light emitting units 21 may be provided to emit light of a wavelength suitable for each color of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53.
- the storage unit 12 is a hard disk drive, a flash memory, or the like, and stores a table that defines energy to be applied by the thermal head 1 in order to print an image of a desired density. This table is prepared for each ink content of the ink ribbon 5, and Y, M and C are set.
- the control unit 10 controls driving of each part of the thermal transfer printing apparatus and performs an image forming process. Further, the control unit 10 acquires the light reception intensity from the light reception unit 22, and takes out the table corresponding to the light reception intensity (the ink content of the ink ribbon 5) from the storage unit 12. The control unit 10 controls the energy applied to the thermal head 1 at the time of image formation with reference to the taken-out table.
- step S1 When the thermal transfer printing apparatus is powered on (step S1) and a new ink ribbon 5 is set (step S2), the thermal transfer printing apparatus performs an initial operation. In this initial operation, winding up and rewinding of the ink ribbon 5 are performed.
- the sensor 20 irradiates light to the Y layer 51, the M layer 52 and the C layer 53 of the first set of ink layers 50, and measures the ink content (step S3).
- control unit 10 calculates the average of the light reception intensity of the transmitted light of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53.
- the first table is selected from the storage unit 12 (step S6).
- Step S7 When the calculation result is less than the first predetermined value a (Step S4_No, Step S5_Yes), the control unit 10 selects the second table from the storage unit 12 (Step S7).
- Step S8 When the calculation result is larger than the second predetermined value b (Step S4_No, Step S5_No), the control unit 10 selects the third table from the storage unit 12 (Step S8).
- print processing is performed (step S9).
- the printing sheet 7 and the Y layer 51 are aligned, and the thermal head 1 abuts against the platen roll 2 via the printing sheet 7 and the ink ribbon 5.
- the capstan roller 9a and the ink ribbon recovery unit 4 are rotationally driven, and the printing sheet 7 and the ink ribbon 5 are fed rearward.
- the area of the Y layer 51 is selectively heated sequentially by the thermal head 1 based on the image data, and Y is sublimation-transferred from the ink ribbon 5 onto the printing sheet 7.
- the thermal head 1 After sublimation transfer of Y, the thermal head 1 ascends and separates from the platen roll 2. Next, the printing sheet 7 and the M layer 52 are aligned. In this case, the printing sheet 7 is sent forward by a distance corresponding to the print size, and the ink ribbon 5 is sent backward by a distance corresponding to the margin between the Y layer 51 and the M layer 52.
- control unit 10 controls the energy applied to the thermal head 1 at the time of Y, M, C transfer with reference to the table selected in steps S6 to S8.
- the printing process is performed with reference to the same table until the thermal transfer printing apparatus is turned off.
- the OP layer 54 is transferred to the entire image by the thermal head 1 to form a protective layer. Thereafter, the printing sheet 7 is cut out as a printed sheet 7a by the cutter 8 at the downstream side.
- the ink content of the ink ribbon 5 loaded in the thermal transfer printing apparatus is measured, and the sublimation transfer of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53 is performed by the applied energy according to the measurement result. Perform and print the image. Therefore, the image quality of the image to be printed can be stabilized regardless of the ink content of the ink ribbon 5.
- the table in the storage unit 12 based on the average value of the light reception intensity of the transmitted light of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53 has been described. If prepared separately, the table of each color may be individually selected based on the light reception intensity of the transmitted light of each of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53.
- the light reception intensity of the transmitted light of any one or two colors of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53 may be measured, and a table to be a YMC set may be selected based on the measurement result.
- the measurement of the ink content and the selection of the table are performed when a new ink ribbon 5 is set after the power is turned on, but may be performed at fixed time intervals.
- the measurement of the ink content and the selection of the table may be performed once a day at a predetermined time.
- the ink content of the first (first) ink layer 50 is measured to select a table, and the subsequent ink is selected.
- the same table was applied to the layer 50, but the ink content of each set of ink layers 50 was measured to select a table, and the selected table was applied to printing processing using the next set of ink layers 50.
- step S11_Yes the process proceeds to step S13. If there is no selected table (step S11_No), that is, if the first set of ink layers 50 is used, a standard table defining the print image density and the standard applied energy is selected (step S12).
- the ink ribbon supply unit 3 draws out the ink ribbon 5, and the ink ribbon recovery unit 4 rolls up the ink ribbon 5 (step S13).
- the sensor 20 applies light to the Y layer 51 and measures the light reception intensity (step S14).
- the thermal head 1 controls the applied energy based on the selected table to heat the Y layer 51, and sublimation-transfers Y from the ink ribbon 5 onto the printing sheet 7 (step S15).
- the sensor 20 applies light to the M layer 52 and measures the light reception intensity (step S16).
- the thermal head 1 heats the M layer 52 by controlling the applied energy based on the selected table, and sublimation-transfers M from the ink ribbon 5 onto the printing sheet 7 (step S17).
- the sensor 20 applies light to the C layer 53 and measures the light reception intensity (step S18).
- the thermal head 1 controls the applied energy on the basis of the selected table to heat the C layer 53, and sublimation-transfers C from the ink ribbon 5 onto the printing sheet 7 (step S19).
- the OP layer 54 is transferred onto the image formed on the printing sheet 7 (step S20). Thereafter, the printing sheet 7 is cut out as a printed sheet 7a by the cutter 8 at the downstream side.
- the control unit 10 calculates the average of the received light intensities of the transmitted light of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52 and the C layer 53 measured in steps S14, S16 and S18. If the calculation result is equal to or more than the first predetermined value a and equal to or less than the second predetermined value b (Yes in step S21), the first table is selected from the storage unit 12 (step S23).
- Step S21_No, Step S22_Yes the control unit 10 selects the second table from the storage unit 12 (Step S24).
- Step S21_No, Step S22_No the control unit 10 selects the third table from the storage unit 12 (Step S25).
- step S26 when there is an image to be printed (Yes in step S26), the applied energy is controlled based on the table selected in steps S23 to S25, and printing processing is performed.
- the image is printed regardless of the ink content of the ink ribbon 5 even by selecting the table from the measurement result of the ink content of the ink layer 50 of one set before and controlling the applied energy at the time of printing processing. Image quality can be stabilized.
- the table of each color may be individually selected based on the light reception intensity of the transmitted light of each of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53.
- the light reception intensity of the transmitted light of any one or two colors of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53 may be measured, and a table to be a YMC set may be selected based on the measurement result.
- the table is selected from the measurement results of the ink content of the ink layer 50 of one set before, and the applied energy at the time of printing is controlled, but selection is made from the measurement results of the ink content of the ink layer 50
- the above table may be applied immediately to the printing process using the same set of ink layers 50.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to a third embodiment.
- the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the sensor 20 is provided between the thermal head 1 and the ink ribbon recovery unit 4. The description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will be omitted.
- the senor 20 measures the ink content of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52 and the C layer 53 of the used ink ribbon 5 taken up by the ink ribbon recovery unit 4 after the printing process in the printing unit 40. To detect.
- the sizes of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53 are respectively slightly larger than the size of the image for one screen formed on the printing sheet 7. Therefore, the peripheral portions of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53 after the printing process are unprinted areas that are not used for printing, and the ink remains without being used. On the other hand, in the printing area inside the unprinted area, the ink moves to the printing sheet 7 side at the time of image printing, and an amount of ink corresponding to the printing density remains.
- the Y layer 51 after the printing process is composed of a printing area 51a and a frame-like unprinted area 51b.
- the sensor 20 irradiates light to the printed area and the unprinted area, and measures the ink content (remaining amount).
- the difference between the light receiving intensity when the light is irradiated to the unprinted area and the light receiving intensity when the light is irradiated to the printing area corresponds to the amount of ink actually transferred to the printing sheet 7 (ink transfer amount) .
- the amount of ink transferred to the printing sheet 7 changes, and image quality of the image may vary.
- the ink transfer amount is obtained from the difference in the ink remaining amount between the print area and the unprinted area, and a table is selected such that an image having a desired image quality can be printed. .
- the storage unit 12 stores difference predicted value information in which the energy at the time of image printing and the difference in light reception intensity predicted when printing is performed with the energy are associated.
- the difference prediction value information is prepared for each color of Y, M, and C.
- the difference prediction value information may be prepared for each light receiving intensity when the light is irradiated to the unprinted area.
- the control unit 10 compares the difference between the measured light reception intensities (the actual measurement value of the difference) with the difference between the light reception intensities based on the difference prediction value information (the prediction value of the difference), and selects a table based on the comparison result. .
- step S101_Yes the process proceeds to step S103. If there is no selected table (step S101_No), that is, if the first set of ink layers 50 is used, a standard table defining the print image density and the standard applied energy is selected (step S102).
- the ink ribbon supply unit 3 draws out the ink ribbon 5, and the ink ribbon recovery unit 4 rolls up the ink ribbon 5 (step S103).
- the thermal head 1 controls the applied energy based on the selected table to heat the Y layer 51, and sublimation-transfers Y from the ink ribbon 5 onto the printing sheet 7 (step S104).
- the sensor 20 applies light to the unprinted area of the Y layer 51 after printing processing, and measures the light reception intensity (step S105). Further, the sensor 20 irradiates light to the printing area of the Y layer 51 after the printing process, and measures the light reception intensity (step S106). The light may be irradiated to a plurality of places in the printing area, the average of the light reception intensity may be determined, or the light may be irradiated to the entire surface of the printing area. In addition, light may be irradiated to a portion to which predetermined energy is applied at the time of printing processing.
- the thermal head 1 controls the applied energy on the basis of the selected table to heat the M layer 52, and sublimation-transfers M from the ink ribbon 5 onto the printing sheet 7 (step S107).
- the sensor 20 irradiates light to the unprinted area of the M layer 52 after the printing process and measures the light reception intensity (step S108). Further, the sensor 20 irradiates light to the printing area of the M layer 52 after the printing processing, and measures the light reception intensity (step S109).
- the thermal head 1 controls the applied energy based on the selected table to heat the C layer 53, and sublimation-transfers C from the ink ribbon 5 onto the printing sheet 7 (step S110).
- the sensor 20 applies light to the unprinted area of the C layer 53 after printing processing, and measures the light reception intensity (step S111). Further, the sensor 20 irradiates light to the printing area of the C layer 53 after the printing process, and measures the light reception intensity (step S112).
- the OP layer 54 is transferred onto the image formed on the printing sheet 7 (step S113). Thereafter, the printing sheet 7 is cut out as a printed sheet 7a by the cutter 8 at the downstream side.
- the control unit 10 calculates the difference between the light reception intensities measured in steps S105 and S106 (step S114). This difference corresponds to the ink transfer amount of Y. Similarly, the control unit 10 calculates the difference between the light reception intensities measured in steps S108 and S109. This difference corresponds to the ink transfer amount of M. The control unit 10 also calculates the difference between the light reception intensities measured in steps S111 and S112. This difference corresponds to the ink transfer amount of C.
- the control unit 10 obtains a predicted value of the difference between the light reception intensity of each of Y, M, and C from the difference predicted value information stored in the storage unit 12 and the image data at the time of printing (step S115).
- the control unit 10 compares, for each of Y, M, and C, the actual measurement value of the light reception intensity difference calculated in step S114 with the prediction value of the light reception intensity difference obtained in step S115, and compares the result (for example, actual measurement A table is selected based on the difference between the value and the predicted value (step S116).
- Step S117 when there is an image to be printed (Yes at Step S117), the applied energy is controlled based on the table selected at Step S116, and printing processing is performed.
- the table is selected based on the measurement result of the ink transfer amount of the ink layer 50 of one set before, and the storage environment of the ink ribbon 5 and the installation environment of the thermal transfer printing apparatus Regardless, it is possible to stabilize the image quality of the image to be printed.
- the light reception intensity difference of any one or two colors of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53 may be measured, and the table set may be selected based on the measurement result.
- the light receiving intensity difference between the printed area and the unprinted area of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53 after the printing process is determined.
- the table is selected based on the light receiving intensity ratio. You may
- the ink ribbon 5 is provided with the back layer.
- the light emitted from the light emitting unit 21 of the sensor 20 passes through the ink ribbon 5, the light is attenuated by the back layer.
- the light receiving intensity difference between the printed area and the unprinted area is determined, the component of the attenuation by the back layer is canceled.
- the light reception intensity ratio can be determined more accurately by considering the influence of attenuation by the back layer.
- the light is irradiated also to the transparent OP layer 54, and the light attenuation amount x by a back surface layer is calculated from the light reception intensity
- Steps S201 to S213 are the same as steps S101 to S113 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
- the sensor 20 After the transfer of the OP layer 54, the sensor 20 applies light to the area (protective layer formation area) where the OP layer 54 of the ink ribbon 5 is formed, and measures the light reception intensity (step S214).
- the control unit 10 calculates the light attenuation amount x by the back layer from the measurement result of the protective layer formation region. Then, the control unit 10 calculates the ratio of the value obtained by subtracting the light attenuation amount x from the light reception intensity measured in steps S205 and S206 (step S214). This ratio corresponds to the Y ink transfer amount. Similarly, the control unit 10 calculates the ratio of the value obtained by subtracting the light attenuation amount x from the light reception intensity measured in steps S208 and S209. This ratio corresponds to the ink transfer amount of M. Further, the control unit 10 calculates the ratio of the value obtained by subtracting the light attenuation amount x from the light reception intensity measured in steps S211 and S212. This ratio corresponds to the ink transfer amount of C.
- the control unit 10 calculates the average value of the ratio of the light reception intensity of each of Y, M, and C.
- the first table is selected from the storage unit 12 (step S218).
- step S216_No, step S217_Yes the control unit 10 selects the second table from the storage unit 12 (step S219).
- Step S216_No, Step S217_No If the calculation result is larger than the sixth predetermined value f (Step S216_No, Step S217_No), the control unit 10 selects the third table from the storage unit 12 (Step S220).
- step S221 when there is an image to be printed (Yes at step S221), the applied energy is controlled based on the table selected at steps S218 to S220, and printing processing is performed.
- the storage environment of the ink ribbon 5, the thermal transfer printing, and the like can also be selected by selecting the table based on the light receiving intensity ratio indicating the ink transfer amount of the ink layer 50 of one pair before and controlling the applied energy at the time of printing.
- the image quality of the image to be printed can be stabilized regardless of the installation environment of the apparatus.
- the table of each color may be individually selected based on the light reception intensity ratio of the print area to the unprinted area of each of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53.
- the light reception intensity ratio of any one or two colors of the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53 may be measured, and a table to be a YMC set may be selected based on the measurement result.
- a formula may be prepared for obtaining a suitable applied energy from the measurement result of the light reception intensity, and the measurement result may be substituted into the formula to calculate the applied energy at the time of printing processing.
- the boundary value (first predetermined value a to sixth predetermined value f) and the table for each type of ink ribbon 5 are stored in the storage unit 12 It is also good.
- a bar code or the like for identifying the type is attached to the ink ribbon 5, and the thermal transfer printing apparatus reads the bar code to identify the type of the set ink ribbon 5, and the corresponding boundary value and table May be used.
- the configuration of the sensor 20 is limited thereto I will not.
- the sensor 20 may have an imaging unit such as a digital camera, may image the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53, and detect how much ink is contained from the imaged image .
- the sensor 20 may be provided both between the ink ribbon supply unit 3 and the thermal head 1 and between the thermal head 1 and the ink ribbon recovery unit 4.
- the sensor 20 may be used to count the number of printed screens or to cue the ink ribbon 5.
- the ink ribbon 5 in which the OP layer 54 is omitted may be used.
- a screen protective ribbon provided with the OP layer 54 may be separately used to form a protective layer on the image.
- it has a supply roll for supplying the screen protection ribbon, a recovery roll for collecting the screen protection ribbon, a thermal head for thermally transferring the protective layer on the image, etc. on the downstream side of the printing unit 40 (or the downstream side of the cutter 8).
- a protective layer forming unit is provided.
- the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment as it is, and at the implementation stage, the constituent elements can be modified and embodied without departing from the scope of the invention.
- various inventions can be formed by appropriate combinations of a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, components in different embodiments may be combined as appropriate.
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Abstract
Description
図1は本発明の第1の実施形態に係る熱転写印画装置の概略構成図であり、図2は熱転写印画装置で使用されるインクリボンの平面図である。熱転写印画装置は、印画シート(印画紙、受像紙)にイエロー、マゼンタ、シアンを昇華転写して、画像を印画する。
上記第1の実施形態では、複数組のインク層50が設けられたインクリボン5のうち、1組目(先頭)のインク層50のインク含有量を測定してテーブルを選択し、後続のインク層50については同じテーブルを適用していたが、各組のインク層50のインク含有量を測定してテーブルを選択し、選択したテーブルを次の組のインク層50を用いた印画処理に適用してもよい。このような熱転写印画方法を図4に示すフローチャートを用いて説明する。
図5は、第3の実施形態に係る熱転写印画装置の概略構成図である。本実施形態では、図1に示す第1の実施形態と比較して、センサ20がサーマルヘッド1とインクリボン回収部4との間に設けられている点が異なる。第1の実施形態と同様の構成については説明を省略する。
上記第3の実施形態では、印画処理後のY層51、M層52及びC層53の印画領域と未印画領域との受光強度差を求めていたが、受光強度比に基づいてテーブルを選択してもよい。
2 プラテンロール
3 インクリボン供給部
4 インクリボン回収部
5 インクリボン
7 印画シート
10 制御部
12 記憶部
20 センサ
40 印画部
50 インク層
Claims (9)
- サーマルヘッド及びプラテンロールを有し、面順次に設けられたイエロー層、マゼンタ層及びシアン層を含む1組のインク層が連続して複数組設けられたインクリボンと印画紙とを重ね合わせ、前記サーマルヘッドと前記プラテンロールとの間を搬送させると共に、前記サーマルヘッドが前記インクリボンを加熱してインクを転写し、前記印画紙に画像を形成する熱転写印画装置であって、
前記インク層のインク含有量を検出するセンサと、
前記センサの検出結果に基づいて、画像形成時に前記サーマルヘッドに印加するエネルギーを制御する制御部と、
を備えることを特徴とする熱転写印画装置。 - 前記センサは、前記インクリボンに光を照射する発光部、及び前記インクリボンを透過した光を受光する受光部を有することを特徴とする請求項1に記載の熱転写印画装置。
- 前記センサは、前記インクリボンを供給するインクリボン供給部と、前記サーマルヘッドとの間に設けられていることを特徴とする請求項1又は2に記載の熱転写印画装置。
- 前記センサは、前記サーマルヘッドと、使用済みのインクリボンを回収するインクリボン回収部との間に設けられていることを特徴とする請求項1又は2に記載の熱転写印画装置。
- 前記センサは、前記印画紙に画像を形成する際に使用された印画領域のインク含有量と、画像形成に使用されない未印画領域のインク含有量とを検出することを特徴とする請求項4に記載の熱転写印画装置。
- 前記インクリボンには、イエロー層、マゼンタ層、シアン層及び保護層が面順次に設けられており、
前記サーマルヘッドは、前記印画紙に形成された画像上に前記保護層を転写し、
前記センサは、前記インクリボンに光を照射する発光部、及び前記インクリボンを透過した光を受光する受光部を有し、前記イエロー層、前記マゼンタ層又は前記シアン層の前記印画領域の透過光強度、前記未印画領域の透過光強度、及び保護層形成領域の透過光強度を測定することを特徴とする請求項5に記載の熱転写印画装置。 - 印画紙ロールから印画紙を繰り出す工程と、
面順次に設けられたイエロー層、マゼンタ層及びシアン層を含む1組のインク層が連続して複数組設けられたインクリボンのうちの1組のインク層を用いて、サーマルヘッドによりイエロー、マゼンタ及びシアンを印画紙上に転写して画像を形成する工程と、
前記インク層のインク含有量を検出する工程と、
検出したインク含有量に基づいて、画像形成時に前記サーマルヘッドに印加するエネルギーを制御する工程と、
を備える熱転写印画方法。 - 画像を形成する前に前記インク層のインク含有量を検出することを特徴とする請求項7に記載の熱転写印画方法。
- 画像形成後、前記インク層のうち、前記印画紙に画像を形成する際に使用された印画領域のインク含有量と、画像形成に使用されない未印画領域のインク含有量とを検出することを特徴とする請求項8に記載の熱転写印画方法。
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