CN102343733A - Printing method and printing device for improving coloring capability of color ribbon - Google Patents

Abstract

A printing method for improving the coloring ability of a ribbon includes such steps as forming a dye receiving layer on the first region of a ribbon, forming multiple dye regions on the second region of the ribbon, receiving a target image data, moving a printing medium, transferring the dye receiving layer of the ribbon to the printing medium, and transferring the dye regions of the ribbon to the printing medium according to the target image data.

Description

Printing method and printing device for improving coloring ability of ribbon

technical field

The invention relates to a printing method using a ribbon and a printing device thereof, in particular to a printing method and a related printing device for improving the coloring ability of the ribbon.

Background technique

Dye-sublimation (also known as thermal transfer) printers are gaining more and more attention in the market. One of the main reasons is that they can achieve excellent printing performance of continuous color gradation (full tone). Dye-sublimation printers use a thermal print head (TPH) to heat the ribbon so that the dye on the ribbon changes from a solid state to a gaseous state, so that it can be attached to the print medium, and depending on the length of heating time or the temperature of the heating to form a continuous color scale.

In order to meet the needs of the market, the industry has developed thermal sublimation card printers that can print images on various cards such as personal identification cards, access control cards, and membership cards. The known thermal sublimation card printing machine mainly uses a transmission mechanism such as a roller to drive the card to the position of the thermal print head, and then uses the thermal print head to transfer the dye on the ribbon to the card. When the transfer of one color is completed, the transmission mechanism will move the card back to the original position for the transfer of another color.

However, the adhesion ability of the ribbon dye will be affected by different card materials, which will lead to the poor quality of the transferred image. The known technology is to design a variety of printing media with different surface material characteristics to match corresponding dyes, so as to prevent the ribbon dye from being affected by the surface properties of the printing media and reduce its coloring ability. However, if the user needs to print data on different printing media, it needs to spend extra cost to buy the ribbon with the corresponding dye, which will cause great inconvenience to the user.

Contents of the invention

The invention provides a printing method and a printing device for improving the coloring ability of a ribbon to solve the above problems.

Patent scope of the present invention discloses a printing method for improving the coloring ability of a ribbon, which includes forming a dye-receiving layer on a first section of a ribbon, and forming a plurality of dye-receiving layers on a second section of the ribbon. The dye area receives a target image data, moves a printing medium, and transfers the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon to the printing medium during the process of moving the printing medium, and when the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon is transferred After being printed on the printing medium, the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon are respectively transferred to the printing medium according to the target image data.

The claims of the present invention also disclose that transferring the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon to the printing medium includes transferring the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon to the entire surface of the printing medium.

The patent claims of the present invention also disclose that the printing method further includes transferring a protective layer of the ribbon to the print medium after the dye regions of the ribbon are respectively transferred to the print medium.

The patent claims of the present invention also disclose that the printing method further includes setting the corresponding relationship between the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon and the printing medium according to the target image data.

The scope of application of the present invention also discloses that a plurality of dye regions are formed in the second block of the ribbon, and a yellow dye region, a magenta dye region, and a cyan dye region are formed in the second region of the ribbon. and a black dye area.

Claims of the present invention also disclose that the dye-receiving layer formed in the first section of the ribbon comprises the dye composed of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer formed in the first section of the ribbon receiving layer.

Claims of the present invention also disclose that the plurality of dye regions and the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon are transferred to the printing medium by thermal sublimation.

The patent scope of the present invention also discloses a printing device for improving the coloring ability of the ribbon, which includes an actuating unit used to move a printing medium, and a ribbon, which includes a first block and a second blocks. A dye receiving layer is formed on the first block, and a plurality of dye regions are formed on the second block. The printing device also includes a thermal print head, which is used to transfer the dye-receiving layer and the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon to the printing medium, respectively, and a control unit, which is coupled to the actuating unit and the thermal print head. The control unit is used to control the actuating unit to move the printing medium according to the received target image data, to control the thermal print head to transfer the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon to the printing medium, and to transfer the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon to the print medium, and to transfer the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon to the print medium, and After the dye-receiving layer is transferred to the printing medium, the thermal print head is controlled to transfer the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon to the printing medium on which the dye-receiving layer is formed.

Claims of the present invention also disclose that the control unit is used to control the thermal print head to transfer the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon to the entire surface of the printing medium.

Claims of the present invention also disclose that the control unit is used to set the corresponding relationship between the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon and the printing medium according to the target image data.

The patent scope of the present invention also discloses that the ribbon further includes a protective layer, and the control unit is used to control the thermal print head of the ribbon after the dye regions of the ribbon are respectively transferred to the printing medium. The protective layer is transferred to the printing medium.

The patent scope of the present invention also discloses that the printing device is a thermal sublimation printer.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a ribbon of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the operation flow of the printing device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of main component labels]

10 Printing device 12 Actuating unit

14 Print Media 16 Ribbon

161 First block 163 Second block

18 Dye receiving layer 20 Dye area

22 thermal print head 24 control unit

26 protective layer

Steps 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118

Detailed ways

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram of a printing device 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The printing device 10 can be a thermal sublimation printer. The printing device 10 includes an actuating unit 12 for moving a printing medium 14 ; the printing device 10 also includes a ribbon 16 . The actuating unit 12 may include transmission mechanisms such as motors and rollers. Please refer to FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a ribbon 16 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The ribbon 16 includes a first block 161 and a second block 163 , a dye receiving layer 18 is formed on the first block 161 , and a plurality of dye regions 20 are formed on the second block 163 . The printing device 10 also includes a thermal print head 22 for transferring the dye-receiving layer 18 and the plurality of dye regions 20 of the ribbon 16 to the print medium 14 respectively.

The printing device 10 further includes a control unit 24 coupled to the actuating unit 12 and the thermal print head 22 , the control unit 24 is used to control the actuating unit 12 to move the printing medium 14 according to a target image data received. During the movement of the printing medium 14 , the control unit 24 is also used to control the thermal print head 22 to transfer the dye receiving layer 18 of the ribbon 16 to the printing medium 14 . After the dye-receiving layer 18 is transferred to the printing medium 14, the control unit 24 first sets the corresponding relationship between the plurality of dye areas 20 of the ribbon 16 and the printing medium 14 according to the target image data, and then controls the thermal print head 22 , respectively transfer the plurality of dye regions 20 of the ribbon 16 to the print medium 14 formed with the dye receiving layer 18 according to the corresponding relationship between the plurality of dye regions 20 and the print medium 14 . Wherein, a plurality of dye regions 20 may include a yellow (Yellow) dye region, a magenta (Magenta) dye region, a cyan (Cyan) dye region and a black (Black) dye region, and the dye receiving layer 18 may be made of vinyl chloride - Composed of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer), which can simultaneously have the advantages of high toughness and corrosion resistance of vinyl chloride and strong viscosity and plasticity of ethylene acetic acid. In addition, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer can also have higher compatibility, for example, it can be compatible with other coating resins such as alkyd resin, aldehyde resin, polyurethane, melamine resin, etc., so it can Improve the adhesion, toughness, and chemical resistance of the dye area 20 on the printing medium 14 . Therefore, the present invention improves the adhesion of multiple dye regions 20 through the high chemical stability (not easily affected by acid and alkali), high moisture resistance, and high adhesion of the dye receiving layer 18 composed of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer. In the stability of the printing medium 14. In addition, the dye-receiving layer 18 may further contain a resin material composed of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, which can further improve the chemical resistance and water resistance of the dye-receiving layer 18 through a bridging agent (such as isocyanic acid). The chemical material and composition of the dye-receiving layer 18 and the dye color and material components of the plurality of dye regions 20 are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but depend on design requirements. For example, the dye colors of the plurality of dye regions 20 may further include gold, silver, white and other colors, depending on actual needs.

It is worth mentioning that the control unit 24 first transfers the dye-receiving layer 18 to the entire surface of the printing medium 14 to ensure that a plurality of dye regions 20 can be formed on any position of the printing medium 14 through the dye-receiving layer 18 . In addition, the ribbon 16 may further include a protective layer 26, which is formed on the second block 163. After the plurality of dye regions 20 are respectively transferred to the printing medium 14, the control unit 24 may also control the thermal print head 22 to apply the protective layer 26 is transferred to the printing medium 14, so as to provide protection functions such as waterproof and antifouling. For example, the protective layer 26 can be made of waterproof, oil-proof, or UV-resistant protective materials, so it can be used to protect the printed dyes from seeping due to moisture, moisture and oil stains caused by manual touch. , faded, and stained. Wherein, the dye-receiving layer 18 , the plurality of dye regions 20 , and the protection layer 26 of the ribbon 16 can be transferred to the print medium 14 by thermal sublimation.

Please refer to FIG. 3 . FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the operation flow of the printing device 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The method includes the following steps:

Step 100 : Form the dye-receiving layer 18 on the first section 161 of the ribbon 16 .

Step 102 : Form a plurality of dye regions 20 on the second block 163 of the ribbon 16 .

Step 104 : Form the protection layer 26 on the second section 163 of the ribbon 16 .

Step 106: Receive target image data.

Step 108: According to the target image data, set the corresponding relationship between the plurality of dye regions 20 and the printing medium 14 .

Step 110: Move the printing medium 16.

Step 112 : During the process of moving the printing medium 16 , transfer the dye-receiving layer 18 to the entire surface of the printing medium 14 .

Step 114 : after the dye receiving layer 18 is transferred to the printing medium 14 , respectively transfer the plurality of dye regions 20 to the printing medium 14 according to the target image data.

Step 116 : After the dye regions 20 are respectively transferred to the printing medium 14 , transfer the protection layer 26 to the printing medium 14 .

Step 118: end.

Here is a detailed description of the above steps. The dye-receiving layer 18 (first block 161 ), a plurality of dye regions 20 (second block 163 ), and the protective layer 26 (second block 163 ) can be formed on the ribbon 16 in sections. The dye-receiving layer 18 is used to improve the coloring ability of the dye attached to the printing medium 14, and the protective layer 26 is used to cover the printing medium 14 transferred with the dye-receiving layer 18 and a plurality of dye regions 20 to provide waterproof and antifouling. and other protection functions. Next, after the user installs the ribbon 16 having the dye-receiving layer 18 , the plurality of dye regions 20 , and the protective layer 26 on the printing device 10 , the photo printing can begin. Firstly, the control unit 24 of the printing device 10 receives a target image data, and sets the corresponding relationship between the dye regions 20 of the ribbon 16 and the printing medium 14 according to the target image data. Afterwards, when the printing medium 14 is driven by the actuating unit 12 to move at a predetermined speed, the control unit 24 first controls the thermal print head 22 to transfer the dye-receiving layer 18 to the entire surface of the printing medium 14 to become a substrate, and then according to The previously set corresponding association controls the thermal print head 22 to transfer the yellow dye region Y, the magenta dye region M, the cyan dye region C, and the black dye region B of the plurality of dye regions 20 to the printing medium respectively at different temperatures. 14, so that the plurality of dye regions 20 can be stably attached to the printing medium 14 through the chemical properties of the dye receiving layer 18, so as to form a printed image. Finally, the control unit 26 controls the thermal print head 24 to transfer the protective layer area 26 to the print medium 14 that already has an image, that is, to cover the printed image, so as to protect the printed image from being touched by human hands. Incoming moisture, moisture, and oil stains can bleed, fade, and become smudged.

Compared with the prior art, the printing device of the present invention can use a general printing device to print photos on various printing media, and will not only be able to match corresponding ribbon dyes and printing media due to material limitations. In the printing device of the present invention, the dye-receiving layer is made on the ribbon, and the dye-receiving layer is first coated on the entire surface of the printing medium during the printing process, so that in the subsequent coloring process, the dye area of the ribbon can be absorbed by the dye. The layer is stably attached to the printing medium, so the present invention can effectively shorten the printing time, save the printing cost, and improve the convenience of operation.

The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

1. A printing method for improving the coloring ability of a ribbon, comprising: forming a dye-receiving layer on a first section of a ribbon; forming a plurality of dye regions in a second section of the ribbon; receiving a target image data; mobile-print media; transferring the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon to the print medium during movement of the print medium; and After the dye receiving layer of the ribbon is transferred to the printing medium, the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon are respectively transferred to the printing medium according to the target image data. 2. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein transferring the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon to the printing medium comprises transferring the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon to the entire surface of the printing medium. 3. The printing method according to claim 1, further comprising: After the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon are respectively transferred to the printing medium, a protective layer of the ribbon is transferred to the printing medium. 4. The printing method according to claim 1, further comprising: According to the target image data, the corresponding relationship between the plurality of dye areas of the ribbon and the printing medium is set. 5. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein forming a plurality of dye regions in the second section of the ribbon comprises forming a yellow dye region and a magenta dye region in the second region of the ribbon , a cyan dye area, and a black dye area. 6. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein forming the dye-receiving layer on the first section of the ribbon comprises forming the first section of the ribbon from vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer composed of the dye-receiving layer. 7. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of dye regions and the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon are transferred to the printing medium by thermal sublimation. 8. A printing device for improving the coloring ability of a ribbon, comprising: an actuating unit, which is used to move a printing medium; A color ribbon, which includes a first block and a second block, a dye receiving layer is formed on the first block, and a plurality of dye regions are formed on the second block; a thermal print head, which is used to transfer the dye-receiving layer and the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon to the print medium, respectively; and A control unit, which is coupled to the actuating unit and the thermal print head, the control unit is used to control the actuating unit to move the printing medium according to the received target image data, and control the thermal print head to move the ribbon The dye-receiving layer is transferred to the print medium, and after the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon is transferred to the print medium, the thermal print head is controlled to transfer the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon to the ink ribbon formed on the print medium respectively. The print medium has a dye-receiving layer. 9. The printing device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is used to control the thermal print head to transfer the dye-receiving layer of the ribbon to the entire surface of the printing medium. 10 . The printing device according to claim 8 , wherein the control unit is used to set the corresponding relationship between the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon and the printing medium according to the target image data. 11 . 11. The printing device according to claim 8, wherein the ribbon further comprises a protective layer, and the control unit is used to control the thermal print head after the dye regions of the ribbon are respectively transferred to the printing medium The protective layer of the ribbon is transferred to the print medium. 12. The printing device according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of dye regions include a yellow dye region, a magenta dye region, a cyan dye region and a black dye region. 13. The printing device according to claim 8, wherein the dye-receiving layer is composed of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer. 14. The printing device according to claim 8, which is a dye-sublimation printer.

Images