JP2003311935A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a small imaging apparatus in which high quality transfer is realized by heating a recording medium uniformly. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus comprises a mechanism E for heating the recording medium M, on which image information is printed with sublimation ink, under cut state. The heating mechanism E has a tubular heating space R defined by a freely opening/closing upper wall body 43 and a pair of freely opening/closing lower wall bodies 45 and an electric heater for heating the air disposed on the side of the heating space R. Operational sequence of the heating mechanism E is set such that the recording medium M is rolled into the heating space R by opening the upper wall body 43 and heated while closing the upper wall body 43, and then the pair of lower wall bodies 45 are switched to open attitude so that the recording medium M is fed out gravitationally. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus comprising a base material and a penetrating layer on which image information to be transferred is printed on a fixing layer on the surface of the base material. The present invention relates to a technique of using a recording medium to heat image information printed on the permeation layer of the recording medium to transfer the image information to the fixing layer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a technique similar to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-297197.

In this conventional technique, a colored base layer (fixing layer of the present invention) which also functions as a rust preventive layer is formed on a metal base material (base material of the present invention), and an acrylic resin as a light transmitting resin layer is formed thereon. A transparent resin layer made of a system resin, a polyester resin, or a urethane resin is formed, and an inkjet receiving layer (permeation layer of the present invention) using porous alumina or the like is formed on the transparent resin layer to form a metal decorative body. And a colored pattern is formed on the inkjet receiving layer of the metal decorative body by inkjet printing using a sublimation type coloring material. After that, by heating this metal decorative body in a heating furnace or a hot press, the sublimation type coloring material of the inkjet receiving layer sublimes into the transparent resin layer, and the colored pattern formed on the inkjet receiving layer is transparent. Is formed. Next, the ink jet receiving layer is softened with warm water and then wiped off with a cloth or the like to remove the entire ink jet receiving layer, whereby a metal decorative body having a colored pattern is completed.

[0004]

Here, considering the heating mode when transferring the image information printed on the permeation layer (ink jet receiving layer in the prior art), the transfer is completed within a short time. It is conceivable to configure the heating unit with a large capacity electric heater or the like. As an example, assuming that the recording medium is brought into contact with the surface of the heating roller heated by a large-capacity electric heater to perform heating, there are cases where the temperature distribution on the surface of the heating roller is uneven,
If the recording medium does not come into complete contact with the surface of the heating roller, for example, a portion of the recording medium comes into contact with the recording medium in a floating state, this leads to the phenomenon of uneven heating of the recording medium. When uneven heating is performed in this way, transfer due to sublimation proceeds at a high temperature portion and transfer is suppressed at a lower temperature portion, which easily leads to density unevenness and color unevenness. If the base material of the medium is a thermoplastic resin fill, softening proceeds at high temperature parts, and softening does not proceed so much at lower temperature parts, causing distortion or deformation and impairing the flatness of the recording medium. Phenomena also appeared.

Therefore, a tunnel-shaped heating space is formed in a transport system for feeding a recording medium on which image information is printed,
It is conceivable to configure a heating unit that performs heating by contact with heated air while linearly transporting the recording medium inside this heating space, but as described above, heating the recording medium while linearly transporting the recording medium. However, the heating space tends to be large, which leads to an increase in the size of the entire image forming apparatus, and there is room for improvement.

An object of the present invention is to miniaturize an image forming apparatus that uniformly heats a recording medium to realize high quality transfer.

[0007]

The features, actions and effects of the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention are as follows. [Characteristics] A transport mechanism for feeding a recording medium having a permeation layer on which image information to be transferred is printed on a fixing layer on the surface of a substrate, and a sublimation ink for the permeation layer of the recording medium sent by the transport mechanism. And a heating mechanism for printing image information by printing the recording medium and a heating mechanism for transferring the image information printed on the permeation layer to the fixing layer by heating the recording medium, and the heating mechanism is a recording medium. It is configured to include a heating space for heating the sheet in a curved state in the transport direction.

[Operation / Effect] According to the above characteristics, since the recording medium is heated in the heating space in a state of being curved in the transport direction, the dimension in the transport direction is smaller than that of heating in a linear path. Heating in the heating space becomes possible in a small state. As a result, the image forming apparatus that heats the recording medium uniformly and realizes high-quality transfer can be configured in a small size simply by bending the posture of the recording medium in the heating space.

The features, actions and effects of the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention are as follows. [Features] The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cutting mechanism that cuts the recording medium on which the image information is printed, and the heating mechanism encloses and stores the recording medium cut by the cutting mechanism. After that, the heating space capable of heating in a sealed state is provided.

[Operation / Effect] According to the above characteristics, since the recording medium cut by the cutting mechanism is heated while being wound in the sealed space, the size of the heating space can be made relatively small. By storing the entire recording medium in this heating space and then sealing it, it is possible to heat the recording medium while suppressing leakage of hot air. As a result, the entire recording medium was heated uniformly for a set time, high quality transfer without unevenness was realized, and the entire image forming apparatus could be constructed in a relatively small size.

The features, functions and effects of the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention are as follows. [Features] In the image forming apparatus according to claim 2, the heating mechanism supplies a heating space including an openable and closable upper wall body and an openable and closable lower wall body, and heated air into the heating space. A heating section, and a process of feeding the recording medium cut by the cutting mechanism into the heating space from the opened upper wall body and winding the recording medium, and heating the heating space in such a state. A control mechanism that sets the processing mode to perform the processing of closing and heating by the heating unit and the processing of releasing the lower wall body after this heating and discharging from the heating space by the weight of the recording medium in this order The point is that it is prepared.

[Operation / Effect] According to the above characteristics, the recording medium cut by the cutting mechanism is fed into the heating space from the upper wall body in the open state and is wound therein, and the heating unit is closed with the upper wall body closed. Since heating is performed, heating in a relatively small heating space is possible, while heating the entire recording medium evenly by raising the temperature in a short time without releasing heat from the heating space. After that, the lower wall is opened and the recording medium is discharged by its own weight.Therefore, the recording medium after heating can be fed without a special actuator for applying a feeding force to the recording medium to feed it. I can put it out. As a result, not only the waste of heat at the time of heating is eliminated and the heating time is shortened and the device is downsized,
The heated recording medium can be rationally discharged.

The features, actions and effects of the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention are as follows. [Characteristics] In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the heating mechanism is configured to include a conveyance system that meanders and sends the recording medium inside the heating space.

[Operation / Effect] According to the above characteristics, the recording medium is made to meander inside the heating space, and for example, when the recording medium is heated while being conveyed, a linear conveying system is provided. The size of the heating space is shorter than that of the heating space. As a result, the image forming apparatus that uniformly heats the recording medium and realizes high-quality transfer can be configured in a small size simply by causing the recording medium to meander in the heating space.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing unit P
An image forming apparatus that prints image information transferred from the recording medium M with sublimable ink, cuts it into a required size, sends it to a heating mechanism E, and transfers it to the recording medium M by heating. Q is configured.

The image processing unit P is a general-purpose computer 1,
With monitor 2, keyboard 3 and mouse 4,
A film scanner 6 for photoelectrically converting the image information of the developed silver halide photographic film 5, and a media drive 7 inside the computer for taking out the information stored as a digital signal in the medium are provided. By transferring the image information from the section P to the image processing apparatus Q, the transferred image information can be transferred to the recording medium M in the image forming apparatus Q. still,
The media drive 7 is a CD, a CD-R, or
This is a generic term for drives that take out information from not only disc-shaped media such as MOs but also semiconductor media such as CompactFlash (registered trademark) and smart media. In the figure, information of CDs and CD-Rs is read out. Shows a media drive.

The recording medium M is, as shown in FIG.
The fixing layer 12 is formed on the surface of the film-shaped substrate 11 made of ET (polyethylene terephthalate) by using a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin or a polyvinyl acetal-based resin as a resin having an affinity for the sublimable ink. A thin sheet-like permeation layer 13 made of fluorine resin or silicon resin, which has a non-affinity for the sublimable ink, is releasably overlapped on the surface of the fixing layer 12 to form a flexible sheet as a whole. In the recording medium M, an image is printed on the permeation layer 13 with a sublimable ink, and then heat treatment is performed, so that the ink in the permeation layer 13 is sublimated so that the recording medium M is transferred to the fixing layer 12. It has a function of fixing and forming image information on the surface of the material 11, and after transferring and fixing the image information, the permeation layer 13 is peeled and removed as a film. It has become one to expose the clear image formed in the fixing layer 12 on the surface of more base material 11. Further, in the recording medium M, if the material of the base material 11 has the property of having affinity for the sublimable ink, the surface of the base material 11 can be used as the fixing layer 12 as it is.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the image forming apparatus Q
Is a first and second transport mechanism A1 and A2 for feeding the roll-shaped recording medium M, and an ink jet type printing mechanism for printing image information on the recording medium M sent to the print position by the first transport mechanism A1. B, a cutting mechanism C integrally formed with the print mechanism B, and a control mechanism D including a microprocessor are provided inside the main body case 20, and a heating mechanism that heats the recording medium M cut into the print size. It is configured with E.

The main body case 20 of the image forming apparatus Q is provided with a lid-like material 20A for covering the printing mechanism B from the portion in which the roll-shaped recording medium M is accommodated so that the lid-like material 20A can be swung around the swing support shaft 21. The main body case 20 is arranged at a relatively high position by providing the grounding leg 24 with the frame 22 provided at the bottom through the column 23. Further, the roll-shaped recording medium M is rotatably supported inside the main body case 20 by the support shaft 25, and the recording medium M subjected to the transfer process is received at a position below the heating mechanism E. A tray 25 is arranged.

The first transport mechanism A1 is composed of a plurality of pressure-bonding rollers 27 arranged at the upper position of the print mechanism B in the transport direction of the recording medium M, and a timing motor type first transport motor M1 for driving them. And the second transport mechanism A
Reference numeral 2 is composed of a plurality of pressure-bonding rollers 28 arranged at the lower position of the printing mechanism B in the recording medium M conveyance direction, and a timing motor type second conveyance motor M2 for driving them.

The printing mechanism B includes a guide rod 30 arranged in a posture orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium M,
The print head 31 supported so as to reciprocate along the guide rod 30 and the print head 30 are
The stepping motor type scanning motor 34 is reciprocally driven via a timing belt 33 wound around a pulley 32. The print head 31 records ink in a replaceable ink cartridge 35 from nozzles to be recorded. An ejection mechanism (not shown) such as a piezo element is provided to blow the medium M, and a plate 36 is provided at a position where printing is performed by the print head 31 by setting the position on the back surface of the recording medium M. ing. As the ink of the ink cartridge, 6 colors including at least 4 colors of inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) and 2 colors of intermediate colors are used. The sublimation ink having the above-described configuration and used in the present embodiment starts sublimation at about 80 ° C., and as described above, in the recording medium M having the film-shaped PET base material 11, at 180 ° C. Optimal transfer is achieved by heating for about 2 minutes. This sublimable ink has a temperature of 170 ° C.
The ink can be sublimated without difficulty at about 200 ° C, and the required transfer can be performed by heating at 200 ° C for about 1 minute and at 170 ° C for about 5 minutes.

The cutting mechanism C is freely switchable between a cutting position protruding toward the recording medium M side of the print head 31 and a standby position separated from the recording medium M.
And a switching motor 3 for switching the blade body 38 between a cutting position and a standby position by a screw feed type or a cam feed type.
9 is provided so that the recording medium M can be cut at this print position. The plate 36 is formed with a groove that allows the blade body 38 to move. When the recording medium M is cut, the blade 37 is projected to the cutting position by the driving force of the switching motor 39 and the print head is cut. By operating 31 in the scanning direction, the recording medium M is cut across the entire width in the width direction so that the recording medium M can be cut off.

The heating mechanism E is arranged at a position sandwiched by a pair of plates 41 supported by the frame 22 of the main body case 20, and is openable and closable around the upper shaft 42 with respect to the pair of plates 41. A heating space R surrounded by the upper wall body 43 and the lower wall body 45 is supported by supporting the upper wall body 43 and a pair of lower wall bodies 45 that can be opened and closed about the opening / closing axis 44 in a direction shown in FIG. It is formed to have a substantially circular shape when viewed. An electric cylinder 46 that expands and contracts so as to swing the upper wall body 43 through the upper shaft 42 is provided, and the pair of opening / closing shafts 44 are linked so as to rotate in opposite directions via the sector gears 47 that mesh with each other. , Each lower wall 45
A discharge motor 48 for swinging the is provided. Further, the upper wall body 43 and the pair of lower wall bodies 45 are formed of a heat insulating material,
A pressure-applying introduction roller 50 driven by an introduction motor 49 is provided on the lower surface side of the upper wall body 43, and the guide portion 45A is formed integrally with the lower wall body 45 by setting the position below the introduction roller 50. is there. A temperature sensor S is arranged in the heating space R, and a heating portion is arranged at a side position in the axial direction of the heating space R. As shown in FIG. 4, the heating unit includes an electric heater 52, an electric fan 53, and a sleeve 5 for sending air heated by the electric heater 52 to a heating space R.
4 and the air guide case 55 that sends air from the heating unit to the electric fan 53, the air in the heating space R is circulated for heating.

As shown in FIG. 8, the control system of the image forming apparatus Q forms an input system for inputting the image information transmitted from the image processing section P to the control mechanism D, and at the same time, the control mechanism D To control the first transport motor M1, the second transport motor M2, the scan motor 34, the print head 31, the switching motor 39, the electric cylinder 46, the discharge motor 48, the introduction motor 49, the electric heater 52, and the electric fan 53. A system is provided, and a system for feeding back the temperature information from the temperature sensor S is provided.

In this image forming apparatus Q, images are formed in the following order. The image information transmitted from the image processing unit P is converted into image information to be printed, and the control mechanism D
It is stored in the work area of the semiconductor memory. Next, the first transport mechanism A1 is driven to transport the recording medium M to a position where printing is to be performed, the print head 31 is operated in the scanning direction, and the information stored in the semiconductor memory is synchronized with this operation. The sublimable ink is transmitted to the print head 31 and is sprayed onto the recording medium M for printing. At this time, when the print head 31 reaches the operation end in the scanning direction, the recording medium M is conveyed by an amount corresponding to the print width of the print head 31, but the second conveyance is performed in synchronization with the first conveyance mechanism A1. The recording medium M is conveyed in a form of operating the mechanism A2.

When the printing of the required size is completed by this printing, the first and second transport mechanisms A1, A2
Is operated to feed the position of the recording medium M to be cut to the cutting position by the cutting mechanism E, and the print head 31 is operated in the scanning direction with the blade 38 of the cutting mechanism E protruding to the cutting position. The recording medium M is cut, and after this cutting, only the second transport mechanism A2 is operated to feed the recording medium M.

When the recording medium M on which the image information is printed is sent out in this way, the upper wall 43 of the heating mechanism E is set to the open position shown in FIG. Is set to a closed posture, and the introduction roller 50 is driven at a speed synchronized with the transport speed of the second transport mechanism A2 to feed the recording medium M sent from the second transport mechanism A2 into the heating space R. When the recording medium M is sent into the heating space R by this conveyance, the recording medium M is heated in the heating space R.
When the storage of the recording medium M is completed, the upper space 43 is closed and the electric heater 52 and the electric fan 53 are driven to drive the recording medium M, as shown in FIG. 6B. Heating.

When performing this heating, the signal from the temperature sensor S is fed back to increase the air temperature in the heating space R to 18
The electric heater 52 and the electric fan 53 are controlled so as to maintain 0 ° C., and the heated air R is circulated. 2 by this control
When heating for about a minute is continued, the electric heater 52 and the electric fan 53 are stopped, and as shown in FIG. 6C, the pair of lower wall bodies 45 are opened to discharge the recording medium M downward by its own weight. Then, the transfer is finished. When the lower wall body 45 is opened in this manner, the guide portion 45A swings downward together with the lower wall body 45, and therefore the recording medium M is pressed by the pressing force from the guide portion 45A. Will be pushed downwards.

As described above, in the present invention, when the recording medium M on which the image information is printed is heated, the cut recording medium M is accommodated in the heating space R of the heating mechanism E in a wound form. In addition, the heating space R is reduced, and as a result, not only the heating mechanism E but also the image forming apparatus Q is downsized. When heating is performed, the closed heating space R is heated. Of the recording medium M on which the image information is formed is housed in the heating space R and heated by contact with air, so that there is no uneven heating. Has been realized.

[Other Embodiments] In addition to the above-described embodiments, the present invention can also be configured, for example, as follows (this another embodiment has the same function as the above-mentioned embodiment). Have the same numbers and reference numerals as in the embodiment).

(A) As shown in FIG. 9, the first wall body W1, the second wall body W2, and the second wall body W1 made of a heat insulating material having wall surfaces having an arc-shaped cross section so as to form a cylindrical heating space R. The three wall bodies W3, W2, W are provided.
3 includes a first motor MT1 that independently rotates about the axis of the heating space R, a second motor MT2 and a third motor MT3, and feeds the recording medium M fed into the heating space R. An auxiliary roller, a roller motor 61 that drives the auxiliary roller 60, and a retreat motor 62 that moves the auxiliary roller 60 in and out of the heating space R, and a heating system having a structure similar to that of the above-described embodiment. The heating mechanism E is configured by including (not shown).

In this heating mechanism E, the first wall W1 and the second wall
The three wall bodies, the wall body W2 and the third wall body W3, are configured to form a closed heating space R by setting the posture shown in FIG. When the recording medium M is fed to the R, as shown in FIG. 9A, the first wall W1 is set to the open posture, and the third wall W3 is rotated to rotate the inside of the heating space R. Auxiliary roller 60
And the auxiliary roller 60 is driven, the recording medium M is fed into the heating space R from the opening formed in the upper part. By performing this feeding, the state in which the recording medium M is housed in a state of being wound inside the heating space R is reached. By this feeding, the recording medium M
When the feeding of all of the above is completed, as shown in FIG. 9B, the three wall bodies of the first wall body W1, the second wall body W2, and the third wall body W3 are closed, The electric heater 52 and the electric fan 53 are driven to circulate heated air in the heating space R to perform heating, and the heating is continued for a set time, and then the first
By setting the three wall bodies of the wall body W1, the second wall body W2, and the third wall body W3 in the open posture shown in FIG. 9C, the recording medium M is fed out by its own weight.

By configuring the heating mechanism E in this manner, the recording medium M can be heated with good thermal efficiency in a sealed state in the small heating space R as in the embodiment, and the image forming apparatus Q can be heated. The overall miniaturization will be realized.

(B) As shown in FIG. 10, the heating mechanism E is
A heating space R is formed by a heating case 65 made of a heat insulating material, and a plurality of transportation rollers 66 are arranged inside the heating space R to form a transportation system for transporting the recording medium M in a meandering shape. A temperature sensor S is arranged inside the heating space R, and an electric heater 67 for heating the air in the heating space R is provided.
And an electric fan 6 for circulating the air inside the heating space R
And 8 are provided. By configuring the heating mechanism E in this way, even when it is necessary to heat the long recording medium M, the recording medium M can be continuously heated while being conveyed into the heating space R, and Since the transport path is meandering, the heating space R can be made smaller than that in which the recording medium M is linearly transported and heated.

(C) As shown in FIG. 11, the heating mechanism E is
Inside a heating case 70 made of a heat insulating material, three heating drums 71 arranged in proximity so as to be driven to rotate about parallel axes.
A heater 72 for sending two heated airs arranged close to the outer periphery of each heating drum 71, a pressure-type introduction roller 73 for guiding the recording medium M to the heating drum 71, and a heating drum 7.
1. Press-out type lead-out roller 74 for sending the recording medium M from
Place and configure. In the heating mechanism E, the recording medium M from the introducing roller 73 is conveyed while being in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the heating drum 71, and at the same time, the contact side of the recording medium M with the heating drum 71 is heated during the conveyance. The heating mode is set so that the non-heating drum side of the recording medium M is heated by the heater 72 with heated air. Further, the heating drum 71 uses a metal material having a high thermal conductivity on the outer peripheral surface,
An infrared heater, an electric heater having a nichrome wire, or the like is housed inside to heat the outer peripheral surface with heat from the inside. The heater 72 heats the heated air heated by the electric heater with a fan to heat the drum 71. Although it is assumed that the light is supplied to the outer peripheral surface side, a structure that radiates infrared rays may be adopted.

By configuring the heating mechanism E in this way, it is possible to heat both sides of the recording medium M when the recording medium M is conveyed, and at the same time, the recording medium M is meandered and conveyed. By adopting this, the heating mechanism E is downsized. Specifically, by adopting the heating drum 71 having a diameter of about 300 mm, the total length L of the heating mechanism E in the carrying direction is reduced while setting the carrying path of the recording medium M to about 2000 mm. ing.

(D) As shown in FIG. 12, the heating mechanism E is
Inside a heating case 80 made of a heat insulating material, three heating drums 81 arranged close to each other so as to freely rotate around parallel axes.
And the guide roller 8 wound around the heating drum 81.
Two loop-shaped metal belts 83 guided by 2, and a heater 84 for heating the air inside the heating case 80.
And a pressure-contact type introduction roller 85 for introducing the recording medium M
And a pressure-applying guide roller 86 for feeding the recording medium M. In the heating mechanism E, the two metal belts 83 are configured to be drivable, and a path for transporting the recording medium M is formed in a state of being sandwiched between the metal belts 83, and each metal belt 83 is in contact with the heating drum 81. And the heating state is maintained by contact with the heated air heated by the heater 84, and the recording medium M is conveyed in a state of being sandwiched between the two metal belts 83, so that the heat from the metal belt 83 is recorded. The heating mode is set so that the medium M is heated by acting from both sides. Further, the heating drum 81 uses a metal material having a high thermal conductivity on the outer peripheral surface, and has an infrared heater or an internal heater.
By housing an electric heater or the like having a nichrome wire, the outer peripheral surface is heated by heat from the inside.
It is assumed that the heating air heated by the electric heater is supplied to the outer peripheral surface side of the heating drum 81 by a fan, however, a structure that radiates infrared rays may be adopted.

By configuring the heating mechanism E in this way, it is possible to heat both sides of the recording medium M when the recording medium M is conveyed, and at the same time, the recording medium M is meandered and conveyed. By adopting this, the heating mechanism E is downsized. Specifically, by adopting the heating drum 81 having a diameter of about 300 mm, the total length L of the heating mechanism E in the carrying direction is reduced while setting the carrying path of the recording medium M to about 2000 mm. ing.

Further, according to the present invention, the transport system is configured to transport the recording medium M in a non-linear transport path such as bending the recording medium M in the transporting direction of the recording medium M in the heating space. It is also possible to carry out the above, and in the case where the long recording medium M is heated in the heating mechanism E as in the other embodiment (B), the cutting mechanism is placed at a position lower than the conveying position by the heating mechanism E. It is also possible to implement in the form of arrangement.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image processing unit and an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a heating unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a cutting mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of a heating mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a recording medium.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control system

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of a heating mechanism according to another embodiment (a).

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a heating mechanism of another embodiment (B).

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a heating mechanism of another embodiment (C).

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a heating mechanism of another embodiment (d).

[Explanation of symbols] 11 Base material 12 Fixing layer 43 Upper wall 45 Lower wall A1, A2 transport mechanism B print mechanism C cutting mechanism E heating mechanism M recording medium M R heating space

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masazumi Ishikawa             No. 1 at 579 Umehara, Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture             Inside Ritsu Koki Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C056 EA23 EB14 EB30 EC14 EC29                       EC36 FA02 FA10 FB01 HA28                       HA46

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A transport mechanism for feeding a recording medium having a permeation layer on which image information to be transferred to a fixing layer on the surface of a substrate is printed, and sublimation to the permeation layer of the recording medium fed by the transport mechanism. A printing mechanism for applying image information by applying a volatile ink and a heating mechanism for transferring the image information printed on the permeation layer to the fixing layer by heating the recording medium, and the heating mechanism comprises: An image forming apparatus having a heating space for heating a recording medium in a curved state in the transport direction. 2. A cutting mechanism for cutting the recording medium on which the image information is printed is provided, and the heating mechanism can heat the recording medium cut by the cutting mechanism in a sealed state after the recording medium is rolled up and stored. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes the heating space. 3. The heating mechanism comprises a heating space including an openable / closable upper wall body and an openable / closable lower wall body, and a heating unit for supplying heated air into the heating space. At the same time, the recording medium cut by the cutting mechanism is fed into the heating space from the opened upper wall body to be wound therein, and the heating space is closed and heated by the heating unit in such a wound state. The control mechanism is set so that the processing and the processing of releasing the lower wall body and releasing the recording medium from the heating space by the weight of the recording medium after the heating are performed in this order. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 2. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating mechanism includes a conveyance system that meanders and sends the recording medium inside the heating space.