JP2882242B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for transferring an image to a transfer medium such as a sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, as an image recording apparatus, there has been known a printer which records personal information such as a color face photograph, characters, and a sign on various sheets such as polyvinyl chloride resin, polyethylene terephthalanol resin or paper. ing. This printer has a moving stage on which a sheet to be printed is mounted, a stage driving means for moving the moving stage, a thermal transfer ribbon abutting on a printing surface of the sheet, and a thermal transfer ribbon which is moved according to the moving speed of the stage. And a thermal head for transferring the transfer ink of the thermal transfer ribbon to the sheet.

When recording various kinds of information such as color photographs, characters, signs, etc. on a sheet by the printer, the sheet is fixed on a stage, and a thermal transfer ribbon is brought into contact with the sheet, and the thermal transfer ribbon is contacted. The heating element of the thermal head is brought into contact with the top, the thermal transfer ribbon is fed while the stage is moved by the stage driving means, and simultaneously the heating element of the thermal head is heated according to the print format of the information to be recorded, thereby transferring the thermal transfer ribbon. The ink is transferred onto a sheet.

[0004] Incidentally, since the above-mentioned printer thermally transfers an image to a sheet by a thermal head,
The thermal transfer ribbon extends, causing an error in the stage feed speed by the moving mechanism, and causing a shift or the like on the sheet on the stage, resulting in a color shift or a position shift in the image transferred on the sheet. There was a problem. For this reason, in recent years, once a long film is used as an intermediate medium, an image is transferred from the thermal transfer ribbon to the film by a thermal head, and the portion where the image of the film is transferred is arranged on a sheet. An image recording apparatus for transferring an image of a film to a sheet by a heater or the like has been developed.

[0005]

By the way, in the film, positioning marks are provided at intervals larger than the maximum width of an image to be transferred for positioning on a sheet held on a stage. Although it is necessary to use a film, a film provided with a positioning mark in advance has been expensive due to the trouble of providing the positioning mark. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the positioning marks M provided on the film 1 are provided at intervals larger than the width of the largest image to be recorded. , A considerable unused portion (dead space) is generated between the images, and it has been difficult to use the film 1 efficiently.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an image recording apparatus capable of transferring an image efficiently and with high accuracy.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus comprising: a first transfer means for transferring an image to a transfer layer provided on one side of a long film transferred by a film transfer means; The film is fed by the film transfer means, the image transfer device comprising a second transfer means for transferring the transferred image to the sheet while positioning and closely contacting the transfer portion of the film to the sheet, When the image is transferred to the film by the first transfer means, the transfer of the next image is started from near the end of the previously transferred image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus, the first transfer means transfers the positioning image to the vicinity of the image to be transferred when transferring the image. Is characterized in that when the positioning image is detected, the transfer of the film by the transfer means is stopped, and the image transferred by the first transfer means is positioned on the sheet.

[0009]

According to the image recording apparatus of the first invention, when the image is transferred to the film by the first transfer means, the transfer of the image is started near the end of the previously transferred image. In addition, a dead space between images to be transferred to a film is reduced. According to the image recording apparatus of the second invention,
When the image is transferred by the first transfer unit, the positioning image is transferred near the image to be transferred. And the second
In the transfer unit, when the image for positioning the film sent by the transfer unit is detected, the transfer of the film by the transfer unit is stopped, and the image transferred by the first transfer unit is positioned on the sheet.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of an image recording apparatus using a long film as an intermediate medium will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a long film (intermediate medium) having a transfer layer on one side, reference numeral 2 denotes a thermal transfer ribbon having thermal transfer ink on one side, and reference numeral 3 denotes a thermal transfer ink of the thermal transfer ribbon 2. A first transfer unit that transfers a desired image to the transfer layer of the film 1 by bringing the heating element of the thermal head 20 into or out of heating based on the data of the image to be recorded by bringing the heat generating element of the thermal head 20 into contact with the transfer layer of the film 1. is there.

As shown in FIG. 2, the film 1 has a release layer 12 and a security layer 1 on the lower surface of a base material 11 made of a resin sheet such as polyethylene terephthalanol.
3. The image receiving layer 14 is laminated in order, and the security layer 13 records confidential data such as personal information by fine print or the like. An image such as a photograph of an individual's face is recorded. Reference numeral 4 denotes a sheet 1 on which an image has been transferred by the first transfer means 3 while holding the sheet 5 as the transfer object main body, and a transfer layer of the film 1 is transferred together with the transferred image. This is a second transfer unit.

The film 1 is sent from the roll 6 to the first transfer means 3 via the guide roll 7, and
It is drawn out from the first transfer means 3, sent out to the second transfer means 4 via a guide roll 8, and wound up on a roll 10 via a guide roll 9. The rolls 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are used as a transport unit for the film 1.

Next, the specific structure of the first transfer means 3 will be described. The first transfer unit 3 includes a drum 15 around which the film 1 is wound, and a press roller 1 as a fixing jig for bringing the film 1 into close contact with the drum 15.
6, 17 and press rollers 18, 19 for bringing the thermal transfer ribbon 2 into close contact with the film 1 wound on the drum 15,
The thermal transfer ribbon 2 includes a thermal head 20 for transferring a desired image to a transfer layer of the film 1 from the thermal transfer ribbon 2. The thermal transfer ribbon 2 is sent out from a roll 22 and wound around a roll 23.

The press rollers 16 and 17 are moved in a direction to approach and separate from the drum 15 by actuators (not shown), respectively, and these press rollers 16 and 17 are moved closer to the drum 15 by the actuator. At this time, these press rollers 16,
17 allows the film 1 to be in close contact with the peripheral surface of the drum 15.

The drum 15 is rotatable in the forward and reverse directions by a rotary driving device (not shown). A plurality of markers P are provided on the side end of the drum 15 as shown in FIG.
Are provided at a predetermined pitch. A sensor S1 for optically, mechanically, or electrically detecting the marker P is provided near the side end of the drum 15. A CPU (not shown) based on the detection data from the sensor S1 is provided. The rotation amount calculating means calculates the rotation angle of the drum 15.

A film 1 is provided on the peripheral surface of the drum 15.
The transfer start position A of the image to the drum 1 is set when the transfer start position A coincides with the contact position of the thermal head 20 with the heat generating portion 20a, that is, the transfer position.
5 is set as a rotation start position. When the drum is at the rotation start position, the transfer start position of the film 1 is arranged at the transfer start position A of the drum 15. Here, as shown in FIG.
The transfer start position C of the film 1 is set to be a position separated from the end of the previously transferred image, that is, a slight predetermined interval X from the transfer end position D.

That is, the sensor S2
Is provided, and the transfer end position D of the film 1 is detected by the sensor S2. In this state, that is, in the state where the transfer end position D is arranged at the position where the sensor S2 is provided, the film 1 Is arranged at the transfer start position A of the drum 15.
Accordingly, the transfer start position A of the sensor S2 and the drum 15 is determined.
Is set to a predetermined interval X shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the ink forming the transfer layer of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is composed of inks of four colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. They are arranged at a constant pitch. The left side of each color in FIG. 5 is the transfer start position E. In addition, as these inks, sublimation transfer type ink or melt transfer type ink is used. Further, the first transfer means 3 having the above configuration transfers a positioning mark (positioning image) M to a predetermined position of the film 1 when transferring an image, as shown in FIG.

That is, when an image is transferred by the first transfer means 3, the positioning mark M is transferred outside the range of the image near the image to be transferred, and the positioning mark M is transferred to the second transfer means. 4 for positioning the film 1 on the sheet 5.

Next, the structure of the second transfer means 4 will be specifically described. The second transfer unit 4 includes a stage 31 for holding the sheet 5, an elevating unit (not shown) for elevating and lowering the stage 31, and a heater 32 inside an upper surface of the stage 31 via the sheet 5 and the film 1. And a lead tubular heat roller 33 having The heat roller 33 is rotatably supported, and its rotation axis is moved along the film 1 in the direction of arrow a in FIG. And stage 31
When the rotating shaft is moved along the film 1 in a state where is raised by the elevating means, the convex portion 34 for heat and pressure bonding having a cylindrical peripheral surface provided on the peripheral surface of the heat roller 33 is provided.
Roll while contacting the film 1.

That is, as shown in FIG.
3 is brought into contact with the film 1 and the first transfer means 3
The transfer layer of the film 1 to which the image has been transferred is transferred to the sheet 5 by thermocompression bonding. Also,
The second transfer means 4 is provided with a mark detection sensor S3 on the stage 31. The mark detection sensor S3 detects the positioning mark M transferred with the image by the first transfer means 3. It is supposed to be.

When the positioning mark M is detected, the movement of the film 1 is stopped, and the image transferred to the film 1 by the first transfer means 3 is positioned on the sheet 5. ing.

Next, transfer of an image by the image recording apparatus having the above configuration will be described. First, transfer of an image to the film 1 in the first transfer unit 3 will be described. When the transfer end position D of the film 1 is detected by the sensor S2, the movement of the film 1 is stopped, and the press rollers 16, 17 are moved by the actuator in the direction approaching the drum 15, so that the film 1 Adhered to the peripheral surface.
As a result, a position separated by a predetermined dimension X from the transfer end position D of the image previously transferred on the film 1 to the transfer start position A of the drum 15 is set as the film transfer start position C.

Further, the transfer start position E of the first color, that is, yellow, of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is disposed at the transfer start position A of the drum 15, and the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is
8 and 19, the film 1 is brought into close contact with the drum 15 via the film 1. In this state, the heat generating portion 20a of the thermal head 20 comes into contact with the transfer start position A of the drum 15, the drum 15 is rotated by the width of the image to be transferred, and the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is also rotated with the rotation of the drum 15. Moved.

When the drum 15 rotates, the CP
U extracts dot configuration data relating to yellow of the image data stored in advance in a storage unit such as a RAM, and controls the heat generation unit 20a of the thermal head 20 based on the extracted dot configuration data relating to yellow. As a result, a yellow image is transferred to the transfer layer of the film 1.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the positioning mark M is transferred near the area of the image transferred to the film 1. When the yellow image is transferred, the drum 15 of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is pressed by the press rollers 18 and 19.
Then, the drum 15 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the transfer start position A of the drum 15 coincides with the contact portion of the thermal head 20 with the heat generating portion 20a. Further, the transfer start position E of the second color, that is, magenta, of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is arranged at the transfer start position A of the drum 15,
The thermal transfer ribbon 2 is brought into close contact with the drum 15 via the film 1 by the press rollers 18 and 19.

In this state, as in the transfer of yellow, the heating portion 20a of the thermal head 20 is brought into contact with the transfer start position A of the drum 15, and the drum 15 is rotated by the width of the image to be transferred. The thermal transfer ribbon 2 is also moved with the rotation of the drum 15. When the drum 15 rotates, the CPU draws out dot configuration data relating to magenta of the image data stored in advance in a storage unit such as a RAM, and based on the extracted dot configuration data relating to magenta, the CPU of the thermal head 20 The heating of the heating section 20a is controlled, and as shown in the figure, a magenta image is transferred to the transfer layer of the film 1 together with the yellow image. At this time, the positioning mark M of magenta is added to the positioning mark M transferred during the transfer of yellow.
Are transferred in a superimposed manner.

The above-described transfer operation is repeated by the number of colors to be transferred, and images of respective colors are transferred to the film 1 in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. When the transfer of the images of all colors is completed, the film 1 is sent out, and the portion of the film 1 on which the image has been transferred is moved to the second transfer means 4.

Next, transfer of an image to the sheet 5 by the second transfer means 4 will be described. When the film 1 on which the image has been transferred is sent to the first transfer means 3, the positioning mark M transferred to the film 1 is detected by the mark detection sensor S3 provided on the stage 31 of the second transfer means 4. When the positioning mark M is detected, the movement of the film 1 is stopped, and the portion of the film 1 on which the image is transferred is accurately positioned on the sheet 5.

In this state, the stage 31 is moved up by the elevating means, and the sheet 5 held by the stage 31 is brought into close contact with the film 1. Thereafter, the heater 32 of the heater roll 33 is turned on, the rotation axis of the heater roll 33 is moved in the direction of arrow A in FIG. To roll. As a result, the transfer layer of the film 1 is accurately thermocompression-bonded to a predetermined position of the sheet 5 and transferred.

As described above, according to the image recording apparatus of the above embodiment, when the image is transferred by the first transfer means 3 to the film 1 used as the intermediate medium, the edge of the previously transferred image of the film 1 Since the transfer is started from a position slightly spaced from the portion, a large dead space does not occur as in the related art, so that the film 1 can be used very effectively.
Cost can be reduced.

Further, at the time of transfer by the first transfer means 3,
Since the positioning mark M for positioning at the time of the transfer by the second transfer means 4 is transferred, it is not necessary to use an expensive film in which the positioning mark M is provided in advance as in the related art. Cost can be reduced. Further, there is no need to select and use a film in accordance with the width of an image to be transferred, and versatility can be greatly improved. In the image recording apparatus of the above embodiment, when the image is transferred by the first transfer
The film 1 is loosened between the first transfer means 3 and the second transfer means 4 due to the repetition of the forward / reverse rotation of 5,
By interposing a tension roller or the like that applies tension to the film 1 between the first transfer unit 3 and the second transfer unit 4, the film 1 can be prevented from being loosened. In addition, the first transfer unit 3 in the above embodiment
The specific configuration and structure of the second transfer unit 4 are not limited to the embodiment.

[0033]

As described above, according to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. When the image is transferred to the film used as the intermediate medium by the first transfer means, the transfer is started from a position slightly apart from the end of the previously transferred image of the film. As described above, a large dead space does not occur, so that this film can be used very effectively, and cost can be reduced.

Further, at the time of transfer by the first transfer means, a positioning mark for positioning at the time of transfer by the second transfer means is transferred, so that a positioning mark is provided in advance as in the prior art. It is not necessary to use expensive film, and the cost can be further reduced. Further, there is no need to select and use a film in accordance with the width of an image to be transferred, and versatility can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus illustrating a configuration of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the film for explaining the structure of the film used in the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a first example of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first transfer unit for describing a configuration of a transfer unit.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a film for explaining a film on which an image is transferred by a first transfer unit of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the thermal transfer ribbon for explaining the configuration of the thermal transfer ribbon used in the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a thermocompression bonding section of a film and a sheet for explaining image transfer by a second transfer unit of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a film for explaining a state of transferring an image to a film by a first transfer unit of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a film for explaining a state in which an image is transferred to a film by a first transfer unit of the image recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a film for explaining a film used in a conventional image recording apparatus and an image transferred to the film.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 film 2 thermal transfer ribbon 3 first transfer means 4 second transfer means 5 sheet 7, 8, 9 guide roll (transfer means) 6, 10 roll (transfer means) M positioning mark (positioning image)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first transfer means for transferring an image to a transfer layer provided on one side of a long film transferred by a film transfer means, and the film is sent by the film transfer means, and An image recording apparatus comprising: a second transfer unit that transfers a transferred image to the sheet while positioning and bringing a transfer portion into close contact with a sheet, wherein the first transfer unit transfers an image to a film. An image recording apparatus for starting transfer of a next image from near an end of a previously transferred image. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first transfer unit transfers a positioning image near an image to be transferred when transferring the image, and the second transfer unit detects the positioning image when the image is transferred. Stopping the transfer of the film by the transfer means,
2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image transferred by the first transfer unit is positioned on the sheet.