JP3092345B2 - Image forming 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 forming apparatus using a transfer method, and more specifically, a single apparatus can handle an object to which an image is to be transferred, even if the material, size, shape, and the like are different. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that can be used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is known to use a transfer ribbon coated with a sublimable dye uniformly over its entire surface and selectively heat a local area by a thermal head in accordance with image data to transfer and form a desired image on an object to be transferred. . However, the material that can be dyed with the sublimable dye is limited, and can be applied only to a transferred material of a limited material such as, for example, polyester, acrylic resin, and polyvinyl chloride. However, in addition to the synthetic resin described above, the material of the transfer target body is generally a synthetic resin that does not have a dyeing property for a sublimable dye, paper, metal,
Various materials such as glass are possible.

Therefore, as proposed in JP-A-63-81093, an image is first transferred to a film-like intermediate transfer medium by using a transfer ribbon of a sublimable dye and a thermal head, and then the image is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium. There has been proposed a two-stage transfer method in which an image on an intermediate transfer medium is transferred to a transfer target using an adhesive layer. This method is considered to be a breakthrough in that an image can be transferred and formed by selecting an adhesive layer regardless of the material of the transfer target.

However, the above transfer system, when viewed as an apparatus, can actually transfer and form an image only to one type of transfer target. This is because, if the type of the transfer object is different, it is naturally expected that the size and shape other than the material are different. The fact that the material of the object to be transferred is different means that the transfer conditions (specifically, heating and pressure conditions, etc.) of the second stage for transferring the image from the intermediate transfer medium to the object to be transferred vary depending on the object to be transferred. That's what it means.

[0005] The biggest difficulty with different sizes is that the size of the transferred image can be large or small. In addition, the fact that the shape of the transfer object is different means that the thickness of the transfer object is different. This is because in the second stage of transferring the image from the intermediate transfer medium to the transfer object, a device on the mechanical device is used. It is necessary.

In the prior art, there is no image forming apparatus that can be used for different types of transfer-receiving members by one mechanical device.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a method for both a plate-like body such as a card and a license, and a booklet such as a passport and a traveler's check, irrespective of their material, size and shape. It is another object of the present invention to provide a transfer image forming apparatus that can be shared by a single mechanical device.

[0008]

That is, the present invention provides a means for transferring an intermediate transfer medium, an image writing means for forming an image on the intermediate transfer medium using a thermal head and a transfer ribbon, and the intermediate transfer medium. And an image transfer means for transferring an image on the intermediate transfer medium to the transfer target by applying heat and pressure to the transfer target by a transfer roller, and pressing the transfer member according to the shape of the transfer target. It is characterized by comprising a transfer stage having a plurality of transfer object setting portions having different shapes, and a plurality of transfer rolls having different shapes according to the shape of the transfer object. An image forming apparatus.

[0009] Another aspect of the invention, instead of the plurality of transfer rolls made by changing the shape according to the shape of the transfer member, a plurality of convex formed by changing the shape according to the shape of the transfer member
Parts may be an image forming apparatus including a transfer roller having a transfer portion by. Hereinafter, a further description will be given based on the drawings showing the embodiments.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the apparatus. In FIG. 1, a drawer-type transfer stage 2 includes an apparatus main body 1.
It is set up so that it can slide. The handle 3 was attached to the end of the transfer stage 2 so that the handle 3 could be manually inserted into and pulled out of the apparatus main body 1. Transfer stage 2
In the embodiment shown in the drawing, a card 4 mainly made of synthetic resin and a booklet 5 mainly made of paper can be installed. Specifically, it is preferable to form a concave portion 6 on the transfer stage 2 in such a manner that the card 4 and the booklet 5 are approximately half buried according to the shapes and thicknesses of the card 4 and the booklet 5.

Although the thickness of the card 4 and the thickness of the booklet 5 are different from each other, the height of the transfer surface can be appropriately set by adjusting the depth of the recess 6. In the booklet 5, fixing devices 7 may be provided at four corners in order to keep a page corresponding to the transfer surface open. FIG. 1 shows a state where both the card 4 and the booklet 5 are placed on the transfer stage 2. However, even when only one of the card 4 and the booklet 5 is placed, there is no problem in use. . The switch operation section 8 of the apparatus main body 1 is provided with a card switch (C) and a booklet switch (S) in addition to the ON / OFF switch.

Referring to FIG. 2, the inside of the apparatus of the present invention will be described. The intermediate transfer medium 21 has its supply reel
In the area which is sent out from 22 and performs the first-stage transfer, an image including characters and images is formed on the intermediate transfer medium 21 on the rotating drum 25 by the thermal head 23 and the transfer ribbon 24. In the figure, the transfer ribbon supply reel 26
The drive roll 27 and the collection reel 28 are involved in sending and collecting the transfer ribbon 24.

In the area where the first-stage transfer is performed, an intermediate transfer medium 21 on which an image composed of characters and images is formed,
It is transferred to a lower second-stage transfer area. Here, the intermediate transfer medium 21 is fed horizontally so as to be in contact with the upper surface of the transfer stage 2 described above. When the booklet 5 is placed on the left side of the transfer stage 2, the booklet transfer roll 29 on the left side operates to apply heat and pressure in a state where the intermediate transfer medium 21 and the booklet 5 are overlapped. As a result, an image composed of characters and images on the intermediate transfer medium 21 is transferred to the booklet 5 which is the transfer target.

When the card 4 is placed on the right side of the transfer stage 2 and the booklet is not placed on the left side, the booklet transfer roll 29 on the front left side moves to the retracted position indicated by the two-dot chain line, that is, the heating and pressing state. Escaped from position and will not operate. This time comes the turn of the right card transfer roll 31 that has been at the retracted position. Similarly, the role of the card transfer roll 31 is to perform heating and pressurization in a state where the intermediate transfer medium 21 and the card 4 are overlaid.

Generally, the size of the card 4 is smaller than that of a booklet 5 such as a passport. Therefore, the transfer area 32 of the card transfer roll 31 may be smaller than the transfer area 30 of the booklet transfer roll 29. Such distinction can be resolved by using multiple transfer rolls.

In the apparatus of the present invention, it is not determined whether the card 4 or the booklet 5 is on the transfer stage 2. That is, each time the apparatus is used, which of the transfer rolls to use in the second-stage transfer is selected and determined depending on whether the card 4 or the booklet 5 is used. The simplest means of making this choice is to make it artificially. In the above description of FIG. 1, it has already been described that the switch operation unit 8 has both the card switch (C) and the booklet switch (S). Following this, the operator of the device
A button may be pressed according to the type of the transfer target placed on the transfer stage 2.

However, the above-mentioned artificial means is complicated and causes a mistake. Automating this selection decision is naturally included in the present invention. One means is
An optical sensor is attached to the transfer stage 2, and the apparatus automatically recognizes where the object is placed on the transfer stage 2 depending on the intensity of the reflected light.
The transfer roll to be used can be determined by the apparatus itself based on the machine recognition.

The intermediate transfer medium 21 after the completion of the second-stage transfer
Collects untransferred items into a single collection reel
It is wound by 33. Further, the transfer target body on which the image is formed is pulled out of the transfer stage 2 from the apparatus main body 1,
Can be obtained.

Due to the demand for miniaturization of the apparatus, there can be another embodiment in which only one transfer roll is used. This will be described with reference to a partial view of FIG. 3 showing only the second-stage transfer. In FIG. 3, a transfer roll 41 is used for both a card and a booklet.
Transfer area convex for cards formed on the circumference of transfer roll 41
The portion 42 is smaller than the transfer region convex portion 43 for a booklet. This can be done on one transfer roll ,
Transfer portion due can be said that an example in which a. Which one of the transfer units using the plurality of protrusions is used depends on which of the card and the booklet is placed on the transfer stage. The selection can be made artificially or automatically as described above.

[0020]

According to the present invention, an image can be transferred and formed on various types of objects to be transferred. This is because the shape of the transfer stage and the transfer roll is changed according to the material, size, and shape of the transfer target in the second stage transfer. By selecting a transfer roll, the transfer conditions (specifically, heating and pressing conditions, etc.) and the size of the area of the transferred image can be appropriately changed. Further, by selecting the transfer stage, the distance between the transfer surface of the transfer target and the intermediate recording medium can be set to be constant even if the thickness of the transfer target is different, and the transfer conditions are set to the thickness of the transfer target. Can be constant regardless of

[0021]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus as described above. According to the present invention, a material for both a plate-like body such as a card and a license and a booklet such as a passport and a traveler's check are used. This is a transfer image forming apparatus that can be shared by one mechanical device regardless of size, shape, or shape. According to the present invention, an image image such as a face photograph in addition to a character image can be formed in color as needed, and the transfer method can be a sublimation transfer method or a hot-melt transfer method. In addition to the fact that it is possible to cope with the difference in the form and type of the object to be transferred, some are extremely excellent in practical use.

[0022]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial explanatory view showing another embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Transfer stage 3 Handle 4 Card 5 Booklet 6 Concave part 7 Fixture 8 Switch operation part

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A means for transferring an intermediate transfer medium; an image writing means for forming an image on the intermediate transfer medium by using a thermal head and a transfer ribbon; And an image transfer means for transferring an image of the intermediate transfer medium onto the transfer target by pressing and pressing, wherein a plurality of transfer targets having different shapes according to the shape of the transfer target are provided. Installation
An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer stage having a unit; and a plurality of transfer rolls having shapes changed in accordance with the shape of a transferred object. Means for transferring an intermediate transfer medium, image writing means for forming an image on the intermediate transfer medium by using a thermal head and a transfer ribbon, and heating the intermediate transfer medium to a transfer object by a transfer roll. And an image transfer means for transferring an image of the intermediate transfer medium onto the transfer target by pressing and pressing, wherein a plurality of transfer targets having different shapes according to the shape of the transfer target are provided. Installation
An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer stage provided with a transfer portion; and a transfer roll provided with a transfer portion formed by a plurality of convex portions having shapes changed in accordance with the shape of an object to be transferred.