JP6973015B2 - Thermal transfer printer and manufacturing method of printed matter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer and a method for manufacturing a printed matter.

Thermal transfer printers that form thermal transfer images on identification cards, ID cards, credit cards, and other cards are known. For example, a thermal transfer printer uses an intermediate transfer medium in which a receiving layer is detachably provided on a substrate and a thermal transfer sheet having a coloring material layer, and transfers the coloring material to the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer medium to obtain an image. Then, the intermediate transfer medium is heated with a heat roller, and the transfer layer containing the receiving layer on which the image is formed is transferred from the intermediate transfer medium onto the card.

There are various materials such as plastic film, paper, and metal for forming a thermal transfer image, and it is required to process these cards with one thermal transfer printer. However, due to the difference in thermal responsiveness depending on the material of the card, there is a problem that the transfer layer is not transferred from the intermediate transfer medium depending on the material of the card, and good transferability may not be ensured.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-101960

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and can improve the transferability of the transfer layer from the intermediate transfer medium to the card regardless of the material of the card, and can suppress the decrease in production efficiency. An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer and a method for manufacturing a printed matter.

The thermal transfer printer according to the present invention is provided with a first supply unit for supplying an intermediate transfer medium having a transfer layer including a receiving layer on one surface of the support, and a coloring material layer on one surface of the base material. A second supply unit that supplies the heat transfer sheet, a printing unit that heats the heat transfer sheet based on image data, and transfers the color material layer to the transfer layer to form an image, and a card to be transferred. A third supply unit that supplies the image, and a transfer unit that heats the intermediate transfer medium while superimposing and feeding the intermediate transfer medium and the card, and transfers the transfer layer on which the image is formed onto the card. It is provided with a control unit for controlling the card feed speed in the transfer unit based on the material of the card.

In one aspect of the present invention, the control unit sets the card feed rate when the transfer layer is transferred to the tip portion within a range of at least the tip 10 mm in the feed direction of the card to a region other than the tip portion. It is slower than the card feed speed when the transfer layer is being transferred.

In one aspect of the present invention, the control unit sets the card feed rate when the transfer layer is transferred to the tip of the card as the first speed, transfers the transfer layer to the tip, and then the card. Control is performed to gradually increase the feed rate to the second speed.

In one aspect of the present invention, the card is further provided with a winding unit for winding the intermediate transfer medium after the transfer layer is transferred, and the winding unit is the intermediate transfer medium based on the card feed rate. Change the winding speed of.

In one aspect of the present invention, the card is further provided with a take-up portion for winding the intermediate transfer medium after the transfer layer is transferred, and a torque limiter is attached to the take-up portion.

In one aspect of the present invention, an operation unit that receives an input of the material of the card is further provided.

The method for producing a printed matter according to the present invention is an intermediate transfer medium in which a transfer layer including a receiving layer is provided on one surface of a support, and a thermal transfer sheet in which a coloring material layer is provided on one surface of a substrate. The step of heating the thermal transfer sheet and transferring the color material layer to the transfer layer to form an image, and the intermediate transfer while superimposing and feeding the intermediate transfer medium and the card to be transferred. It comprises a step of heating a medium and transferring the transfer layer on which the image is formed onto the card, and gradually increases the card feed speed when the transfer layer is transferred to the card. be.

According to the present invention, regardless of the material of the card, the transferability of the transfer layer from the intermediate transfer medium to the card can be improved, and the decrease in production efficiency can be suppressed.

It is a schematic block diagram of the thermal transfer printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the intermediate transfer medium. It is a top view of the thermal transfer sheet. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. (A) to (c) are graphs showing an example of a change in the card feed rate. It is a flowchart explaining the manufacturing method of the printed matter which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a graph which shows the example of the temperature change of the iron card and the PVC card. It is a graph which shows the relationship between a card feed rate and a card surface temperature.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal transfer printer uses a thermal transfer sheet 20 to print an image on a receiving layer 13 (see FIG. 2) provided on the intermediate transfer medium 10 and a transfer of the intermediate transfer medium 10. It includes a transfer unit 60 that transfers the layer 14 (see FIG. 2) onto the card 40.

Further, the thermal transfer printer includes a control unit 30, a storage unit 32, and an operation display unit 34. The storage unit 32 stores the table T. This thermal transfer printer can process a plurality of types of cards 40. In the table T stored in the storage unit 32, the type (material) of the card 40 and the suitable transfer processing conditions (temperature, card feed rate, etc.) are recorded in association with each other.

The operation display unit 34 has an operation unit that accepts an operation from the user and a display unit that presents information to the user. The operation display unit 34 may be composed of a button and a liquid crystal display, or may be composed of a touch panel. The user operates the operation display unit 34 to input the type of the card 40 to be processed.

The operation display unit 34 does not need to be provided in the thermal transfer printer main body, and the function of the operation display unit 34 may be realized by the computer connected to the thermal transfer printer executing a predetermined program.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the intermediate transfer medium 10. The intermediate transfer medium 10 includes a support 11 and a transfer layer 14 provided on one surface of the support 11. The transfer layer 14 has a laminated structure including a peeling layer 12 provided on the support 11 and a receiving layer 13 laminated on the peeling layer 12. The receiving layer 13 is located on the outermost surface of the intermediate transfer medium 10, and is located farthest from the support 11 among the layers constituting the transfer layer 14.

The coloring material is thermally transferred to the receiving layer 13 to form an image. After image formation, the transfer layer 14 is transferred onto the card 40.

(Support 11)
The material of the support 11 is not particularly limited, and for example, polyester having high heat resistance such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, and plastics such as polypropylene, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, polyethylene derivatives, polyamide and polymethylpentene are stretched or unstretched. A film or the like can be mentioned. Further, a composite film in which two or more kinds of these materials are laminated can also be used. The thickness of the support 11 can be appropriately selected depending on the material so that its strength, heat resistance and the like are appropriate, but it is usually in the range of 3 μm or more and 30 μm or less, preferably 4 μm or more and 15 μm or less. ..

(Receptive layer 13)
The material of the receiving layer 13 is not particularly limited, and a receiving layer conventionally known in the field of the intermediate transfer medium can be appropriately selected and used. For example, a polyolefin resin such as polypropylene, a halogenated resin such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or polyacrylic acid. Vinyl resin such as ester, polyester resin such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene resin, polyamide resin, copolymer resin of olefin such as ethylene or propylene and other vinyl polymer, ionomer or cellulose diastase, etc. Examples thereof include solvent-based resins such as cellulose-based resins, polycarbonates, and acrylic resins. Further, the receiving layer 13 may contain one of these components alone, or may contain two or more of these components.

Further, the receiving layer 13 may contain a mold release agent together with the above resin component. Examples of the mold release agent include solid waxes such as polyethylene wax, amide wax, and Teflon (registered trademark) powder, fluorine-based or phosphate ester-based surfactants, silicone oils, reactive silicone oils, and curable silicone oils. Various modified silicone oils and various silicone resins can be mentioned.

The thickness of the receiving layer 13 is not particularly limited, but as an example, it is in the range of 1 μm or more and 10 μm or less.

(Release layer 12)
The release layer 12 is for improving the release property of the transfer layer 14, and is located closest to the support 11 among the layers constituting the transfer layer 14. The components of the release layer 12 include, for example, waxes, silicone wax, silicone resin, silicone-modified resin, fluororesin, fluorine-modified resin, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic resin, heat-crosslinkable epoxy-amino resin, and heat-crosslinkable alkyd-amino. Resin and the like can be mentioned. Further, the release layer 12 may contain one of these components alone, or may contain two or more of these components.

The thickness of the release layer 12 is not particularly limited, but as an example, it is in the range of 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less.

The configuration of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is not limited to that shown in FIG. For example, an arbitrary layer such as a protective layer (not shown) may be provided between the peeling layer 12 and the receiving layer 13. Further, the transfer layer 14 in which the protective layer and the receiving layer 13 are laminated in this order from the support 11 side can also be used. Further, an arbitrary layer may be provided between the support 11 and the transfer layer 14. Further, a back layer (not shown) may be provided on the other surface of the support 11.

Next, the thermal transfer sheet 20 used in the thermal transfer printer will be described. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the transfer paper 20, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the heat transfer sheet 20 has a base material 21 and a yellow (Y) layer 22, a magenta (M) layer 23, and a cyan (C) layer provided on the same surface of the base material 21. It has a dye layer 25 including 24 and a melt layer 26 of black (BK). A set of a color material layer 27 composed of a dye layer 25 and a melt layer 26 is repeatedly provided.

(Base material 21)
The base material 21 is not particularly limited, and is, for example, heat resistant such as thin paper such as glassin paper, condenser paper or paraffin paper, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyvinylidene terephthalate, polyvinylidene sulfide, polyether ketone or polyether sulfone. Examples thereof include stretched or unstretched films of plastics such as high polyester, polypropylene, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, polyethylene derivatives, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, polyamide, polyimide, polymethylpentene or ionomer. Further, a composite film in which two or more kinds of these materials are laminated can also be used.

The thickness of the base material 21 is not particularly limited, but as an example, it is in the range of 2 μm or more and 10 μm or less.

(Dye layer 25)
The dye layer 25 contains a dye and a binder resin for supporting the dye. As the dye and the binder resin, conventionally known dyes and binder resins in the field of sublimation transfer paper can be appropriately selected and used.

(Melting layer 26)
The melt layer 26 may be a layer that is melt-softened by heating and satisfies the condition that it can be transferred onto the transfer layer 14, and includes, for example, a heat-meltable ink and a binder resin. The heat-meltable ink can be appropriately selected from known organic or inorganic pigments or dyes, and for example, an ink having a sufficient coloring concentration and not discolored or faded by light, heat or the like is preferable.

The thickness of the molten layer 26 is not particularly limited, but is preferably in the range of 0.1 μm or more and 30 μm or less.

The configuration of the transfer paper 20 is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. For example, a back surface layer (not shown) may be provided on the surface of the heat transfer sheet 20 opposite to the surface on which the color material layer is formed.

In the thermal transfer printer, the card 40 is a transfer target to which the transfer layer 14 is transferred from the intermediate transfer medium 10. The card 40 is not limited in any way, for example, plastic films such as IC cards and ID cards (sometimes referred to as card substrates), natural fiber paper, coated paper, tracing paper, glass, metal. , Ceramics, wood, cloth and the like can be used. The card 40 may be composed of a single layer or a plurality of layers.

Examples of the plastic film include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene terephthalate-isophthalate copolymer, terephthalic acid-cyclohexanedimethanol-ethylene glycol copolymer, and polyethylene. Polyester resin such as terephthalate / polyethylene naphthalate co-extruded film, polyamide resin such as nylon 6, nylon 6 and 6, polyolefin resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polymethylpentene, vinyl resin such as PVC, polyacrylate , Polyacrylate, acrylic resin such as polymethylmethacrylate, polyimide, imide resin such as polyetherimide, polyarylate, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene ether, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyaramid, polyetherketone, Engineering resins such as polyether nitrile, polyether ether ketone, polyether sulfite, polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer (AS resin), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS resin), etc. Examples thereof include cellulose-based films such as styrene-based resins, cellophane, cellulose acetate, and nitrocellulose, and polycarbonate. The plastic film may be a copolymer or a mixture (including an alloy) containing the above-mentioned resin as a main component.

Further, since an IC card, an ID card, or the like is usually required to have designability and security, a card 40 having a print layer, a hologram layer, or the like on the surface thereof can be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the supply unit 70 (first supply unit) of the thermal transfer printer is loaded with a take-up wound by winding the intermediate transfer medium 10 in a ribbon shape. The supply unit 70 rotates the winding of the intermediate transfer medium 10 and conveys the intermediate transfer medium 10 in a long strip shape to the printing unit 50 and the transfer unit 60 in order.

The printing unit 50 includes a thermal head 53, a rotationally driveable platen roll 54 provided on the lower side of the thermal head 53, and an elevating means (not shown) that allows the thermal head 53 to be elevated and retracted with respect to the platen roll 54. Have. The intermediate transfer medium 10 supplied from the supply unit 70 passes between the thermal head 53 and the platen roll 54.

Further, in the printing unit 50, the transfer paper 20 passes between the thermal head 53 and the platen roll 54 from the supply roll 51 (second supply unit) side via the guide roll 55, and via the guide roll 56. Therefore, it is wound on the take-up roll 52. Between the thermal head 53 and the platen roll 54, the dye layer 25 and the molten layer 26 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 and the receiving layer 13 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 face each other.

The thermal head 53 heats the dye layer 25 from the substrate 21 side of the thermal transfer sheet 20 and transfers the dye to the receiving layer 13 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 to form an image. Further, the thermal head 53 heats the molten layer 26 from the substrate 21 side of the thermal transfer sheet 20 and transfers the thermal meltable ink or the like to the receiving layer 13 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 to form an image (characters or the like). ..

The intermediate transfer medium 10 in which the image is formed on the receiving layer 13 in the printing unit 50 is conveyed to the transfer unit 60 via the guide roll 72.

The transfer unit 60 includes a heat roller 61 and a pressure roll 62 provided below the heat roller 61. The transfer unit 60 transfers the transfer layer 14 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 to the card 40 supplied from the card supply unit 42 (third supply unit).

The card supply unit 42 includes a feeding device for feeding the sheet-fed cards 40 one by one in accordance with the transportation of the intermediate transfer medium 10, a conveyor device for transporting the fed cards 40, and the like.

The transfer unit 60 superimposes the receiving layer 13 surface of the intermediate transfer medium 10 on which the image is formed on the card 40 between the heat roller 61 and the pressure roll 62, and feeds the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the card 40. The intermediate transfer medium 10 is heated by the heat roller 61. As a result, the transfer layer 14 is transferred to the card 40, and an image is formed on the card 40.

The image-formed cards 40 (printed objects) are conveyed to the ejection unit 44 and are accumulated one by one. The intermediate transfer medium 10 on which the transfer layer 14 is transferred to the card 40 is wound on a winding roll 71 (winding unit).

If the material of the card 40 to which the heat from the heat roller 61 is applied is different, the behavior of the temperature change will be different due to the difference in thermal conductivity and specific heat. For example, consider a case where the card 40 is ejected from the card supply unit 42, reaches the transfer unit 60, and heat from the heat roller 61 is applied to the card tip portion. When the card 40 is a metal card, the heat conductivity is higher than that of the resin card, so that the heat from the heat roller 61 is easily diffused to the entire card. Therefore, the temperature of the card tip of the metal card is less likely to rise than that of the card tip of the resin card.

When the temperature is not sufficiently raised, the transferability of the transfer layer 14 from the intermediate transfer medium 10 to the card 40 may not be good. For example, in the tip portion of the card (the transfer start portion of the transfer layer), there may be a problem that the transfer layer is not transferred from the intermediate transfer medium. In order to raise the temperature of the card sufficiently, it is conceivable to raise the temperature of the heat roller or slow down the feeding speed of the card. However, if the temperature of the heat roller is raised according to the card material whose temperature is difficult to rise, the power consumption of the thermal transfer printer becomes unnecessarily high when processing cards made of other materials. Further, if the card feeding speed is slowed down according to the card material whose temperature is difficult to rise, the number of cards processed per hour of the thermal transfer printer may be uniformly reduced, and the production efficiency may be lowered.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the feed rate (movement speed) of the card 40 when transferring the transfer layer 14 is changed depending on the material of the card. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a material having a high thermal conductivity slows down the card feed rate as compared with a material having a low thermal conductivity.

Further, with a material having high thermal conductivity, it is difficult for the temperature of the tip of the card to rise particularly in the initial state when heat is started to be applied from the heat roller 61 to the card 40. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5C, the card feed speed at the tip of the card (first speed V1) is slowed down, and then the card feed speed is gradually increased to a predetermined speed (second speed V2). It is preferable to feed the card at a speed of V2 from the middle of the process (the area behind the tip of the card). For example, the first speed V1 is about ½ of the second speed V2. It is preferable to slow down the card feed speed within a range of about 10 mm at the tip of the card. Since the card feed speed may fluctuate slightly due to the influence of friction, etc., the card feed speed becomes the first speed V1 at the tip of the card, which is almost constant, and after the speed is increased to the second speed V2, the card feed speed is increased. The second speed V2 is almost constant.

By changing the card feed rate while transferring the transfer layer 14 to one card 40 in this way, the temperature at the tip of the card is sufficiently raised to ensure reliable transferability, and the feed rate is increased from the middle onward. It can be raised to suppress the decrease in production efficiency.

In the table T stored in the storage unit 32, the card feed speed and the card feed speed are changed according to the type (material) of the card 40, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c). Are recorded in association with each other.

It is preferable to increase the winding speed of the intermediate transfer medium 10 by the winding roll 71 as the card feeding speed changes (accelerates). Alternatively, a torque limiter may be attached to the rotating shaft of the take-up roll 71 so that the intermediate transfer medium 10 is taken up with a constant tension regardless of the feed rate of the card 40.

Next, a method for manufacturing a printed matter according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the thermal transfer printer is turned on and activated, and the card 40 to be transferred is loaded in the card supply unit 42, the operation display unit 34 displays a screen for selecting the type (material) of the card 40. When the user selects a card type from the selection screen (step S1), the control unit 30 extracts the transfer processing conditions corresponding to the selected card type from the table T (step S2).

When image data is input from a computer (not shown), the printing unit 50 of the thermal transfer printer prints an image on the intermediate transfer medium 10 (step S3).

In the image printing step, first, the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the Y layer 22 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 are aligned, the thermal head 53 descends toward the platen roll 54, and the intermediate transfer medium 10 is interposed through the thermal transfer sheet 20 and the intermediate transfer medium 10. The thermal head 53 comes into contact with the platen roll 54. The platen roll 54 is rotationally driven to feed the transfer paper 20 and the intermediate transfer medium 10. During this period, the region of the Y layer 22 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 is selectively heated by the thermal head 53 based on the image data transmitted to the thermal head 53, and the yellow dye is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet 20 to the receiving layer 13.

After the transfer of yellow, the thermal head 53 rises and separates from the platen roll 54. Next, the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the M layer 23 of the transfer paper 20 are aligned. Then, the M layer 23 and the C layer 24 are heated in the same manner as in the method of transferring the yellow dye to the receiving layer 13, and the magenta dye and the cyan dye are sequentially transferred to the receiving layer 13. As a result, a color image is formed on the receiving layer 13.

After forming the color image, the thermal head 53 rises and separates from the platen roll 54. Next, the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the molten layer 26 of the transfer paper 20 are aligned. The thermal head 53 descends toward the platen roll 54, and the thermal head 53 comes into contact with the platen roll 54 via the thermal transfer sheet 20 and the intermediate transfer medium 10. The platen roll 54 is rotationally driven to feed the transfer paper 20 and the intermediate transfer medium 10. During this time, the region of the molten layer 26 of the heat transfer sheet 20 is selectively heated by the thermal head 53 based on the image data transmitted to the thermal head 53. As a result, the molten layer 26 corresponding to the image (character) is transferred, and the image (character) is formed on the intermediate transfer medium 10.

The intermediate transfer medium 10 on which the image is formed is transferred to the transfer unit 60. The transfer unit 60 transfers the transfer layer 14 including the image forming region onto the card 40 (step S4). At this time, the transfer unit 60 conveys the card 40 at a feed rate based on the transfer processing conditions extracted in step S2. The image-formed card 40 is transported to the ejection unit 44 and accumulated. When continuing the thermal transfer process (step S5_Yes), the process returns to step S3.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the card 40 is a card 40 having a high thermal conductivity such as a metal card, the card feeding speed at which the transfer layer 14 is transferred to the tip of the card is slowed down. Therefore, the card temperature can be sufficiently raised and good transferability can be ensured. Then, by gradually increasing the card feeding speed and increasing the card feeding speed after the middle of the process, the processing time of one card 40 can be prevented from becoming excessively long, and the decrease in production efficiency can be suppressed.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to experimental examples alternative to the examples.
[Experimental Example 1]
An iron card and a PVC card were prepared, passed through a laminator, and the change in surface temperature was measured. The laminator has two heat rollers, the set temperature is 125 ° C., and the feed rate is 1.0 mm / sec. And said.

The card size is a substantially rectangular shape with a length of 54 mm and a width of 86 mm, and the card is passed through a laminator in the long side direction with one short side at the beginning. Thermocouples for measuring the surface temperature were attached at 6 mm and 50 mm from the tip of the card to be inserted into the laminator. The card with the thermocouple attached was sandwiched between paper and a polyimide sheet and passed through a laminator. The experimental results are shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ultimate temperature of the PVC card was higher than that of the iron card, and the temperature difference was maintained for several seconds. The temperature difference between the iron card and the PVC card was larger at the tip of the card than at the center of the card. It was confirmed that there was a difference in temperature behavior depending on the card material.

[Experimental Example 2]
An iron card and a PVC card were prepared, a thermocouple for measuring the surface temperature was attached to the card, and this was sandwiched between paper and a polyimide sheet and passed through a laminator. The card size is a substantially rectangular shape with a length of 54 mm and a width of 86 mm, and the card is passed through a laminator in the long side direction with one short side at the beginning. A thermocouple was attached at a position 3 mm from the tip of the card to be inserted into the laminator. The set temperature of the laminator was 170 ° C. The card feed speed when passing through the laminator is 7 mm / sec. , 14 mm / sec. , 24 mm / sec. The surface temperature (maximum temperature reached) was measured. The experimental results are shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, it was confirmed that the surface temperature was raised by slowing down the card feed speed.

From these experimental results, when the card 40 is a card having high thermal conductivity such as a metal card as in the above embodiment, the card feeding speed at which the transfer layer 14 is transferred to the tip of the card is slowed down. As a result, it can be seen that the card temperature rises sufficiently and good transferability can be ensured. Since the difference in card temperature depending on the material is small after the middle of the card 40, it is possible to increase the feeding speed, ensure transferability, and suppress a decrease in processing efficiency.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment as it is, and at the implementation stage, the components can be modified and embodied within a range that does not deviate from the gist thereof. In addition, various inventions can be formed by an appropriate combination of the plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiment. For example, some components may be removed from all the components shown in the embodiments. In addition, components across different embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

10 Intermediate transfer medium 11 Support 12 Peeling layer 13 Receptive layer 14 Transfer layer 20 Transfer paper 21 Base material 22 Yellow layer 23 Magenta layer 24 Cyan layer 25 Dye layer 26 Melted layer 27 Color material layer 40 Card 42 Card supply section (3rd) Supply department)
50 Printing section 51 Supply roll (second supply section)
60 Transfer section 70 Supply section (first supply section)
71 take-up roll (winding part)

Claims (6)

A first supply unit for supplying an intermediate transfer medium having a transfer layer including a receiving layer on one surface of the support, and a first supply unit.
A second supply unit that supplies a heat transfer sheet having a colorant layer provided on one surface of the base material, and a second supply unit.
A printing unit that heats the heat transfer sheet based on the image data and transfers the color material layer to the transfer layer to form an image.
A third supply unit that supplies the card to be transferred,
A transfer unit that heats the intermediate transfer medium while superimposing and feeding the intermediate transfer medium and the card to transfer the transfer layer on which the image is formed onto the card.
A control unit that controls the card feed rate in the transfer unit based on the material of the card, and a control unit.
It is a thermal transfer printer equipped with
The control unit transfers the card feeding speed when the transfer layer is transferred to the tip portion within a range of at least the tip 10 mm in the feeding direction of the card, and transfers the transfer layer to a region other than the tip portion. A thermal transfer printer characterized by being slower than the card feed rate of the hour. The control unit sets the card feed rate when the transfer layer is transferred to the tip of the card as the first speed, and after transferring the transfer layer to the tip, sets the card feed speed to the second speed. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1 , wherein the control for gradually increasing the speed is performed. The card is further provided with a take-up portion for winding the intermediate transfer medium after the transfer layer is transferred.
The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the winding unit changes the winding speed of the intermediate transfer medium based on the card feed speed. The card is further provided with a take-up portion for winding the intermediate transfer medium after the transfer layer is transferred.
The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a torque limiter is attached to the take-up portion. The thermal transfer printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising an operation unit that receives an input of the material of the card. The heat transfer sheet is heated by using an intermediate transfer medium having a transfer layer including a receiving layer on one surface of the support and a heat transfer sheet having a coloring material layer on one surface of the base material. , The step of transferring the color material layer to the transfer layer to form an image, and
A step of heating the intermediate transfer medium while superimposing and feeding the intermediate transfer medium and a card to be transferred, and transferring the transfer layer on which the image is formed onto the card.
Equipped with
The card feed rate when the transfer layer is transferred to the tip portion within a range of at least the tip 10 mm in the feed direction of the card, and the card feed rate when the transfer layer is transferred to a region other than the tip portion. A method of manufacturing a printed matter, which is characterized by being slower than.

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