JP7031322B2 - Thermal transfer printer, authenticity judgment system, manufacturing method and authenticity judgment method of printed matter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer, an authenticity determination system, a method for manufacturing a printed matter, an authenticity determination method, and an intermediate transfer medium.

As one of the printers for forming a thermal transfer image on an arbitrary object, an intermediate transfer medium in which a receiving layer is detachably provided on a substrate and a thermal transfer sheet having a color material layer are used to obtain an intermediate transfer medium. A thermal transfer printer has been proposed in which a coloring material is transferred to a receiving layer to form an image, and then a transfer layer containing the receiving layer on which the image is formed is transferred from an intermediate transfer medium onto a transfer subject.

The printed matter produced by this thermal transfer printer is used as an ID card such as a driver's license, a credit card, a cash card, an employee ID card, and an identification card, for example. Since such imprints may be forged, holograms are transferred or IC tags are embedded for the purpose of preventing forgery. The issuer of the ID card is demanding a method for determining the authenticity with higher accuracy.

Japanese Patent No. 4590809

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an authenticity determination system and an authenticity determination method capable of accurately determining the authenticity of a printed matter. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a printed matter, a thermal transfer printer for manufacturing the printed matter, and an intermediate transfer medium used for manufacturing the printed matter, which can be used for authenticity determination with high accuracy.

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 a support, and a coloring material layer on one surface of a base material. The second supply unit that supplies the thermal transfer sheet and the thermal transfer sheet are heated, and the color material layer is transferred to the transfer layer in the transfer region of the intermediate transfer medium to form an image, and the transfer region is formed. The printing portion that forms the identification pattern so as to straddle the remaining region of the transfer layer, the third supply portion that supplies the transferred body, and the intermediate transfer medium are heated, and the transfer layer in the transfer region is transferred to the transferred body. After transferring the transfer unit for producing a printed matter and the transfer layer in the transfer region onto the transfer subject, the first tally image obtained by dividing the identification pattern into the transfer layer remaining region remains. It is provided with a winding unit for winding the intermediate transfer medium.

The authenticity determination system of the present invention is via an input unit that accepts an input of a second tally image obtained by dividing the identification pattern formed on a printed matter produced by the thermal transfer printer of the present invention, and an input unit. The input 20-tally image is compared with the captured data of the 1-tally image remaining in the transfer layer remaining region of the intermediate transfer medium after the printed matter is produced by the thermal transfer printer, and the printed image is compared. It is provided with a determination unit for determining the authenticity of an object.

The authenticity determination system according to one aspect of the present invention is provided between the transfer unit and the winding unit, and further includes a photographing unit for photographing the 10th tally image.

The authenticity determination system of the present invention is formed on the thermal transfer printer of the present invention, a photographing unit that captures the 10th tally image, a storage unit that stores the captured 10% image, and the printed matter. The input unit that accepts the input of the second tally image obtained by dividing the identification pattern, the first tally image stored in the storage unit, and the second tally image input via the input unit are compared. However, it is provided with a determination unit for determining the authenticity of the printed image.

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 base material. The thermal transfer sheet is heated and the color material layer is transferred to the transfer layer in the transfer region of the intermediate transfer medium to form an image, and the transfer region and the transfer layer remaining region are straddled. A step of forming an identification pattern, a step of heating the intermediate transfer medium and transferring the transfer layer of the transfer region onto a transfer target to produce a printed matter, and a step of transferring the transfer layer of the transfer region to the cover. The present invention comprises a step of winding up the intermediate transfer medium in which the first tally image obtained by dividing the identification pattern remains in the transfer layer remaining region after the transfer onto the transfer body.

The authenticity determination method according to the present invention includes a step of accepting an input of a second tally image obtained by dividing the identification pattern formed on the printed matter manufactured by the method for manufacturing a printed matter of the present invention, and the first tally image. It includes a step of photographing, a step of comparing the photographed first tally image with the input second tally image, and a step of determining the authenticity of the printed matter.

In the authenticity determination method according to one aspect of the present invention, the first tally image is taken before winding up the intermediate transfer medium.

The intermediate transfer medium according to the present invention is an intermediate transfer medium in which a transfer layer is provided on one surface of the support so as to be removable from the support, and a transfer region in which the transfer layer is transferred onto the transferred body. The transfer layer is provided with an identification pattern so as to straddle the transfer layer remaining region on which the transfer layer is not transferred.

According to the present invention, the authenticity of a printed matter can be determined with high accuracy.

It is a schematic block diagram of the authenticity determination system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the intermediate transfer medium. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. It is a top view of the intermediate transfer medium in which an image was formed. It is a top view of the intermediate transfer medium after the transfer layer is transferred. It is a top view which shows the example of the printed matter to be manufactured. It is a top view of the thermal transfer sheet. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. (A) to (c) are plan views of the intermediate transfer medium on which the image was formed. It is a top view of the intermediate transfer medium in which an image was formed. It is a top view of the intermediate transfer medium before image formation.

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an authenticity determination system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The authenticity determination system includes a thermal transfer printer P that manufactures a printed matter, and a determination device J that determines the authenticity of a printed matter manufactured in the past.

The thermal transfer printer P uses a thermal transfer sheet 20 to print an image on a receiving layer 13 (see FIG. 3) provided on the intermediate transfer medium 10, and a printing unit 50 and a transfer layer 14 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 (see FIG. 3). ) Is transferred onto the transfer body 40, and an imaging unit 80 for photographing the intermediate transfer medium 10 after transferring the transfer layer 14 is provided.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the intermediate transfer medium 10, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 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.

Conventionally known intermediate transfer media 10 can be used. 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 such as a release layer (not shown) 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.

Detection marks 15 are formed on the intermediate transfer medium 10 at regular intervals. The area 16 between the detection marks 15 becomes a region 16 for one screen, and the coloring material is thermally transferred to the receiving layer 13 to form an image. After image formation, the region containing the image of the transfer layer 14 is transferred onto the transferred body 40.

In the intermediate transfer medium 10, the region 16 for one screen is larger than the transfer region R transferred onto the transfer target 40. Therefore, in the region 16 for one screen, the peripheral portion located outside the transfer region R becomes the transfer layer remaining region 17 in which the transfer layer 14 remains even after the transfer layer 14 is transferred to the transfer target 40. ..

As shown in FIG. 4, the printing unit 50 prints the identification pattern 18 (identification image) so as to straddle the transfer region R and the transfer layer remaining region 17 when printing an image in the transfer region R. The identification pattern 18 may be a pattern such as a barcode, or may be an illustration or a figure of a character.

When the transfer layer 14 of the transfer region R is transferred onto the transferred body 40, the identification pattern 18 is divided. As shown in FIG. 5, one of the divided identification patterns 18 (tally image 18a) remains in the transfer layer remaining region 17. As shown in FIG. 6, the other end of the divided identification pattern (tally image 18b) is transferred to the end portion of the transferred body 40. The photographing unit 80 is, for example, a digital camera, and photographs the tally image 18a (first tally image) remaining on the intermediate transfer medium 10. The photographing unit 80 may be a scanner as long as it can capture the tally image 18a.

The determination device J includes a control device 30, a storage unit 36, and an input device 38. The control device 30 is, for example, a computer and has the functions of the shooting data acquisition unit 32 and the determination unit 34.

The shooting data acquisition unit 32 acquires shooting data obtained by shooting the tally image 18a by the shooting unit 80 and stores it in the storage unit 36.

The input device 38 is, for example, a scanner, and reads the tally image 18b (second tally image) printed on the imprint object (transferred body 40) to be verified for authenticity, and inputs the image data.

The determination unit 34 collates the tally image input from the input device 38 with the shooting data stored in the storage unit 36, and if they match, the printed matter to be determined for authenticity is genuine. Is determined.

Next, the thermal transfer sheet 20 used in the thermal transfer printer P will be described. 7 is a plan view of the thermal transfer sheet 20, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the thermal 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.

The base material 21 is not particularly limited, and for example, a thin paper or a stretched or unstretched film of plastic can be used.

The dye layer 25 contains a dye and a binder resin for supporting the dye. As the dye and the binder resin, those conventionally known in the field of the sublimation type thermal transfer sheet can be appropriately selected and used.

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 pigment and a binder resin.

The configuration of the thermal transfer sheet 20 is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. For example, a back surface layer (not shown) may be provided on the surface of the thermal transfer sheet 20 opposite to the surface on which the color material layer is formed.

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 thermal transfer sheet 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. 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 between the thermal head 53 and the platen roll 54.

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). ..

In the image forming 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 thermal head 53 descends toward the platen roll 54 via 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 thermal transfer sheet 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 thermal transfer sheet 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.

Subsequently, 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 thermal transfer sheet 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 thermal transfer sheet 20 and the intermediate transfer medium 10. During this time, the region of the molten layer 26 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. As a result, an image is formed on the intermediate transfer medium 10.

When the dye layer 25 or the melt layer 26 is heated to form an image, the identification pattern 18 is printed so as to straddle the transfer region R and the transfer layer remaining region 17.

The intermediate transfer medium 10 in which the image and the identification pattern 18 are 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 transfer target 40 supplied from the transfer target supply unit 42 (third supply unit).

The transferred body supply unit 42 includes a feeding device for feeding out the sheet-fed-shaped transferred body 40 one by one in accordance with the transport of the intermediate transfer medium 10, a conveyor device for transporting the fed-out transferred body 40, and the like. In the present embodiment, the case where the single-wafer-shaped transferred body 40 is used will be described, but the transferred body may be a long roll-shaped body.

The transfer unit 60 heats the receiving layer 13 surface of the intermediate transfer medium 10 on which the image is formed by superimposing it on the transfer target 40 between the heat roller 61 and the pressure roll 62. As a result, the transfer layer 14 of the transfer region R is transferred to the transfer target 40, and an image is formed on the transfer target 40. At this time, the identification pattern 18 is divided into tally images 18a and 18b, the tally image 18a remains in the transfer layer remaining region 17 of the intermediate transfer medium 10, and the tally image 18b is transferred to the transferred body 40.

The transferred body 40 (printed object) on which the image including the tally image 18b is formed is conveyed to the discharging unit 44 and accumulated one by one.

After the transfer layer 14 is transferred to the transfer target 40, the intermediate transfer medium 10 is wound on the winding roll 71 (winding portion). An imaging unit 80 is provided between the transfer unit 60 and the take-up roll 71, and the tally image 18a remaining in the transfer layer remaining region 17 is photographed. The shooting data by the shooting unit 80 is stored in the storage unit 36.

When determining the authenticity of an imprint on the market, the tally image 18b imprinted on the end of the imprint to be determined is read. Then, by comparing the tally image 18a stored in the storage unit 36 with the read tally image 18b and determining whether or not they match, the authenticity of the printed matter can be determined with high accuracy.

The identification pattern 18 may be formed at a plurality of locations. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, it may be formed on two or three sides of the four sides of the substantially rectangular transfer region R. Further, the identification pattern 18 may be formed on all four sides. As shown in FIG. 9C, the identification pattern 18 may be formed at a plurality of locations on one side. The plurality of identification patterns 18 may be the same pattern or may be different patterns.

Further, the identification pattern 18 may be formed so as to straddle two or more sides. FIG. 10 shows an example of the identification pattern 18 straddling two sides.

By providing the identification patterns 18 at a plurality of places, not only the shape of each tally but also the positional relationship information of each tally can be used, and the accuracy of the authenticity determination can be further improved. Further, when a doubt arises in the shape of the tally, there is a high possibility that a transfer defect has occurred, and by increasing the number of these check points, the transfer defect can be detected with high accuracy.

The printing unit 50 may form the same identification pattern 18 on a plurality of screens, or may change the identification pattern 18 for each screen. Information unique to the manufactured printed matter and the photographed data of the tally image 18a may be associated and stored in the storage unit 36. At the time of authenticity determination, the shooting data corresponding to the unique information of the stamped object to be determined is used for collation.

In the above embodiment, the identification pattern 18 is formed on the intermediate transfer medium 10 when the image is formed by the printing unit 50, but as shown in FIG. 11, the identification pattern 18 is formed in advance on the intermediate transfer medium 10. You may leave it.

The identification pattern 18 may be formed using a fluorescent dye. In this case, the tally image 18a is photographed by irradiating with ultraviolet rays.

In the above embodiment, an example of photographing the tally image 18a remaining on the intermediate transfer medium 10 by the photographing unit 80 provided in the thermal transfer printer P has been described. However, the winding roll 71 is removed from the thermal transfer printer P and the intermediate transfer medium 10 is taken. You may take a picture by unwinding.

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 Receiving layer 14 Transfer layer 15 Detection mark 17 Transfer layer remaining area 18 Identification pattern 18a, 18b Tally image 20 Thermal transfer sheet 21 Base material 22 Yellow layer 23 Magenta layer 24 Cyan layer 25 Dye layer 26 Melted layer 27 Color material layer 40 Transferee 42 Transferee supply section (third supply section)
50 Printing section 51 Supply roll (second supply section)
60 Transfer section 70 Supply section (first supply section)
80 Shooting section

Claims (7)

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 thermal transfer sheet having a colorant layer provided on one surface of the substrate, and a second supply unit.
The thermal transfer sheet is heated to transfer the color material layer to the transfer layer in the transfer region of the intermediate transfer medium to form an image, and an identification pattern is formed so as to straddle the transfer region and the transfer layer remaining region. And the printing department
A third supply unit that supplies the transferred material,
A transfer unit for producing a printed matter by heating the intermediate transfer medium and transferring the transfer layer in the transfer region onto the transfer target.
A winding unit that winds up the intermediate transfer medium in which the transfer layer of the transfer region is transferred onto the transfer target, and then the first tally image obtained by dividing the identification pattern remains in the transfer layer remaining region.
A thermal transfer printer equipped with. An input unit that accepts an input of a second tally image obtained by dividing the identification pattern formed on a printed matter produced by the thermal transfer printer according to claim 1.
The second tally image input via the input unit and the captured data of the first tally image remaining in the transfer layer remaining region of the intermediate transfer medium after the printed matter is produced by the thermal transfer printer. And the determination unit that determines the authenticity of the printed matter by comparing
Authenticity judgment system equipped with. The authenticity determination system according to claim 2, further comprising a photographing unit which is provided between the transfer unit and the winding unit and captures the first tally image. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1 and
The shooting unit that shoots the 10th tally image and
A storage unit that stores the captured 10-tally image and
An input unit that accepts an input of a second tally image obtained by dividing the identification pattern formed on the printed matter, and an input unit.
A determination unit that compares the first tally image stored in the storage unit with the second tally image input via the input unit, and determines the authenticity of the printed matter.
Authenticity judgment system equipped with. The thermal 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 thermal transfer sheet having a coloring material layer on one surface of the substrate. A step of transferring the color material layer to the transfer layer in the transfer region of the intermediate transfer medium to form an image, and forming an identification pattern so as to straddle the transfer region and the transfer layer remaining region.
A step of heating the intermediate transfer medium and transferring the transfer layer in the transfer region onto a transfer target to produce a printed matter.
A step of transferring the transfer layer of the transfer region onto the transfer target, and then winding up the intermediate transfer medium in which the first tally image obtained by dividing the identification pattern remains in the transfer layer remaining region.
A method for manufacturing a printed matter. A step in which the computer accepts the input of the second tally image obtained by dividing the identification pattern formed on the printed matter manufactured by the method for manufacturing the printed matter according to claim 5.
The process in which the photographing unit captures the 10th tally image,
A step in which the computer compares the first tally image taken by the photographing unit with the input second tally image and determines the authenticity of the printed matter.
Authenticity determination method. The authenticity determination method according to claim 6, wherein the photographing unit captures the first tally image before winding the intermediate transfer medium.

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