JP7565011B2 - Thermal Transfer System - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a thermal transfer system.

Transfer systems that use ink ribbons to print characters and other images on a transfer medium such as a card are widely used. An ink ribbon, for example, has a ribbon (support layer) that extends in a strip shape and an ink layer containing dyes and the like that is formed on the ribbon. In printing using an ink ribbon, ink is transferred to the transfer medium in a pattern corresponding to the desired image to be printed. In this case, the ink ribbon after ink transfer has areas where the ink has been removed by transfer to the transfer medium, in a pattern corresponding to the printed image. Therefore, it is possible to identify the printed image from the ink ribbon after ink transfer. Therefore, when using an ink ribbon to print confidential information such as ID information such as a name and address on a transfer medium, care must be taken when handling the ink ribbon after ink transfer.

To address this issue, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a thermal transfer system in which a heater is brought into contact with the outermost ink ribbon wound around a winding section of the ink ribbon, on which ink has been transferred with a first pattern corresponding to ID information, and a disturbance pattern is transferred to the support layer of the ink ribbon located inside the ink ribbon.

JP 2013-111866 A

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for the protection of personal information. Therefore, the present inventors set themselves the task of providing a thermal transfer system that can more appropriately prevent the leakage of information that should be kept secret, and conducted intensive research.

In view of the above, the present disclosure aims to provide a thermal transfer system that can appropriately prevent the leakage of confidential information.

The thermal transfer system according to the present disclosure is a transfer system that transfers ink to a transferee using an ink ribbon having a support layer and an ink layer, and includes a sending section that sends out the ink ribbon, a first transfer device that transfers the ink of the ink layer of the ink ribbon sent out from the sending section to the transferee in a first pattern, a winding section that winds up the ink ribbon on which the first pattern has been transferred, a second transfer device that transfers the ink of the ink layer of the outer ink ribbon, which is the ink ribbon located at the outermost periphery of the ink ribbons wound on the winding section, in a second pattern to the support layer of the inner ink ribbon, which is the ink ribbon wound on the winding section and adjacent to the outer ink ribbon, and a peeling roller that guides the outer ink ribbon so that the outer ink ribbon on which the second pattern has been transferred is peeled off from the inner ink ribbon and then wound on the winding section.

The thermal transfer system may further include a main body that holds at least the first transfer device and the second transfer device, and an ink ribbon cassette that holds the peeling roller and is removably set in the main body, and the peeling roller may be configured to take an installation position in the ink ribbon cassette where it guides the ink ribbon and a retracted position where it is retracted from the ink ribbon.

The thermal transfer system may further include a main body that holds at least the first transfer device, the second transfer device, and the peeling roller, and an ink ribbon cassette that is removably set in the main body, and the peeling roller may be configured to be movable from an initial position separated from the ink ribbon when the ink ribbon cassette is set in the main body to an operating position that guides the outer ink ribbon so that the outer ink ribbon is peeled off from the inner ink ribbon and wound again on the winding section.

The thermal transfer system according to the present disclosure is a thermal transfer system that transfers ink to a transfer target using an ink ribbon having a support layer and an ink layer, and includes a sending section that sends out the ink ribbon, a first transfer device that transfers the ink of the ink layer of the ink ribbon sent out from the sending section to the transfer target in a first pattern, a winding section that winds up the ink ribbon to which the first pattern has been transferred, and a transfer device that transfers the ink of the ink layer of the outer ink ribbon, which is the ink ribbon located at the outermost periphery of the ink ribbons wound on the winding section, to the ink layer of the outer ink ribbon wound on the winding section, which is wound on the winding section on the inner side of the outer ink ribbon. The thermal transfer system may include a second transfer device that transfers a second pattern to the support layer of the inner ink ribbon, which is an ink ribbon adjacent to the outer ink ribbon, and a control unit that controls the thermal transfer system, and the control unit may operate the second transfer device to transfer the ink of the ink layer of the outer ink ribbon to the support layer of the inner ink ribbon in the second pattern, and then control the thermal transfer system to peel off the outer ink ribbon to which the second pattern has been transferred from the inner ink ribbon by rewinding the outer ink ribbon wound on the winding section.

The thermal transfer system disclosed herein can appropriately prevent the leakage of confidential information.

1 is a front view showing a schematic diagram of a thermal transfer system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing the ink ribbon on which a first pattern has been transferred by a first transfer device in area A of FIG. 1; 2 is an enlarged front view showing a take-up unit, a second transfer device, and a peeling roller of the thermal transfer system of the present embodiment, illustrating area B in FIG. 1 . FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a second pattern by a second transfer device. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating an ink ribbon onto which a second pattern has been transferred by a second transfer device; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink ribbon cassette according to the embodiment, illustrating a state in which a peeling roller is in an installed position. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink ribbon cassette according to the embodiment, in which the peeling roller is in a retracted position; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the ink ribbon cassette of the embodiment, showing a state in which an ink ribbon is set. 5A to 5C are front views showing a procedure for setting an ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette of the embodiment. 5A to 5C are front views showing a procedure for setting an ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette of the embodiment. 5A to 5C are front views showing a procedure for setting an ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette of the embodiment. 5A to 5C are front views showing a procedure for setting an ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette of the embodiment. 5A to 5C are front views showing a procedure for setting an ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette of the embodiment. 10A to 10C are front views showing a procedure for setting the peeling roller in the thermal transfer system of the first modified example, in which the peeling roller is in an initial position. 13A and 13B are front views showing a procedure for setting the peeling roller in the thermal transfer system of the first modified example, and show a state in which the peeling roller is being moved. 11A to 11C are front views showing a procedure for setting the peeling roller in the thermal transfer system of the first modified example, in which the peeling roller is in an operating position. FIG. 13 is a front view showing an ink ribbon cassette of a thermal transfer system according to a first modified example. FIG. 11 is a front view showing a schematic diagram of a thermal transfer system according to a second modified example. 13 is a flow diagram showing the flow of control for transferring a second pattern and peeling off an ink ribbon in a thermal transfer system according to a second modified example. FIG. 13 is an enlarged front view showing the flow of control for transferring a second pattern and peeling off an ink ribbon in a thermal transfer system according to a second modified example. FIG. 13 is an enlarged front view showing the flow of control for transferring a second pattern and peeling off an ink ribbon in a thermal transfer system according to a second modified example. FIG. 13 is an enlarged front view showing the flow of control for transferring a second pattern and peeling off an ink ribbon in a thermal transfer system according to a second modified example. FIG. 13 is an enlarged front view showing the flow of control for transferring a second pattern and peeling off an ink ribbon in a thermal transfer system according to a second modified example. FIG. 13 is an enlarged front view showing the flow of control for transferring a second pattern and peeling off an ink ribbon in a thermal transfer system according to a second modified example. FIG.

One embodiment of the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as "this embodiment") will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a front view showing a schematic diagram of the thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment.

This thermal transfer system 10 is a system that transfers ink in a desired pattern to a transfer target 100 using an ink ribbon 20 having a support layer 21 and an ink layer 22 laminated on one surface of the support layer 21.

The thermal transfer system 10 includes, in order from the upstream side of the feed direction of the ink ribbon 20, a feed section 11, a plurality of take-up side guide rollers 13b, a first transfer device 14, a plurality of feed-up side guide rollers 13a, a second transfer device 15, a peeling roller 16, and a take-up section 12. The thermal transfer system 10 also includes a control section 17 that controls the feed section 11, the take-up section 12, the first transfer device 14, and the second transfer device 15.

The delivery section 11 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow R1 in FIG. 1 to deliver the ink ribbon 20 downstream.

The multiple feed-side guide rollers 13a are spaced apart in the transport direction of the ink ribbon 20 and guide the transport of the ink ribbon 20 sent out from the feed section 11 downstream.

The first transfer device 14 transfers the ink of the ink layer 22 of the ink ribbon 20 sent out from the delivery section 11 to the transfer target 100 in a predetermined first pattern P1 corresponding to ID information, etc.

The first transfer device 14 has a first heating body 141 and a platen roller 142. The first heating body 141 is, for example, a print head having a heating element that generates heat when electricity is applied. This first heating body 141 is arranged on the support layer 21 side of the ink ribbon 20. The first heating body 141 heats the ink in the ink layer 22 of the ink ribbon 20 in a first pattern P1, thereby transferring the ink in the ink layer 22 of the ink ribbon 20 to the transfer target 100 in the first pattern P1. The platen roller 142 is arranged opposite the first heating body 141 with the ink ribbon 20 and the transfer target 100 being transported therebetween, and supports the transfer target 100.

The multiple winding side guide rollers 13b are spaced apart in the transport direction of the ink ribbon 20 and guide the ink ribbon 20 transported from the upstream side to the winding section 12.

The winding unit 12 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow R2 in FIG. 1 to wind up the ink ribbon 20 onto which the first pattern P1 has been transferred by the first transfer device 14. The winding unit 12 is driven, for example, by a stepping motor.

As described below, the second transfer device 15 transfers the ink of the ink layer 22 of the ink ribbon 20 located at the outermost periphery of the ink ribbon 20 wound on the winding section 12 to the support layer 21 of the ink ribbon 20 located inside the ink ribbon 20 in a disturbance pattern, the second pattern P2.

As described below, the peeling roller 16 guides the ink ribbon 20 onto which the second pattern P2 has been transferred by the second transfer device 15 so that the ink ribbon 20 is peeled off from the ink ribbon 20 located inside it and then wound onto the winding section 12.

The control unit 17 controls the operation of the delivery unit 11, the winding unit 12, the first transfer device 14, and the second transfer device 15, for example, by outputting control signals to the drive units that drive these units.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing the ink ribbon 20 on which the first pattern P1 has been transferred by the first transfer device 14 in area A of Figure 1.

In the ink ribbon 20 after ink transfer, the ink layer 22 consists of ink 22a that remains without being transferred to the transferee 100, and ink-missing portions 22b of the first pattern P1 that correspond to the ID information, etc. printed on the transferee 100. Therefore, it is possible to identify the ID information, etc. printed on the transferee 100 based on the pattern of the ink-missing portions 22b.

Figure 3 is an enlarged front view showing the winding section 12, the second transfer device 15, and the peeling roller 16 of the thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment, showing area B in Figure 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ink ribbon 20 is wound in the winding section 12 so that the support layer 21 of the ink ribbon 20 is positioned outside the ink layer 22. In this specification, the ink ribbon 20 positioned at the outermost periphery of the ink ribbon 20 wound in the winding section 12 is referred to as the outer ink ribbon 20A, and the ink ribbon 20 wound inwardly on the winding section 12 relative to the outer ink ribbon 20A and adjacent to the outer ink ribbon 20A is referred to as the inner ink ribbon 20B.

When the winding section 12 is winding the ink ribbon 20, the second transfer device 15 transfers the ink in the ink layer 22 of the outer ink ribbon 20A to the support layer 21 of the inner ink ribbon 20B, forming a disturbance pattern, the second pattern P2.

The second transfer device 15 has a second heating element 151 and a lifting mechanism 152. The second heating element 151 is disposed near the winding section 12, and is movable by the lifting mechanism 152 in the direction indicated by the arrow R3 in FIG. 3, i.e., in the direction approaching or moving away from the winding section 12. The second heating element 151 moves in the direction approaching the winding section 12 to heat the outer ink ribbon 20A from the support layer 21 side, and transfers the second pattern P2, which is a disturbance pattern, to the support layer 21 of the inner ink ribbon 20B.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the second pattern P2 by the second transfer device 15. Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic diagram of the ink ribbon 20 on which the second pattern P2 has been transferred by the second transfer device 15.

As a result of the transfer of the second pattern P2 by the second transfer device 15, the ink layer 22 of the outer ink ribbon 20A contains a mixture of the first pattern P1 and the second pattern P2. A pattern containing a mixture of the first pattern P1 and the second pattern P2 is transferred to the support layer 21 of the inner ink ribbon 20B. As a result, the pattern of the ink-missing portion 22b consisting of the first pattern P1, which corresponds to the ID information, etc., is destroyed to the extent that it is unrecognizable.

The second heating element 151 of the second transfer device 15 is, for example, composed of a thermal head generally referred to as an end face head. The second heating element 151 may include a plurality of heating sections configured so that each section can be driven independently, or may have a single heating pattern. However, in order to effectively destroy the pattern of the ink missing portion 22b, it is preferable that the second pattern P2 can be changed according to the aspect of the first pattern P1. From this perspective, it is preferable that the second heating element 151 of the present invention includes a plurality of heating sections configured so that each section can be driven independently.

The peeling roller 16 is disposed downstream of the second transfer device 15 near the winding section 12, and guides the outer ink ribbon 20A onto which the second pattern P2 has been transferred by the second transfer device 15 so that the outer ink ribbon 20A is peeled off from the inner ink ribbon 20B and then wound onto the winding section 12.

As shown in FIG. 5, before the outer ink ribbon 20A is peeled off from the inner ink ribbon 20B, the ink transferred to the inner ink ribbon 20B by the second pattern P2 is in contact with the ink-free portions of the ink layer 22 of the outer ink ribbon 20A. In this state, there is a risk that the ink-free portions 22b corresponding to the first pattern P1 may be visible in the ink layer 22 of the outer ink ribbon 20A, just as in the case where there is no ink-free second pattern.

To address this problem, the peeling roller 16 peels the outer ink ribbon 20A from the inner ink ribbon 20B after the second transfer device 15 transfers the second pattern P2 and before the outer ink ribbon 20A is wound by the winding section 12. This configuration also ensures that the thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment does not create a state in which the ink missing portion 22b corresponding to the first pattern P1 is visible in the ink layer 22 of the outer ink ribbon 20A after the second transfer device 15 transfers the second pattern P2.

Next, we will explain how to set the ink ribbon 20 in the thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment.

The thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment further comprises a main body that holds at least the first transfer device 14 and the second transfer device 15, and an ink ribbon cassette 30 that holds the peeling roller 16 and is removably set in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10. The ink ribbon 20 is set in the thermal transfer system 10 by setting the ink ribbon 20 in the ink ribbon cassette 30 and then setting the ink ribbon cassette 30 in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the ink ribbon cassette 30 of this embodiment, showing the peeling roller 16 in the installed position. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the ink ribbon cassette 30 of this embodiment, showing the peeling roller 16 in the retracted position. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the ink ribbon cassette 30 of this embodiment, showing the ink ribbon 20 set.

Note that the top-bottom relationship is reversed between Figures 6 to 8 and Figure 1. In other words, the ink ribbon cassette 30 shown in Figures 6 to 8 is set in the thermal transfer system 10 so that the top side in Figures 6 to 8 becomes the bottom side in Figure 1.

The ink ribbon cassette 30 has a sending-side bobbin mounting section 31, a take-up-side bobbin mounting section 32, a sending-side guide roller 13a, a take-up-side guide roller 13b, and a peeling roller 16. The sending-side bobbin mounting section 31 is the section where the sending-side bobbin 23a of the ink ribbon 20 is mounted, and the take-up-side bobbin mounting section 32 is the section where the take-up-side bobbin 23b of the ink ribbon 20 is mounted.

The peeling roller 16 is configured to take an installation position in the ink ribbon cassette 30 where it guides the ink ribbon 20, and a retracted position where it is retracted from the ink ribbon 20.

In the illustrated example, the peeling roller 16 is configured such that one end, the first end 16a, is pivotally attached to the peeling roller pivot portion 33 of the ink ribbon cassette 30 body, and the other end, the second end 16b, is detachably engaged with the peeling roller engaging portion 34. The peeling roller 16 is in the attached position when the second end 16b is engaged with the peeling roller engaging portion 34 of the ink ribbon cassette 30.

Figures 9A to 9E are front views showing the procedure for setting the ink ribbon 20 in the ink ribbon cassette 30 of this embodiment.

When setting the ink ribbon 20 in the ink ribbon cassette 30, first, as shown in Figures 9A and 9B, with the peeling roller 16 in the retracted position, attach the delivery side bobbin 23a of the ink ribbon 20 to the delivery side bobbin attachment section 31, pass the ink ribbon 20 over the delivery side guide roller 13a and the take-up side guide roller 13b, and bring the take-up side bobbin 23b to a position below the peeling roller 16.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9C, the second end 16b of the peeling roller 16 is engaged with the peeling roller engaging portion 34 of the ink ribbon cassette 30 to place the peeling roller 16 in the mounted position, with the ink ribbon 20 passing through the inside of the peeling roller 16. Note that the inside of the peeling roller 16 refers to the side facing the inside of the ink ribbon cassette 30.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9D, the take-up bobbin 23b is passed around the outside of the peeling roller 16 to a position where it contacts the ink ribbon 20 near the entrance of the take-up bobbin attachment section 32. Note that the outside of the peeling roller 16 refers to the side facing the outside of the ink ribbon cassette 30.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 9E, the take-up bobbin 23b is attached to the take-up bobbin attachment section 32 while still in contact with the ink ribbon 20.

In this way, by using the ink ribbon cassette 30 of this embodiment, the ink ribbon 20 can be easily set on the winding section 12 and the peeling roller 16.

Next, we will explain the thermal transfer system 10 of the first variant (hereinafter referred to as "Variation 1").

In the thermal transfer system 10 of the first modified example, the peeling roller 16 is provided in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10, rather than in the ink ribbon cassette 30. In other words, the thermal transfer system 10 of the first modified example further comprises a main body that holds at least the first transfer device 14, the second transfer device 15, and the peeling roller 16, and an ink ribbon cassette 30 that is detachably set in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10. The other configurations of the thermal transfer system 10 of the first modified example are basically the same as those of the thermal transfer system 10 of the present embodiment.

Figures 10A to 10C are front views showing the procedure for setting the peeling roller 16 in the thermal transfer system 10 of variant 1. Figure 10A shows the peeling roller 16 in its initial position, Figure 10B shows the peeling roller 16 in the middle of being moved, and Figure 10C shows the peeling roller 16 in its operating position.

As shown in Figures 10A to 10C, in the thermal transfer system 10 of variant 1, after the ink ribbon cassette 30 is set in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10, the peeling roller 16 held in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10 is moved from the initial position to the operating position, thereby completing the setting of the ink ribbon 20 in the thermal transfer system 10.

The initial position is a position away from the ink ribbon 20, and the operating position is a position where the outer ink ribbon 20A is guided so that the outer ink ribbon 20A is peeled off from the inner ink ribbon 20B and rewound onto the winding section 12. The peeling roller 16 is configured to move from the initial position to the operating position between the outer ink ribbon 20A and the winding section 12 along the direction R4, which is the same as the winding direction of the winding section 12.

In other words, the peeling roller 16 of the thermal transfer system 10 of variant 1 is configured to be movable from an initial position separated from the ink ribbon 20 to an operating position where the outer ink ribbon 20A is peeled off from the inner ink ribbon 20B and guided to be wound again onto the winding section 12 when the ink ribbon cassette 30 is set in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10.

Figure 11 is a front view showing the ink ribbon cassette 30 of the thermal transfer system 10 of variant 1.

As shown in FIG. 11, the ink ribbon cassette 30 of the first modified example has a peeling roller passing section 35 through which the peeling roller 16 can pass. In the illustrated example, the peeling roller passing section 35 is configured as an arc-shaped groove provided in the side wall on the front side of the ink ribbon cassette 30 main body. However, the peeling roller passing section 35 of the first modified example is not limited to this configuration as long as the peeling roller 16 can pass through it.

The movement of the peeling roller 16 from the initial position to the operating position may be performed manually, or may be performed automatically upon detection of the setting of the ink ribbon cassette 30 in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10. When the movement of the peeling roller 16 is performed automatically, the control unit 17 of the thermal transfer system 10 further controls the movement of the peeling roller 16.

In this way, the thermal transfer system 10 of variant 1 can easily set the ink ribbon 20 to the winding section 12 and the peeling roller 16.

Next, we will explain the thermal transfer system 10 of the second variant (hereinafter referred to as "Variation 2").

Figure 12 is a front view showing a schematic of the thermal transfer system 10 of variant 2.

The thermal transfer system 10 of the second modification does not have a peeling roller 16, and its control unit 17 controls the thermal transfer system 10 to operate the second transfer device 15 to transfer the ink of the ink layer 22 of the outer ink ribbon 20A to the support layer 21 of the inner ink ribbon 20B in the second pattern P2, and then rewind the outer ink ribbon 20A wound on the winding unit 12, thereby peeling the outer ink ribbon 20A to which the second pattern P2 has been transferred from the inner ink ribbon 20B. The other configurations of the thermal transfer system 10 of the second modification are basically the same as those of the thermal transfer system 10 of the present embodiment.

Figure 13 is a flow diagram showing the control flow of the transfer of the second pattern P2 and the peeling of the ink ribbon 20 in the thermal transfer system 10 of the modified example 2. Figures 14A to 14E are enlarged front views showing the control flow of the transfer of the second pattern P2 and the peeling of the ink ribbon 20 in the thermal transfer system 10 of the modified example 2.

The transfer of the second pattern P2 and the peeling of the ink ribbon 20 in the thermal transfer system 10 of variant 2 are controlled each time the first transfer device 14 transfers the first pattern P1 to one transfer target object 100.

In other words, the control of the transfer of the second pattern P2 by the second transfer device 15 is performed simultaneously with the control of the transfer of the first pattern to one of the transfer recipients 100 by the first transfer device 14, and the control of the peeling of the ink ribbon 20 is performed immediately after the end of the control of the transfer of the first pattern to one of the transfer recipients 100 by the first transfer device 14.

In controlling the transfer of the second pattern, first, as shown in FIG. 14A, before the ink ribbon 20 is wound by the winding unit 12 for the transfer of the first pattern by the first transfer device 14, the second heating element 151 of the second transfer device 15 is lowered to contact the outer ink ribbon 20A (S1).

Next, as shown in FIG. 14B, while the ink ribbon 20 is being wound by the winding unit 12 for the transfer of the first pattern by the first transfer device 14, the second transfer device 15 transfers the second pattern P2 (S2). Immediately after the transfer of the second pattern P2, the second pattern transfer portion 20a of the outer ink ribbon 20A is in a state of being wound by the winding unit 12.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14C, after the winding unit 12 stops winding the ink ribbon 20, the second heating element 151 of the second transfer device 15 is raised (S3).

Next, as shown in FIG. 14D, the ink ribbon 20 wound by the winding unit 12 is rewound, and the outer ink ribbon 20A is peeled off from the inner ink ribbon 20B (S4). The ink ribbon 20 is rewound to a position where the second pattern transfer portion 20a of the outer ink ribbon 20A is completely peeled off from the inner ink ribbon 20B. The length of the rewound ink ribbon 20 increases as the diameter of the ink ribbon 20 wound on the winding unit 12 increases.

The ink ribbon 20 is rewound by rotating the feed section 11 in the opposite direction to the direction in which the ink ribbon 20 is fed out. The feed section 11 is driven by, for example, a stepping motor, and the length of rewinding is controlled by the number of pulses input to the stepping motor.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 14E, the winding unit 12 winds the ink ribbon 20 to a standby position for the first transfer device 14 to transfer onto the next transfer target 100 (S5). The winding length of the ink ribbon 20 increases as the diameter of the ink ribbon 20 wound around the winding unit 12 increases, similar to the unwinding length. The winding length is controlled, for example, by the number of pulses input to the stepping motor that drives the winding unit 12.

In this control, the outer ink ribbon 20A is peeled off from the inner ink ribbon 20B, and then the winding section 12 winds up the ink ribbon 20 again, so that the outer ink ribbon 20A peeled off from the inner ink ribbon 20B comes into contact with the inner ink ribbon 20B again. However, the present disclosure has confirmed that the outer ink ribbon 20A and the inner ink ribbon 20B do not overlap in the same way as before peeling due to the elongation of the ink ribbon 20 that occurs during the above-mentioned rewinding and winding process of the ink ribbon 20. Therefore, in the thermal transfer system 10 of the second modification, the ink missing portion 22b corresponding to the first pattern P1 is not visible in the ink layer 22 of the ink ribbon 20 that is wound on the winding section 12 after the above-mentioned control of the peeling of the ink ribbon 20.

As described above, the thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment, variant 1, and variant 2 peels the outer ink ribbon 20A from the inner ink ribbon 20B immediately after the second transfer device 15 transfers the second pattern P2. Such a thermal transfer system 10 can appropriately prevent the leakage of confidential information.

Although an example of an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

10 Thermal transfer system 11 Delivery section 12 Winding section 13a Delivery side guide roller 13b Winding side guide roller 14 First transfer device 141 First heating body 142 Platen roller 15 Second transfer device 151 Second heating body 152 Lifting mechanism 16 Peeling roller 16a First end 16b Second end 17 Control section 20 Ink ribbon 21 Support layer 22 Ink layer 22a Ink 22b Ink missing section 23a Delivery side bobbin 23b Winding side bobbin 20a Second pattern transfer section 20A Outer ink ribbon 20B Inner ink ribbon 30 Ink ribbon cassette 31 Delivery side bobbin mounting section 32 Winding side bobbin mounting section 33 Peeling roller pivot section 34 Peeling roller locking section 35 Peeling roller passing section 100 Transferred body

Claims (2)

A thermal transfer system for transferring ink to a transfer medium using an ink ribbon having a support layer and an ink layer, comprising:
a delivery section for delivering the ink ribbon;
a first transfer device that transfers the ink of the ink layer of the ink ribbon sent out from the sending section onto the transfer target in a first pattern;
a winding section that winds up the ink ribbon onto which the first pattern has been transferred;
a second transfer device that transfers, in a second pattern, the ink of an ink layer of an outer ink ribbon, which is an ink ribbon located at the outermost periphery of the ink ribbons wound on the winding portion, onto a support layer of an inner ink ribbon, which is an ink ribbon wound on the winding portion on the inner side of the outer ink ribbon and adjacent to the outer ink ribbon;
a peeling roller that guides the outer ink ribbon, onto which the second pattern has been transferred, so that the outer ink ribbon is peeled off from the inner ink ribbon and then wound up on the winding section;
a main body that holds at least the first transfer device and the second transfer device;
an ink ribbon cassette that holds the peeling roller and is detachably set in the main body,
The peeling roller is configured to take a mounting position in the ink ribbon cassette where the peeling roller guides the ink ribbon and a retracted position where the peeling roller retracts from the ink ribbon.
Thermal transfer system. A thermal transfer system for transferring ink to a transfer medium using an ink ribbon having a support layer and an ink layer, comprising:
a delivery section for delivering the ink ribbon;
a first transfer device that transfers the ink of the ink layer of the ink ribbon sent out from the sending section onto the transfer target in a first pattern;
a winding section that winds up the ink ribbon onto which the first pattern has been transferred;
a second transfer device that transfers, in a second pattern, the ink of an ink layer of an outer ink ribbon, which is an ink ribbon located at the outermost periphery of the ink ribbons wound on the winding portion, onto a support layer of an inner ink ribbon, which is an ink ribbon wound on the winding portion on the inner side of the outer ink ribbon and adjacent to the outer ink ribbon;
a peeling roller that guides the outer ink ribbon, onto which the second pattern has been transferred, so that the outer ink ribbon is peeled off from the inner ink ribbon and then wound up on the winding section;
a main body that holds at least the first transfer device, the second transfer device, and the peeling roller;
an ink ribbon cassette that is detachably set in the main body,
The peeling roller is configured to be movable from an initial position separated from the ink ribbon when the ink ribbon cassette is set in the main body to an operating position where the outer ink ribbon is guided so that the outer ink ribbon is peeled off from the inner ink ribbon and wound around the winding section again.
Thermal transfer system.