阅读说明：本技术 热转印印刷装置、热转印印刷系统和反转单元 (Thermal transfer printing device, thermal transfer printing system, and reversing unit ) 是由 田原省宏 于 2020-08-06 设计创作，主要内容包括：低成本地进行使用了卷筒型的显像纸的印刷和使用了单张型的显像纸的双面印刷。热转印印刷装置具有：卷纸供给部,其使卷绕有第1显像纸的显像纸辊旋转；以及印刷部,其具有对热转印片进行加热的热头,并将着色材料从所述热转印片转印至所述第1显像纸来形成图像。如果卸下所述显像纸辊,则能够在收纳所述显像纸辊的区域安装反转单元,该反转单元使单张型的第2显像纸的正反面反转。在所述区域中收纳有所述显像纸辊的第1印刷模式下,所述印刷部在所述第1显像纸上形成图像,在所述区域中安装有所述反转单元的第2印刷模式下,所述印刷部在所述第2显像纸的双面上形成图像。(Printing using a roll type image receiving sheet and double-sided printing using a single sheet type image receiving sheet are performed at low cost. The thermal transfer printing device comprises: a roll paper supply part for rotating the developing roller wound with the 1 st image-displaying paper; and a printing unit which has a thermal head for heating a thermal transfer sheet, and which forms an image by transferring a coloring material from the thermal transfer sheet to the 1 st image receiving sheet. If the developing roller is removed, a reversing unit for reversing the front and back surfaces of the 2 nd image-taking paper of a single sheet type can be attached to the area for accommodating the developing roller. Accomodate in the region under the 1 st print mode of developer roll, printing portion is in form the image on the 1 st video paper install in the region under the 2 nd print mode of reversal unit, printing portion is in form the image on the 2 nd video paper's two-sided.)

1. A thermal transfer printing apparatus is characterized in that,

the thermal transfer printing device comprises:

a roll paper supply part for rotating the developing roller to send and take up the 1 st developing paper of a roll type; and

a printing section having a thermal head for heating a thermal transfer sheet, the printing section transferring a coloring material from the thermal transfer sheet to the 1 st image receiving sheet to form an image,

the thermal transfer printing device can be provided with a paper feeding unit which feeds the 2 nd image-receiving paper of a single-sheet type,

when the developing roller is removed, a reversing unit can be attached to a region where the developing roller is once stored, the reversing unit reversing a surface facing the thermal head while the 2 nd developing paper is made to travel in one direction,

in the 1 st printing mode in which the developing roller is accommodated in the region, the printing portion forms an image on the 1 st image paper, and in the 2 nd printing mode in which the reversing unit is installed in the region, the printing portion forms an image on one surface of the 2 nd image paper and the other surface of the 2 nd image paper that is reversed by traveling in the reversing unit.

2. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1,

the thermal transfer printing apparatus is provided with a conveying path for conveying the 1 st developing paper fed from the developing roller to the printing portion,

the inversion unit has: an annular reverse conveying path; and a guide conveyance path having one end connected to the endless reverse conveyance path and the other end connected to the paper feed unit,

in a case where the reversing unit is mounted, end portions as an inlet and an outlet of the endless reversing conveyance path are connected to the conveyance path.

3. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

the paper feed unit is attached so as to connect an opening provided in a main body that houses the roll paper supply portion and the printing portion and a paper feed port of the paper feed unit.

4. A thermal transfer printing system is characterized in that,

the thermal transfer printing system has:

a main body that houses a printing unit having a thermal head that heats a thermal transfer sheet, that transfers a coloring material from the thermal transfer sheet to an image receiving sheet, and a roll paper supply unit that rotates an image receiving sheet roller to feed and wind a 1 st roll of image receiving sheet; and

a reversing unit that is attachable to a region in the main body in which the developing roller is housed, the reversing unit reversing a surface facing the thermal head while advancing a single sheet of the 2 nd image forming paper in one direction,

the main body is provided with a mounting portion for fitting an end portion of a holder, the holder is fitted into a center hole of the developing roller,

the reversing unit has an installation part which is embedded with the installation part.

5. A reversing unit is characterized in that a reversing unit is provided,

the reversing unit may be attached to a region of the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the developing roller is housed, and the reversing unit reverses a surface facing the thermal head while advancing a single sheet of developing paper in one direction.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a thermal transfer printing apparatus, a thermal transfer printing system, and a reversing unit.

Background

The thermal transfer printing apparatus heats the surface of the coloring material of the thermal transfer sheet in contact with the image receiving paper and presses the thermal head against the back surface side of the thermal transfer sheet, thereby transferring the coloring material of the thermal transfer sheet to the image receiving paper to print an image. In the use of an album or a calendar, both sides of an image-receiving sheet are sometimes printed.

Thermal transfer printing apparatuses using a web-like image paper formed by winding a long strip-like image paper have been widely used. The roll type image receiving sheet is excellent in the portability of a large volume image receiving sheet, the stability of the sheet feeding operation in the apparatus, the cost of sheet feeding, and the like. However, the image receiving paper may be wound in a roll state, and the printed matter may curl. Curl of a printed matter can be effectively suppressed by using a single-sheet type image-bearing paper. In consideration of the user's desire or the use of the printed matter, it is preferable to prepare a printer that prints on a roll type image receiving sheet and a printer that prints on both sides on a single sheet type image receiving sheet, but the cost increases when 2 printers are prepared.

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 5945917

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a thermal transfer printing apparatus, a thermal transfer printing system, and a reversing unit capable of performing printing using a roll type image receiving sheet and duplex printing using a sheet type image receiving sheet at low cost.

The thermal transfer printing apparatus of the present invention includes: a roll paper supply part for rotating the developing roller to send and take up the 1 st developing paper of a roll type; and a printing unit having a thermal head for heating a thermal transfer sheet, the printing unit transferring a coloring material from the thermal transfer sheet to the 1 st image receiving sheet to form an image, the thermal transfer printing apparatus being capable of mounting a paper feed unit, the paper feeding unit feeds single type 2 nd image-forming paper, if the image-forming roller is detached, the reversing unit can be installed in the area where the image-forming roller is stored, the reversing unit reverses a surface facing the thermal head while moving the 2 nd image forming sheet in one direction, in a 1 st printing mode in which the developing roller is accommodated in the area, the printing section forms an image on the 1 st image forming sheet, in a 2 nd printing mode in which the reversing unit is attached to the area, the printing portion forms an image on one surface of the 2 nd image paper and the other surface of the 2 nd image paper that is reversed while traveling in the reversing unit.

The thermal transfer printing system of the present invention comprises: a main body that houses a printing unit having a thermal head that heats a thermal transfer sheet, that transfers a coloring material from the thermal transfer sheet to an image receiving sheet, and a roll paper supply unit that rotates an image receiving sheet roller to feed and wind a 1 st roll of image receiving sheet; and a reversing unit that is mountable in an area in the main body that has received the development roller, the reversing unit reversing a surface opposed to the thermal head while causing a single-sheet type 2 nd development paper to travel in one direction, an installation portion in which an end of the holder is fitted is provided on the main body, the holder is fitted into a center hole of the development roller, and the reversing unit has an installation portion in which the installation portion is fitted.

According to the present invention, printing using a roll type image receiving sheet and double-sided printing using a single sheet type image receiving sheet can be performed at low cost.

Drawings

Fig. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a printing process for a roll type image receiving sheet.

Fig. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a printing process on a single-sheet type image receiving sheet.

Fig. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a printing process on a single-sheet type image receiving sheet.

Fig. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a printing process on a single-sheet type image receiving sheet.

Fig. 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining a printing process on a single-sheet type image receiving sheet.

Fig. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to a modification.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a reversing unit mounted on a main body of the thermal transfer printing apparatus.

Fig. 8A and 8B are perspective views of the main body of the thermal transfer printing apparatus.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the width, thickness, length, shape, and the like of each member are schematically shown in comparison with the embodiments in order to make the description more clear, but this is merely an example and is not intended to limit the explanation of the present invention.

The thermal transfer printing system of the present embodiment includes a thermal transfer printing apparatus, a unit that can be attached to the thermal transfer printing apparatus and supplies a single-sheet type receiver sheet, a unit that reverses the single-sheet type receiver sheet, and the like, and includes a 1 st print mode that prints an image on one side of a roll type receiver sheet 22 as shown in fig. 1A and 1B, and a 2 nd print mode that prints an image on both sides of a single-sheet type receiver sheet 50 as shown in fig. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B. The image paper 22 is one in which a receiving layer is provided on one surface of a base material, and the image paper 50 is one in which receiving layers are provided on both surfaces of a base material.

The thermal transfer printing apparatus includes a thermal head 1, and the thermal head 1 prints an image by sublimation transfer of Y, M, C onto an image-receiving sheet using a thermal transfer sheet 5 in which a Y layer containing a yellow dye (Y), an M layer containing a magenta dye (M), a C layer containing a cyan dye (C), and a protective layer (OP) are sequentially provided in this order on the surface, and transfers the protective layer onto the image. In the thermal transfer sheet 5, a molten layer containing a binder resin and a coloring material such as a pigment or carbon black, and a Y layer, an M layer, and a C layer as a dye layer for sublimation transfer may be provided in this order in the surface order, in addition to the OP layer. As the thermal transfer sheet 5 and the image receiving sheets 6 and 50, known thermal transfer sheets and image receiving sheets used in such thermal transfer printing apparatuses can be used.

The thermal transfer sheet 5 is wound around the unwinding section 3, and the thermal transfer sheet 5 unwound from the unwinding section 3 passes through the thermal head 1 and is wound around the winding section 4 to be collected.

A platen roller 2 is provided at a position facing the thermal head 1 via a thermal transfer sheet 5. The printing section P including the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 2 sandwiches the image receiving paper and the thermal transfer sheet 5, and heats the thermal transfer sheet 5 from the back side to transfer the dye to the receiving layer of the image receiving paper, thereby forming an image.

In the 1 st printing mode, the main body 10 of the thermal transfer printing apparatus is loaded with the development roller 20, and the development paper 22 is wound around the development roller 20. A holder 24 (see fig. 8B) is fitted into a center hole of the development roller 20, and when the holder 24 is rotated (rotated forward/backward) by a roll paper supply unit (not shown) provided in the main body 10, the development roller 20 is rotated to feed (convey to the downstream side) or wind (convey to the upstream side) the development paper 22.

The image paper 22 fed from the development roller 20 is conveyed to the printing portion P through the conveyance path 13 (upstream side conveyance path). The image paper 22 passing through the printing portion P is conveyed to the discharge port side via the conveyance path 14 (downstream side conveyance path). The conveying path 13 is provided with conveying rollers 6 and 7. A conveying roller 8 and a cutter 9 are provided in the conveying path 14. Guide rollers (not shown) are appropriately provided in the conveyance paths 13 and 14 so as to be freely rotatable. The conveyance paths 13 and 14 (image paper conveyance paths) are formed by the conveyance rollers 6 and 7, guide rollers, and their gaps.

The control unit 70 controls driving of each member of the thermal transfer printing apparatus to perform a printing process. In the printing process, first, the image receiving sheet 22 is aligned with the Y-layer position of the thermal transfer sheet 5, and the thermal head 1 is brought into contact with the platen roller 2 via the image receiving sheet 22 and the thermal transfer sheet 5. Subsequently, while the image receiving sheet 22 and the thermal transfer sheet 5 are conveyed in a predetermined direction, the thermal head 1 selectively and sequentially heats the Y layer in accordance with the image data, thereby sublimation-transferring Y from the thermal transfer sheet 5 onto the image receiving sheet 22.

After the sublimation transfer of Y, the thermal head 1 ascends and is separated from the platen roller 2. Next, the image paper 22 is aligned with the M-layer position of the thermal transfer sheet 5. In the same manner as the sublimation transfer of Y, M and C are sequentially sublimation transferred onto the image receiving sheet 22, and an image of 1 screen is formed on the image receiving sheet 22. Next, the protective layer (0P layer) is transferred onto the image by the thermal head 1.

The image receiving sheet 22 on which the protective layer is transferred is cut into a predetermined size by the cutter 9, and the produced printed matter is discharged.

As shown in fig. 2A and 7, in the 2 nd printing mode, the development roller 20 is detached from the main body 10, and the reversing unit 30 is mounted in the area where the development roller 20 is housed. Further, a paper feed unit 40 (1 st paper feed unit) is mounted in the main body 10, and the paper feed unit 40 feeds a single-sheet type image display paper 50. The shutter 12 is opened to connect the opening 11 to the paper feed port 48 of the paper feed unit 40, and the shutter 12 covers the opening 11 provided on the side surface of the main body 10.

For example, as shown in fig. 8A and 8B, the side surface 10S of the main body 10 provided with the opening 11 is pulled out, and the development roller 20 is detached from the main body 10. The development roller 20 has a holder 24 (reel member) embedded in a center hole. When the development roller 20 is mounted in the main body 10, the end 26 of the holder 24 in the axial direction is fitted and fixed to a mounting portion (not shown) on the main body 10 side.

The reversing unit 30 is also provided with a mounting portion (not shown) having the same shape as the end portion 26 of the holder 24, and the reversing unit 30 can be mounted on the main body 10 by fitting the mounting portion of the reversing unit 30 to a mounting portion on the main body 10 side, similarly to the developing roller 20.

As shown in fig. 2A, the reversing unit 30 has an annular reversing conveyance path 32, a conveyance roller 34, and a guide conveyance path 36. An end 33 of the annular reverse conveying path 32 is connected to the conveying path 13. The end portion 33 has a function as an inlet and an outlet of the annular reverse conveying path 32. The endless reverse conveyance path 32 reverses the image forming sheet 50 having one surface facing the thermal head 1 while allowing the image forming sheet 50 to travel in one direction, and allows the other surface to face the thermal head 1.

The annular reverse conveyance path 32 has a substantially circular outer shape as a whole, and the conveyance paths 13 and 14 and the printing portion P are arranged along the outer periphery of the annular reverse conveyance path 32. A freely rotatable guide roller (not shown) is appropriately provided in the endless reverse conveying path 32. The endless reverse conveyance path 32 (image paper conveyance path) is formed by a conveyance roller 34, a guide roller, and a gap therebetween.

The guide conveyance path 36 connects the paper feed unit 40 and the annular reverse conveyance path 32. Specifically, one end of the guide conveyance path 36 is connected to the annular reverse conveyance path 32, and the other end is connected to the conveyance path 47 of the paper feed unit 40. A guide roller (not shown) capable of freely rotating is appropriately provided in the guide conveyance path 36. The guide conveying path 36 (image paper conveying path) is formed by guide rollers and their gaps.

The paper feed unit 40 includes: a storage section 41 for storing the image-display paper 50 in a stacked state; and a conveying path 47 for conveying the image paper 50 fed out from the storage unit 41 toward the main body 10. The conveying path 47 is provided with a conveying roller 46 and a guide roller (not shown).

A pickup lever 42 is provided below the storage unit 41, and the pickup lever 42 lifts up the image paper 50 placed on a lifting plate (bottom plate) of the storage unit 41. As shown in fig. 2B, the uppermost image display sheet 50 of the image display sheets 50 lifted by the pickup lever 42 is conveyed toward the conveyance path 47 by the pickup roller 43.

A paper feed roller 44 and a separation roller 45 are provided on the storage portion 41 side of the conveyance path 47. When the pickup roller 43 conveys the uppermost image bearing sheet 50 toward the conveyance path 47, if the lower image bearing sheet 50 is also conveyed together with the uppermost image bearing sheet 50, the lower image bearing sheet 50 is not conveyed toward the conveyance path 47 by coming into contact with the separation roller 45.

When the reversing unit 30 is attached or the flapper 12 is opened and the paper feed unit 40 is attached to the main body 10, the control section 70 switches the print mode from the 1 st print mode to the 2 nd print mode automatically or in response to an instruction from a user such as a button operation.

As shown in fig. 3A, the image forming paper 50 fed out from the storage section 41 is conveyed to the printing section P through the conveyance path 47, the guide conveyance path 36, a part of the ring-like reverse conveyance path 32, and the conveyance path 13.

As shown in fig. 3B, the printing unit P prints an image on one surface of the image receiving sheet 50. The image printing method for the image receiving paper 50 in the printing portion P is the same as the image printing method for the image receiving paper 22.

As shown in fig. 4A, the image forming sheet 50 having an image printed on one surface thereof is conveyed into the endless reverse conveyance path 32, and travels in one direction in the endless reverse conveyance path 32 by the conveyance roller 34. In the example shown in fig. 4A, the image display paper 50 travels clockwise in the endless reverse conveying path 32.

While the image forming sheet 50 traveling in one direction in the endless reverse conveying path 32 travels in the endless reverse conveying path 32, the direction thereof is reversed, and the state where one surface faces the thermal head 1 is changed to the state where the other surface faces the thermal head 1 as shown in fig. 4B.

Further, in order to make the image forming sheet 50 travel clockwise in the annular reverse conveying path 32, the length of the reverse path from the conveying roller 34 to the conveying roller 6 is shorter than the length of the image forming sheet 50, and the image forming sheet 50 is conveyed by at least one of the conveying roller 34 and the conveying roller 6.

The image forming sheet 50, which travels in one direction in the endless reverse conveyance path 32 and is reversed in its direction, enters the conveyance path 13 and is conveyed to the printing portion P. Then, as shown in fig. 5A, the printing portion P prints an image on the other side of the image receiving sheet 50.

Then, as shown in fig. 5B, the image display paper 50 with images printed on both sides is discharged to the outside via the conveyance path 14. At this time, the margin of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the image paper 50 can be removed by the cutter 9.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the web-type image receiving sheet 22 can be printed by 1 thermal transfer printing apparatus, and the single-sheet type image receiving sheet 50 can be double-printed by attaching the reversing unit 30 and the paper feeding unit 40. The cost can be reduced compared to the case of preparing 2 printers, that is, a printer that prints on a roll type image receiving sheet and a printer that prints on both sides on a single sheet type image receiving sheet.

Further, since the developing roller 20 is detached from the main body 10 and the reversing unit 30 is attached to the area in which the developing roller 20 is housed, the apparatus size in the 2 nd printing mode changes only by the amount corresponding to the paper feeding unit 40, and the entire apparatus can be made compact.

In the above embodiment, the example of performing the double-sided printing on the single-sheet type image receiving sheet 50 has been described, but the image receiving sheet having the receiving layer provided only on one surface of the base material may be stored in the storage portion 41 of the paper feed unit 40, and the single-sided printing of the image receiving sheet may be performed by the printing portion P.

In the case of performing single-sided printing of a single-sheet type image receiving sheet, as shown in fig. 6, the following may be used: a paper feed unit 60 (2 nd paper feed unit) is inserted from the opening 11, and the image paper 62 fed from the paper feed unit 60 is fed to the conveyance path 13, wherein the image paper 62 is fed by the paper feed unit 60, and the image paper 62 is provided with a receiving layer only on one surface of the base material. By using the paper feed unit 60, the transport distance of the image display paper is shorter than that of the paper feed unit 40, and the printing process can be speeded up.

Although the above embodiment has described the example in which the image forming paper 50 is fed from the paper feed unit 40 to the main body 10, the image forming paper 50 may be manually fed from the opening 11 without using the paper feed unit 40.

While the present invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

The present application is based on japanese patent application 2019-179877, filed on 30.9.9.2019, the contents of which are incorporated by reference into the present specification.

Description of the reference symbols

1: a thermal head; 2: a platen roller; 3: an unwinding part; 4: a winding section; 5: a thermal transfer sheet; 6. 7, 8: a conveying roller; 10: a main body; 20: a development paper roll; 22: image display paper; 24: a holder; 30: an inversion unit; 40: a paper supply unit; 50: image display paper; 70: a control unit; p: a printing section.