There will be below described several embodiments of a thermal transfer printing machine of the present invention with reference to
In advance of describing these thermal transfer printing machines, we now describe a thermal-head transfer-position switching unit for a thermal print head and a thermal-head press unit with reference to
In
Between the first platen roller 11 on the side of the first transfer position and the second platen roller 12 on the side of the second transfer position, there is a thermal-head transfer-position switching unit 20 constituting a substantial part of the present invention. This transfer-position switching unit 20 corresponds to a thermal-head rotating unit for rotating a thermal print head 21 between the first transfer position and the second transfer position over a predetermined range of angles.
We here describe a concrete example of the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit 20 mentioned above.
In the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit (i.e. the thermal-head rotating unit of the invention) 20, the thermal print head 21 is provided, along the axial direction of the first and second platen rollers 11, 12, with a plurality of convex heaters (not shown) and a heat sink 21a. The convex heaters are formed on the front surface of a rectangular solid body, while the heat sink 21a is formed on the back surface of the rectangular solid body integrally.
The thermal print head 21 and the heat sink 21a are accommodated in a moving frame 22 integrally. The thermal print head 21 and the heat sink 21a are positioned on one side of the moving frame 22. The moving frame 22 is shaped so as to be a framework made from sheet metals. While, a later-mentioned spring stopper plate 36 (only shown in
In this way, the moving frame 22 accommodates the thermal print head 21 and the heat sink 21a therein and further includes the spring stopper plate 36 attached thereto. The moving frame 22 is fitted in one end of a thermal-head carrier 23 so as to be slidable vertically (both directions of arrows U and D of
On the other side of the thermal-head carrier 23, a first shaft 24 is arranged so as to bridge over a gap between the left sidewall 23c and the right sidewall 23d while substantially paralleled with a rotating shaft 11a of the first platen roller 11 and a rotating shaft 12a of the second platen roller 12. Both ends of the first shaft 24 project from the left and right sidewalls 23c, 23d outwardly. In positioning, the first shaft 24 is arranged at an intermediate position between the first platen roller 11 and the second platen roller 12. Additionally, the first shaft 24 is supported, through both ends thereof, by a not-shown chassis.
Outside the left sidewall 23c of the thermal-head carrier 23, a thermal-head rotating gear 25 is fitted to the first shaft 24 and also fixed on the left sidewall 23c of the carrier 23 integrally. This thermal-head rotating gear 25 meshes with a first pinion gear 27 fixed on an output shaft of a geared motor 26 for rotating the thermal print head 21. The geared motor 26 is fixed on the above chassis (not shown), forming a first motor of the invention.
A controller S is arranged to control the operation of the thermal transfer printing machine 10. The geared motor 26 is driven by a control signal outputted from the controller S. In operation, when the thermal-head rotating gear 25 is rotated by the geared motor 26 through the first pinion gear 27, the thermal print head 21 in one body with the thermal-head carrier 23 rotates about the first shaft 24 as a rotating center over a predetermined range of angles between the side of the first platen roller 11 corresponding to the first transfer position and the side of the second platen roller 12 corresponding to the second transfer position, in both normal and opposite directions. In connection, regarding the relationship between the thermal-head carrier 23 in integral with the thermal-head rotating gear 25 and the first shaft 24, there may be employed either one supporting form where both ends of the first shaft 24 are fixed to the not-shown chassis so that the thermal-head carrier 23 and the thermal-head rotating gear 25 are rotatably supported by the first shaft 24 or another supporting form where the thermal-head carrier 23 and the thermal-head rotating gear 25 are fixed to the first shaft 24 so that both ends of the first shaft 24 are rotatably supported by the not-shown chassis.
As for a method of positioning the thermal print head 21 in either the first transfer position or the second transfer position, there may be selected either one method of pulse-driving the geared motor 26 so as to rotate by a predetermined angle or another method of controlling the drive of the geared motor 26 based on detection signals outputted from positioning sensors (not shown) in the vicinity of the first transfer position and the second transfer position.
Owing to the provision of the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit (corres. the thermal-head rotating unit of the invention) 20, therefore, the position of the thermal print head 21 can be selectively switched between the first transfer position opposing the first platen roller 11 and the second transfer position opposing the second platen roller 12 with such a simple structure.
The thermal-head press unit 30 is attached to the thermal-head carrier 23 forming a base for the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit (the thermal-head rotating unit) 20. The thermal-head press unit 30 corresponds to a thermal-head moving unit for allowing the thermal print head 21 to approach the first and second platen rollers 11, 12 and depart from these rollers 11, 12.
We now describe a concrete example of the thermal-head press unit (i.e. the thermal-head moving unit of the invention) 30.
In the thermal-head press unit 30, a second shaft 31 is arranged at an intermediate position of the thermal-head carrier 23 so as to bridge over a gap between the left sidewall 23c and the right sidewall 23d, in parallel with the first shaft 24. The second shaft 31 has its both ends rotatably supported by the sidewalls 23c, 23d, respectively. Inside the right sidewall 23d of the thermal-head carrier 23, a thermal-head press gear 32 is secured on the second shaft 31. The thermal-head press gear 32 meshes with a second pinion gear 34. This second pinion gear 34 is attached to an output shaft of a geared motor 33 for pressing the thermal print head 21. The geared motor 33 is fixed to the thermal-head carrier 23 integrally, forming a second motor of the invention.
Further, a spring pusher plate 35 is secured, through its one end, to the second shaft 31. Thus, the spring pusher plate 35 is rotatable integrally with the second shaft 31.
In the thermal-head press unit 30, as described before, the spring stopper plate 36 is integrally attached to the other end of the moving frame 22 accommodating the thermal print head 21 and the heat sink 21a (see
The spring stopper plate 36 is made from a sheet metal bent to be U-shaped substantially. Arranged in the U-shaped spring stopper plate 36 is a compression spring 37 whose one end is secured to the other side of the moving frame 22. The other end of the spring pusher plate 35 rotating together with the second shaft 31 abuts on the other end of the compression spring 37. Thus, the compression spring 37 is adapted so as to be extensible in association with the rotational movement of the other end of the spring pusher plate 35.
In the thermal-head press unit 30 shown in
When the thermal-head press unit 30 is in the initial state, the spring pusher plate 35 has one end secured to the second shaft 31 of the thermal-head press gear 32 and the other end urged by the expanding compression spring and also restricted by the lower end of the U-shaped spring stopper plate 36. In this state, all of the thermal print head 21, the heat sink 21a and the spring stopper plate 36 are integrally moved in the thermal-head carrier 23 downwardly in the figure (a direction of arrow D), so that the thermal print head 21 departs from the first platen roller 11 (or the second platen roller 12) greatly.
On the contrary, as shown in
Subsequently, when it is required to bring the thermal-head press unit 30 into its initial state of
With the above-mentioned structure, the thermal print head 21 becomes accessible to the first and second platen rollers 11, 12 and also separable from the rollers 11, 12 irrespective of the transfer positioning of the thermal print head 21 (i.e. in the first transfer position and the second transfer position) due to the thermal-head press unit 30.
Additionally, as the thermal-head press unit 30 is attached to the thermal-head carrier 23, the thermal transfer printing machine 10 can be manufactured at a low price in comparison with an arrangement where thermal-head press units are arranged in the first transfer position and the second transfer position, respectively.
The above-mentioned arrangement where the thermal-head press unit 30 urges the thermal print head 21 against the first platen roller 11 or the second platen roller 12 may be modified as follow. In this modification, the printing machine is modified so as to press the first and second platen roller 11, 12 against the thermal print head 21 on the assumption of rotatably supporting it about not-shown shafts projecting from the sidewalls 23c, 23d, in parallel with the rotating shafts 11a, 12a of the platen rollers 11, 12. However, it is noted that this modification requires two thermal-head press units in charge of the first and second platen roller 11, 12. Therefore, it could be said that the illustrated arrangement where the thermal-head carrier 23 is equipped with the thermal-head press unit 30 is advantageous in comparison with the above modification.
Next, two embodiments of the present invention will be described in order. In common, the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit 20 and the thermal-head press unit 30 both forming the substantial parts of the present invention are applied to each thermal transfer printing machine. Throughout these embodiments, common elements will be indicated with the same reference numerals, respectively.
In the thermal transfer printing machine 10A of the first embodiment, as shown in
Between the first platen roller 11 on the side of the first transfer position and the second platen roller 12 on the side of the second transfer position, there are arranged the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit 20 and the thermal-head press unit 30 both of which are previously described with reference to
A printing paper 42 wound around a reel 41 is taken out by a feed roller 43. While transferred by a plurality of transfer rollers 44 along a transfer path, the printing paper 42 runs below the first platen roller 11 on the upstream side and also runs above the second platen roller 12 on the downstream side. After being transferred by a predetermined length, the printing paper 42 is cut off by a cutter 45 on the downstream side of the second transfer position platen roller 12.
A first ink ribbon 48 is wound around a reel 46 and rolled up by a take-up reel 47. This first ink ribbon 48 is produced by applying a plurality of color inks (e.g. yellow, magenta, cyan, etc.) on a ribbon base repeatedly. In the printing machine, the first ink ribbon 48 is supplied from the reel 46 and fed into a gap between the thermal print head 21 at the first transfer position and the first rotatable platen roller 11 while laid to overlap the printing paper 42.
On the other hand, a second ink ribbon 51 is wound around a reel 49 and rolled up by a take-up reel 50. This second ink ribbon 51 is produced by evaporating various pigments of gold, silver, metallic colors on a ribbon base. In the printing machine, the second ink ribbon 51 is supplied from the reel 49 and fed into a gap between the thermal print head 21 at the second transfer position and the second rotatable platen roller 12 while laid to overlap the printing paper 42.
As described above, according to the first embodiment, the second ink ribbon 51 is coated, on its base, with evaporated pigments, such as gold, silver and metallic colors. Otherwise, without being limited to this embodiment only, the second ink ribbon may be further coated with over-coating material for protecting colored printing, UV (ultra violet) photosensitive dye or the like.
Additionally, the controller S is arranged to control the operation of the thermal transfer printing machine 10A of the first embodiment.
We now describe the printing operation of the thermal transfer printing machine 10A constructed above. In the thermal transfer printing machine 10A, both color printing and metallic printing are performed as follows. In the color printing, the position of the thermal print head 21 is switched to the first transfer position by the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit 20 receiving a command from the controller S. While rotating the first platen roller 11 in the direction of shown arrow, the first ink ribbon 48 and the printing paper 42 are held tightly between the thermal print head 21 and the first platen roller 11. Simultaneously, the controller S supplies the thermal print head 21 with image signals. During the color printing, the printing paper 42 between the thermal print head 21 and the first platen roller 11 shuttles for several times, so that a plurality of inks are laid to overlap each other on the identical area of the printing paper 42, effecting the color printing of image information, such as characters and images.
In the metallic printing, the position of the thermal print head 21 is switched from the first transfer position to the second transfer position by the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit 20 receiving a command from the controller S. Additionally, while rotating the second platen roller 12 in the direction of shown arrow, the second ink ribbon 51 and the printing paper 42 (after the color printing) are held tightly between the thermal print head 21 and the second platen roller 12. Simultaneously, the controller S supplies the thermal print head 21 with image signals to apply the metallic printing on the printing paper 42 printed with colors. In this way, the color printing and the metallic printing are applied on the printing paper 42 finally.
Thus, the thermal transfer printing machine 10A of the first embodiment cannot accomplish two printing operations in the first transfer position and the second transfer position simultaneously. However, owing to the provision of the rotatable thermal print head 21, it is possible to continuously perform two kinds of printing operations from various printing operations (e.g. color printing, metallic printing, over-coat printing, UV photosensitive dye printing, etc.). Different from the conventional printer 100 (see FIG. 1) adopting two expensive thermal print heads, therefore, the thermal transfer printing machine 10A of this embodiment can be manufactured at a low price.
One modification of the thermal transfer printing machine 10A of the first embodiment will be described with reference to
As obvious from
In case of this modification, the printing paper 42A and the printing paper 42B may be formed by different kinds of printing papers. Alternatively, in case of an identical printing paper, the printing may be applied on both sides of the identical printing paper. Additionally, the first ink ribbon 48 and the second ink ribbon 51 may be formed by either one kind of ink ribbon or different kinds of ink ribbons. Since the thermal transfer printing machine 10B is also constructed so as to allow the printing papers 42A, 42B to be selectively printed by the thermal print head 21 in spite of its impossibility of simultaneous printing in the first and second transfer positions, the thermal transfer printing machine 10B can be manufactured at a low price as well. Similarly in this modification, the controller S is adapted so as to supply the thermal print head 21 moved to the first transfer position or the second transfer position with image signals selectively.
As obvious from
In the thermal transfer printing machine 60A, the first platen roller 11 is rotatably arranged on the side of the first transfer position defined in an upper right section inside a casing 61 in the form of a box. While, the second platen roller 12 is rotatably arranged on the side of the second transfer position in a center lower section inside the casing 61, in substantial parallel with the first platen roller 11.
Between the first platen roller 11 on the side of the first transfer position and the second platen roller 12 on the side of the second transfer position, there are arranged the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit 20 and the thermal-head press unit 30 both of which are previously described with reference to
In an upper left section inside the casing 61, a first supply reel 62 for supplying an ink ribbon 66 is arranged in association with a motor 63 (see
As shown in
Returning to
As shown in
Returning to
On the left side of the card-cleaning rollers 83, a plurality of card-transfer rollers 84A to 84C are arranged to transfer the cards 81 against the second platen roller 12 horizontally. Further, a card re-transfer position sensor 85 is disposed between the card-transfer rollers 84A in pairs and the card-transfer rollers 84B in pairs. The above second platen roller 12 is positioned between the card-transfer rollers 84B in pairs and the card-transfer rollers 84C in pairs.
On the downstream side of the card-transfer rollers 84 in the transfer route of the cards 81, a card reversing unit 86 is arranged so as to be reversible as occasion demands. This card reversing unit 86 is provided to cope with such a situation that it is required to reverse each card 81 from its front side to the back side and vice versa in order to re-transfer images to both sides of the card 81 as occasion demands.
On the downstream side of the card reversing unit 86, a card discharge sensor 87 is arranged so as to allow each card 81 after the re-transfer operation to be collected into a card collecting box 88 via the sensor 87. The card collecting box 88 is arranged outside a left sidewall 61b of the casing 61.
Further, the casing 61 contains the controller S for controlling the operation of the thermal transfer printing machine 60A of the second embodiment.
It is noted that the thermal transfer printing machine 60A of the second embodiment adopts the re-transfer method. Thus, the operation of the thermal transfer printing machine 60A is started by an indication of a user confirming that the ink ribbon 66 and the re-transfer film 74 have been already prepared in the casing 61. Alternatively, through the use of the controller S, the machine 60A may be activated since the first photo sensor 68 detects the presence of the ink ribbon 66 and the second photo sensor 76 detects the presence of the re-transfer film 74.
The operation of the re-transfer type thermal transfer printing machine 60A constructed above will be described with reference to
First, as shown in
Under the above situation, the motor 65 connected to the first take-up reel 64 is driven to allow the first photo sensor 68 to detect the black-lacquered cueing mark 66c (
Next, by activating the thermal-head press unit 30 through the command from the controller S, it is performed to bring the ink ribbon 66 and the unprinted re-transfer film 74 into their tightly-contacted (press-fit) condition between the thermal head 21 and the first platen roller 11 while rotating the first platen roller 11 in the direction of arrow. Thus, while transferring the first ink ribbon 66 toward the first take-up reel 64 and also transferring the re-transfer film 74 toward the second supply reel 70, it is performed to transfer an ink image colored in yellow as the first color to the transparent receiving layer 74c of the re-transfer film 74 by the thermal print head 21, corresponding to image signals for yellow supplied from the controller S.
After completing to transfer the ink image (colored in yellow) to the re-transfer film 74, it is performed to depart the thermal print head 21 from the first platen roller 11. Additionally, the re-transfer film 74 is returned to a position identical to a frame-cueing position for the first color, bringing the re-transfer film 74 into standstill. Thereafter, the same operation as the above operation for the first color “yellow” is repeated for each remaining color (i.e. magenta, cyan, black) to transfer colored ink images to the transparent receiving layer 74c of the re-transfer film 74. Consequently, the transparent receiving layer 74c is changed to a color image layer having image information, such as characters and images, printed thereon. When the color printing on the re-transfer film 74 is completed, the transfer of the ink ribbon 66 and the re-transfer film 74 is stopped. Then, the thermal print head 21 is separated from the first platen roller 11, establishing the previously-mentioned initial state in the thermal-head press unit 30.
As shown in
Next, the lowermost card 81 in the card storage case 80 is taken out with the rotation of the card feed rollers 82 in the direction of an illustrated arrow. Continuously, through the use of the card cleaning rollers 83 and the card transfer rollers 84A and 84B, the so-extracted card 81 is transferred to a position to allow the right end of the card 81 to be detected by the card re-transfer position sensor 85. Then, the left end of the card 81 is positioned on the second platen roller 12.
During the above operation of the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit 20, the re-transfer film 74 is taken up by the second take-up reel 72, while the third photo sensor 77 counts up the number of black-lacquered cueing marks 74d (
Subsequently, by activating the thermal-head press unit 30, it is performed to bring the printed re-transfer film 74 and the card 81 into their tightly-contacted (press-fit) condition between the thermal head 21 and the second platen roller 12 while rotating the second platen roller 12 in the direction of arrow. Additionally, due to thermo-compression by the thermal print head 21 receiving a heating signal from the controller S, the color image layer printed on the transparent receiving layer 74c (
During this re-transfer operation, the re-transfer film 74 is taken up by the second take-up reel 72. This take-up operation allows the re-transfer film 74 to be peeled off the card 81. When the re-transfer operation about the card 81 is completed, the thermal print head 21 is separated from the second platen roller 12 and successively, the card 81 is transferred to the left hand by the card transfer rollers 84A to 84C. Then, the card discharge sensor 87 detects the right end of the card 81 and thereafter, it is discharged from the casing 61 into the card collecting box 88. The re-transfer operation of the card 81 is completed in this way.
In case of printing both sides of the card 81, the card reversing unit 86 operates to turn over the card 81 upside down and thereafter, it is transferred to the right hand by the card transfer rollers 84A to 84C. When the card re-transfer position sensor 85 detects the right end of the so-transferred card 81, the rightward transfer of the card 81 comes to a standstill, so that its left end stops at the thermal print head 21 on the side of the second transfer position. Thereafter, the re-transfer operation is applied to the back side of the card 81 similarly to the above-mentioned way.
On completion of the “single-sided” or “both-sided” re-transfer operation of the card 81, the position of the thermal print head 21 in the thermal head carrier 23 is switched from the second transfer position to the first transfer position by the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit 20. Note that this positional change is accomplished by rotating the thermal print head 21 about the first shaft 24 in the clockwise direction in the figure by an angle of approx. 210°. As a result, the thermal print head 21 is positioned so as to oppose the first platen roller 11.
Then, the re-transfer film 74 is rewound toward the second supply reel 70, while the second photo sensor 76 counts up the number of black-lacquered cueing marks 74d (
As mentioned above, according to the thermal transfer printing machine 60A of the second embodiment, since the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit 20 is constructed so as to selectively switch the position of the thermal print head 21 between the first transfer position to perform the color printing on the re-transfer film 74 with the use of the ink ribbon 66 and the second transfer position to perform the re-transfer operation of color-image information printed on the re-transfer film 74 on the card 81, the re-transfer operation can be accomplished without using various elements used in the conventional printing machine, for example, a combination of a thermal print head for color printing and a re-transfer heat roller (or another combination of a thermal print head for color printing and a thermal print head for re-transfer). Accordingly, the thermal transfer printing machine 60A of the second embodiment can be manufactured at a low price.
One modification of the thermal transfer printing machine 60A of the second embodiment will be described with reference to
As obvious from
In the thermal transfer printing machine 60B of the modification, as shown in
In arrangement, the ink ribbon 66 wound around the second supply reel 70 is led out without passing through the first platen roller 11 in the first transfer position. Then, the ink ribbon 66 is guided by the guide shafts 75 and finally wound around the second take-up reel 72 after passing above the second platen roller 12.
The thermal print head 21 in the thermal head carrier 23 is previously positioned in the second transfer position by the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit 20 receiving the command from the controller S and arranged to oppose the second platen roller 12.
In the modification, the operation of the thermal transfer printing machine 60B is started by an indication of a user confirming that only the ink ribbon 66 has been already prepared in the casing 61. Alternatively, through the use of the controller S, the machine 60A may be activated since the third photo sensor 77 detects the presence of the ink ribbon 66 and the first and second photo sensors 68, 76 detect the absence of the ink ribbon 66 and the re-transfer film 74.
The operation of the thermal transfer printing machine 60B constructed above will be described in brief.
It is performed for the third photo sensor 77 to detect the black-lacquered cueing mark 66c (
In this state, the lowermost card 81 is taken out from the card storage case 80 with the rotation of the card feed roller 82 in the direction of arrow. The so-discharged card 81 is transferred toward the second platen roller 12 by the card cleaning rollers 83 and the card transfer rollers 84A, 84B. By the thermal-head transfer-position switching unit 20, it is successively performed to bring the ink ribbon 66 and the card 81 into their tightly-contacted (press-fit) condition between the thermal head 21 and the second platen roller 12 while rotating the second platen roller 12 in the direction of arrow. Simultaneously, the thermal print head 21 is controlled so as to supply image signals by the controller S, so that the image information in yellow is printed on the card 81 directly. Thereafter, the above-mentioned direct-print operation is performed in the order of “magenta”, “cyan” and “black” repeatedly, accomplishing the direct-printing on the color-image information on the card 81.
According to the above-mentioned modification, if only attaching the ink ribbon 66 in place of the re-transfer film of the second embodiment, the thermal transfer printing machine 60A can be diverted to a thermal direct-print type transfer printing machine which is advantageous in the cost of articles of consumption.
In connection, the type of usage of the thermal transfer printing machine (i.e. whether the machine should be employed as a re-transfer type machine or a direct-print type machine) would be determined by an operator's setting of the operation mode of the printing machine.
According to the present invention throughout the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications, since the thermal print head is disposed between the first platen roller and the second platen roller so as to be movable between the first transfer position opposing the first platen roller and the second transfer position opposing the second platen roller, the thermal transfer printing machine can be manufacture at a low price in comparison with the conventional printing machine adopting two thermal print heads.
Additionally, owing to the provision of the thermal-head rotating unit (e.g. the “thermal-head” transfer-position switching unit 20) for rotating the thermal print head between the first transfer position and the second transfer position, the position of the thermal print head can be switched between the first transfer position and the second transfer position with a simple structure.
Further, since the thermal-head carrier is provided with the thermal-head moving unit (e.g. the thermal-head press unit 30) that enables the thermal print head to approach and depart from the first platen roller and the second platen roller, there is no need of providing thermal-head press units in the first and second transfer positions individually, saving the manufacturing cost of the printing machine.
Finally, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing descriptions are nothing but embodiments and various modifications of the disclosed thermal transfer printing machine and therefore, various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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P2006-173853 | Jun 2006 | JP | national |