JP2005246930A - Intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing device capable of easily adjusting an interval between rollers for executing warpage correction. <P>SOLUTION: A card S is conveyed while being clamped by driven rollers 26, 27 and a driving roller 25 after the image on a film F is re-transferred by a heat roller 23 and a pressing roller 24 in the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing device 1. The warpage of the card S generated during re-transferring is corrected by the cooperation of the driven rollers 26, 27 and the driving roller 25. When the interval between the driven rollers 26, 27 and the driving roller 25 is changed, the driven rollers 26, 27 and the driving roller 25 are relatively displaced in the direction (the Z direction) perpendicular to a conveying path T of the card S by an interval adjusting means composed of movable plates 32, 33 and a rotary shaft 34. The interval between the driven rollers 26, 27 and the driving roller 25 can be easily adjusted by adopting such an interval adjusting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus that once transfers an image to a film and retransfers the image transferred on the film to the surface of a recording medium.

  In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for putting a face photo on a card in order to increase security. For the production of such a card, an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus such as a sublimation type card printer capable of obtaining a high-quality printed image is generally used. The intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 below.

  Here, the configuration and operation of the above-described intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus will be briefly described. A general intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing device has a recording unit that transfers an image to a film, a retransfer unit that retransfers the image formed on the film to a card, and a warp correction that corrects the warp of the card after the retransfer. Department.

  In card printing using this apparatus, first, in the recording unit, the color ink ribbon is superimposed on the film and both are heated, and in this state, the color ink ribbon is pressed against the film by the thermal head. The image is transferred to the film. The film on which the image is transferred in the recording unit is conveyed to the retransfer unit. In the retransfer unit, the card and the film are superimposed so that the transfer surface of the supplied card is aligned with the image on the film. And a card | curd and a film are clamped by the heat roller and the press roller, and are pressed in the heated state. Thereby, the image on the film is retransferred to the card. The thermocompression-bonded film and card are peeled off after both are sufficiently cooled. In the card which is thermocompression bonded by the heat roller in the retransfer section, since the warp is generated such that the front end and the rear end are curved toward the heat roller side, after the film is peeled off, the card unloading side of the heat roller The warp of the card is corrected in the warp correction unit arranged in the card.

  Hereinafter, the warp correction unit of the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus will be briefly described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, a heat roller 70 having the same form as the heat roller of the retransfer unit (not shown) is provided in the warp correction unit C1 of the conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus, and the image transfer surface (retransfer unit) of the card S1. The surface on which the heat roller contacts is provided on the opposite side of the surface. In the warp correction portion C1, a driven roller 71 is disposed at a position facing the heat roller 70 via the conveyance path of the card S1. The card S1 peeled from the film is conveyed between the heat roller 70 and the driven roller 71. During this transport, the card S1 is heated from the opposite surface of the image transfer surface to the heat roller 70, and the heat shrinkage distortion of the card S1 generated during retransfer is corrected. That is, the warp correction portion C1 of such a thermal transfer printing apparatus applies a heat amount equivalent to the heat amount applied to the card S1 in the retransfer portion to the opposite surface of the image transfer surface of the card S1, thereby the card at the retransfer portion. The thermal contraction similar to the thermal contraction generated on the image transfer surface of S1 is generated on the opposite surface side to correct the warp of the card S1.

JP 2000-187712 A

  However, the above-described conventional intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus has the following problems. That is, the amount of card warpage that occurs at the time of retransfer varies depending on the card material and thickness. Therefore, when the type of card to be printed is changed, it is necessary to readjust the roller interval of the warp correction unit in order to adjust the level of card warpage correction. However, in order to adjust the roller interval in the conventional intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus, troublesome work such as removal and reattachment of the rollers is required.

  That is, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate transfer type transfer printing apparatus that can easily adjust the interval between rollers that perform warp correction.

  The intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention thermally transfers an image on a film based on a color arrangement on an ink ribbon by the cooperation of a thermal head and a platen, and heats the image on the film on a recording medium. In an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus that re-transfers an image on a film onto the surface of a recording medium by conveying it between a roller and a pressing roller, the recording medium conveying path on the recording medium carry-out side of the heat roller and the pressing roller And the first and second rollers for correcting the warp of the recording medium in cooperation with each other, and the first and second rollers are relatively displaced in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance path of the recording medium. And an interval adjusting means for adjusting the interval between the first roller and the second roller.

  In this intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus, the recording medium is conveyed by being sandwiched between first and second rollers after the image on the film is retransferred by the heat roller and the pressing roller. Then, the cooperation of the first roller and the second roller corrects the warp of the recording medium that occurs during retransfer. When changing the interval between the first roller and the second roller, the first and second rollers are relatively displaced in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance path of the recording medium by the interval adjusting means. By adopting such a distance adjusting means, it is possible to adjust the distance between the first roller and the second roller without requiring troublesome work such as removal and reattachment of the roller.

  The first roller is disposed on the heat roller side in the recording medium conveyance path, and includes a plurality of rollers arranged in parallel along the recording medium conveyance path. The second roller is It is preferable that the recording medium is disposed on the pressure roller side in the conveyance path of the recording medium. In this case, since the plurality of rollers constituting the first roller are arranged side by side on the heat roller side, the recording medium is warped along the outer periphery of the second roller, so that the warping of the recording medium is corrected. .

  The interval adjusting means preferably includes a movable member that pivotally supports the first roller, and a displacement means that displaces the movable member in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance path of the recording medium. In this case, the distance between the first roller and the second roller is adjusted by the displacement means displacing the movable member.

  Moreover, it is preferable that a displacement means has a rotating shaft which hold | maintains a movable member with the eccentric shaft part eccentric about the rotation center. In this case, since the movable member repeats reciprocation when the rotation shaft rotates, the first roller approaches or separates from the second roller according to the reciprocation. Therefore, the interval between the first roller and the second roller is adjusted by rotating the rotation shaft by a predetermined angle.

  The movable member is a pair of movable plates facing each other in the axial direction of the first and second rollers, and the pair of movable plates preferably support both ends of the first roller. In this case, the movable member can stably support the first or second roller, and the movable member does not hinder the conveyance of the recording medium.

  And a light-shielding disk having a light-transmitting part and a light-shielding part, and a pair of photosensors facing each other with the light-shielding disk interposed therebetween, wherein the photosensor is a light-shielding disk. It is preferable to detect the rotation reference position of the rotating shaft based on a signal output when the light transmitting portion or the light shielding portion is detected. In this case, the rotation reference position of the rotation shaft is detected by the cooperation of the light shielding disk and the photo sensor. By such detection, the movable member can be accurately moved to a desired position on the basis of the rotation reference position, so that the interval between the first roller and the second roller is accurately adjusted.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily adjust the interval between rollers that perform warp correction.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 is also called a card printer, and once a printed image is transferred to a transparent film F having a thickness of about 20 μm, the recording medium (for example, plastic) is transferred from the film F. (Transfer cash card, credit card, prepaid card, IC card, etc.). Such a thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 is used when issuing the card S, and can print a high-quality image on the surface of the card S. Therefore, it is possible to issue a card S containing a face photo for the purpose of improving security.

  Such an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 has a stock unit 2 for setting a plastic card S to be printed in a stacked state. The cards S are fed out one by one from the bottom of the stock unit 2 by the forward and backward movement of the delivery claw 3, and the cards S fed out from the stock unit 2 are once loaded into the reversing unit 4. After the reversing unit 4 is rotated 90 degrees from the horizontal state, when the card S is raised by the feed roller 6, the card S is fed into the magnetic reading / writing unit 7. The magnetic reading / writing unit 7 writes predetermined information in the magnetic stripe of the card S or reads predetermined information in the magnetic stripe.

  On the other hand, when the card S is lowered by the feed roller 6, the card S is fed into the non-contact IC reading / writing unit 8. Then, the non-contact IC reading / writing unit 8 writes predetermined information in the IC of the card S or reads predetermined information in the IC. After that, the card S sent out from the reversing unit 4 passes through the detachable cleaning roller 10, and then the card S is moved by the conveying roller 11 until just before image printing while being supported on both sides by the guide groove 12.

  In addition, when magnetic detection or non-contact IC detection is not necessary, the reversing unit 4 is maintained horizontally. The card S determined to be inappropriate by the magnetic reading / writing unit 7 or the non-contact IC reading / writing unit 8 is discharged into the eject box 9 by the feed roller 6 after the reversing unit 4 rotates.

  Next, in order to enable image transfer to the card S, the thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 includes a recording unit (primary transfer unit) A that thermally transfers an image to the film F, an image transferred to the film F, and the card S. And a re-transfer portion (secondary transfer portion) B that thermally transfers the image to the card S, and a warp correction portion C that corrects the warp of the card S after the image transfer.

  Further, the thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 includes a film cartridge 13 and a ribbon cartridge 14 that can be exchanged by inserting and removing. In the film cartridge 13, the film F is wound around a pair of upper and lower bobbins 15 and 16, and in the ribbon cartridge 14, the color ink ribbon R is wound around a pair of upper and lower bobbins 17 and 18. The color ink ribbon R in the ribbon cartridge 14 is periodically coated with ink of three colors (or four colors including black) of meltable or sublimable yellow, magenta, and cyan as one frame. ing.

  Here, in the recording unit A described above, the film F is wound around a substantially half circumference of the platen roller (commonly called “platen”) 20, and the color ink ribbon R is pressed against the film F on the platen roller 20 by the thermal head 21. . Then, the film F and the color ink ribbon R are sent downward while being synchronized, so that the first color (cyan) of the color ink ribbon R is thermally transferred onto the film F by the heated thermal head 21.

  Next, the thermal head 21 is moved backward by the rack and pinion drive mechanism 22 so that the film F and the color ink ribbon R are separated from each other, while the platen roller 20 is reversed and the film F is raised to the original position. Return. Thereafter, while repeating the above-described transfer operation, colors are layered on the film F in the order of magenta, yellow, and black to create a desired color image on the film F.

  Thereafter, the recording image on the film F is moved to the front of the heat roller 23 by the rotation of the platen roller 20. At this time, the leading edge of the card S is aligned with the leading edge of the recorded image on the film F, and the card S and the film F are sent to the retransfer section B in a state of being superimposed.

  In the re-transfer section B, the aligned card S and film F are sandwiched between the heat roller 23 and the pressure roller 24 in a superimposed state, and pressed with the heat roller 23 heated to 160 to 200 ° C. The recorded image on the film F is gradually transferred onto the surface of the card S while the card S and the film F are conveyed under pressure in cooperation with the roller 24. At this time, the film F is wound around the bobbin 16 while being peeled from the card S. Further, since the card S heated by the heat roller 23 is warped, the card S is sent to the warp correction unit C, subjected to pressure treatment, and then discharged out of the apparatus 1 in a straight state.

  Hereinafter, the warp correction portion C will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, the horizontal direction in which the card S is conveyed is referred to as the X direction, the direction orthogonal to the X direction on the horizontal plane is referred to as the Y direction, and the vertical direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction is referred to as the Z direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the warp correction unit C includes a large-diameter driving roller (second roller) 25 disposed on the pressure roller 24 side in the transport path T of the card S, and heat in the transport path T. And a pair of driven rollers (first rollers) 26 and 27 disposed on the roller 23 side. The drive roller 25 and the driven rollers 26 and 27 both extend in the Y direction and face each other up and down across the transport path T. The drive roller 25 is rotatably supported on both side plates 28 and 29 of the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 facing in the Y direction via bearings 28a and 29a.

  Further, a pulley 30 that rotates integrally with the drive roller 25 is attached to an end portion 25 a of the drive roller 25 that protrudes outward from one side plate 28. The pulley 30 is connected to the pressing roller 24 via a timing belt 31. Therefore, the driving roller 25 rotates in synchronization with the pressing roller 24 and also rotates in the direction in which the card S guided to the warp correction unit C is conveyed (the direction of the arrow r in FIG. 2).

  The pair of driven rollers 26 and 27 are arranged along the card S transport direction (X direction) and are rotatably supported by a pair of movable plates (movable members) 32 and 33 facing in the Y direction. Yes. Since the pair of movable plates 32 and 33 support both ends of the driven rollers 26 and 27, the driven rollers 26 and 27 are stably supported. Further, since the movable plates 32 and 33 face each other along the outside of the both side plates 28 and 29, they do not hinder the conveyance of the card S and smoothly move up and down along the both side plates 28 and 29.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, these movable plates 32 and 33 are substantially rectangular plates extending in the Z direction, and the driven rollers 26 and 33 are arranged at the upper end portions 32a and 33a having a slightly narrow width. 27 is pivotally supported. The movable plates 32 and 33 pivotally support the driven rollers 26 and 27 above the upper end surfaces of the side plates 28 and 29 so that the driven rollers 26 and 27 do not come into contact with each other.

  Further, from the lower end portions of the movable plates 32 and 33, an end portion of a rotating shaft (displacement means) 34 located below the drive roller 25 protrudes. The rotating shaft 34 extends in the Y direction and is rotatably supported by the side plates 28 and 29. Further, cylindrical eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b are formed at both ends of the rotation shaft 34, respectively, and the diameters of the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b are smaller than the large-diameter portion over substantially the entire rotation shaft 34. It has become. The pair of eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b have the same diameter, and the axis L2 of each of the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b is shifted from the central axis L1 of the rotation shaft 34 by a predetermined distance. Therefore, the eccentric shaft portions 34 a and 34 b are formed at corresponding positions on both end faces of the rotating shaft 34, and the axis L2 of the eccentric shaft portions 34 a and 34 b is eccentric with respect to the rotation center L1 of the rotating shaft 34.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the side plates 28 and 29 support the rotary shaft 34 rotatably at the large diameter portion, not at the eccentric shaft portions 34 a and 34 b. The rotating shaft 34 is driven by a motor M described later. Therefore, when the rotating shaft 34 is rotated by the motor M, the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b rotate around the rotation center L1 of the rotating shaft 34.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, elongated holes 32 b and 33 b extending in the X direction are formed in the movable plates 32 and 33 at positions corresponding to the eccentric shaft portions 34 a and 34 b of the rotation shaft 34. Yes. The movable plates 32 and 33 are held by the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b of the rotating shaft 34 by inserting the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b through the elongated holes 32b and 33b. Further, since the width of the long holes 32b and 33b is slightly larger than the diameter of the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b, the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b are long holes in the state where they are inserted through the long holes 32b and 33b. It can slide in 32b and 33b.

  Therefore, when the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b are displaced in the X direction, the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b only slide in the elongated holes along the elongated holes 32b and 33b, and the movable plates 32 and 33 are not displaced. . On the other hand, when the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b are displaced in the Z direction, the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b press the inner surfaces of the elongated holes 32b and 33b, and the movable plates 32 and 33 are displaced in the Z direction. Accordingly, when the rotating shaft 34 rotates and the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b rotate around the rotation center L1, the movable plates 32 and 33 are displaced in the Z direction by the amount of displacement of the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b in the Z direction. . That is, every time the rotating shaft 34 makes one rotation, the movable plates 32 and 33 reciprocate in the Z direction and return to their original positions.

  In this way, the rotating shaft 34 and the movable plates 32 and 33 constitute a distance adjusting means D that adjusts the distance between the driven rollers 26 and 27 and the driving roller 25.

  Here, in addition to the long hole 32b described above, the movable plate 32 has a long hole 32c that extends through the one end 25a of the drive roller 25 and extends in the Z direction, and a pair that is arranged in parallel in the X direction so as to sandwich the long hole 32c. The long holes 32d and 32e are formed. In addition, columnar dowels 35 and 36 driven into the side plate 28 are disposed inside the pair of long holes 32d and 32e, respectively. Accordingly, the movable plate 32 can be more reliably moved in the Z direction (that is, the long holes 32c, 32d, 32e extending direction).

  A pair of cylindrical dowels 37 and 38 are driven into the side plate 28 so as to sandwich the movable plate 32 in the extending direction of the long hole 32b. Since the movable plate 32 is guided by the dowels 37 and 38, the movable plate 32 is more reliably guided in the Z direction. The other movable plate 33 is also formed with an elongated hole similar to that of the movable plate 32 described above, and a dowel similar to the side plate 28 is driven into the side plate 29.

  When the movable plates 32 and 33 reciprocate along the Z direction in this way, the driven rollers 26 and 27 supported by the movable plates 32 and 33 are also displaced in the Z direction. As a result, the driven rollers 26 and 27 approach or separate from the driving roller 25. That is, the driven rollers 26 and 27 that are displaced in the Z direction with respect to the side plates 28 and 29 and the driving roller 25 attached to the side plates 28 and 29 can be relatively displaced.

  Here, how the warp of the card S is corrected by the cooperation of the driven rollers 26 and 27 and the driving roller 25 will be described with reference to FIG. The card S is thermally contracted by the heat roller 23 of the retransfer section B, and the card S warps so as to be convex downward.

  The card S in which such warpage has occurred is first held by the first driven roller 26 and the driving roller 25 on the side where the card S is carried into the warp correction portion C out of the two driven rollers. Introduced into the correction section C. When the leading end portion of the card S is sandwiched between the driven roller 27 and the driving roller 25 on the side of carrying out the card S from the warp correction portion C among the two driven rollers, the first driven roller 26 At a portion between the second driven roller 27 and the card S, the card S warps so as to be convex upward along the outer periphery of the driving roller 25. As a result, the warp of the card S is corrected, and then the card S is sandwiched between the second driven roller 27 and the drive roller 25 and is discharged from the warp correction unit C in a straight state.

  Here, the distance between the driven rollers 26 and 27 and the driving roller 25 is determined by the first and second driven rollers 26 and 27 being displaced in the vertical direction in the Z direction orthogonal to the card S conveying direction (X direction). change. Accordingly, the roller spacing can be changed by displacing the movable plates 32 and 33 in the Z direction, whereby the warp correction level of the card S can be changed. That is, when adjusting the roller spacing according to the thickness and material of the card S, if the card S is greatly warped, the distance between the driven rollers 26 and 27 and the driving roller 25 is reduced, and the card S is warped too much. If this occurs, the card S can be discharged from the warp correction section C in a straight state by increasing the distance between the driven rollers 26 and 27 and the driving roller 25. In such an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1, the distance between the driven rollers 26 and 27 and the driving roller 25 can be adjusted simply by displacing the movable plates 32 and 33. The roller interval can be easily adjusted as compared with the conventional intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus which requires troublesome work such as removal and reattachment.

  Further, in the warp correction section C, since the heat roller is not employed, the inside of the apparatus can be kept at a low temperature as compared with the conventional intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus. Therefore, there is no need to provide a cooling device such as a fan, and the device is simplified.

  Hereinafter, a structure for adjusting the warp correction level of the card S will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a light-shielding disk 39 orthogonal to the rotation shaft 34 is attached to the rotation shaft 34 inside the side plates 28 and 29. The light shielding disk 39 is fixed to the rotating shaft 34 and rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 34. The light-shielding disk 39 has a semi-disc-shaped light-shielding part 40, and a portion excluding the light-shielding part 40 from the virtual true circular plate 41 including the light-shielding part 40 functions as a light-transmitting part 42. .

  A transmissive photo interrupter 43 is provided so as to sandwich a light shielding disc 39 having the above-described virtual perfect disc 41 as an outer shape. That is, the photo interrupter 43 is arranged so that the edge of the light shielding disc 39 crosses the portion where the light emitting element 43 a and the light receiving element 43 b (a pair of photo sensors) of the photo interrupter 43 are opposed to each other. The photo interrupter 43 outputs a signal to a control device (not shown) at the timing when the light shielding part 40 of the light shielding disk 39 is detected and the timing when the light transmitting part 42 is detected. This control device controls the driving of the motor M based on the signal received from the photo interrupter 43.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the motor M is rotationally connected to the rotary shaft 34 via a worm gear G. That is, a worm 45 is attached to the drive shaft 44 of the motor M, and the worm 45 and a worm wheel 46 attached to the rotary shaft 34 are screwed together. Therefore, when the motor M is driven, the rotating shaft 34 and the light shielding disc 39 rotate at a constant rotational speed in one direction. Therefore, for example, when the rotation position of the rotation shaft 34 at the time when the photo interrupter 43 detects the light transmitting portion 42 is set as the rotation reference position, the above-described control device drives the motor M for a predetermined time from the detection time. Thus, the rotation angle of the rotation shaft 34 based on the rotation reference position can be freely controlled.

  Hereinafter, a procedure for rotating the rotating shaft 34 by a predetermined angle in cooperation with the control device and the motor M will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, the rotating shaft 34 and the light shielding disk 39 are rotated clockwise by driving the motor M. In addition, the rotation shaft 34 and the light shielding disk 39 have the light shielding portion 40 of the light shielding disk 39 located on the right side of the rotation shaft 34 when the eccentric shaft portion 34 a of the rotation shaft 34 is in the lowest position. The positional relationship is as follows (see FIG. 7A).

  At the start of rotation of the rotating shaft 34, first, a position Q that is 180 degrees before the rotation reference position P is detected. That is, the photo interrupter 43 sends a signal to the control device at the timing when the tip of the semicircular light shielding unit 40 passes through the groove of the photo interrupter 43. The control device starts time measurement at the timing when this signal is received from the photo interrupter 43. Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, the time t required to detect the rotation position that changes from the light shielding unit 40 to the light transmitting unit 42, that is, the rotation reference position P, and rotate from the position Q to the position P is detected. Ask for. That is, the photo interrupter 43 sends a signal to the control device at the timing when the rear end portion of the light shielding portion 40 passes through the groove of the photo interrupter 43, and the control device obtains the time t from the time lag of the signal. Since the time t is a time required for the rotation shaft 34 to rotate 180 degrees (half rotation), the current rotation speed of the rotation shaft 34 is calculated by measuring the time t. Thus, by calculating the current rotation speed prior to the control of the rotation angle of the rotation shaft 34, accurate rotation angle control can be performed even when the output of the motor deteriorates or the rotation load of the rotation shaft 34 increases or decreases. Can be done.

  After the rotation reference position P is detected, the motor M is driven for a predetermined time based on the calculated rotation speed, so that the rotation shaft 34 has a predetermined angle from the rotation reference position P as shown in FIG. Stops after rotating by α. The height position of the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b of the rotating shaft 34 is uniquely determined by the predetermined angle α (0 ° ≦ α ≦ 180 °). That is, by obtaining the relationship between the angle α and the height positions of the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b in advance, the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b can be reliably displaced to an arbitrary height position.

  As described in detail above, in the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the rotation shaft 34 is rotated by a predetermined angle α, and the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b of the rotation shaft 34 are moved to a predetermined height. It is possible to displace to the position. Accordingly, the movable plates 32 and 33 supported by the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b and the driven rollers 26 and 27 supported by the movable plates 32 and 33 have the same height as the displacement of the eccentric shaft portions 34a and 34b. It is displaced by the position. The distance between the driven rollers 26 and 27 and the driving roller 25 is changed by the displacement of the height positions of the driven rollers 26 and 27. That is, the interval between the driven rollers 26 and 27 and the drive roller 25 can be adjusted by adjusting the rotation angle α of the rotary shaft 34.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, although the mode in which the movable plate displaces the driven roller is shown, the roller interval of the warp correction unit may be adjusted by the movable plate displacing the driving roller. Further, the number of driven rollers is not limited to two, and can be increased or decreased as appropriate.

1 is a side view showing an embodiment of an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus of FIG. 1. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a perspective view of the curvature correction part shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the mode of the curvature correction of the card | curd in a curvature correction part. It is the perspective view which showed the principal part of the curvature correction part. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. It is the figure which showed the curvature correction part which concerns on a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus, 20 ... Platen, 21 ... Thermal head, 23 ... Heat roller, 24 ... Pressure roller, 25 ... Drive roller (2nd roller), 26, 27 ... Driven roller (1st roller) , 32, 33 ... movable plate, 34 ... rotating shaft, 34a, 34b ... eccentric shaft part, 39 ... light shielding disk, 40 ... light shielding part, 42 ... light transmitting part, 43a, 43b ... photo sensor, D ... interval adjustment Means, F ... film, R ... ink ribbon, S ... card, T ... transport path.

Claims (6)

By cooperation between the thermal head and the platen, the image is thermally transferred onto the film based on the color scheme on the ink ribbon, and the image on the film is superimposed on the recording medium and conveyed by being sandwiched between the heat roller and the pressure roller. In the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus for retransferring the image on the film to the surface of the recording medium,
A first roller and a second roller which are arranged so as to sandwich a conveyance path of the recording medium on the recording medium carry-out side of the heat roller and the pressing roller, and which cooperate to correct warpage of the recording medium;
An interval adjusting means for adjusting the interval between the first roller and the second roller by relatively displacing the first and second rollers in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance path of the recording medium;
An intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus comprising:   The first roller is disposed on the heat roller side in the conveyance path of the recording medium, and includes a plurality of rollers arranged in parallel along the conveyance path of the recording medium. 2. The intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second roller is disposed on the pressure roller side in the conveyance path of the recording medium.   2. The distance adjusting unit includes a movable member that pivotally supports the first roller, and a displacement unit that displaces the movable member in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance path of the recording medium. Or an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to 2;   The intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the displacement unit has a rotation shaft that holds the movable member at an eccentric shaft portion that is eccentric with respect to the rotation center.   The movable member is a pair of movable plates facing each other in the axial direction of the first and second rollers, and the pair of movable plates support both end portions of the first roller. The intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. A light-shielding disc provided so as to be orthogonal to the rotation axis, and having a light-transmitting portion and a light-shielding portion;
A pair of photosensors facing each other with the light-shielding disc interposed therebetween;
Further comprising
The rotation reference position of the rotating shaft is detected by a signal output when the photosensor detects the light-transmitting part or the light-shielding part of the light-shielding disk. Intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing device.

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