JP2024064228A - Thermal Transfer System - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent any fragment of an adhesive agent from being generated from a card during transportation of the card.SOLUTION: A thermal transfer system is provided with one side guide plate 31 and the other side guide plate 32 for regulating a transported card 14. The one side guide plate 31 is provided with a plurality of first rotors 51a-51d. The other side guide plate 32 is provided with a plurality of second rotors 52a, 52b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6A

Description

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer system that thermally transfers an ink layer onto a receiving object such as a card.

Generally, ID cards have image information such as the card owner's face photo and text information such as the card owner's address, name, and date of birth printed on the card. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes an ID card production device that has multiple printing units and produces ID cards from image information and text information that are associated by an ID number.

Also known as an ID card production device is a thermal transfer system that thermally transfers a transfer layer onto a card. Such a thermal transfer system has a platen roller and a heating body that includes a heating head that clamps an ink ribbon and a card between the platen roller and transfers the ink layer of the ink ribbon onto the card.

JP 2006-137198 A JP 2013-111866 A

In a thermal transfer system, the card is transported through a transport path to a heating element, and the heating element thermally transfers the ink layer of the ink ribbon onto the card. The card typically has a pair of PET substrates, an IC chip holding layer, and an adhesive layer that bonds each of the PET substrates to the IC chip holding layer. While the card is transported to the heating element, both sides of the card in the width direction are regulated by a pair of guide plates, but as the card is transported, the side edges of the card are rubbed against the guide plates, generating residue, which may peel off from the card and adhere to the card itself or the transport path.

When card debris adheres to the card itself in this way, product precision is reduced. Furthermore, if card debris adheres to the transport path, the debris creates resistance to the card on the transport path, causing the card to jam on the transport path. On the other hand, if the card can be transported to the heating element with little resistance, the transport load on the card can be kept small.

This disclosure has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to provide a thermal transfer system that can prevent card transport jams and reduce the transport load of the card when transporting the card to the heating element without compromising the product precision of the card.

The present disclosure relates to a thermal transfer system that uses an ink ribbon having a support layer and an ink layer to transfer ink of the ink layer to a recipient, the thermal transfer system comprising: a one-side guide plate provided on one side of the recipient in a width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; an other-side guide plate provided on the other side of the recipient in the width direction; and a conveying roller that conveys the recipient, the one-side guide plate having a rotation axis extending in the thickness direction of the recipient and a plurality of first rotating bodies that regulate one side edge of the recipient, and the other-side guide plate having a rotation axis extending in the thickness direction of the recipient and a plurality of second rotating bodies that regulate the other side edge of the recipient.

The present disclosure is a thermal transfer system in which the second rotating body provided on the other side guide plate is biased toward the one side guide plate.

The present disclosure relates to a thermal transfer system in which the transport rollers have a forward transport roller and a return transport roller arranged side by side in the transport direction, and when the transfer target is transported by the forward transport rollers, the transfer target is restricted at three points by a pair of adjacent first rotating bodies and at least one second rotating body, or the transfer target is restricted at three points by at least one first rotating body and a pair of adjacent second rotating bodies, and when the transfer target is transported back by the return transport rollers, the transfer target is restricted at three points by a pair of adjacent first rotating bodies and at least one second rotating body, or the transfer target is restricted at three points by at least one first rotating body and a pair of adjacent second rotating bodies.

The present disclosure relates to a thermal transfer system in which a heating body that transfers the ink of the ink layer to the transfer target body and a platen roller that sandwiches the transfer target body between the heating body and the platen roller are provided downstream in the transfer direction of the forward transport roller and the return transport roller, and when the ink of the ink layer is transferred to the transfer target body between the heating body and the platen roller, the transfer target body is restricted at three points by a pair of adjacent first rotating bodies and at least one second rotating body, or the transfer target body is restricted at three points by at least one first rotating body and a pair of adjacent second rotating bodies.

The present disclosure relates to a thermal transfer system that includes a feed pinch roller that holds the transfer target between the feed conveying roller and the transfer target, and a return pinch roller that holds the transfer target between the return conveying roller and the transfer target.

The present disclosure relates to a thermal transfer system in which the forward conveying roller and the return conveying roller are provided near the one side guide plate, and a pressing roller that presses the transfer object downward is provided near the other side guide plate.

The present disclosure relates to a thermal transfer system in which a transport path is provided between the one-side guide plate and the other-side guide plate to restrict downward movement of the transfer object.

According to the present disclosure, the product precision of the transfer target object does not decrease. In addition, when the transfer target object is transported, transport jams of the transfer target object can be prevented and the transport load of the transfer target object can be kept small.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a thermal transfer system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a heater and a platen roller of a thermal transfer system. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a feed conveying roller and a feed pinch roller of the thermal transfer system. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the return transport roller and the return pinch roller of the thermal transfer system. FIG. 5A is a plan view showing a card. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing the card. FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view showing an ink ribbon. FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a card being fed into a conveying path. FIG. 6B is a plan view showing a card being fed into the transport path. FIG. 6C is a plan view showing a card being fed into the transport path. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a card being transported by the feed transport rollers. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a card being transported by the feed transport rollers. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a card that is transported by a transport claw to the transfer device side and onto which an image is transferred. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a card that is transported by a transport claw to the transfer device side and onto which an image is transferred. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a card that is transported by a transport claw to the transfer device side and onto which an image is transferred. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a card being returned to the upstream side by the return transport rollers. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a card that is transported by a transport claw to the transfer device side and is transferred again. FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a card that is transported by a transport claw to the transfer device side and is transferred again. FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a card that has been subjected to transfer by the transfer device and is being discharged to the next process. FIG. 16A is a plan view showing one side guide plate and a first rotating body. FIG. 16B is a plan view showing the other side guide plate and the second rotating body.

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in Fig. 1, the thermal transfer system 10 uses an ink ribbon 13 (see Fig. 5C) including at least a support layer 13a and an ink layer 13b to heat and transfer the ink of the ink layer 13b to a card (also called a transferee) 14, thereby producing an ID card. Such a thermal transfer system 10 includes a delivery section 25 that delivers the ink ribbon 13 in the direction indicated by the arrow _R1 , a transfer device 18A arranged downstream of the delivery section 25 in the conveying direction of the ink ribbon 13, and a winding section 26 arranged downstream of the transfer device 18A in the conveying direction and winding up the transferred ink ribbon 13 in the direction indicated by the arrow _R2 . As shown in Fig. 1, the ink ribbon 13 is guided from the delivery section 25 to the transfer device 18A by a guide roller 16, and then taken up by the winding section 26 from the transfer device 18A via a peeling roller 17.

Meanwhile, the card 14 is transported along the transport path 11 to the transfer device 18A in the transport direction L, and is then discharged from the transfer device 18A to the outside via the discharge path 12. The direction opposite to the transport direction L is the return direction.

Next, the transfer device 18A will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer device 18A has a rubber platen roller 19 that supports the card 14, and a heating element 18 consisting of a thermal head that is arranged to face the platen roller 19 with the ink ribbon 13 and card 14 in between. As shown in FIG. 1, the heating element 18 is arranged on the support layer 13a side of the ink ribbon 13. The card 14 and the ink ribbon 13 are then nipped (sandwiched) by the heating element 18 and the platen roller 19, and the ink layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 is heated by the heating element 18. As a result, the ink in the ink layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 is transferred to the card (transferee) 14.

The transfer device 18A will now be described in more detail. As described above, the transfer device 18A has a rubber platen roller 19 and a heating element 18 consisting of a thermal head, and the ink in the ink layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 is transferred to the card 14 by the heating element 18 consisting of the thermal head.

Next, the configuration of the ink ribbon 13, which has a support layer 13a and an ink layer 13b, will be described with reference to FIG. 5C.

In the present invention, the support layer (substrate) 13a is preferably made of a material that has sufficient mechanical strength to be handled without problems even when heated, since heat is applied during thermal transfer. Materials for such a support layer include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, 1,4-polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate film, polyethylene naphthalate film, polyphenylene sulfide film, polystyrene film, polypropylene film, polysulfone film, aramid film, polycarbonate film, polyvinyl alcohol film, cellophane, cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate, polyethylene film, polyvinyl chloride film, nylon film, polyimide film, ionomer film, etc.

The ink layer 13b can contain various inks, but the thermal transfer system of this embodiment mainly forms a facial image 14A on the card 14 by transferring the ink in the ink layer 13b to the surface of the card 14 (see Figure 5A). For this reason, the ink layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 contains various inks of M, Y, and C, as well as an OP layer.

As described above, the card 14 is transported through the transport path 11 to the heating element 18 of the transfer device 18A, and the ink and OP layer of the ink layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 are transferred onto the card 14 by the heating element 18.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the card 14 has a pair of base materials 14a, 14c made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), an IC chip holding layer 14b sandwiched between the pair of base materials 14a, 14c, and an adhesive layer 14d that bonds each of the base materials 14a, 14c and the IC chip holding layer 14b. When the adhesive layer 14d of the card 14 is rubbed from the outside, it peels off from the card 14 and tends to accumulate as adhesive residue on the transport path 11, and when adhesive residue accumulates on the transport path 11, it causes the card to jam during transport. Furthermore, when adhesive residue adheres to the card 14, the product precision of the card 14 decreases.

The thermal transfer system 10 according to this embodiment has a structure that prevents the adhesive layer 14d of the card 14 from being rubbed as follows.

In other words, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 to 6C, the transport path 11 is provided with a one-side guide plate 31 and an other-side guide plate 32 on both sides of the width direction L1 perpendicular to the transport direction L of the card 14.

Of these, the one-side guide plate 31 regulates one side edge 61 of the card 14 in the width direction L1 perpendicular to the conveying direction L. The one-side guide plate 31 is fixed to one side of the conveying path 11.

The other-side guide plate 32 regulates the other side edge 62 of the card 14 in the width direction L1 perpendicular to the transport direction L. The other-side guide plate 32 is fixed to the other side of the transport path 11.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the one-side guide plate 31 and the other-side guide plate 32 are arranged to face vertically.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transport path 11 that transports the card 14 is provided with a return transport roller 33 and a forward transport roller 35, which are arranged in sequence toward the upstream side of the transport direction L of the transfer device 18A. Of these, the return transport roller 33 is driven by a DC motor, and returns the card 14 that has been transported from the transport path 11 to the transfer device 18A to the upstream side of the transport path 11. The forward transport roller 35 is driven by a DC motor, and transports the card 14 through the transport path 11 toward the transfer device 18A.

The transfer device 18A also transfers the ink of the ink layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 to the card 14, forming mainly a facial image 14A on the card 14. In this case, the card 14 onto which the ink has been transferred by the transfer device 18A is temporarily returned to the upstream side of the transport direction L of the transport path 11, i.e., in the return direction, and is then sent again along the transport direction L to the transfer device 18A. Then, while the card 14 is being sent and returned in this manner, the Y, M, C inks and the OP layer are transferred to the card 14.

In this embodiment, a return pinch roller 34 is provided above the return transport roller 33 to pinch the card 14 between the return transport roller 33 and the return pinch roller 34, and return the card 14 to the upstream side of the transport path 11 in the transport direction L (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 4, the return conveying roller 33 is rotated by a drive shaft 33a provided on one side guide plate 31. The return pinch roller 34 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 34a provided on one side guide plate 31.

As shown in FIG. 4, the drive shaft 33a of the return conveyor roller 33 can move in the vertical direction. On the other hand, the support shaft 34a of the return pinch roller 34 does not move in the vertical direction.

Above the feed conveying roller 35, there is provided a feed pinch roller 36 which pinches the card 14 between itself and the feed conveying roller 35 and sends the card 14 through the conveying path 11 along the conveying direction L toward the transfer device 18A (see FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 3, the feed conveying roller 35 is rotated by a drive shaft 35a provided on one side guide plate 31. The feed pinch roller 36 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 36a provided on one side guide plate 31. In FIG. 3, the drive shaft 35a of the feed conveying roller 35 and the support shaft 36a of the feed pinch roller 36 do not move in the vertical direction.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the return conveying roller 33 and the return pinch roller 34, and the forward conveying roller 35 and the forward pinch roller 36 are all located near one side guide plate 31.

A pair of pressure rollers 41, 42 are provided between the return conveying roller 33 and the return pinch roller 34 and the forward conveying roller 35 and the forward pinch roller 36 to press the card 14 from above and regulate the upward movement of the card 14. The pair of pressure rollers 41, 42 are both provided near the other side guide plate 32. In this case, the pressure roller 41 is rotatably supported by the support portion 41a, and the pressure roller 42 is rotatably supported by the support portion 42a.

In this way, the pair of pressure rollers 41, 42 each regulate the upward movement of the card 14, and the transport path 11 regulates the downward movement of the card 14. Therefore, when the card 14 is transported along the transport path 11, the card 14 does not necessarily need to come into contact with the pressure rollers 41, 42 or the transport path 11.

As shown in Figures 6A to 6C, multiple, for example four, first rotating bodies 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d are provided near one side guide plate 31, and have a rotation axis extending in the thickness direction of card 14 (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of Figures 6A to 6C) and regulate one side edge 61 of card 14.

Also, near the other side guide plate 32, there are provided a plurality of, for example two, second rotating bodies 52a, 52b that have a rotation axis extending in the thickness direction of the card 14 and regulate the other side edge 62 of the card 14.

Next, the first rotating bodies 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d and the second rotating bodies 52a and 52b will be further explained with reference to Figures 16A and 16B.

As shown in FIG. 16A, the first rotating bodies 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d each have a fixed inner cylinder 55 and an outer cylinder 56 that is rotatably mounted around the inner cylinder 55 via a ball bearing 55b. When one side edge 61 of the card 14 comes into contact with the outer cylinder 56 of the first rotating bodies 51a to 51d, the outer cylinder 56 rotates around the inner cylinder 55, centering on the rotation axis 55a.

As shown in FIG. 16B, the second rotating bodies 52a and 52b each have a fixed inner cylinder 55 and an outer cylinder 56 that is rotatably mounted around the inner cylinder 55 via a ball bearing 55b. When the other side edge 62 of the card 14 comes into contact with the outer cylinder 56 of the second rotating bodies 52a to 52b, the outer cylinder 56 rotates around the inner cylinder 55, centering on the rotation axis 55a.

The inner cylinder 55 of the second rotating bodies 52a-52b is supported by a support 57, which is movable in a groove 58 in the width direction L1 of the card 14. Springs 53a and 53b are provided in the groove 58 to bias the support 57 supporting the inner cylinder 55 toward the one side guide plate 31 in the width direction L1. As a result, the second rotating bodies 52a and 52b having the inner cylinder 55 and the outer cylinder 56 are biased in the width direction L1 of the card 14 toward the one side guide plate 31.

In this embodiment, the second rotating bodies 52a and 52b are each biased toward the one-side guide plate 31 with a force of 0.15 kgf ± 10%, for example, a force of 0.15 kgf, by springs 53a and 53b.

As shown in Figures 6A to 6C and 16A and 16B, the first rotating bodies 51a to 51d are arranged in the one-side guide plate 31, and each of the first rotating bodies 51a to 51d protrudes from the one-side guide plate 31 toward the other-side guide plate 32. The second rotating bodies 52a, 52b are arranged in the other-side guide plate 32, and each of the second rotating bodies 52a, 52b protrudes from the other-side guide plate 32 toward the one-side guide plate 31.

As shown in Figures 6A to 6C, among the first rotating bodies 51a to 51b, a pair of adjacent first rotating bodies 51a, 51b are arranged on the upstream and downstream sides of the forward transport roller 35 along the transport direction L of the card 14. Also, a pair of adjacent first rotating bodies 51c, 51d are arranged on the upstream and downstream sides of the return transport roller 33 along the transport direction L of the card 14.

Furthermore, of the second rotating bodies 52a and 52b, the second rotating body 52a is disposed in the same position as the forward transport roller 35 in relation to the transport direction L of the card 14, and the second rotating body 52b is disposed in the same position as the return transport roller 33 in relation to the transport direction L of the card 14.

By arranging the first rotating bodies 51a-51d and the second rotating bodies 52a, 52b in this manner, when the card 14 is fed and transported by the feed transport rollers 35 as described below, the card 14 can be regulated at three points by the pair of first rotating bodies 51a, 51b and the second rotating body 52a. This allows the card 14 to be positioned with high precision. Also, when the card 14 is returned and transported by the return transport rollers 33, the card 14 can be regulated at three points by the pair of first rotating bodies 51c, 51d and the second rotating body 52b. This allows the card 14 to be positioned with high precision.

In addition, when the card 14 is clamped between the heater 18 and the platen roller 19 to transfer the ink of the ink layer 13b to the card 14, the card 14 can be regulated at three points by the pair of first rotating bodies 51c, 51d and the second rotating body 52b.

This allows the card 14 to be constantly regulated at three points and positioned accurately while the ink is being transferred to the card 14.

In this embodiment, the feed conveyor roller 35 and the return conveyor roller 33 form the conveyor rollers, and the feed pinch roller 36 and the return pinch roller 34 form the pinch rollers.

As shown in Figures 6A to 6C, a guide path 50a extending along the conveying direction L is provided at approximately the center of the conveying path 11 in the width direction L1, and a conveying claw 50 is provided along this guide path 50a.

The transport claw 50 is driven by a pulse motor and engages with the rear end of the card 14 (the right end in Figures 6A to 6C) to transport the card 14.

In this embodiment, when the card 14 is clamped between the feed conveying roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36 and sent along the conveying path 11 toward the transfer device 18A, the feed conveying roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36 send the card 14 toward the transfer device 18A at a high speed of, for example, 10,000 mm/s.

Then, the card 14 is handed over from the feed conveyor roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36 to the conveyor claw 50, and the card 14 is conveyed by the conveyor claw 50 while passing through the transfer device 18A while being sandwiched between the heating element 18 and the platen roller 19 of the transfer device 18A. As the card 14 passes through the transfer device 18A while being sandwiched between the heating element 18 and the platen roller 19, the ink in the ink layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 is transferred to the card 14.

While the card 14 passes through the transfer device 18A and the ink of the ink layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 is transferred to the card 14, the card 14 is transported by the transport claws 50 and passes through the transfer device 18A. In this case, when the Y, M, and C inks of the ink ribbon 13 are transferred to the card 14, the card 14 is transported at, for example, 24 to 25 mm/s, and when the OP layer is transferred to the card 14, the card 14 is transported at, for example, 31 to 32 mm/s.

After the transfer device 18A transfers the image onto the card 14, the card 14 is clamped between the return transport roller 33 and the return pinch roller 34 and temporarily returned to the upstream side of the transport direction (return direction) along the transport path 11.

When the card 14 is returned by the return transport roller 33 and the return pinch roller 34 along the transport path 11 to the upstream side in the transport direction L in this way, the card 14 is returned in a state of being sandwiched between the return transport roller 33 and the return pinch roller 34. At this time, the card 14 is returned to the upstream side from the transfer device 18A at a high speed of, for example, 200 mm/s.

Furthermore, after the transfer by the transfer device 18A is completed, the card 14 is discharged at a high speed of 1000 mm/s, the same as when it is transported between the feed conveyor roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36.

The components of the thermal transfer system 10, such as the transfer device 18A, the delivery section 25, the winding section 26, the return transport rollers 33, and the forward transport rollers 35, are driven and controlled by the control section 10A.

In addition, on the transport path 11, a heater section 15 that heats the card 14 from below is provided upstream of the transfer device 18A in the transport direction, so that the Y, M, and C inks and the OP layer of the ink layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 can be smoothly transferred to the card 14 by heating the card 14.

Next, we will explain the operation of the thermal transfer system 10 according to this embodiment.

First, the card 14 is fed along the feed path 11 in the feed direction L toward the thermal transfer system 10. At this time, the control unit 10A drives the feed roller 35 to feed the card 14 toward the transfer device 18A, and preheats the card 14 with the heater unit 15. Meanwhile, the control unit 10A drives the winding unit 26 to feed the ink ribbon 13 from the delivery unit 25 toward the transfer device 18A.

At this time, tension is applied to the ink ribbon 13 by the brake mechanism built into the delivery section 25.

During this time, the card 14 is sent from a hopper unit (not shown), and is sandwiched between the feed conveying roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36, and is sent along the conveying path 11 toward the transfer device 18A (see FIG. 3). In this case, the feed conveying roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36 send the card 14 toward the transfer device 18A at a high speed of, for example, 1000 mm/s.

As shown in FIG. 3, the card 14 is fed while being clamped between the feed conveyor roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36.

In FIG. 3, one side edge 61 of the card 14 in the width direction L1 is restricted by the one-side guide plate 31, and the other side edge 62 of the card 14 is restricted by the other-side guide plate 32.

At this time, the pressure roller 42 restricts the upward movement of the card 14, and the transport path 11 restricts the downward movement of the card 14.

Next, the action of transporting the card 14 between the feed conveying roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36 will be further explained with reference to Figures 6A to 6C and Figure 9.

As shown in FIG. 6A, when the card 14 sent from the hopper unit is slightly inclined toward the other side guide plate 32 relative to the conveying path 11 on a plane, the other side edge 62 of the card 14 first abuts against point P1 of the other side guide plate 32 and is restricted.

Alternatively, as shown in Figures 6B and 6C, when the card 14 sent from the hopper unit is slightly inclined toward the one-side guide plate 31 with respect to the conveying path 11 on a plane, the one-side edge 61 of the card 14 first abuts against the first rotating body 51a of the one-side guide plate 31 (see Figure 6B). The card 14 is then conveyed further, and the one-side edge 61 of the card 14 abuts against point P2 of the one-side guide plate 31 and is restricted (see Figure 6C).

In this case, since the feed conveying roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36 are located near the one side guide plate 31, a force acts on the card 14 in the direction of the arrow L2, and the card 14 faces in a direction parallel to the conveying path 11.

Then, the card 14 is further transported between the feed transport roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36 along the transport direction L, and the card 14 reaches the transport claw 50 (see FIG. 7). During this time, one side edge 61 of the card 14 abuts against the pair of adjacent first rotors 51a, 51b, and the other side edge 62 of the card 14 abuts against the second rotor 52a. At this time, the second rotor 52a presses the card 14 toward the one-side guide plate 31 with a force of 0.15 kgf from the spring 53a. In this way, the card 14 is regulated at three points by the pair of adjacent first rotors 51a, 51b and the second rotor 52a, allowing the card 14 to be positioned with high precision.

In this way, the card 14 is regulated at three points by the pair of adjacent first rotating bodies 51a, 51b and second rotating body 52a, and is precisely positioned and transported along the transport direction L between the feed transport roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the card 14 is further transported along the transport direction L between the feed transport roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36.

Next, the card 14 is clamped between the feed conveying roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36, and a force acts on the card 14 in the direction of the arrow L3. In this case, the other side edge 62 of the card 14 abuts against the point P3 of the other side guide plate 32 and is regulated, and is conveyed along the conveying direction L.

Then, the card 14 is transferred from the feed conveying roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36 to the conveying claw 50. At this time, the heating element 18 of the transfer device 18A descends, and the feed conveying roller 35 descends to the standby position. The card 14 is then conveyed by the conveying claw 50. During this time, as shown in FIG. 9, a force acts on the card 14 in the direction of the arrow L3, and one side edge 61 of the card 14 abuts against point P4 of the one side guide plate 31 and is regulated.

At the same time, the card 14 is pressed by the second rotating body 52b toward the one-side guide plate 31 with a force of 0.15 kgf from the spring 53b. This causes the card 14 to face in a direction parallel to the transport path 11.

At this time, one side edge 61 of the card 14 abuts against a pair of adjacent first rotating bodies 51c, 51d, and the other side edge 62 of the card 14 abuts against the second rotating body 52b (see Figure 10).

In this case, as described above, the card 14 is pressed by the second rotating body 52b toward the one-side guide plate 31 with a force of 0.15 kgf from the spring 53b.

As a result, the card 14 is restricted at three points by the pair of adjacent first rotating bodies 51c, 51d and the second rotating body 52b, and in this way the card 14 can be positioned with high precision.

Figure 10 shows the positioning action on the card 14 when the ink of the ink layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 is transferred to the card 14 by the transfer device 18A having a heater 18 and a platen roller 19.

In this way, the card 14, which is precisely positioned by the pair of adjacent first rotating bodies 51c, 51d and the second rotating body 52b, is sent to the transfer device 18A.

The card 14 then passes through the transfer device 18A while being sandwiched between the heating element 18 and the platen roller 19 of the transfer device 18A (see FIG. 11). As the card 14 passes through the transfer device 18A while being sandwiched between the heating element 18 and the platen roller 19, the ink in the ink layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 is transferred to the card 14. During this time, the card 14 leaves the feed conveyor roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36 and is sandwiched between the heating element 18 and the platen roller 19 (see FIG. 2).

The card 14 is held between the heater 18 and the platen roller 19 and passes through the transfer device 18A, during which the ink in the ink layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 is transferred to the card 14. During this time, the return transport roller 33 descends to a standby position. The card 14 is also transported by the transport claw 50 and passes through the transfer device 18A at a low speed of, for example, 24 to 25 mm/s.

After the transfer is performed on the card 14 by the transfer device 18A, the heater 18 of the transfer device 18A rises, and the return transport roller 33 rises from the standby position, and the card 14 is transferred from the transport claw 50 to the return transport roller 33 and the return pinch roller 34. Next, the transport claw 50 returns to the right end of the guide path 50a. After that, the card 14 is sandwiched between the return transport roller 33 and the return pinch roller 34 and temporarily returned upstream along the transport path 11 (see Figure 12).

When the card 14 is returned upstream along the transport path 11 by the return transport roller 33 and the return pinch roller 34 in this manner, the card 14 is clamped between the return transport roller 33 and the return pinch roller 34. At this time, the card 14 is regulated at three points by the pair of adjacent first rotors 51c, 51d and the second rotor 52b, and the card 14 is positioned with high precision. At the same time, the card 14 is returned upstream from the transfer device 18A at a high speed of, for example, 200 mm/s, the same as when the card 14 is sent to the transfer device 18A.

Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the rear end of the card 14 engages with the transport claw 50 again, and the transport claw 50 sends the card 14 again along the transport direction L toward the transfer device 18A. The transfer device 18A then sequentially transfers the ink and OP layer of the ink layer 13b of the ink ribbon 13 onto the card 14. This process is repeated until the facial image 14A is formed on the card 14 (see FIG. 13 and FIG. 14).

During this time, the card 14 is restricted at three points by the pair of adjacent first rotating bodies 51c, 51d and the second rotating body 52b, and the card 14 is positioned with high precision.

In this way, the transfer device 18A transfers the image onto the card 14, forming a facial image 14A on the card 14, after which the card 14 is discharged from the transfer device 18A through the discharge path 12 to the next process at a high speed of, for example, 1000 mm/s (see FIG. 15).

At this time, when the card 14 is released from the first rotating body 51c, a force in the direction of arrow L4 acts on the card 14 due to the pressing force from the spring 53b of the second rotating body 52b, and the card 14 is discharged to the next process in a state where it is slightly tilted relative to the transport path 11.

In this manner, according to the present embodiment, the first rotators 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d are provided on the one-side guide plate 31, and the second rotators 52a and 52b are provided on the other-side guide plate 32, so that the one-side edge 61 and the other-side edge 62 of the card 14 can be regulated by the first rotators 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d and the second rotators 52a and 52b. In this case, the one-side edge 61 and the other-side edge 62 of the card 14 abut against the first rotators 51a, 51b, 51c, and 51d and the second rotators 52a and 52b without frictional contact. As a result, the adhesive layer 14d of the card 14 is not rubbed and the adhesive layer 14d is not peeled off. Therefore, the adhesive residue from the adhesive layer 14d does not accumulate on the transport path 11 and cause a transport jam of the card 14, and the adhesive residue does not adhere to the card 14 itself and reduce the product precision of the card 14.

Note that while the card 14 is being transported, it may come into contact with the one-side guide plate 31 or the other-side guide plate 32 at points P1 to P5. However, since the card 14 only comes into contact with points P1 to P5 for an instant, the generation of adhesive residue from the card 14 can be kept to a minimum.

7, when the card 14 is sent to the transfer device 18A between the feed conveyor roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36, the card 14 is restricted at three points by the pair of adjacent first rotors 51a, 51b of the one-side guide plate 31 and the second rotor 52a of the other-side guide plate 32. At this time, the card 14 is urged toward the one-side guide plate 31 by the force of the spring 53a of the second rotor 52a. This allows the card 14 to be firmly restricted at three points by the pair of adjacent first rotors 51a, 51b and the second rotor 52a, and the card 14 can be sent to the transfer device 18A in a precisely positioned state. In particular, since the card 14 is sent to the transfer device 18A side at a high speed of 1000 mm/s between the feed conveying roller 35 and the feed pinch roller 36, the card 14 is regulated by a pair of adjacent first rotating bodies 51a, 51b and a second rotating body 52a, so that one side edge 61 of the card 14 does not abut against the one side guide plate 31, and the other side edge 62 of the card 14 does not abut against the other side guide plate 32. This makes it possible to minimize the generation of adhesive residue from the adhesive layer 14d of the card 14 when the card 14 is transported at high speed.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 10 to 14, when the card 14 is transferred onto the card 14 while being sent to the transfer device 18A by the transport claw 50, and when the transfer is completed by the transfer device 18A and the card 14 is returned to the upstream side by the return transport roller 33 and the return pinch roller 34, in either case, the card 14 is regulated at three points by the pair of adjacent first rotating bodies 51c, 51d of the one-side guide plate 31 and the second rotating body 52b of the other-side guide plate 32. At this time, the card 14 is urged toward the one-side guide plate 31 by the force of the spring 53b by the second rotating body 52b. This allows the card 14 to be firmly regulated at three points by the pair of adjacent first rotating bodies 51c, 51d and the second rotating body 52b. In this way, with the card 14 positioned accurately, the card 14 can be transferred accurately by the transfer device 18A while being sent to the transfer device 18A by the transport claw 50. Similarly, the card 14 can be returned to the upstream side by the return transport roller 33 and the return pinch roller 34 while being positioned with high precision.

At this time, the card 14 is returned at a high speed of 200 mm/s by the return transport roller 33 and the return pinch roller 34, and by restricting the card 14 with the pair of adjacent first rotors 51c, 51d and the second rotor 52b, one side edge 61 of the card 14 does not come into contact with the one side guide plate 31, and the other side edge 62 of the card 14 does not come into contact with the other side guide plate 32. This makes it possible to minimize the generation of adhesive residue from the adhesive layer 14d of the card 14 when the card 14 is returned at high speed.

10 Thermal transfer system 10A Control unit 11 Transport path 12 Discharge path 13 Ink ribbon 13a Support layer 13b Ink layer 14 Card 14A Facial image 15 Heater unit 16 Guide roller 17 Peeling roller 18 Heater 18A Transfer device 18a Heating head 19 Platen roller 20 Metal plate 25 Delivery unit 26 Winding unit 31 One side guide plate 32 Other side guide plate 33 Return transport roller 34 Return pinch roller 35 Forward transport roller 36 Forward pinch roller 41 Presser roller 42 Presser roller 50 Transport claw 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d First rotating body 52a, 52b Second rotating body 53a, 53b Spring 61 One side edge 62 Other side edge

Claims (7)

A thermal transfer system for transferring ink of the ink layer to a transfer medium using an ink ribbon having a support layer and an ink layer,
A one-side guide plate is provided on one side of the transfer target in a width direction perpendicular to a transport direction of the transfer target;
An other-side guide plate provided on the other side in the width direction of the transferred body;
a conveying roller for conveying the transfer object,
a plurality of first rotors are provided on the one-side guide plate, the first rotors having a rotation axis extending in a thickness direction of the object and regulating one side edge of the object;
A thermal transfer system, wherein the other-side guide plate is provided with a plurality of second rotating bodies having a rotation axis extending in a thickness direction of the transfer medium and regulating the other side edge of the transfer medium. The thermal transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the second rotating body provided on the other side guide plate is biased toward the one side guide plate. The conveying rollers include a forward conveying roller and a return conveying roller arranged side by side in a conveying direction,
When the transfer object is fed and conveyed by the feed and conveyance rollers, the transfer object is restricted at three points by a pair of adjacent first rotating bodies and at least one second rotating body, or the transfer object is restricted at three points by at least one first rotating body and a pair of adjacent second rotating bodies,
The thermal transfer system of claim 1, wherein when the transfer medium is transported back by the return transport roller, the transfer medium is restricted at three points by a pair of adjacent first rotating bodies and at least one second rotating body, or the transfer medium is restricted at three points by at least one first rotating body and a pair of adjacent second rotating bodies. a heating member for transferring ink of the ink layer onto the transfer medium, and a platen roller for holding the transfer medium between the heating member and the platen roller, the heating member being disposed downstream of the forward transport roller and the return transport roller in a transport direction;
4. The thermal transfer system of claim 3, wherein when the ink of the ink layer is transferred to the transfer target between the heating body and the platen roller, the transfer target is restricted at three points by a pair of adjacent first rotating bodies and at least one second rotating body, or the transfer target is restricted at three points by at least one first rotating body and a pair of adjacent second rotating bodies. The thermal transfer system according to claim 3, further comprising a feed pinch roller for pinching the transfer medium between the feed conveying roller and the transfer medium, and a return pinch roller for pinching the transfer medium between the return conveying roller and the transfer medium. The thermal transfer system according to claim 5, wherein the forward transport roller and the return transport roller are provided near the one side guide plate, and a pressure roller that presses the transfer medium downward is provided near the other side guide plate. The thermal transfer system according to claim 1, wherein a transport path is provided between the one-side guide plate and the other-side guide plate to restrict downward movement of the transfer object.

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