Thermally printable medium, method for producing the thermally printable medium, use of the thermally printable medium and system of thermal printing device and thermally printable medium

Abstract

A thermally printable medium comprises a printing substrate and a printing ink film. The printing substrate has at least one printing area. The printing ink film covers the printing area. The printing area is heat-printable. The printing ink film is affixed to the printing substrate outside the printing area.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a thermally printable medium which can be printed by means of a thermal transfer process.

[0002] Thermal printing is usually available as direct thermal printing or thermal transfer printing, each of which is suitable for different applications.

[0003] In direct thermal printing, for example, a thermosensitive special paper is guided along a heating bar. The heating bar heats specific areas of the special paper, causing the special paper to color at those points. Moving along the special paper creates a complete print image. This means that the special paper used for direct thermal printing itself has the coloring properties. However, this also means that external influences such as light, heat, and humidity change the print result over time. Therefore, print media for direct thermal printing have reduced durability. Examples of printable film materials using the direct thermal printing process include cash register rolls. However, other materials are also conceivable.

[0004] In contrast, thermal transfer printing does not use a material that changes color under the influence of heat. Instead, an additional ink ribbon is inserted into the thermal transfer printer. During the printing process, the ribbon to be printed and the ink ribbon are guided by two conveyor systems so that they lie on top of each other and are then guided together past the heating bar. The ink material melts onto the ink ribbon and adheres to the ribbon to be printed. The ribbon to be printed and the ink ribbon are then separated. Since the ribbon to be printed itself has no coloring properties and subsequent exposure to sunlight or other heat influences does not cause further discoloration, the print result using a transfer printing process is more durable than with direct thermal printing.However, the thermal transfer printing process is more expensive and complex to implement, as an additional film is required and the machine setup involves two materials. Furthermore, the alignment of the films and the print head (e.g. heating bar) with the conveyor systems must be extremely precise during setup so that they are guided exactly over one another and the desired print result is achieved. Examples of film materials that can be printed on using the thermal transfer printing process are: PET, PP, PE films (black, white, or colored). Examples of color films used in the thermal transfer printing process are: black, white, or colored TTR ribbons. However, other materials are also conceivable for thermal transfer printing.

[0005] Thus, both printing methods have advantages and disadvantages. The present invention therefore aims to create a thermally printable medium that combines the advantages of the direct thermal printing method with those of the thermal transfer method. Summary of the invention

[0006] This object is achieved by the thermally printable medium having the features of claim 1, the method for producing a thermally printable medium having the features of claim 7, the use of the thermally printable medium having the features of claim 10, and the system for printing the thermally printable medium having the features of claim 11. Further advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the subsequent claims.

[0007] A thermally printable medium comprises a printing substrate and a printing ink film. The printing substrate has at least one printing area. The printing ink film covers the printing area. The printing area is heat-printable. The printing ink film is affixed to the printing substrate outside the printing area.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, the printing ink film is fixed to the printing substrate with an adhesive.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, the printing substrate comprises a carrier material and a face material. The carrier material and the face material are bonded together, and the face material comprises the printing area and is detachable from the carrier material. The face material can be a label.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, the printing substrate has a ribbon-like shape, wherein a plurality of printing areas are provided.

[0011] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the thermally printable medium is in roll form.

[0012] The production of the thermally printable medium comprises the provision of the printing substrate, the provision of the printing ink film and the fixing of the printing ink film on the printing substrate.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, the manufacturing further comprises dividing the printing substrate into a plurality of printing areas.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, the manufacturing further comprises applying the adhesive to the printing substrate and / or the printing ink film.

[0015] The thermally printable medium is used for printing with a thermal transfer printing device or printing with a direct thermal printing device. The present invention thus also represents a system comprising the thermally printable medium and the thermal transfer printing device or the direct thermal printing device. Short description of the drawings

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a thermally printable medium according to a first embodiment and a cross-section of the thermally printable medium; Fig. 2 shows a thermally printable medium according to a second embodiment; Fig. 3 shows a step of a manufacturing process for the thermally printable medium; Fig. 4 shows another step of the manufacturing process for the thermally printable medium; Fig. 5 shows another step of the manufacturing process for the thermally printable medium; Fig. 6 shows an alternative manufacturing process for a thermally printable medium according to a third embodiment and a cross-section thereof; Fig. 7 shows a use of the thermally printable medium and a system comprising the thermally printable medium and the thermal printing device; and Fig. 8 shows a printed thermally printable medium. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0017] The embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings. (First embodiment)

[0018] Fig. 1 The upper part shows a single thermally printable medium 1 according to a first embodiment. The thermally printable medium 1 comprises a printing substrate 2, a printing ink film 3, and an adhesive 5.

[0019] The printing substrate 2 is rectangular and comprises a carrier material 21 and a top material 22. The top material 22 is bonded to the carrier material 21, and the top material 22 can be peeled off from the carrier material 21. The top material 22 is, for example, a self-adhesive label that can be dispensed from the carrier material 21. The top material 22 can cover only part of the carrier material 21 and be rectangular.

[0020] The printing ink film 3 is, for example, a wax, a wax-resin mixture, or a resin. The printing ink film 3 can release ink particles by heating or heating them onto a material to which the ink particles adhere. According to the first embodiment, the ink particles of the printing ink film 3 can be transferred to the outer material 22 by means of heat or can be melted there.

[0021] The printing ink film 3 is fixed to the printing substrate 2. According to the first embodiment, an adhesive 5 is used to fix the printing ink film 3 to the printing substrate 2. The adhesive 5 can, for example, be an adhesive that bonds to both the outer material 22 of the printing substrate 2 and the printing ink film 3. The adhesive 5 is partially applied to the outer material 22, so that the outer material 22 is not completely covered with the adhesive 5. The adhesive 5 fixes the printing ink film 3 to the printing substrate 2, more precisely, to the outer material 22 of the printing substrate 2 such that the printing ink film 3 at least partially covers the outer material 22 in places where no adhesive 5 is present. According to the first embodiment, the adhesive 5 is located on two opposite sides of the rectangular outer material 22 and has a strip shape.The printing ink film 3 has a rectangular shape and is fixed to the adhesive 5 on two sides of the rectangular shape. This creates a central area where the printing ink film 3 covers the outer material 22 but is not fixed to this area. The printing ink film 3 spans a printing area 4 of the printing substrate 2.

[0022] An area where the printing ink film 3 merely covers the face material 22 but is not fixed thereto is referred to as the printing area 4. The printing area 4 is the area that can be printed by a thermal printing device 6 because, on the one hand, the printing ink film 3 covers the face material 22 in this area and, on the other hand, the printing ink film 3 can be completely removed because it is not fixed within this area. At positions where the adhesive 5 fixes the printing ink film 3, the printing ink film 3 can be removed, but the ink particles adhere to the adhesive 5. Printing in this area would therefore be unusable because all the ink particles adhere to this area. The printing area can therefore be any area on the face material 22 and is not limited to specific areas, but excludes all areas where printing by the adhesive 5 is unusable.

[0023] According to the first embodiment, a punch or perforation 23 is additionally provided within the outer material 22. This divides the outer material 22 into three sections. Two adhesive sections 24 comprise the areas with the adhesive 5, and a printing section 25 comprises the printing area 4.

[0024] The cross-sectional view in Fig. 1 shows schematically the layering of carrier material 21, upper material 22 with its sections 24 and 25, adhesive 5 and printing ink film 3 in a Z-direction, wherein the thickness of each layer does not correspond to the real thickness ratios, but is purely schematic in order to illustrate the structure of the thermally printable medium. (Use)

[0025] The use of the thermally printable medium 1 according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 7 described.

[0026] The thermally printable medium 1 can be inserted, inserted, or introduced into a thermal printing device 6. The thermal printing device 6 can, for example, be a thermal transfer printing device or a direct thermal printing device. The thermally printable medium 1 is guided to and along a heating element 62 in the thermal printing device 6, for example, via a roller system 61. The heating element 62 can, for example, have a plurality of individually controlled heating points. The heating points are controlled in such a way that only the heating points are heated at which printing is to take place in the printing area 4 of the upper material 22. At the heated points, the ink particles of the printing ink film 3 transfer to the upper material 22 or adhere there. By guiding the thermally printable medium 1 along the heating element 62, a print result is gradually obtained on the upper material 22.

[0027] After the printing process, the printing ink film 3 can be removed from the thermally printable medium 1. The printing ink film 3 either detaches from the adhesive 5 or is separated or torn off from the adhesive 5. Therefore, the carrier material 21, the outer material 22 with the two adhesive sections 24 and the printing area section 25, and the adhesive 5 remain on the thermally printable medium 1, whereby part of the printing ink film 3 and color particles of the printing ink film 3 can adhere to the adhesive 5.

[0028] Through the punching or perforation 23 in the outer material 22, the printing area section 25 of the outer material 22 can then be detached from the carrier material 21. Since there is no adhesive 5 in the printing area section 25, ink particles are only present in the printing area section 25 where printing was actually carried out by the thermal printing device 6. Since the outer material 22 according to the first embodiment is also a self-adhesive label, a printed label can be attached or adhered according to the desired use.

[0029] According to the use of the thermally printable medium 1, the thermal printing device 6 and the thermally printable medium 1 form a system 7 for printing a thermally printable medium 1.

[0030] Fig. 8 further shows the thermally printable medium 1 in a printed state, wherein the printing ink film 3 has been removed from the printing substrate 2. In the state shown in Fig. 8 As shown, the upper material 22 can be peeled off or dispensed along the punching or perforation 23. The printing ink film 3 also shows where the printing ink film 3 was heated and where the ink particles of the printing ink film 3 were transferred to the upper material 22. (Second embodiment)

[0031] According to a second embodiment, which is shown in Fig. 2 As shown, the thermally printable medium 1 comprises a printing substrate 2 having a ribbon-like shape. A plurality of printing areas 40 to 4n are formed on the printing substrate 2.

[0032] The rectangular-shaped printing areas 40 to 4n are arranged on the printing substrate 2 one after the other along a longitudinal extent of the band-like configuration of the printing substrate 2. The longitudinal extent extends in a Y direction. Each printing area 40 to 4n is separated from another printing area 40 to 4n and covered by a separate rectangular printing ink film 30 to 3n. Each printing ink film 30 to 3n is fixed to the outer material 22 by means of an adhesive 5. The adhesive 5 can be present separately for each separate printing ink film 30 to 3n or form a continuous section. According to the second embodiment, for each separate printing ink foil 30 to 3n, two strips of adhesive means 50 to 5n are provided, which are arranged along the long edge of the ribbon-like shape of the thermally printable medium 1 on opposite sides of the separate printing ink foils 30 to 3n and also on opposite sides of the printing areas 40 to 4n.

[0033] Due to the ribbon-like shape of the thermally printable medium 1, the thermally printable medium 1 can be continuously fed into a thermal printing device 6. This enables a continuous printing process without manual reloading after each thermally printable medium 1. Furthermore, the thermally printable medium 1 can also be rolled up in a space-saving manner and integrated into a roll system 61.

[0034] The thermal printable medium 1 according to the second embodiment can be used in the same manner as the thermal printable medium 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0035] It should also be noted that the printing areas 40 to 4n do not necessarily have to be separate from each other. The printing areas 40 to 4n can, for example, also be connected along a perforation line. The printing areas 40 to 4n can also have different shapes and sizes. (Procedure)

[0036] A method for producing the thermally printable medium 1 is described below.

[0037] As a first step in the manufacturing process, the printing substrate 2 is provided. According to one of the previous embodiments, the printing substrate 2 comprises the carrier material 21 and the face material 22, which are bonded to one another. At this point, the carrier material 21 and the printing substrate 2 are bonded to one another over their entire surface and form, for example, a label material as a raw material.

[0038] In a second step, the printing substrate 2 is provided with an adhesive 5. The adhesive 5 is applied, for example, on two opposite sides along the longitudinal extent of the printing substrate 2, as shown in Fig. 3 The adhesive 5 is thus arranged on a left and right side in an X direction and extends along the Y direction. The adhesive 5 can be suitably selected according to the materials used. The method of application can also be freely selected. In the previous embodiments, the adhesive 5 is applied in a strip shape. This shape can be adapted according to the application.

[0039] After applying the adhesive 5, the next step is as shown in Fig. 4 As shown, the printing ink film 3 is placed over the printing substrate 2, whereby it is bonded to the printing substrate 2 by the adhesive 5. This step already creates a thermally printable medium 1.

[0040] To ensure easy removal of the outer material 22, the next step is a punching process, during which the outer material 22 and the printing ink foil 3 are separated into individual sections. In addition, as shown in Fig. 5 shown above, a plurality of printing ink films 30 to 3n, a plurality of printing areas 40 to 4n and a plurality of adhesives 50 to 5n are formed. By peeling off the excess printing ink film 3, as in Fig. 5 As shown below, the carrier material 21 is exposed around the printing areas 40 to 4n and the adhesives 50 to 5n. This allows the face material 22 to be easily removed or dispensed.

[0041] However, according to the previous method, it is not necessary for the carrier material 21 to be exposed. Despite the difficulty of handling, the outer material 22 can still be printed and peeled off or dispensed from the carrier material 21.

[0042] Furthermore, it is possible to modify the process. For example, the adhesive 5 can also be applied to the printing ink film 3. The printing substrate 2 is then fixed to the printing ink film 3.

[0043] Furthermore, the punching can be performed between the previously described steps for intermediate products. For example, the outer material 22 can be punched first and then the adhesive 5 can be applied. In this case, it is also possible to apply the adhesive 5 to the exposed carrier material 21 instead of to the outer material 22. (Alternative procedure)

[0044] Alternatively to the method described above, a thermally printable medium 1 according to a third embodiment shown in Fig. 6 shown above, can be produced by a different process.

[0045] According to the thermally printable medium 1 of the third embodiment, the printing ink film 3 is not fixed to the printing substrate 2 by means of an adhesive 5. In this embodiment, the printing ink film 3 lies directly on the outer material 22 of the printing substrate 2, since no adhesive 5 is applied between them. The printing ink film 3 has an extension according to which the printing substrate 2 is exposed from the printing ink film 3 on at least two opposite sides.

[0046] The fixing of the printing ink film 3 is achieved by a fixing section 500. The fixing section 500 is, for example, an adhesive or cling film. According to the third embodiment, the fixing section 500 is applied in strips on opposite sides of the longitudinal extent of the printing substrate 2, i.e., on the left and right sides in the X direction. The fixing section 500 overlaps both the printing ink film 3 and the printing substrate 2. This is possible because the printing ink film 3 has a smaller area than the printing substrate 2 and the printing substrate 2 is exposed around the printing ink film 3. The fixing section 500 then adheres to the surface of the printing ink film 3 and the printing substrate 2 from above in the Z direction.

[0047] In other words, this embodiment can be understood as if the printing ink film 3 is fixed to the printing substrate 2 with an adhesive tape. As in Fig. 6As shown below, the area between the fixing sections 500 is printable by a thermal printing device 6. In a case where the fixing section 500 is thin enough, the fixing section 500 can also protrude into the printing area 4 or cover it, provided that the heat development is sufficient for printing with the printing ink film 3 through the fixing section 500.

[0048] The thermally printable medium 1 according to the third embodiment can also be punched or perforated to form a plurality of printing areas 40 to 4n according to the second embodiment.

[0049] Furthermore, the thermally printable medium 1 according to the third embodiment can also be used like the thermally printable media 1 of the first and second embodiments. (Advantages)

[0050] The thermally printable medium 1 according to the previously described embodiments has the following advantages.

[0051] The printing ink film 3 is fixed to the printing substrate 2. The thermally printable medium 1 is thus a printable medium with an integrated printing ink film 3. This makes it possible to use the thermally printable medium 1 independently of the thermal printing device 6.

[0052] The thermally printable medium 1 can be printed in both a thermal transfer printer and a direct thermal printer. When used in a thermal transfer printer, no ink ribbon roll is required, which must first be inserted and aligned. The ink ribbon 3 on the thermally printable medium 1 is already aligned after application, which reduces setup effort on the machine and allows the printing process to start more quickly.

[0053] The direct thermal printer does not require additional ink ribbon rolls, as the special paper used eliminates the need for ink ribbon 3. However, the special paper is not resistant to external influences. This requires a transfer printing process, which can deliver more stable results than direct thermal printing.

[0054] Direct thermal printing devices are usually very compact, allowing them to be carried on a user's body. This makes it difficult to provide an additional roll system 61 for a roll of printing ink ribbon. With the thermally printable medium 1 according to the previous embodiments, thermal transfer printing can be performed in a direct thermal printing device. Consequently, the compactness of the direct thermal printing device can be utilized, while simultaneously producing a stable printed product that is resistant to external influences.

[0055] The thermally printable medium 1 according to the previous embodiments is thus a thermal hybrid label which can be used universally in different thermal printing devices 6 with little preparation effort. (Modifications)

[0056] The shapes and positions described above are not limited to the shapes and positions. For example, the printing substrate 2, the ink film 3, the printing area 4, and the adhesive 5 can have any shape and arrangement, as long as the ink film 3 is fixed to the printing substrate 2 such that the printing area 4 is covered by the ink film 3.

[0057] The separation of the individual printing areas 40 to 4n can be carried out by punching, perforation, cutting or other means that separate the printing areas from each other (e.g. a purely optical separation by a marking).

[0058] The adhesive 5 can be applied both over the entire surface and in specific spots. Furthermore, the adhesive 5 can be selected as any adhesive or bonding agent that can bond the printing ink film 3 and the printing substrate 2 together. Furthermore, the adhesive 5 and the fixing section 500 can be combined with each other in any desired way.

[0059] The embodiments describe the face material 22 as a label. The face material 22 may also be something other than a label. Furthermore, the printing substrate 2 may consist solely of the face material 22. The face material 22 does not have to be self-adhesive or adhesive in any other form.

[0060] In the previously described embodiments, the top material 22 and the printing ink film 3 lie flush against one another. However, this is not necessary as long as a portion of the printing ink film 3 overlaps the top material 22, creating a printable area.

[0061] Furthermore, it is possible to use the thermally printable medium 1 in another thermal printing device. In this case, no roller system 61 or heating bar 62 need be used. For example, a heated stamp can also be used. (List of reference symbols)

[0062] 1 Thermal printable medium 2 Printing substrate 21 Carrier material 22 Face material 23 Perforation 24 Adhesive section 25 Print area section 3 Ink film 30 to 3n variety of ink films 4 Print area 40 to 4n variety of print areas 5 Adhesive 50 to 5n variety of adhesives 500 Fusing section 6 Thermal printing device 61 Roller system 62 Heating element 7 System

Claims

1. A thermally printable medium (1), comprising: a printing substrate (2), and a printing ink film (3, 30-3n), wherein the printing substrate (2) has at least one printing area (4, 40-4n), the printing area (4, 40-4n) is covered by the printing ink film (3, 30-3n) and can be printed on by means of heat, and the printing ink film (3, 30-3n) is fixed to the printing substrate (2) outside the printing area (4, 40-4n).

2. Thermally printable medium (1) according to claim 1, further comprising: an adhesive (5, 50-5n) for fixing the printing ink film (3, 30-3n) to the printing substrate (2).

3. Thermally printable medium (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the printing substrate (2) comprises a carrier material (21) and a top material (22), the carrier material (21) and the top material (22) are bonded to one another, the top material (22) comprises the printing area (4, 40-4n) and is detachable from the carrier material (21).

4. Thermally printable medium (1) according to claim 3, wherein the face material (22) is a label.

5. Thermally printable medium (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the printing substrate (2) has a ribbon-like shape, a plurality of printing areas (40-4n) are provided.

6. Thermally printable medium (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the thermally printable medium (1) is in roll form.

7. A method for producing a thermally printable medium (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: providing a printing substrate (2), providing a printing ink film (3, 30-3n), and fixing the printing ink film (3, 30-3n) on the printing substrate (2).

8. A method according to claim 7 for producing a thermally printable medium (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: dividing the printing substrate (2) into a plurality of printing areas (40-4n).

9. A method according to claim 7 or claim 8 for producing a thermally printable medium (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the adhesive (5, 50-5n) is applied to the printing substrate (2) and / or the printing ink film (3, 30-3n).

10. Use of a thermally printable medium (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6 for printing with a thermal printing device (6).

11. A system for printing a thermally printable medium (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: a thermal printing device (6) and the thermally printable medium (1).

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