Layer transfer device

Abstract

To provide a layer transfer device capable of eliminating a user's labor for manually peeling off a base material layer when transferring a viscoelastic layer.SOLUTION: A layer transfer device comprises a body housing, a first supply reel, a take-up reel, a motor for driving the take-up reel, and a transfer part. The first supply reel is attachable to and detachable from the body housing. The first supply reel has a winding core around which a film is wound. A viscoelastic layer film PF has a first base material layer PF1, a first release layer PF2 formed on the first base material layer PF1, and a viscoelastic layer PF3 formed on the first release layer PF2. The take-up reel takes up the viscoelastic layer film PF supplied from the first supply reel. The transfer part has a heating roller. The transfer part superimposes a transfer printing sheet PS, which has a second base material layer PS1 and a print layer T printed on the second base material layer PS1, onto a film supplied from the first supply reel, and then heats it with a heating roller to transfer the viscoelastic layer PF3 to the print layer T of the transfer printing sheet PS.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a layer transfer device for transferring a viscoelastic layer. [Background technology]

[0002] A layer transfer device is known that transfers a viscoelastic layer to a printed layer by heating and pressing a second sheet having a base layer and a viscoelastic layer onto a first sheet on which a printed layer such as a toner image has been formed, and peeling off the base layer of the second sheet after the viscoelastic layer has been pressed (see Patent Document 1). After the viscoelastic layer of the second sheet is pressed onto the printed layer of the first sheet by this layer transfer device, the printed layer to which the viscoelastic layer has been transferred is transferred to a fabric such as a T-shirt by a press machine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-059086 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional layer transfer devices, after the viscoelastic layer is pressed onto the print layer of the first sheet, the user must manually peel off the base layer, which is a time-consuming task and can lead to failure when peeling off the base layer manually.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for a user to peel off the base layer that has been supporting the viscoelastic layer when transferring the viscoelastic layer to a printing layer of a sheet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a layer transfer device according to the present invention includes a main body housing, a first supply reel, a take-up reel, a motor, and a transfer unit. The first supply reel is detachably attached to the main body housing. The first supply reel has a core around which a film is wound. The film has a first base layer, a first release layer formed on the first base layer, and a viscoelastic layer formed on the first release layer. The take-up reel takes up the film supplied from the first supply reel. The motor drives the take-up reel. The transfer unit has a heating rotor, and the transfer unit overlays a sheet having a second base material layer and a printing layer printed on the second base material layer on a film supplied from a first supply reel, and heats the sheet with the heating rotor to transfer the viscoelastic layer of the film to the printing layer of the sheet.

[0007] The layer transfer device presses the viscoelastic layer onto the printed layer of the sheet, and then winds the base layer of the film onto a take-up reel. This eliminates the need for the user to manually peel off the base layer that supported the viscoelastic layer when transferring the viscoelastic layer onto the printed layer of the sheet. It also makes it easier to keep the peeling angle constant, which helps prevent peeling failures.

[0008] The film may also be wound on a first supply reel such that the viscoelastic layer faces the core of the first supply reel.

[0009] Since the viscoelastic layer is wound so as to face the core of the first supply reel, when the film is wound on the first supply reel, the viscoelastic layer is covered and protected by the first base material layer.

[0010] The sheet may further have a second release layer between the second base layer and the printing layer, and at a first temperature at which the first base layer can be peeled from the viscoelastic layer, a first release force of the first release layer, which is the force required to peel the first base layer from the viscoelastic layer, may be smaller than a second release force of the second release layer, which is the force required to peel the second base layer from the printing layer.

[0011] Because the first release force of the first release layer is smaller than the second release force of the second release layer, the first base material layer and the first release layer are peeled off from the viscoelastic layer while the printing layer and the viscoelastic layer are held by the second release layer.

[0012] The layer transfer device may be capable of mounting a second supply reel on which a foil film including a foil is wound, instead of the first supply reel, on the main body housing, and the transfer unit may be capable of transferring the foil to a printing layer formed on the sheet by overlapping the sheet on the foil film supplied from the second supply reel.

[0013] The layer transfer device may further include a control unit, which, when the first supply reel is attached to the main housing, controls the film to have a first temperature at a peeling position where the first base material layer is peeled from the viscoelastic layer, and when the second supply reel is attached to the main housing, controls the foil film to have a second temperature different from the first temperature at the peeling position where the base material layer is peeled from the foil film.

[0014] The control unit controls the film to have a first temperature at the peeling position when the first supply reel is attached, and controls the foil film to have a second temperature different from the first temperature at the peeling position when the second supply reel is attached, so that the base layer can be appropriately peeled both when the viscoelastic layer is transferred and when the foil is transferred. Also, because the first base layer is peeled off from the viscoelastic layer at the peeling position at the first temperature, the temperature during peeling can be kept constant, and peeling failures can be suppressed.

[0015] The second temperature may also be lower than the first temperature.

[0016] The control unit may also control the temperature of the heating rotator to control the temperature of the film at the peeling position to a first temperature and to control the temperature of the foil film at the peeling position to a second temperature.

[0017] The device may also further include a fan that exhausts air inside the main housing to the outside of the main housing, and the control unit may control the temperature of the film at the peeling position to a first temperature by driving or stopping the fan, and control the temperature of the foil film at the peeling position to a second temperature.

[0018] The present invention may further include a frame for covering the heating rotor, and the frame may have a frame opening formed at a position where heat generated from the heating rotor can reach the peeling position.

[0019] The film may further include a torque limiter that limits the torque of the driving force supplied from the motor to the take-up reel, and the torque limiter may apply to the take-up reel a torque of a magnitude capable of peeling the first base material layer from the viscoelastic layer.

[0020] The apparatus may further include a peeling shaft that guides the first base layer of the film that has passed through the transfer section in a direction different from the sheet transport direction, and the radius of curvature of the peeling shaft at the portion around which the film is wrapped may be 1 to 3 mm.

[0021] Since the radius of curvature of the peeling shaft is 1 to 3 mm, it is easier to peel off the first base material layer compared to when the radius of curvature is greater than 3 mm.

[0022] The wrap angle of the film around the peeling shaft may be an obtuse angle.

[0023] Since the wrap angle of the film around the peel shaft is obtuse, the first base material layer is easily peeled off.

[0024] Additionally, the first supply reel and the second supply reel may each have a memory, and the control unit may determine whether the first supply reel or the second supply reel is attached to the main body housing by reading information from the memory.

[0025] Because the control unit determines whether the first or second supply reel is attached based on information in the memory, the user does not need to input an instruction to the layer transfer device regarding the type of supply reel.

[0026] The viscoelastic layer may have a thickness of 20 to 50 μm. Effect of the Invention

[0027] According to the present invention, when transferring a viscoelastic layer to a printing layer of a sheet, it is possible to eliminate the need for a user to manually peel off a base layer that has been supporting the viscoelastic layer. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a layer transfer device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a foil film. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the cover of the layer transfer apparatus is open. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a film cartridge wound with a foil film, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing a film cartridge wound with a viscoelastic layer film. [Diagram 5] 13A, 13B, and 13C are diagrams explaining the timing of pressure contact and separation in foil save mode. [Figure 6] 1A is a view of the film cartridge and the transfer unit from the axial direction, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the viscoelastic layer film within the dashed line in FIG. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view (a) of a sheet and foil film with a printed layer formed, a cross-sectional view (b) of the sheet and foil film pressed together, and a cross-sectional view (c) showing the base layer of the foil film peeling off from the sheet. [Figure 8] 1 is a flowchart showing a procedure for transferring a printing layer to a fabric using a transfer printing sheet. [Figure 9] (a) is a cross-sectional view of a transfer printing sheet and a viscoelastic layer film on which a printing layer is formed, (b) is a cross-sectional view of the viscoelastic layer film pressed against the transfer printing sheet, and (c) is a cross-sectional view showing the base layer of the viscoelastic layer film peeling off from the transfer printing sheet. [Figure 10] 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the peeling force and temperature of the first and second release layers. [Figure 11] This is a cross-sectional view (a) showing the state in which a transfer printing sheet with a viscoelastic layer transferred thereto is pressed against a fabric, and a cross-sectional view (b) showing the state after the transfer printing sheet has been peeled off from the fabric with the printing layer transferred thereto. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 illustrates a layer transfer apparatus equipped with a fan. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Next, the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. As shown in FIG. 1(a), the layer transfer device 1 is a device that overlays a sheet S on a film F including multiple layers and transfers a layer of the film F onto a printed layer T of the sheet S (see FIGS. 5 and 7 for the printed layer T). For example, the layer transfer device 1 forms a printed layer T such as a toner image on the sheet S using an image forming device such as a laser printer, and then transfers a layer such as a foil or a viscoelastic layer onto the printed layer T of the sheet S. The layer transfer device 1 includes a housing 2, a sheet tray 3, a sheet conveying unit 10, a film supply unit 30, a transfer unit 50, a motor M, a torque limiter TR, an electrical contact CN, and a control unit 300.

[0030] The housing 2 is made of resin or the like, and includes a main housing 21 and a cover 22. The main body housing 21 has an opening 21A (see FIG. 2) at its upper part. The opening 21A is an opening for inserting and removing a film cartridge FC, which will be described later, into and from the main body housing 21. Cover 22 is a member for opening and closing opening 21A. A rear end of cover 22 is rotatably supported by main body housing 21. Cover 22 is rotatable between a closed position (position in FIG. 1(a)) where opening 21A is closed and an open position (position in FIG. 2) where opening 21A is opened.

[0031] The sheet tray 3 is a tray on which sheets S, such as paper and transparencies, are set. The sheet tray 3 is provided at the rear of the housing 2. The sheet S is set on the sheet tray 3 with the surface on which the printed layer T is formed facing downward.

[0032] The sheet transport section 10 includes a sheet supply mechanism 11 and a sheet discharge mechanism 12 . The sheet supply mechanism 11 is a mechanism that conveys the sheets S on the sheet tray 3 one by one toward the transfer unit 50. The sheet supply mechanism 11 includes a pickup roller 11A, a retard roller 11B, and an upstream conveyance roller 11C as a conveyance roller.

[0033] The pickup roller 11A is a roller that picks up the sheets S set on the sheet tray 3. The retard roller 11B separates the sheets S conveyed by the pickup roller 11A into a single sheet.

[0034] The upstream transport rollers 11C are made up of two rollers, and each roller rotates while sandwiching the sheet S between them, thereby enabling the sheet S to be transported. The upstream transport rollers 11C are transport rollers disposed immediately before the transfer unit 50 in the transport direction of the sheet S.

[0035] The sheet discharge mechanism 12 is a mechanism that discharges the sheet S that has passed through the transfer unit 50 to the outside of the housing 2. The sheet discharge mechanism 12 includes downstream transport rollers 12A and discharge rollers 12B. Each of the downstream transport rollers 12A and the discharge rollers 12B is made up of two rollers, and the sheet S can be conveyed by rotating each roller with the sheet S sandwiched between these rollers.

[0036] The film supply unit 30 is a portion that supplies the film F so as to be superimposed on the sheet S conveyed from the sheet supply mechanism 11. The film supply unit 30 includes a film cartridge FC.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 2, film cartridge FC is detachably attached to main body housing 21 by passing through opening 21A in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of supply reel 31 (described later). In the following description, the axial direction of supply reel 31 will be simply referred to as the "axial direction." Film cartridge FC includes supply reel 31, take-up reel 35, first guide shaft 41, second guide shaft 42, and third guide shaft 43. Film F is wound around supply reel 31 of film cartridge FC.

[0038] The layer transfer device 1 transfers different things depending on the type of film F wound around the film cartridge FC. For example, the foil film FF is a film that includes a foil and is used to transfer the foil to the printing layer T. The viscoelastic layer film PF is a film that includes a viscoelastic layer PF3 and is used to transfer the viscoelastic layer PF3. In this specification, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the supply reel 31 around which the viscoelastic layer film PF is wound is called the first supply reel 31P. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the supply reel 31 around which the foil film FF is wound is called the second supply reel 31F. That is, the layer transfer device 1 is capable of mounting the first supply reel 31P to the main body housing 21, and is also capable of mounting the second supply reel 31F to the main body housing 21 instead of the first supply reel 31P.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 1(b), the foil film FF has a foil base layer FF1, a foil peeling layer FF2, a foil transfer layer FF3, and a foil adhesive layer FF4. The foil peeling layer FF2 is formed on the foil base layer FF1. The foil transfer layer FF3 is formed on the foil peeling layer FF2. The foil adhesive layer FF4 is formed on the foil transfer layer FF3.

[0040] The foil base layer FF1 is a tape-like transparent base material made of a polymeric material, and supports the foil release layer FF2, the foil transfer layer FF3, and the foil adhesive layer FF4.

[0041] The foil peeling layer FF2 is a layer for facilitating peeling of the foil transfer layer FF3 from the foil base layer FF1, and is disposed between the foil base layer FF1 and the foil transfer layer FF3. The foil peeling layer FF2 contains a transparent material, such as a wax-based resin, that is easily peeled off from the foil base layer FF1.

[0042] The foil transfer layer FF3 is a layer to be transferred to the printing layer T and contains a foil. The foil is a thin metal such as gold, silver, copper, or aluminum. The foil transfer layer FF3 may also contain a coloring material such as gold, silver, or red, and a thermoplastic resin. The foil transfer layer FF3 is disposed between the foil peeling layer FF2 and the foil adhesive layer FF4.

[0043] The foil adhesive layer FF4 is a layer for adhering the foil transfer layer FF3 to the printing layer T. The foil adhesive layer FF4 contains a material that easily adheres to the printing layer T heated by the transfer unit 50, such as a vinyl chloride resin or an acrylic resin.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 6(b), the viscoelastic layer film PF has a first base layer PF1, a first release layer PF2, and a viscoelastic layer PF3. The first release layer PF2 is formed on the first base layer PF1. The viscoelastic layer PF3 is formed on the first release layer PF2.

[0045] The first base layer PF1 supports the first release layer PF2 and the viscoelastic layer PF3. In this embodiment, the first base layer PF1 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and has a thickness of 15 to 20 μm.

[0046] The first release layer PF2 is a layer for facilitating peeling of the viscoelastic layer PF3 from the first base layer PF1, and is disposed between the first base layer PF1 and the viscoelastic layer PF3. The first release layer PF2 contains a transparent material, such as a wax-based resin, that is easily peeled from the first base layer PF1. In this embodiment, the thickness of the first release layer PF2 is 10 to 15 μm.

[0047] The viscoelastic layer PF3 is a layer to be transferred to the printing layer T and contains a viscoelastic material. The viscoelastic material is a material having viscoelasticity made of a polymer material. The viscoelastic layer PF3 is a material that easily adheres to the printing layer T heated by the transfer unit 50 and to a transfer target such as a fabric. The viscoelastic layer PF3 contains, for example, a vinyl chloride resin or an acrylic resin, and a material suitable for adhering to a transfer target may be selected. The viscoelastic layer PF3 is disposed on the surface of the viscoelastic layer film PF. The viscoelastic layer PF3 is thicker than the first peeling layer PF2. The thickness of the viscoelastic layer PF3 is 20 to 50 μm. Preferably, the thickness of the viscoelastic layer PF3 is 30 to 40 μm.

[0048] 6(a) and 6(b), the viscoelastic layer film PF is wound around the first supply reel 31P so that the viscoelastic layer PF3 faces the winding core 31A of the first supply reel 31P. In other words, when the viscoelastic layer film PF is wound around the first supply reel 31P, the viscoelastic layer PF3 is located on the inner side with respect to the first base material layer PF1.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 9(a), FIG. 11(a) and FIG. 11(b), since it is difficult to directly print on the fabric CL using an image forming device, a printing layer T is printed on a transfer printing sheet PS, and then the printing layer T printed on the transfer printing sheet PS is transferred to the fabric CL. At this time, in order to prevent the printing layer T transferred to the fabric CL from being easily peeled off, a viscoelastic layer PF3 is transferred onto the printing layer T printed on the transfer printing sheet PS, and the printing layer T and the viscoelastic layer PF3 are transferred to the fabric CL. Note that the object to which the transfer is made using the transfer printing sheet PS is not limited to the fabric CL, and may be made of leather, ceramics, wood, resin, metal, or the like. In addition, the object to which the transfer is made is not limited to a flat object, and may be a three-dimensional object.

[0050] 9(a), the transfer printing sheet PS has a second base layer PS1 and a second release layer PS2. The second release layer PS2 is formed on the second base layer PS1.

[0051] The second base layer PS1 is a tape-like transparent base material made of a polymer material, and supports the second release layer PS2. In this embodiment, the second base layer PS1 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and has a thickness of 15 to 20 μm.

[0052] The second release layer PS2 is a layer on which the printed layer T is formed by an image forming device or the like. The second release layer PS2 supports the printed layer T and the viscoelastic layer PF3 after the viscoelastic layer PF3 is transferred onto the printed layer T formed on the second release layer PS2, and is a layer for facilitating peeling of the printed layer T and the viscoelastic layer PF3 from the second base layer PS1 when the printed layer T and the viscoelastic layer PF3 are transferred to the fabric CL or the like. The second release layer PS2 contains a transparent material, such as a wax-based resin, that is easily peeled off from the second base layer PS1. In this embodiment, the thickness of the second release layer PS2 is 10 to 15 μm.

[0053] Here, as shown in FIGS. 9(b) and (c), at a first temperature T1 at which the first base layer PF1 can be peeled off from the viscoelastic layer PF3, a first peeling force H1 of the first release layer PF2, which is a force required to peel the first base layer PF1 from the viscoelastic layer PF3, is smaller than a second peeling force H2 of the second release layer PS2, which is a force required to peel the second base layer PS1 from the printing layer T (H1 <H2)。

[0054] As shown in Fig. 10, the peeling strength of the first peeling layer PF2 and the second peeling layer PS2 is temperature dependent. The lower the temperature, the greater the peeling strength of the first peeling layer PF2, and the higher the temperature, the smaller the peeling strength. The lower the temperature, the smaller the peeling strength of the second peeling layer PS2, and the higher the temperature, the greater the peeling strength. In this embodiment, the temperature at the peeling position is set to a first temperature T1 at which the first peeling strength H1 of the first peeling layer PF2 is smaller than the second peeling strength H2 of the second peeling layer PS2.

[0055] 1(a), supply reel 31 is detachable from main body housing 21. Supply reel 31 is made of resin or the like, and has a core 31A, a supply case 31K, and a memory M.

[0056] One end of film F is fixed to core 31A, and film F is wound around core 31A. Supply case 31K has a cylindrical shape and is a hollow case that contains film F wound around core 31A.

[0057] Memory M is disposed at the bottom end of supply case 31K. When supply reel 31 is attached to main body housing 21, memory M comes into contact with electrical contacts CN of main body housing 21. Memory M stores information about film F wound around supply reel 31.

[0058] Take-up reel 35 is a reel that takes up film F supplied from supply reel 31. Take-up reel 35 is made of resin or the like, and has take-up shaft portion 35A. The other end of film F is fixed to take-up shaft portion 35A. Motor M drives take-up reel 35. Take-up reel 35 takes up film F by being rotationally driven by motor M.

[0059] The torque limiter TR limits the torque of the driving force supplied from the motor M to the take-up reel 35. In this embodiment, the torque limiter TR applies to the take-up reel 35 a torque large enough to peel the first base layer PF1 from the viscoelastic layer PF3.

[0060] First guide shaft 41 is a shaft for changing the traveling direction of film F as it is pulled out from supply reel 31. Second guide shaft 42 is a shaft for changing the traveling direction of film F guided by first guide shaft 41. Third guide shaft 43 is a shaft for changing the traveling direction of film F guided by second guide shaft 42 and guiding it to take-up reel 35.

[0061] The first guide shaft 41 guides the film F pulled out from the supply reel 31 so as to overlap the sheet S, which is transported with the printed layer T facing down, from below. The first guide shaft 41 changes the transport direction of the film F pulled out from the supply reel 31 and guides the film F approximately parallel to the transport direction of the sheet S.

[0062] The second guide shaft 42 is an example of a peeling shaft. The second guide shaft 42 comes into contact with the film F that has passed through the transfer section 50, and changes the conveying direction of the film F that has passed through the transfer section 50 to a direction different from the conveying direction of the sheet S. The film F that has passed through the transfer section 50 and been conveyed in a state overlapping with the sheet S is guided in a direction different from the sheet S when passing through the second guide shaft 42, and is peeled off from the sheet S. In the following description, the position where the film F is peeled off from the sheet S is referred to as the "peeling position." In this embodiment, the position of the second guide shaft 42 is the peeling position.

[0063] When the foil film FF is attached to the main body housing 21, the second guide shaft 42 guides the foil base material layer FF1 of the foil film FF that has passed through the transfer section 50 in a direction different from the conveying direction of the sheet S. When the viscoelastic layer film PF is attached to the main body housing 21, the second guide shaft 42 guides the first base layer PF1 of the viscoelastic layer film PF that has passed through the transfer section 50 in a direction different from the conveying direction of the sheet S.

[0064] 6(a), the wrapping angle θ of the film F around the second guide shaft 42 is an obtuse angle. Specifically, the wrapping angle θ of the film F around the second guide shaft 42 is 120 to 140°. The radius of curvature of the second guide shaft 42 at the portion around which the film F is wrapped is 1 to 3 mm.

[0065] The transfer section 50 is a section for transferring a layer onto the printed layer T formed on the sheet S by overlapping the sheet S on the film F transported from the supply reel 31 to the take-up reel 35, and applying heat and pressure while the sheet S and the film F are sandwiched between them. When the foil film FF is attached to the main body housing 21, the transfer section 50 transfers the foil transfer layer FF3 onto the print layer T of the sheet S. When the viscoelastic layer film PF is attached to the main body housing 21, the transfer section 50 transfers the viscoelastic layer PF3 onto the print layer T of the sheet S.

[0066] The transfer unit 50 includes a pressure roller 51 as an example of a pressure rotating body, a heating roller 60 as an example of a heating rotating body, a frame 61, and an actuator 70.

[0067] The pressure roller 51 is a roller that sandwiches the film F and the sheet S between it and the heating roller 60, and is formed by covering the periphery of a cylindrical mandrel with a rubber layer made of silicon rubber. The pressure roller 51 is disposed above the film F and can come into contact with the surface of the sheet S on the side opposite to the surface on which the printing layer T is formed. Both ends of the pressure roller 51 are rotatably supported by the cover 22. The pressure roller 51 conveys the film F and the sheet S between it and the heating roller 60 while being in pressure contact with the heating roller 60.

[0068] The heating roller 60 is a roller that heats the film F and the sheet S. The heating roller 60 is disposed below the film F and can come into contact with the film F.

[0069] The frame 61 rotatably supports the heating roller 60. The frame 61 is configured to cover the heating roller 60 in order to make it difficult for the heat of the heating roller 60 to be released. As shown in FIG. 6(a), the frame 61 has a frame opening 62. The frame opening 62 is formed at a position such that the heat generated from the heating roller 60 can reach the peeling position.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 3, the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 60 are formed in an inverse crown shape, and the diameter is formed to be larger from the central portion in the axial direction toward the end portion. Specifically, for the heating roller 60, the diameter A1 at the central portion in the axial direction is smaller than the diameter A2 at the end portion in the axial direction (A1 < A2). Also, for the heating roller 60, the diameter B1 at the central portion in the axial direction is smaller than the diameter B2 at the end portion in the axial direction (B1 < B2).

[0071] The actuator 70 is a member that moves the heating roller 60 between a pressure contact position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 1) where the heating roller 60 and the pressure roller 51 are pressed against each other, and a separation position (shown by a dotted line in FIG. 1) where the heating roller 60 and the pressure roller 51 are separated from each other.

[0072] The pressure roller 51 and the heat roller 60 can transport the film F and the sheet S by being driven in a pressed-contact state. More specifically, the pressure roller 51 rotates the heat roller 60 by being driven to rotate while the heat roller 60 is in the pressed-contact position. In this way, the pressure roller 51 and the heat roller 60 transport the film F and the sheet S sandwiched between the pressure roller 51 and the heat roller 60.

[0073] In the layer transfer device 1 configured in this manner, the sheets S, which are set on the sheet tray 3 with the surface on which the printed layer T is formed facing downward, are transported one by one toward the transfer unit 50 by the sheet supply mechanism 11. The sheet S is overlapped with the film F supplied from the supply reel 31 on the upstream side of the transfer unit 50 in the sheet transport direction, and is transported to the transfer unit 50 with the printed layer T of the sheet S and the film F in contact with each other.

[0074] In the transfer section 50, when the sheet S and the film F pass through the nip between the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 60, they are heated and pressurized by the heating roller 60 and the pressure roller 51, and a layer (the viscoelastic layer PF3 or the foil transfer layer FF3) is transferred onto the printing layer T formed on the sheet S. In the following description, the transfer of a layer onto the sheet S is also simply referred to as "layer transfer."

[0075] After the layer transfer, the sheet S and the film F are transported in a tightly contacted state to the second guide shaft 42. When the sheet S and the film F pass the second guide shaft 42, the transport direction of the film F changes to a direction different from the transport direction of the sheet S, so that the film F is peeled off from the sheet S.

[0076] The film F peeled off from the sheet S is taken up by the take-up reel 35. Meanwhile, the sheet S from which the film F has been peeled off is discharged by the sheet discharge mechanism 12 to the outside of the housing 2 with the surface on which the layer has been transferred facing down.

[0077] The electrical contacts CN are the parts that come into contact with the memory M when the film cartridge FC is attached to the main body housing 21. When the supply reel 31 is attached to the main body housing 21, the electrical contacts CN come into contact with the memory M, and the information in the memory M is sent to the control unit 300.

[0078] The control unit 300 includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, an input / output circuit, and the like, and executes control by performing various arithmetic processing based on programs and data stored in the ROM and the like.

[0079] Here, the control executed by the control unit 300 will be described.

[0080] The control unit 300 can execute a foil save mode (hereinafter referred to as "FS mode"). The FS mode is a mode in which, in order to save the film F, the heating roller 60 is separated while the area on the sheet S on which the printed layer T is not formed passes through the transfer unit 50, and the heating roller 60 is pressed against the sheet S only while the area on the sheet S on which the printed layer T is formed passes through the transfer unit 50. That is, in the FS mode, when transferring a layer to the printed layer T formed on the sheet S, the control unit 300 controls the actuator 70 so that the heating roller 60 is positioned at the separated position when the area on which the printed layer T is not formed passes through the transfer position, and the heating roller 60 is positioned at the pressed position when the area on which the printed layer T is formed reaches the transfer position. The user can select whether or not to enable the FS mode.

[0081] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5(a), when the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet S is a blank area BA and an image forming area TA is formed only on the upstream side, the control unit 300 keeps the heating roller 60 separated until halfway through the blank area BA, and then presses the heating roller 60 from halfway through the blank area BA until some time has passed since the image forming area TA has passed. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5(b), when the downstream and upstream portions of the sheet S in the conveying direction are blank areas BA and an image forming area TA is formed only in the center, the control unit 300 presses the heating roller 60 only from a little before the image forming area TA until a while after it has passed through. As shown in Figure 5 (c), when the upstream side of the sheet S in the transport direction is a blank area BA and an image forming area TA is formed only on the upstream side, the control unit 300 presses the heating roller 60 against the sheet from the front end until a while has passed since the image forming area TA has passed, and then separates it.

[0082] Furthermore, the control unit 300 determines whether the first supply reel 31P or the second supply reel 31F is attached to the main body housing 21 by reading the information in the memory M. In this embodiment, the control unit 300 controls the temperature of the film F at the peeling position by controlling the temperature of the heating roller 60. Specifically, the control unit 300 can increase the temperature at the peeling position by increasing the temperature of the heating roller 60, and can decrease the temperature at the peeling position by decreasing the temperature of the heating roller 60.

[0083] When the control unit 300 determines that the first supply reel 31P is attached to the main housing 21, it controls the viscoelastic layer film PF to have a first temperature T1 at the peeling position where the first base layer PF1 is peeled from the viscoelastic layer PF3.

[0084] When the second supply reel 31F is attached to the main body housing 21, the control unit 300 controls the foil film FF to have a second temperature T2 different from the first temperature T1 at a peeling position where the foil base layer FF1 is peeled from the foil film FF. The second temperature T2 is a temperature different from the first temperature T1. In this embodiment, the second temperature T2 is a temperature lower than the first temperature T1 (T2 <T1)。

[0085] Next, the procedure for transferring the foil will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7(a), when a foil is transferred to a sheet S, a printing layer T is first printed on the sheet S by an image forming device.

[0086] Next, the sheet S on which the printing layer T is printed is set on the sheet tray 3 of the layer transfer device 1. After the sheet S is set on the sheet tray 3, it is sent to the transfer section 50, and the sheet S and the foil film FF are heat-pressed in an overlapping state as shown in FIG. 7(b). When the sheet S and the foil film FF are heat-pressed in an overlapping state, the foil transfer layer FF3 is pressed on the part where the printing layer T is formed, and the foil transfer layer FF3 is not pressed on the part where the printing layer T is not formed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7(c), the foil transfer layer FF3 is pressed only on the part where the printing layer T is formed, and the foil transfer layer FF3 that is not pressed on the printing layer T remains on the foil film FF. In this way, the foil transfer layer FF3 is transferred to the printing layer T by the layer transfer device 1. At this time, the foil base layer FF1 is automatically peeled off by the layer transfer device 1 and wound on the take-up reel 35.

[0087] Next, a procedure for transferring the printing layer T to the fabric CL using the transfer printing sheet PS will be described with reference to Figs. 8, 9 and 11.

[0088] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, when transferring a printing layer T to a fabric CL, first, the printing layer T is printed on a transfer printing sheet PS as a material for forming the printing layer with an image forming device (S1).

[0089] Next, the transfer printing sheet PS printed with the printing layer T is set in the sheet tray 3 of the layer transfer device 1. Then, when the transfer printing sheet PS is sent to the transfer unit 50, as shown in FIG. 9(b), in the transfer unit 50, the transfer printing sheet PS and the viscoelastic layer film PF are thermocompression bonded in a state where they overlap. When the transfer printing sheet PS and the viscoelastic layer film PF are thermocompression bonded in a state where they overlap, the viscoelastic layer PF3 is pressure bonded to the portion where the printing layer T is formed. Note that the viscoelastic layer PF3 is not pressure bonded to the portion where the printing layer T is not formed.

[0090] Then, when the portion where the printing layer T is formed moves to the peeling position, the transfer printing sheet PS proceeds along the conveyance path of the sheet S as it is, and the viscoelastic layer film PF is guided by the second guide shaft 42, the traveling direction is changed, and it is guided downward (see FIG. 1(a)). Then, as shown in FIG. 9(c), since the first peeling force H1 of the first peeling layer PF2, which is the force required to peel the first base material layer PF1 from the viscoelastic layer PF3, is smaller than the second peeling force H2 of the second peeling layer PS2, which is the force required to peel the second base material layer PS1 from the printing layer T (H1 < H2), the printing layer T and the viscoelastic layer PF3 remain on the transfer printing sheet PS, and the viscoelastic layer PF3 corresponding to the portion where the printing layer T is not formed remains on the viscoelastic layer film PF. In this way, the viscoelastic layer PF3 is transferred to the printing layer T of the transfer printing sheet PS (S2).

[0091] At this time, the first base material layer PF1 of the viscoelastic layer film PF is automatically peeled off by the layer transfer device 1 without the user manually peeling it. And since the control unit 300 controls the viscoelastic layer film PF to be at the first temperature T1 at the peeling position, at the peeling position, the first base material layer PF1 is peeled off from the viscoelastic layer PF3 at the first temperature T1.

[0092] Next, as shown in FIG. 11(a), with the viscoelastic layer PF3 transferred to the printing layer T of the transfer printing sheet PS, the transfer printing sheet PS is overlaid on the fabric CL and heated and pressure welded with a dedicated press machine (not shown). Then, the printing layer T and the viscoelastic layer PF3 are pressure bonded to the fabric CL (S3).

[0093] After the printing layer T and the viscoelastic layer PF3 are pressed onto the fabric CL, the user peels off the second base layer PS1 of the transfer printing sheet PS (S4). As shown in Fig. 11(b), when the second base layer PS1 of the transfer printing sheet PS is peeled off, only the printing layer T and the viscoelastic layer PF3 remain on the fabric CL.

[0094] The layer transfer apparatus 1 can provide the following advantages. According to the layer transfer device 1, the transfer section 50 overlaps the transfer printing sheet PS on which the printing layer T is formed on the viscoelastic layer film PF supplied from the first supply reel 31P and heats it with the heating roller 60, thereby transferring the viscoelastic layer PF3 of the viscoelastic layer film PF to the printing layer T of the transfer printing sheet PS. Then, after the layer transfer device 1 attaches the viscoelastic layer PF3 to the printing layer T, the first base layer PF1 of the viscoelastic layer film PF after the transfer of the viscoelastic layer PF3 is taken up by the take-up reel 35. This eliminates the need for the user to manually peel off the first base layer PF1 supporting the viscoelastic layer PF3 when transferring the viscoelastic layer PF3 to the printing layer T of the transfer printing sheet PS. In conventional layer transfer devices, the user had to manually peel the first base layer from the viscoelastic layer, making it difficult to maintain a constant peel angle. However, in the layer transfer device 1, the first base layer PF1 is peeled off automatically without manual labor, making it easier to maintain a constant peel angle and reducing peel failures.

[0095] In addition, since the viscoelastic layer film PF is wound around the first supply reel 31P so that the viscoelastic layer PF3 faces the winding core 31A of the first supply reel 31P, when the viscoelastic layer film PF is wound around the first supply reel 31P, the viscoelastic layer PF3 is covered and protected by the first base material layer PF1.

[0096] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9(c), since the first peeling force H1 of the first peeling layer PF2 is smaller than the second peeling force H2 of the second peeling layer PS2, the first base material layer PF1 and the first peeling layer PF2 are peeled off from the viscoelastic layer PF3 while the printing layer T and the viscoelastic layer PF3 are held by the second peeling layer PS2.

[0097] Furthermore, when the first supply reel 31P is attached, the control unit 300 controls the viscoelastic layer film PF to have a first temperature T1 at the peeling position, and when the second supply reel 31F is attached, the control unit 300 controls the foil film FF to have a second temperature T2 at the peeling position. This allows each base material layer (first base material layer PF1, foil base material layer FF1) to be appropriately peeled off both when transferring the viscoelastic layer PF3 and when transferring the foil. Furthermore, since the first base material layer PF1 is peeled off from the viscoelastic layer PF3 at the peeling position at the first temperature T1, the temperature during peeling can be kept constant, and peeling failures can be suppressed.

[0098] Furthermore, since the radius of curvature of the second guide shaft 42 is 1 to 3 mm, it is easier to peel off the first base material layer PF1 compared to when the radius of curvature is greater than 3 mm.

[0099] In addition, since the wrapping angle of the film F around the second guide shaft 42 is an obtuse angle, the first base layer PF1 is easy to peel off.

[0100] Furthermore, since the control unit 300 determines whether the first supply reel 31P or the second supply reel 31F is attached based on the information in the memory M, the user does not need to input an instruction to the layer transfer apparatus 1 regarding the type of supply reel 31.

[0101] Furthermore, the layer transfer device 1 transfers the viscoelastic layer PF3 to the printing layer T using the viscoelastic layer film PF wound around the supply reel 31, and since the control unit 300 can execute a foil save mode (FS mode), it is possible to prevent the viscoelastic layer film PF from being used in a portion where the printing layer T is not formed. In other words, it is possible to prevent the viscoelastic layer film PF from being wasted.

[0102] Also, as shown in FIG. 3, since the pressing roller 51 and the heating roller 60 have an inverse crown shape, the conveyance speed is higher at both ends than at the central portion in the axial direction. Therefore, when conveying the sheet S and the film F, the sheet S and the film F can be conveyed while being stretched from the central portion in the axial direction toward both ends. As a result, it is possible to suppress the sheet S and the film F from becoming wrinkled, and even if there are bubbles between the sheet S and the film F, the bubbles can escape to the outside in the axial direction.

[0103] As described above, the embodiments have been explained, but the layer transfer device can be appropriately modified and implemented as exemplified below.

[0104] In the above embodiment, the control unit 300 controls the temperature of the film F at the peeling position by controlling the temperature of the heating roller 60, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the layer transfer device 1A shown in FIG. 12 further includes a fan FA that discharges the air inside the main body housing 21 to the outside of the main body housing 21. The control unit 300 may control the temperature of the film F at the peeling position by driving or stopping the fan FA. Although not shown, the control unit 300 may control the temperature of the film F at the peeling position by opening and closing the frame opening 62 of the frame 61 shown in FIG. 6(a).

[0105] Also, in the above embodiment, the memory M is arranged on the supply reel 31, but the memory M may be arranged on the take-up reel 35 or may be arranged at a connecting portion that connects the supply reel 31 and the take-up reel 35. Further, when the configuration is such that a memory storing information of the film F is not arranged, information about the type of the film F used by the user may be input.

[0106] Also, in the above embodiment, the second temperature T2 is lower than the first temperature T1 (T2 < T1), but the second temperature T2 may be higher than the first temperature T1 (T1 < T2).

[0107] In addition, in the above embodiment, a configuration was exemplified in which a printed layer T such as a toner image is formed on a sheet S using an image forming device such as a laser printer, but the printed layer may also be formed using other image forming devices, such as an inkjet printer or screen printing.

[0108] In the above embodiment, the heating roller 60 (heating rotator) is movable between a pressure contact position where it is in pressure contact with the pressure roller 51 (pressuring rotator) and a spaced position where it is spaced from the pressure roller 51, but for example, the pressure rotator may be movable between a pressure contact position where it is in pressure contact with the heating rotator and a spaced position where it is spaced from the heating rotator. Also, each of the heating rotator and the pressure rotator may be movable between a pressure contact position where it is in pressure contact with the other unit and a spaced position where it is spaced from the other unit.

[0109] The elements described in the above embodiment and modified examples may be implemented in any combination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 1 layer transfer device 21 Main unit housing 21A opening 31A Winding core 31P 1st supply reel 35 Take-up reel 50 Transcription unit 51 Pressure roller 60 Heating roller F Film PF Viscoelastic Layer Film PF1 1st base layer PF2 First peeling layer PF3 Viscoelastic Layer PS Transfer Printing Sheet PS1 2nd base layer PS2 Second release layer S Seat T printing layer

Claims

1. A main body housing; a first supply reel detachable from the main body housing, the first supply reel having a core around which a film is wound, the film having a first base material layer, a first release layer formed on the first base material layer, and a viscoelastic layer formed on the first release layer; a take-up reel that takes up the film supplied from the first supply reel; A motor that drives the take-up reel; a transfer section that has a heating rotor and transfers the viscoelastic layer of the film to the printing layer of the sheet by overlaying a sheet having a second base material layer and a printing layer printed on the second base material layer on the film supplied from the first supply reel and heating the sheet with the heating rotor.

2. The layer transfer apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the film is wound around the first supply reel such that the viscoelastic layer faces the winding core of the first supply reel.

3. The sheet further has a second release layer between the second base layer and the printing layer, The layer transfer device described in claim 1, characterized in that at a first temperature at which the first base layer can be peeled off from the viscoelastic layer, a first peeling force of the first release layer, which is the force required to peel the first base layer from the viscoelastic layer, is smaller than a second peeling force of the second release layer, which is the force required to peel the second base layer from the printing layer.

4. The layer transfer device includes: A second supply reel on which a foil film including a foil is wound can be attached to the main body housing in place of the first supply reel, The layer transfer device according to claim 3 , wherein the transfer unit is capable of overlaying a sheet on the foil film supplied from the second supply reel and transferring the foil onto a printing layer formed on the sheet.

5. A control unit is further provided. The control unit is when the first supply reel is attached to the main body housing, controlling the film to have the first temperature at a peeling position where the first base layer is peeled off from the viscoelastic layer; The layer transfer device described in claim 4, characterized in that when the second supply reel is attached to the main housing, the foil film is controlled to have a second temperature different from the first temperature at a peeling position where the base layer is peeled off from the foil film.

6. 6. The layer transfer apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second temperature is lower than the first temperature.

7. The layer transfer device according to claim 5, characterized in that the control unit controls the temperature of the heating rotor to control the temperature of the film at the peeling position to a first temperature and to control the temperature of the foil film at the peeling position to the second temperature by controlling the temperature of the heating rotor.

8. a fan that exhausts air from within the main body housing to the outside of the main body housing, The layer transfer device according to claim 5, characterized in that the control unit controls the temperature of the film at the peeling position to a first temperature and controls the temperature of the foil film at the peeling position to the second temperature by driving or stopping the fan.

9. Further comprising a frame for covering the heating rotator, 6. The layer transfer apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the frame has a frame opening formed at a position where the heat generated from the heating rotatable body can reach the peeling position.

10. a torque limiter that limits the torque of the driving force supplied from the motor to the take-up reel, The layer transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the torque limiter applies to the take-up reel a torque large enough to peel the first base layer from the viscoelastic layer.

11. a peeling shaft that guides the first base layer of the film that has passed through the transfer section in a direction different from a sheet conveying direction, 2. The layer transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the peeling shaft at the portion around which the film is wound is 1 to 3 mm.

12. The layer transfer apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein a wrap angle of the film around the peel shaft is an obtuse angle.

13. the first supply reel and the second supply reel each have a memory; The layer transfer device according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit determines whether the first supply reel or the second supply reel is attached to the main body housing by reading information from the memory.

14. 2. The layer transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the viscoelastic layer has a thickness of 20 to 50 μm.

Images