Bobbin, thermal transfer sheet ribbon, and thermal transfer printing apparatus

Abstract

To provide a bobbin and a thermal transfer sheet ribbon capable of discriminating information on a thermal transfer sheet and the bobbin by a thermal transfer printer.SOLUTION: A bobbin 1 around which a thermal transfer sheet S is wound has a cylindrical shape, a light transmission portion for transmitting light is formed on one end side, a gear 62 including a plurality of teeth 63 is formed on the other end side, and a two dimensional code 9 is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the one end side or the other end side. The light transmitting portion is a cutout portion 6 or an opening 7. The two dimensional code 9 is provided on an exposed portion 8, which is not covered with the thermal transfer sheet S, of the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a bobbin on which a thermal transfer sheet is wound, a ribbon in which the thermal transfer sheet is wound around the bobbin, and a thermal transfer printing device that identifies the thermal transfer sheet ribbon and performs printing processing. [Background technology]

[0002] In thermal transfer printing devices, sublimation transfer dyes are used as recording materials, and a thermal transfer sheet (sublimation thermal transfer sheet) has a dye layer supported on a substrate such as a polyester film with an appropriate binder.The sublimation dyes are then thermally transferred from this sheet to an image receiving sheet made of paper, plastic film, or the like, on which a dye receiving layer has been formed, to form various full-color images.

[0003] In recent years, advances in thermal transfer recording technology have led to a wide variety of thermal transfer sheets, and the use of these various types of thermal transfer sheets in a single thermal transfer printing device is becoming more common. In order to achieve the desired printing performance and durability, it is necessary to distinguish the type of thermal transfer sheet and control the heating energy of the thermal transfer sheet according to the type.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a flange part incorporating an RFID for identifying the type of thermal transfer sheet is attached to the end of a bobbin around which a thermal transfer sheet is wound. However, this requires preparing and attaching a flange part and an RFID separate from the bobbin, which increases manufacturing costs.

[0005] In recent years, bobbin recycling has been considered as a resource conservation measure. When used bobbins are collected and reused, the strength of the bobbins decreases as the number of times they are used increases. Therefore, there is a demand for a system that can identify information about bobbins, such as the number of times they have been recycled. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6265377 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and aims to provide a bobbin and a thermal transfer sheet ribbon that enable a thermal transfer printing device to determine information about the thermal transfer sheet and bobbin. Another aim of the present disclosure is to provide a thermal transfer printing device that can determine the type of thermal transfer sheet ribbon loaded and perform printing processing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The bobbin of the present disclosure is a cylindrical bobbin around which a thermal transfer sheet is wound, with a translucent portion formed on one end of the bobbin that allows light to pass through, a gear including multiple teeth formed on the other end of the bobbin, and a code portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of one or the other end of the bobbin.

[0009] The thermal transfer sheet ribbon of the present disclosure comprises the above-mentioned bobbin and a thermal transfer sheet wound around the bobbin, and the cord portion is provided on an exposed portion of the outer surface that is not covered by the thermal transfer sheet.

[0010] The thermal transfer printing device disclosed herein has a thermal head and a platen roll, and overlaps a thermal transfer sheet drawn out from the thermal transfer sheet ribbon with an image receiving sheet, transporting them between the thermal head and the platen roll, with the thermal head heating the thermal transfer sheet to transfer coloring material and print an image.The thermal transfer printing device is equipped with a first sensor that reads the code portion of the bobbin, a second sensor that projects light onto the bobbin and receives light that has passed through the light-transmitting portion, and a discrimination unit that discriminates the type of the thermal transfer sheet from the reading result of the first sensor and discriminates information about the bobbin from the sensor output of the second sensor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present disclosure, information about the thermal transfer sheet and bobbin can be determined in a thermal transfer printing device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bobbin according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of a sensor relative to a bobbin. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bobbin in FIG. 2 taken along its axial line. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a bobbin according to another embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the gear at the end of the bobbin. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a thermal transfer sheet ribbon. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a thermal transfer printing device according to an embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a bobbin according to another embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of sensor arrangement. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] 1 to 7 show a bobbin 1 according to an embodiment. This bobbin 1 is cylindrical, around which a thermal transfer sheet S (see FIG. 8) is wound, and has one or more notches 6 formed at one end in the axial direction, and a gear 62 formed at the other end. The outer peripheral surface of the bobbin 1 is a smooth curved surface, and does not have any protruding portions (protrusions) that protrude in the radial direction.

[0015] The notches 6 indicate information about the bobbin 1, such as the number of times it has been recycled and the date and time of manufacture. For example, if the information about the bobbin 1 is the number of times it has been recycled, one notch is formed in a new bobbin 1, and the number of notches increases by one each time it is recycled. Also, if the information about the bobbin 1 is the date and time of manufacture, the number of notches 6, the circumferential length of the notches 6, the distance between the notches, etc. are changed depending on the date and time of manufacture.

[0016] The notch 6 can be detected by a sensor 10 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The sensor 10 is provided in a thermal transfer printing device (see Figure 9), and includes a light-emitting element 11 arranged on the outer periphery of the bobbin 1, a light-receiving element 12 arranged on the inner periphery of the bobbin 1 so as to face the light-emitting element 11, a substrate (not shown) on which a circuit is mounted that converts the light-receiving signal of the light-receiving element 12 into a rectangular pulse signal and outputs it, and a sensor base 13 that holds the light-emitting element 11, the light-receiving element 12, and the circuit substrate. Note that the light-emitting element 11 may be arranged on the inner periphery of the bobbin 1, and the light-receiving element 12 may be arranged on the outer periphery.

[0017] When the bobbin 1 rotates around its axis, as the notch 6 passes between the light-emitting element 11 and the light-receiving element 12, the light-receiving element 12 receives light from the light-emitting element 11, causing the output of the sensor 10 to become H, and as the end of the bobbin body between the notches 6 passes between the light-emitting element 11 and the light-receiving element 12, the light from the light-emitting element 11 is blocked, causing the output of the sensor 10 to become L. Therefore, while the bobbin 1 rotates, an H signal having a pulse width (pulse-on width) proportional to the circumferential length of the notch 6 and an L signal having a pulse-off width proportional to the distance between the notches are output, and information about the bobbin 1 (such as the number of times it is recycled) is determined based on the combination of the H and L signals.

[0018] The depth of the notch 6 (the dimension parallel to the axial center line) is preferably about 3 mm to 10 mm, which is sufficient for the sensor to detect and does not pose a problem with the strength of the molded product.

[0019] In the above description, the sensor output is set to H when the light receiving element 12 receives light, but it may be set to L and H when no light is received. The same applies to the following embodiments.

[0020] 1 to 3, a notch is provided on one side surface of the bobbin 1, but as shown in FIG. 4, an opening (hole) 7 may be provided instead of the notch. The shape of the notch or opening is not particularly limited. It is sufficient to provide a light-transmitting portion at the end of the bobbin 1 through which light from the light-emitting element 11 of the sensor 10 reaches the light-receiving element 12, and instead of the notch or opening, a transparent portion made of, for example, a transparent synthetic resin may be provided.

[0021] The depth of the notches may be combined with the circumferential length of the notches 6 and the distance between the notches to represent information about the bobbin 1. For example, the notches may be deepened each time the bobbin 1 is recycled.

[0022] 1 and 5 to 7, a gear 62 formed on the other end of the bobbin 1 in the axial direction has a plurality of teeth 63 and tooth grooves 64 formed between the teeth 63. The gear 62 is adapted to engage with a drive gear 82 of a drive shaft 81 provided in a drive unit 80 of the thermal transfer printing device.

[0023] Each tooth 63 of the gear 62 has a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the side of the bobbin 1. Each tooth 63 has a trapezoidal shape having an upper base 63a corresponding to the tooth tip, a lower base 63d extending on the extension of the tooth groove 64, and a pair of side edges 63b, 63c extending between the upper base 63a and the lower base 63d. Here, the upper base 63a or the side edges 63b, 63c are not limited to those that extend in a straight line, but may also extend in a slightly curved manner.

[0024] One side edge 63b of each tooth 63 extends parallel to the axis of the bobbin 1, and the other side edge 63c is inclined relative to the axis of the bobbin 1.

[0025] Since each tooth 63 of the gear 62 is trapezoidal when viewed from the side of the bobbin 1, the drive gear 82 can be easily engaged with the gear 62 simply by pressing the drive shaft 81 of the thermal transfer printer against each tooth 63 of the gear 62.

[0026] Furthermore, since one side edge 63b of each tooth 63 extends parallel to the axial line of the bobbin 1, the gear 62 of the bobbin 1 and the drive gear 82 of the drive shaft 81 can be reliably engaged without misalignment, compared to when both side edges of each tooth 63 are inclined relative to the axial line of the bobbin 1.

[0027] The total circumferential length of the tooth tips (upper bases 63a) of each tooth 63 is 20% to 70%, and preferably 20% to 60%, of the circumferential length of the bobbin 1. The circumferential length refers to the circumferential length based on the outer periphery.

[0028] The bobbin 1 configured in this manner is arranged on the same axis as the drive shaft 81 of the thermal transfer printing device, and the driving force in the rotational direction of the drive shaft 81 is transmitted to the bobbin 1 side via the drive gear 82 and gear 62.

[0029] The length of the bobbin 1 in the axial direction is longer than the width of the thermal transfer sheet S, and as shown in Figure 8, when the thermal transfer sheet S is wound around the bobbin 1 to produce a thermal transfer sheet ribbon, both ends of the bobbin 1 are not covered by the thermal transfer sheet S, and the outer periphery is exposed, forming exposed portions 8. A two-dimensional code 9 (code portion) is provided on at least one of these exposed portions 8.

[0030] The two-dimensional code 9 may be printed directly on the surface (outer periphery) of the bobbin 1, or a substrate having a two-dimensional code printed on its surface adhered to the surface of the bobbin 1. The size of the two-dimensional code 9 is preferably 3 to 15 mm square.

[0031] The two-dimensional code 9 indicates information such as the type of the thermal transfer sheet S (number of pages, size, use, etc.) and the date of manufacture. Instead of the two-dimensional code 9, other code information such as a barcode may be used.

[0032] The leading end of the thermal transfer sheet S wound around the bobbin 1 (supply bobbin) is attached to the take-up bobbin 70, and the bobbin 1, take-up bobbin 70, and thermal transfer sheet S are stored in a storage case and attached to the thermal transfer printing device. A boss portion of the bobbin support portion of the thermal transfer printing device is inserted into one end of the bobbin 1, and the bobbin 1 is held on the boss portion so that it can slide and rotate freely. A drive gear 82 of a drive shaft 81 of the thermal transfer printing device is engaged with a gear 62 on the other end of the bobbin 1.

[0033] 9 is a schematic diagram of a thermal transfer printing device 30 according to an embodiment. This thermal transfer printing device 30 uses a thermal transfer sheet S to sublimation-transfer yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes onto an image-receiving sheet 29 to print an image, and includes a thermal head 31 that forms a protective layer on the image.

[0034] A supply section 33 having a thermal transfer sheet ribbon formed by winding the thermal transfer sheet S around a bobbin 1 is provided downstream of the thermal head 31, and a recovery section 34 for the thermal transfer sheet S having a take-up bobbin 70 is provided upstream of the thermal head 31. The thermal transfer sheet S unwound from the supply section 33 passes through the thermal head 31 and is wound up and recovered by the recovery section 34.

[0035] A rotatable platen roll 32 is provided on the opposite side of the thermal head 31, sandwiching the thermal transfer sheet S and the image receiving sheet 29. The printing unit 40, which includes the thermal head 31 and the platen roll 32, sandwiches the thermal transfer sheet S and the image receiving sheet 29, heats the dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet S, and thermally transfers the dye onto the image receiving sheet 29 to form an image.

[0036] The printing unit 40 also heats the area of ​​the thermal transfer sheet S where the protective layer is to be formed, and transfers the protective layer onto the image on the image receiving sheet 29 .

[0037] On the upstream side of the thermal head 31, there are provided a rotatable capstan roller 39a for transporting the image receiving sheet 29, and a pinch roller 39b for pressing the image receiving sheet 29 against the capstan roller 39a.

[0038] The image receiving sheet 29 is unwound from an image receiving sheet roll 28. Any known image receiving sheet can be used as the image receiving sheet 29.

[0039] The image-receiving sheet 29 on which the image has been formed and the protective layer has been transferred in the printing unit 40 is cut out as print sheets P by a cutter 38 on the downstream side. The print sheets P are discharged from a discharge port (not shown).

[0040] A signal from a sensor 10 provided near the bobbin 1 of the supply unit 33 is input to the control device 50. A sensor 14 that reads the two-dimensional code 9 is also provided near the bobbin 1. Information read from the two-dimensional code 9 by the sensor 14 is input to the control device 50.

[0041] The control device 50 controls the driving of each part of the thermal transfer printing device and performs processes such as discrimination of the thermal transfer sheet S, acquisition of information about the bobbin 1, and printing. The control device 50 is a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage unit 52 consisting of a flash memory, a ROM (Read-only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The storage unit 52 stores a control program and a table T. The CPU executes the control program to realize the process of discriminating the type of the thermal transfer sheet S in the discrimination unit 51 and the process of discriminating the number of times the bobbin 1 has been recycled.

[0042] Table T stores information read by sensor 14 in association with the type of thermal transfer sheet S. Table T may also store suitable printing conditions (printing speed, energy applied during printing) for each type of thermal transfer sheet S.

[0043] The discrimination unit 51 refers to the table T and discriminates the type of the thermal transfer sheet S loaded in the thermal transfer printing device from the reading result of the sensor 14.

[0044] The control device 50 controls the printing process based on the printing conditions according to the type of the thermal transfer sheet S that has been determined.

[0045] Furthermore, table T stores information read by sensor 10 in association with the number of times the bobbin 1 has been recycled. The table in which information read by sensor 14 and the type of thermal transfer sheet S are stored in association with each other may be different from the table in which information read by sensor 10 and the number of times the bobbin 1 has been recycled in association with each other may be different.

[0046] The determination unit 51 refers to the table T and determines the number of times the bobbin 1 loaded in the thermal transfer printing device has been recycled from the reading of the sensor 10. For example, the determined number of times the bobbin 1 has been recycled is displayed on the display of the thermal transfer printing device. The user can check the number of times the bobbin 1 has been recycled displayed on the display and decide whether to recycle or discard the used bobbin 1. Furthermore, if the determined number of times the bobbin 1 has been recycled reaches a specified number of times, a message urging the user to discard the bobbin 1 may be displayed on the display.

[0047] In this way, according to this embodiment, the thermal transfer printing device 30 can determine information about the thermal transfer sheet S and the bobbin 1.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the thermal transfer sheet S wound around the bobbin 1 is not limited to one that transfers dyes, but may also be one that transfers other color materials such as heat-melting ink.

[0049] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the cutout 6 may be omitted, and instead one or more recesses 15 may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin 1. A sensor 16 is installed facing this outer peripheral surface of the bobbin. This sensor 16 includes a light-emitting element 17, a light-receiving element 18, and a circuit board (not shown). The light-emitting element 17 projects light toward the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin, and the light-receiving element 18 receives the reflected light. Based on the time from when the light-emitting element 17 projects light to when the light-receiving element 18 receives the reflected light, the recesses 15 can be distinguished from the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin other than the recesses 15, and information about the bobbin 1 can be obtained.

[0050] The bottom surface of the recess 15 may also be roughened to have low light reflectance. The outer peripheral surface of the bobbin other than the recess 15 is smooth and has high light reflectance. When light is irradiated onto the smooth surface other than the recess 15, the amount of light received by the light receiving element 18 is large, and the output signal level of the sensor 16 becomes H. When light from the light emitting element 16 is irradiated onto the recess 15, the amount of light received by the light receiving element 18 is small, and the output signal level of the sensor 16 becomes L. Information about the bobbin 1 can be determined from the combination of these H and L signals. The bottom surface of the recess 15 may also be smooth and have high light reflectance, and the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin other than the recess 15 may be roughened and have low light reflectance.

[0051] It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and that the components can be modified and embodied in practice without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, some components may be omitted from all the components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, components from different embodiments may be appropriately combined. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1 bobbin 6 Notch 7 aperture 9 QR Code 10, 14, 16 sensors 15 recess 30 Thermal transfer printing device 62 gears S Thermal Transfer Sheet

Claims

1. A cylindrical bobbin on which a thermal transfer sheet is wound, A light-transmitting portion that transmits light is formed on one end side of the bobbin, A gear including a plurality of teeth is formed on the other end side of the bobbin, A bobbin having a cord portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of one end side or the other end side of the bobbin.

2. The bobbin according to claim 1 , wherein the light-transmitting portion is a notch or an opening.

3. A cylindrical bobbin on which a thermal transfer sheet is wound, A recess is formed on the outer peripheral surface of one end of the bobbin, A gear including a plurality of teeth is formed on the other end side of the bobbin, A bobbin having a cord portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of one end side or the other end side of the bobbin.

4. The bobbin according to claim 3 , wherein a bottom surface of the recess and an outer peripheral surface of the bobbin other than the recess have different light reflectances.

5. The bobbin according to claim 1 or 2; a thermal transfer sheet wound around the bobbin; Equipped with A thermal transfer sheet ribbon, wherein the code portion is provided on an exposed portion of the outer surface that is not covered by the thermal transfer sheet.

6. It has a thermal head and a platen roll, 6. A thermal transfer printing device in which a thermal transfer sheet drawn out from the thermal transfer sheet ribbon according to claim 5 and an image receiving sheet are superimposed on each other and transported between the thermal head and the platen roll, and the thermal head heats the thermal transfer sheet to transfer a coloring material thereto and print an image, a first sensor that reads the code portion of the bobbin; a second sensor that projects light onto the bobbin and receives the light that has passed through the light-transmitting portion; a discrimination unit that discriminates the type of the thermal transfer sheet from the reading result of the first sensor and discriminates information about the bobbin from the sensor output of the second sensor; A thermal transfer printing device comprising:

7. The bobbin according to claim 3 or 4; a thermal transfer sheet wound around the bobbin; Equipped with A thermal transfer sheet ribbon, wherein the code portion is provided on an exposed portion of the outer surface that is not covered by the thermal transfer sheet.

8. It has a thermal head and a platen roll, 8. A thermal transfer printing device in which a thermal transfer sheet drawn out from the thermal transfer sheet ribbon according to claim 7 and an image receiving sheet are superimposed on each other and transported between the thermal head and the platen roll, and the thermal head heats the thermal transfer sheet to transfer a coloring material thereto and print an image, a first sensor that reads the code portion of the bobbin; a second sensor that projects light onto the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin including the recess and receives reflected light; a discrimination unit that discriminates the type of the thermal transfer sheet from the reading result of the first sensor and discriminates information about the bobbin from the sensor output of the second sensor; A thermal transfer printing device comprising:

Images