Transfer printing sheet creation device

Abstract

To provide a transfer printing sheet creation apparatus that allows image formation and layer transfer to be performed without the user having to move the sheet from the image forming apparatus to the layer transfer apparatus. [Solution] The transfer printing sheet creation apparatus 1 comprises a first rotating body (first heating roller 181) for fixing a printing layer to a sheet S, a second rotating body (second heating roller 260) for transferring the viscoelastic layer of film PF to the printing layer of sheet S, a re-transport roller 195 for re-transporting sheet S to the first rotating body via a re-transport path 194, an intermediate transport roller (first intermediate transport roller MR1) for transporting sheet S from the first rotating body to the second rotating body, and a control unit CU. The control unit CU controls the re-transport roller 195 and the intermediate transport roller so that after fixing the printing layer to the first surface of sheet S with the first rotating body, the sheet S is re-transported to the first rotating body with the re-transport roller 195, and after fixing the printing layer to the second surface of sheet S with the first rotating body, sheet S is transported toward the second rotating body with the intermediate transport roller.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a transfer printing sheet creating apparatus for creating a transfer printing sheet for transferring a printing layer to an object via a viscoelastic layer.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a layer transfer apparatus that overlaps a second sheet having an adhesive layer with a first sheet on which a printing layer is formed by an image forming apparatus, conveys, heats, and presses them, and thermally transfers the adhesive layer to the printing layer (see Patent Document 1). A sheet on which the adhesive layer is transferred to the printing layer can print the printing layer on a fabric such as a T-shirt, for example.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when creating a transfer printing sheet, a printing layer is formed on a sheet by an image forming apparatus, and then the user moves the sheet on which the printing layer is formed to a layer transfer apparatus. Moving the sheet from the image forming apparatus to the layer transfer apparatus has been troublesome for the user.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a transfer printing sheet creating apparatus that can perform image formation and layer transfer without the user moving the sheet from the image forming apparatus to the layer transfer apparatus.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The transfer printing sheet creating apparatus is an apparatus for creating a transfer printing sheet. A transfer printing sheet is a sheet in which a sheet, a printing layer, and a viscoelastic layer are laminated in that order. A transfer printing sheet is a sheet used to transfer the printing layer to an object via the viscoelastic layer. The transfer printing sheet creation apparatus comprises a first rotating body, a second rotating body, a re-transport roller, an intermediate transport roller, and a control unit. The first rotating body is a component for fixing the printed layer to the sheet. The second rotating body transports the sheet on which the printed layer has been formed by the first rotating body and the film having a viscoelastic layer in a stacked state, thereby transferring the viscoelastic layer onto the printed layer. The re-transport rollers re-transport the sheets, which are being transported from the first rotating body, back to the first rotating body via the re-transport path. The intermediate conveying rollers transport the sheets, which are being conveyed from the first rotating body, toward the second rotating body. The control unit controls the re-transport rollers and intermediate transport rollers to fix the printed layer on the first side of the sheet with the first rotating body, then re-transport the sheet to the first rotating body with the re-transport rollers, fix the printed layer on the second side of the sheet with the first rotating body, and then transport the sheet toward the second rotating body with the intermediate transport rollers.

[0007] By configuring the transfer printing sheet creation apparatus to have a first rotating body and a second rotating body, image formation and layer transfer can be performed without the user having to move the sheet from the image forming apparatus to the layer transfer apparatus. Furthermore, by configuring the apparatus to transport a sheet with printed layers fixed on both the first and second surfaces toward the second rotating body, it is possible to create a transfer printing sheet in which a viscoelastic layer is formed on one of the first and second surfaces and a printed layer is formed on the other. For example, information regarding the image of the viscoelastic layer formed on one surface can be formed on the other surface by the printed layer.

[0008] Furthermore, when printed layers are formed on both the first and second surfaces of the sheet, the printed layer formed on one of the first and second surfaces may be a normal image, while the printed layer formed on the other surface may be a mirror image.

[0009] Furthermore, when printed layers are formed on both the first and second surfaces of the sheet, the second rotating body transfers a viscoelastic layer to the printed layer on the second surface of the sheet, and the printed layer formed on the first surface of the sheet may be a normal image, while the printed layer formed on the second surface of the sheet may be a mirror image.

[0010] Furthermore, when creating multiple transfer printing sheets, the control unit may control the re-transport roller to stop the second and subsequent sheets on the re-transport path.

[0011] When creating multiple transfer printing sheets, by configuring the system to stop the second and subsequent sheets on the re-transport path, interference between sheets can be suppressed, for example, when the transport speed of the sheet transported by the first rotating body is greater than the transport speed of the sheet transported by the second rotating body.

[0012] Furthermore, the control unit may be capable of executing a layer transfer mode in which the sheet passes through both the first and second rotating bodies, and a printing mode in which the sheet passes through the first rotating body but not the second rotating body.

[0013] By configuring the control unit to be capable of executing both layer transfer mode and printing mode, the transfer printing sheet creation device can produce both a transfer printing sheet and a printed sheet.

[0014] Furthermore, in layer transfer mode, the control unit can perform a single-sided process in which a printed layer is formed on the first surface and the sheet is fed to the second rotating body without forming a printed layer on the second surface. When performing a single-sided process, a mirror image printed layer may be formed on the first surface.

[0015] Furthermore, the control unit can perform a single-sided printing process in printing mode, in which a printing layer is formed on the first surface and the sheet is discharged outside the transfer printing sheet creation device without forming a printing layer on the second surface. When performing a single-sided printing process, a mirror image printing layer may be formed on the first surface.

[0016] In single-sided printing, the control unit is configured to form a mirror-image print layer on the first surface. This allows a transfer printing sheet creation device to create a sheet with a mirror-image print layer, which can then be set in a dedicated layer transfer device for transferring a viscoelastic layer to the print layer of a sheet.

[0017] Furthermore, the control unit can perform a single-sided printing process in printing mode, in which a printing layer is formed on the first surface and the sheet is discharged outside the transfer printing sheet creation device without forming a printing layer on the second surface. When performing a single-sided printing process, a normal image printing layer may be formed on the first surface.

[0018] Furthermore, the control unit can perform a double-sided printing process in printing mode, which involves forming printed layers on both the first and second surfaces and ejecting the sheet from the transfer printing sheet creation device. When performing the double-sided printing process, a mirror image printed layer may be formed on one of the first and second surfaces, and a normal image printed layer may be formed on the other.

[0019] In a double-sided printing process, the control unit is configured to form a mirror image print layer on one of the first and second surfaces, and a normal image print layer on the other. This allows a sheet with a mirror image print layer to be created by a transfer printing sheet creation device, for example, to be set in a dedicated layer transfer device that transfers a viscoelastic layer to the print layer of a sheet. Furthermore, information related to the mirror image formed on one surface can be formed on the other surface by the normal image.

[0020] Furthermore, the control unit can perform a double-sided printing process in printing mode, which involves forming a printed layer on both the first and second surfaces and ejecting the sheet from the transfer printing sheet creation device. When performing the double-sided printing process, a normal image printed layer may be formed on both the first and second surfaces.

[0021] Furthermore, the transfer printing sheet creation device may further include a housing and a flapper. The housing has a first discharge port for discharging sheets in which the viscoelastic layer has not been transferred to the printing layer, and a second discharge port for discharging the transfer printing sheet. The flapper is movable between a first position and a second position to switch the movement path of the sheet between a first path from the first rotating body to the first discharge port and a second path from the first rotating body to the second discharge port. The flapper sets the movement path as the first path when it is located at the first position, and sets the movement path as the second path when it is located at the second position. When executing the printing mode, the control unit positions the flapper at the first position, and when executing the layer transfer mode, the control unit positions the flapper at the second position.

[0022] Further, the housing may have a third discharge port for discharging a sheet on which the viscoelastic layer is not transferred to the printing layer, and a cover for opening and closing the third discharge port, the cover having a guide for guiding the sheet sent from the first rotating body.

[0023] Also, until the sheet is conveyed from the first rotating body to the second rotating body, the sheet may always be in contact with at least one of the first rotating body, the intermediate conveying roller, and the second rotating body.

[0024] Furthermore, the transfer printing sheet creating device may further include a discharge tray for discharging the sheet that has passed through the second rotating body. The printing layer formed on the lower surface of the sheet discharged to the discharge tray may be a mirror image.

Advantages of the Invention

[0025] Image formation and layer transfer can be performed without the user moving the sheet from the image forming apparatus to the layer transfer apparatus.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing a transfer printing sheet creating device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing an image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing a layer transfer apparatus. [Figure 4]The images show a cross-sectional view (a) of a sheet and film with a printed layer formed on it, a cross-sectional view (b) of the film pressed onto the sheet, and a cross-sectional view (c) of the film peeling off from the sheet. [Figure 5] (a) is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the transfer printing sheet and the fabric are pressed together, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing the state after the transfer printing sheet has been peeled off the fabric onto which the printed layer has been transferred. [Figure 6] Figure (a) shows a transfer printing sheet on which a mirror image of the toner image has been formed, Figure (b) shows the transfer printing sheet placed on a fabric with a portion peeled off, and Figure (c) shows the fabric with the toner image transferred onto it. [Figure 7] Figure (a) shows the process of transporting the first sheet from the supply roller at a first transport speed, Figure (b) shows the state when the transport of the first sheet has stopped, and Figure (c) shows the state after the transport of the first sheet has resumed at a second transport speed and the transport of the second sheet has started at the first transport speed. [Figure 8] Figure (a) shows the process of stopping the first intermediate conveyor roller, and Figure (b) shows the process of rotating the first intermediate conveyor roller at a rotational speed corresponding to the first conveying speed. [Figure 9] Figure (a) shows the process of stopping the transport of the second sheet when the sheet spacing becomes the third spacing, and Figure (b) shows the process of resuming the transport of the second sheet when the sheet spacing becomes the second spacing. [Figure 10] Figures (a) to (c) show the movement of the second heating roller when performing layer transfer on multiple sheets. [Figure 11] Figures (a) to (c) illustrate a specific example of double-sided processing for multiple sheets, showing the movement of each sheet from the start of supplying the first sheet to the start of supplying the second sheet. [Figure 12] Figures (a) to (c) show the movement of each sheet from the time the first sheet is sent to the retransport path until it is supplied again to the image forming unit. [Figure 13] Figures (a) to (c) show the movement of each sheet from the time the transport of the second sheet is stopped on the retransport route until the transport of the second sheet is resumed. [Figure 14]Figures (a) and (b) show the movement of each sheet from the time the third sheet is sent to the retransport path until the transport of the third sheet is stopped in the retransport path. [Figure 15] Figures (a) and (b) show the movement of each sheet from the time the second sheet is stopped on the second path until the transport of the second and third sheets resumes. [Figure 16] This table shows the relationship between each command received by the control unit and the image conversion process. [Figure 17] This flowchart shows the single-sided processing in layer transfer mode. [Figure 18] This is a flowchart showing the single-sided printing process. [Figure 19] This flowchart shows the double-sided processing of a single sheet. [Figure 20] The first map (a) supports double-sided processing of two sheets, and the second map (b) supports double-sided processing of three sheets. [Figure 21] The third map (a) supports double-sided processing of four sheets, and the fourth map (b) supports double-sided processing of five sheets. [Figure 22] This is the fifth map, which supports double-sided processing for six or more sheets. [Figure 23] This flowchart shows the process of double-sided printing on a single sheet. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0027] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below, with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following description, directions will be described as those shown in Figure 1. The left side of Figure 1 will be referred to as "front," the right side as "back," the far side of the page as "left," and the near side as "right." The top and bottom of Figure 1 will be referred to as "top and bottom." In this embodiment, the left-right direction corresponds to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum or the axial direction of the first rotating body. The front-back direction corresponds to a predetermined direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the axial direction of the photosensitive drum.

[0028] The transfer printing sheet creation apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1 is an apparatus for creating the transfer printing sheet PS shown in Figure 6(a). The transfer printing sheet PS is a sheet for transferring a printed layer to an object via a viscoelastic layer. The object is, for example, a fabric CL such as a T-shirt as shown in Figure 6(b). The object may also be made of leather, ceramics, wood, resin, metal, etc. Furthermore, the object is not limited to a flat object but may also be a three-dimensional object.

[0029] As shown in Figure 5(a), the transfer printing sheet PS is a sheet in which a sheet S, a toner image T as an example of a printing layer, and a viscoelastic layer PF3 are laminated in this order. Sheet S has a second substrate layer PS1 and a second release layer PS2. The second release layer PS2 is located between the second substrate layer PS1 and the toner image T.

[0030] The second substrate layer PS1 is a sheet-like substrate made of paper or polymer material, and supports the second release layer PS2. The second substrate layer PS1 is preferably transparent. In this embodiment, the second substrate layer PS1 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and has a thickness of 12 to 16 μm.

[0031] The second release layer PS2 is the layer on which the toner image T is formed. The second release layer PS2 supports the toner image T and the viscoelastic layer PF3 after the viscoelastic layer PF3 is transferred onto the toner image T formed on the second release layer PS2, and facilitates the peeling of the toner image T and the viscoelastic layer PF3 from the second base layer PS1 when transferring the toner image T and the viscoelastic layer PF3 to a fabric CL or the like. The second release layer PS2 contains a transparent material that is easily peeled from the second base layer PS1, such as a wax-based resin. In this embodiment, the thickness of the second release layer PS2 is 10 to 15 μm.

[0032] Returning to Figure 1, the transfer printing sheet creation apparatus 1 comprises an image forming apparatus 100 and a layer transfer apparatus 200. The layer transfer apparatus 200 is located on top of the image forming apparatus 100. The layer transfer apparatus 200 is detachable from the image forming apparatus 100.

[0033] As shown in Figure 2, the image forming apparatus 100 comprises a first housing 102, a supply unit 103, an image forming unit 104, a transport unit 190, a flapper FL, a first intermediate transport roller MR1, and a printing sheet sensor SS3. The first housing 102 houses the supply unit 103, the image forming unit 104, and the first intermediate transport roller MR1.

[0034] The first housing 102 has a first discharge port 102A, a third discharge port 102B, and a rear cover 410 as an example of a cover. In other words, the first housing 102 has a housing body 400 having the first discharge port 102A and the third discharge port 102B, and a rear cover 410 that is rotatably supported by the housing body 400.

[0035] The first discharge port 102A and the third discharge port 102B are openings for discharging a sheet S in which the viscoelastic layer PF3 has not been transferred to the toner image T. The first discharge port 102A is located at the top of the housing body 400 and opens forward. The housing body 400 has a first discharge tray 401 on its top surface. The sheets S discharged from the first discharge port 102A are loaded onto the first discharge tray 401.

[0036] The third outlet 102B is located on the rear wall of the housing body 400 and opens towards the rear. The rear cover 410 is a cover that opens and closes the third discharge port 102B. The rear cover 410 is rotatable between a closed position shown by a solid line and an open position shown by a dashed line. The rear cover 410 has a guide 411 that guides the sheet S sent from the first heating roller 181 toward the first intermediate conveying roller MR1.

[0037] The supply unit 103 is located in the lower part of the first housing 102. The supply unit 103 comprises a supply tray 131 and a supply mechanism 134.

[0038] The supply tray 131 is a tray that holds the sheets S to be supplied to the image forming unit 104. The supply mechanism 134 is a mechanism that supplies the sheet S in the supply tray 131 to the image forming unit 104. The supply mechanism 134 includes a supply roller 135, a separation roller 136, a transport roller 137, and a registration roller 138.

[0039] The supply roller 135 is a roller that supplies the sheet S in the supply tray 131 to the image forming unit 104. More specifically, the supply roller 135 transports the sheet S to the separation roller 136.

[0040] The sheets S fed out by the supply roller 135 are separated one by one by the separation roller 136 and transported to the transport roller 137. The transport roller 137 transports the sheets S to the registration roller 138. The registration roller 138 contacts the transported sheets S while stationary to align the leading edge of the sheets S, and then starts rotating to transport the sheets S toward the image forming unit 104.

[0041] The image forming unit 104 forms a toner image T on the sheet S. The image forming unit 104 comprises an exposure device 105, a process unit 106, a belt unit 107, and a fixing device 108.

[0042] The exposure device 105 is located at the top of the first housing 102 and includes a light source and a polygon mirror (not shown). The exposure device 105 exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 161 by rapidly scanning the surface of the photosensitive drum 161 with a light beam.

[0043] The process unit 106 is located between the exposure apparatus 105 and the supply tray 131. The process unit 106 includes a drum unit 120 and four toner cartridges 130.

[0044] The drum unit 120 comprises four photosensitive drums 161 and four chargers (not shown). The four photosensitive drums 161 are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction. Each of the four toner cartridges 130 contains toner of the respective colors: yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The toner cartridge 130 is equipped with a developing roller 163 and a supply roller 164.

[0045] The developing roller 163 supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 161. The supply roller 164 supplies toner to the developing roller 163. The supply roller 164 has an outer peripheral surface 164A that contacts the developing roller 163.

[0046] The belt unit 107 is positioned between the process unit 106 and the supply tray 131. The belt unit 107 comprises a drive roller 171, a driven roller 172, a conveyor belt 173, and four transfer rollers 174.

[0047] The conveyor belt 173 is an endless belt. The conveyor belt 173 is stretched between the drive roller 171 and the driven roller 172. Inside the conveyor belt 173, the transfer roller 174 is positioned to sandwich the conveyor belt 173 between itself and the corresponding photosensitive drum 161.

[0048] The charger charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 161. Then, the exposure device 105 exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 161 to form an electrostatic latent image based on the image data on the surface of the photosensitive drum 161. The developing roller 163 supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 161. This forms a toner image T on the photosensitive drum 161. Then, as the sheet S is transported between the photosensitive drum 161 and the transfer roller 174 by the transport belt 173, the toner image T on the photosensitive drum 161 is transferred to the sheet S.

[0049] The fixing device 108 is a device that heat-fixes a toner image T to a sheet S. The fixing device 108 is located behind the process unit 106 and the belt unit 107. The fixing device 108 includes a first heating roller 181 as an example of a first rotating body, a first pressurizing member 182, and a fixing transport roller 183. The first heating roller 181 has a first heater H1 inside. The first heater H1 heats the first heating roller 181. The first heating roller 181 heats the sheet S.

[0050] The first pressurizing member 182 has an endless pressurizing belt 182A and a rubber pad 182B that sandwiches the pressurizing belt 182A between itself and the first heating roller 181. The pressurizing belt 182A rotates in accordance with the rotation of the first heating roller 181. The first pressurizing member 182 sandwiches the sheet S between itself and the first heating roller 181. The fixing and conveying roller 183 conveys the sheet S that is being conveyed from the first heating roller 181.

[0051] The transport unit 190 is configured to transport the sheet S discharged from the image forming unit 104 to the first discharge tray 401 or back to the image forming unit 104, and includes a first path R1, a transport roller 192, a discharge roller 193, a re-transport path 194, and a re-transport roller 195.

[0052] The first path R1 is the path from the first heating roller 181 to the first discharge port 102A. The first path R1 extends diagonally upward and backward from the first heating roller 181, and then curves diagonally upward and forward. The re-conveying path 194 extends downward from the conveying roller 192, curves forward and extends under the supply tray 131, and then curves upward and extends towards the conveying roller 137.

[0053] The transport roller 192 and the discharge roller 193 are configured to allow switching between a forward direction, which is the direction in which the sheet S is transported toward the first discharge tray 401, and a reverse direction, which is the direction in which the clamped sheet S is transported toward the re-transport path 194.

[0054] The re-transport roller 195 is a roller that re-transports the sheet S, which is transported from the image forming unit 104, back to the image forming unit 104 via the re-transport path 194. Multiple re-transport rollers 195 are provided in the re-transport path 194.

[0055] In the transport unit 190, when an image is formed on only one side (first side) of the sheet S, the sheet S discharged from the image forming unit 104 is discharged outside the first housing 102 by the forward-rotating transport roller 192 and discharge roller 193 and placed on the first discharge tray 401. On the other hand, when an image is formed on both sides of the sheet S, the transport roller 192 and discharge roller 193 rotate in opposite directions just before the rear end of the sheet S comes out from between the transport rollers 192, and the sheet S, on which the toner image has been heat-fixed to one side, is guided to the re-transport path 194. After that, the sheet S, which has been flipped over, is transported along the re-transport path 194 by the re-transport roller 195 and guided back to the image forming unit 104 by the transport roller 137 and registration roller 138. The sheet S, on which an image has been formed on the other side (second side) by the image forming unit 104, is discharged from the image forming unit 104 and is discharged outside the first housing 102 by the forward-rotating transport roller 192 and discharge roller 193 and placed on the first discharge tray 401.

[0056] The flapper FL is a component for switching the movement path of the sheet S between a first path R1 and a second path R2 that leads from the first heating roller 181 to the second discharge port 203 (see Figure 2), which will be described later. The flapper FL is rotatable between a first position shown by a dashed line and a second position shown by a solid line. When the flapper FL is in the first position, its movement path is the first path R1. When the flapper FL is in the second position, its movement path is the second path R2.

[0057] The first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 is a roller that conveys the sheet S, which has passed through the fixing device 108, toward the layer transfer device 200. The first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 is located downstream of the fixing conveyor roller 183 in the conveying direction of the sheet S. The first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 is located in the second path R2.

[0058] The printing sheet sensor SS3 is a sensor that detects the presence or absence of a sheet S. The printing sheet sensor SS3 is located upstream of the first heating roller 181 in the conveying direction of the sheet S. In this embodiment, the printing sheet sensor SS3 is located between the conveying roller 137 and the registration roller 138 in the conveying path of the sheet S. The printing sheet sensor SS3 includes, for example, a lever that swings when pressed by the sheet S, and an optical sensor that detects the position of the lever. In this embodiment, the printing sheet sensor SS3 outputs an ON signal when the lever is pressed by the sheet S.

[0059] As shown in Figure 3, the layer transfer apparatus 200 is a device that places a film PF consisting of multiple layers on the surface of a sheet S on which a toner image T is formed, and transfers the viscoelastic layer PF3 of the film PF onto the toner image T.

[0060] The layer transfer apparatus 200 comprises a second housing 202, a second discharge tray 290 as an example of a discharge tray, a second intermediate transport roller MR2, a stop sheet sensor SS1, a layer transfer sheet sensor SS2, a sheet sensor SS4, a sheet transport unit 210, a film supply unit 230, and a transfer unit 250.

[0061] The second housing 202 houses the second intermediate transport roller MR2, the stop sheet sensor SS1, the layer transfer sheet sensor SS2, the sheet transport unit 210, the film supply unit 230, and the transfer unit 250. The second housing 202 is located above the first housing 102. The second housing 202 has a second discharge port 203 from which the transfer printing sheet PS is discharged. The second discharge port 203 is located on the front of the second housing 202. The second discharge port 203 faces diagonally downwards and forwards.

[0062] The second discharge tray 290 is a tray on which the sheet S, i.e., the transfer printing sheet PS, that has passed through the transfer unit 250 is discharged. The second discharge tray 290 extends forward from the lower front of the second housing 202. The second discharge tray 290 is located below the second discharge port 203.

[0063] The first housing 102 and the second housing 202 constitute the housing 10 of the transfer printing sheet creation device 1. In this embodiment, the housing of the transfer printing sheet creation device 1 is composed of two housings, but it may also be composed of a single housing in which the first housing 102 and the second housing 202 are integrally formed.

[0064] The second intermediate transport roller MR2 is a roller that transports the sheet S, which is transported from the image forming apparatus 100, toward the transfer section 250. As shown in Figure 1, the fixing transport roller 183, the first intermediate transport roller MR1, the second intermediate transport roller MR2, and the upstream transport roller 211, which will be described later, are all intermediate transport rollers that transport the sheet S, which is transported from the first heating roller 181, toward the second heating roller 260, which will be described later.

[0065] The fixing and conveying roller 183, the first intermediate conveying roller MR1, the second intermediate conveying roller MR2, and the upstream conveying roller 211 each consist of a pair of rollers capable of gripping the sheet S. The fixing and conveying roller 183, the first intermediate conveying roller MR1, the second intermediate conveying roller MR2, and the upstream conveying roller 211 are each located in the intermediate conveying path RM, which is the conveying path for the sheet S between the first heating roller 181 and the second heating roller 260. The length of the intermediate conveying path RM is greater than the length of the sheet S.

[0066] In this embodiment, the first intermediate transport roller MR1 is driven by a motor (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 100, and the second intermediate transport roller MR2 is driven by a motor (not shown) provided in the layer transfer apparatus 200. The first intermediate transport roller MR1 and the second intermediate transport roller MR2 may be driven by a common motor.

[0067] The rotational speed of the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 is changed by the control unit CU. As a result, the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 changes the conveying speed of the sheet S from the first conveying speed to a second conveying speed which is lower than the first conveying speed. Note that at least one of the multiple intermediate conveyor rollers is sufficient to change the conveying speed of the sheet S.

[0068] From the time the sheet S is conveyed from the first heating roller 181 to the second heating roller 260, each roller is positioned such that the sheet S is always in contact with at least one of the first heating roller 181, the fixing conveying roller 183, the intermediate conveying rollers MR1 ​​and MR2, the upstream conveying roller 211, and the second heating roller 260.

[0069] The stopping sheet sensor SS1, the layer transfer sheet sensor SS2, and the sheet sensor SS4 are sensors that detect the presence or absence of sheet S. The stopping sheet sensor SS1, the layer transfer sheet sensor SS2, and the sheet sensor SS4 are located in the intermediate transport path RM.

[0070] The stopping sheet sensor SS1, the layer transfer sheet sensor SS2, and the sheet sensor SS4 each include, for example, a lever that swings when pressed by the sheet S, and an optical sensor that detects the position of the lever. In this embodiment, the stopping sheet sensor SS1, the layer transfer sheet sensor SS2, and the sheet sensor SS4 output an ON signal when the lever is pressed by the sheet S.

[0071] The stop sheet sensor SS1 is located between the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 and the second intermediate conveyor roller MR2 in the conveying direction of the sheet S. The second intermediate conveyor roller MR2 is located between the stop sheet sensor SS1 and the layer transfer sheet sensor SS2 in the conveying direction of the sheet S. The sheet sensor SS4 is located between the second intermediate conveyor roller MR2 and the layer transfer sheet sensor SS2 in the conveying direction of the sheet S. In other words, the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1, the stop sheet sensor SS1, the second intermediate conveyor roller MR2, the sheet sensor SS4, and the layer transfer sheet sensor SS2 are arranged in this order from upstream to downstream in the conveying direction of the sheet S.

[0072] As shown in Figure 3, the sheet conveying unit 210 includes an upstream conveying roller 211, a downstream conveying roller 212, and a discharge roller 213. The upstream conveying roller 211, the downstream conveying roller 212, and the discharge roller 213 each consist of two rollers, and the sheet S is conveyed by the rotation of each roller with the sheet S sandwiched between them.

[0073] The upstream conveying roller 211 is positioned upstream of the transfer section 250 in the conveying direction of the sheet S. The downstream conveying roller 212 is positioned downstream of the transfer section 250 in the conveying direction of the sheet S.

[0074] The discharge roller 213 is positioned downstream of the downstream conveying roller 212 in the conveying direction of the sheet S. The discharge roller 213 discharges the sheet S from the second discharge port 203.

[0075] The film supply unit 230 is the part that supplies film PF so as to overlap it with the sheet S conveyed from the upstream conveying roller 211. The film supply unit 230 is equipped with a film unit FU.

[0076] The film unit FU is detachable from the second housing 202. The film unit FU includes a film cartridge FC and a holder H.

[0077] The film cartridge FC is detachable from the holder H. The film cartridge FC comprises film PF, a supply reel 231, and a take-up reel 235.

[0078] As shown in Figure 4(a), the film PF includes a viscoelastic layer PF3 and is a film for transferring the viscoelastic layer PF3. The 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.

[0079] The first substrate layer PF1 supports the first release layer PF2 and the viscoelastic layer PF3. In this embodiment, the first substrate layer PF1 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and has a thickness of 12 to 16 μm.

[0080] The first release layer PF2 is a layer designed to facilitate the peeling of the viscoelastic layer PF3 from the first substrate layer PF1, and is positioned between the first substrate layer PF1 and the viscoelastic layer PF3. The first release layer PF2 contains a transparent material that is easily peeled from the first substrate layer PF1, such as a wax-based resin. In this embodiment, the thickness of the first release layer PF2 is 10 to 15 μm.

[0081] The viscoelastic layer PF3 is a layer transferred to the toner image T and contains a viscoelastic material. The viscoelastic material is a viscoelastic material made of polymer material. The viscoelastic layer PF3 is a material that readily adheres to the toner image T heated by the transfer unit 250 and also readily adheres to the transfer target, such as fabric. The viscoelastic layer PF3 contains, for example, a vinyl chloride resin or an acrylic resin, but any material suitable for adhesion to the transfer target should be selected. The viscoelastic layer PF3 is located on the surface of the film PF. The viscoelastic layer PF3 is thicker than the first release layer PF2. The thickness of the viscoelastic layer PF3 is 16 to 30 μm. Preferably, the thickness of the viscoelastic layer PF3 is 30 to 40 μm.

[0082] Furthermore, the half-discharge temperature of the viscoelastic layer PF3 is lower than the half-discharge temperature of the toner. The 1 / 2 outflow temperature can be measured, for example, as follows. Using a flow tester (Shimadzu Corporation, CFT-500EX), a 1.3g sample was heated at a heating rate of 6°C / min while a 20kgf load was applied via a plunger, extruding it through a nozzle with a diameter of 1.0mm and a length of 10.0mm. A plot of the flow tester's plunger drop against temperature was obtained. In the plunger drop-temperature curve, the temperature at the inflection point where the plunger drop changes from a stable region of zero to an increasing region was defined as the outflow start temperature, and the temperature at which half of the sample had flowed out was defined as the half-outflow temperature.

[0083] Returning to Figure 3, the supply reel 231 has the film PF wound around it. The take-up reel 235 takes up the film PF. The holder H comprises a first guide shaft A1, a peeling shaft A2, and a second guide shaft A3.

[0084] The first guide shaft A1, the peeling shaft A2, and the second guide shaft A3 are roller-shaped shafts for changing the direction of travel of the film PF. The first guide shaft A1, the peeling shaft A2, and the second guide shaft A3 are made of materials such as SUS (stainless steel).

[0085] The first guide shaft A1 is located upstream of the transfer section 250 in the conveying direction of the sheet S. The first guide shaft A1 changes the direction of travel of the film PF drawn from the supply reel 231 so that it is approximately parallel to the conveying direction of the sheet S.

[0086] The peeling axis A2 is located downstream of the transfer section 250 in the conveying direction of the sheet S. The peeling axis A2 peels the film PF from the sheet S by changing the direction of travel of the film PF, which has passed through the transfer section 250, to a direction different from the conveying direction of the sheet S.

[0087] The second guide shaft A3 is a component that defines the direction of travel of the film PF, which is changed by the peeling shaft A2. More specifically, the second guide shaft A3 defines the angle of the film PF when peeling it from the sheet S (hereinafter also referred to as the "peeling angle"). Here, the peeling angle is the angle between the portion of the film PF stretched between the first guide shaft A1 and the peeling shaft A2 and the portion stretched between the peeling shaft A2 and the second guide shaft A3. The second guide shaft A3 changes the direction of travel of the film PF guided by the peeling shaft A2 and guides it to the winding reel 235.

[0088] The transfer section 250 is the part that transfers a viscoelastic layer PF3 onto the toner image T formed on the sheet S by placing a sheet S on top of the film PF being transported from the supply reel 231 toward the take-up reel 235, and then heating and pressurizing the sheet S and film PF together.

[0089] The transfer unit 250 is located inside the second housing 202. The transfer unit 250 nips the film PF and the sheet S and transfers at least one layer of the film PF onto the toner image T on the sheet S. The transfer unit 250 includes a pressure roller 251, a second heating roller 260 as an example of a second rotating body, and a moving mechanism 270.

[0090] The pressure roller 251 is a roller that sandwiches the film PF and the sheet S between itself and the second heating roller 260. The pressure roller 251 is positioned above the film PF and is able to contact the surface of the sheet S opposite to the surface on which the toner image T is formed. The pressure roller 251 conveys the film PF and the sheet S between itself and the second heating roller 260 while being pressed against it.

[0091] The second heating roller 260 is a roller that heats the film PF and the sheet S. The second heating roller 260 has a second heater H2 inside. The second heater H2 heats the second heating roller 260. The second heating roller 260 is positioned below the film PF and is in contact with the film PF. The second heating roller 260 transfers the viscoelastic layer PF3 onto the toner image T by transporting the sheet S on which the toner image T has been formed by the first heating roller 181 and the film PF having the viscoelastic layer PF3 in a stacked state.

[0092] The heat capacity of the second heating roller 260 is greater than that of the first heating roller 181. For example, the first heating roller 181 and the second heating roller 260 each have a metal tube and rubber covering the outer surface of the metal tube. In this case, the heat capacity of the second heating roller 260 can be made greater than that of the first heating roller 181 by setting at least one parameter from the thickness of the metal tube, the thickness of the rubber, and the diameter of the heating roller (the diameter of the outer surface of the rubber) to be greater for the second heating roller 260 than for the first heating roller 181.

[0093] The second heating roller 260 is movable by the moving mechanism 270 between a contact position in contact with the pressure roller 251 and a separated position away from the pressure roller 251. In other words, the moving mechanism 270 makes it possible to move the second heating roller 260 between a contact position in contact with the sheet S and a separated position away from the sheet S, when the sheet S is located between the pressure roller 251 and the second heating roller 260.

[0094] The pressure roller 251 and the second heating roller 260 can convey the film PF and the sheet S by being driven while in a press-fit position. Specifically, the pressure roller 251 is rotationally driven when the second heating roller 260 is in a press-fit position, causing the second heating roller 260 to rotate in a driven motion. In this way, the pressure roller 251 and the second heating roller 260 convey the film PF and the sheet S that are sandwiched between the pressure roller 251 and the second heating roller 260.

[0095] In the layer transfer apparatus 200 configured in this way, the sheet S transported from the image forming apparatus 100 is transported toward the transfer section 250. The sheet S is superimposed with the film PF supplied from the supply reel 231 on the upstream side in the sheet transport direction of the transfer section 250, and the sheet S is transported toward the transfer section 250 with the toner image T of the sheet S and the film PF in contact.

[0096] In the transfer section 250, as the sheet S and film PF pass through the nip between the pressure roller 251 and the second heating roller 260, they are heated and pressurized by the second heating roller 260 and the pressure roller 251, and the viscoelastic layer PF3 is transferred onto the toner image T formed on the sheet S. In the following description, the transfer of the viscoelastic layer PF3 to the sheet S will also be simply referred to as "layer transfer." After the layer transfer is completed, the sheet S is discharged to the outside of the second housing 202.

[0097] More specifically, when the sheet S is sent to the transfer unit 250, as shown in Figure 4(b), the sheet S and the film PF are heat-pressed together in the transfer unit 250 while overlapping. When the sheet S and film PF are heat-pressed together while overlapping, the viscoelastic layer PF3 is pressed onto the areas where the toner image T is formed. The viscoelastic layer PF3 is not pressed onto the areas where the toner image T is not formed.

[0098] Then, after the overlapping sheet S and film PF pass through the transfer section 250, the film PF is guided by the peeling axis A2 in the direction away from the sheet S, and as shown in Figure 4(c), the film PF is peeled off from the sheet S. When the film PF is peeled off from the sheet S, the toner image T and the viscoelastic layer PF3 remain on the sheet S, and the viscoelastic layer PF3 corresponding to the areas where the toner image T has not been formed remains on the film PF. In this way, the viscoelastic layer PF3 is transferred to the toner image T on the sheet S, and the transfer print sheet PS is created.

[0099] As shown in Figure 5(a), when the transfer printing sheet PS is placed on the fabric CL and heated and pressed with a dedicated press machine (not shown), the toner image T and viscoelastic layer PF3 are pressed onto the fabric CL. Once the toner image T and viscoelastic layer PF3 are pressed onto the fabric CL, the user peels off the second base layer PS1 of the transfer printing sheet PS. After the second base layer PS1 of the transfer printing sheet PS is peeled off, as shown in Figure 5(b), only the toner image T and viscoelastic layer PF3 remain on the fabric CL.

[0100] An example of a transfer printing sheet PS is shown in Figure 6(a). A mirror image of the toner image T, which is covered with a viscoelastic layer PF3, is formed on the surface of the transfer printing sheet PS. The mirror image of the toner image T is a mirror image of the image to be transferred to the fabric CL. In this embodiment, an example of transferring the image of the letters "ABC" to the fabric CL is shown. In this case, a mirror image of "ABC" that is reversed left to right is formed on the sheet S.

[0101] As shown in Figure 6(b), the user presses the transfer printing sheet PS onto the fabric CL and heats and presses it with a dedicated press machine (not shown). As a result, as shown in Figure 6(c), the toner image T is bonded to the fabric CL via the viscoelastic layer PF3.

[0102] As shown in Figure 1, the transfer printing sheet creation apparatus 1 further includes a control unit CU. The control unit (CU) includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, input / output unit, etc., and executes various processes by running pre-prepared programs.

[0103] The control unit CU has the function of controlling both the first heating roller 181 and the second heating roller 260. The first conveying speed, which is the conveying speed of the sheet S conveyed by the first heating roller 181, is greater than the second conveying speed, which is the conveying speed of the sheet conveyed by the second heating roller 260.

[0104] The control unit CU has a function to change the rotational speed of the first intermediate conveying roller MR1 so that the conveying speed of the sheet S changes from a third conveying speed corresponding to the first conveying speed to a fourth conveying speed corresponding to the second conveying speed, after the rear end of the sheet S has passed the first heating roller 181 and before the front end of the sheet S has contacted the second heating roller 260. Here, the third conveying speed may be approximately the same as the first conveying speed, and may be slightly less or greater than the first conveying speed. Similarly, the fourth conveying speed may be approximately the same as the second conveying speed, and may be slightly less or greater than the second conveying speed. In this embodiment, the third conveying speed is the same as the first conveying speed, and the fourth conveying speed is the same as the second conveying speed.

[0105] The control unit CU can perform a stop process that temporarily stops the sheet S away from the first heating roller 181 and the second heating roller 260 by stopping the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 while the sheet S is being conveyed by the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1. In this embodiment, the control unit CU stops the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 before the leading edge of the sheet S being conveyed by the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 reaches the second intermediate conveyor roller MR2. Alternatively, the control unit CU may temporarily stop the sheet S away from the first heating roller 181 and the second heating roller 260 by stopping the intermediate conveyor rollers MR1 ​​and MR2 while the sheet S is being conveyed by the two intermediate conveyor rollers MR1 ​​and MR2. However, if, for example, the first motor driving the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 and the second motor driving the second intermediate conveyor roller MR2 are different, it is desirable to perform the control according to this embodiment. The control according to this embodiment can suppress problems that occur due to the timing of stopping and restarting the first and second motors not being synchronized.

[0106] The control unit CU has the function of stopping the sheet S by stopping the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 after the sheet S has been conveyed by the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 at a first conveying speed, and then rotating the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 and the second intermediate conveyor roller MR2 so that the sheet S is conveyed at a second conveying speed after the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 has stopped. The control unit CU stops the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 based on information from the stopping sheet sensor SS1.

[0107] The control unit CU can perform a layer transfer mode in which the sheet S passes through both the first heating roller 181 and the second heating roller 260, and a printing mode in which the sheet S passes through the first heating roller 181 but not the second heating roller 260. When the control unit CU performs the printing mode, it positions the flapper FL in a first position, and when the control unit CU performs the layer transfer mode, it positions the flapper FL in a second position. In the layer transfer mode, the control unit CU can perform both single-sided and double-sided processing.

[0108] In single-sided processing, the control unit CU forms a toner image on the first surface of the sheet S and sends the sheet S to the second heating roller 260 without forming a toner image on the second surface. Here, the first surface refers to the surface on which the toner image is first formed by the image forming unit 104 after the supply of the sheet S by the supply roller 135 begins. The second surface refers to the surface opposite to the first surface. When performing single-sided processing, the control unit CU instructs the user to set the sheet S in the supply tray 131 with the side on which the second release layer PS2 is formed (hereinafter also referred to as the "release surface") facing downwards. In other words, the control unit CU instructs the user to set the sheet S so that the release surface becomes the first surface.

[0109] When the control unit CU creates multiple transfer printing sheets PS in single-sided processing, as shown in Figure 7(a), it first controls the supply roller 135 to transport the first sheet SH1 at a first transport speed using the supply roller 135. Here, Figures 7 to 9 are diagrams showing the transport path of the sheet S from the supply roller 135 to the second heating roller 260 in a linear fashion.

[0110] As shown in Figure 7(b), the control unit CU stops the first intermediate transport roller MR1 and halts the transport of the first sheet SH1 after 1 hour has elapsed since the stopping sheet sensor SS1 detected the leading edge of the first sheet SH1. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 7(c), the control unit CU transports the first sheet SH1 at the second transport speed using the first intermediate transport roller MR1.

[0111] When the sheet sensor SS4 detects the leading edge of the first sheet SH1, or after a predetermined time has elapsed since detection, the control unit CU controls the supply roller 135 to transport the second sheet SH2 at a first transport speed. The sheet spacing, which is the distance between the first sheet SH1 and the second sheet SH2 when the supply roller 135 starts transporting the second sheet SH2, is a fairly large first spacing D1. Because the first transport speed is greater than the second transport speed, the sheet spacing gradually decreases thereafter.

[0112] As shown in Figure 8(a), the control unit CU determines, based on the elapsed time since the sheet sensor SS4 detected the leading edge of the first sheet SH1, that the trailing edge of the first sheet SH1 has passed the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1, and stops the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1. As shown in Figure 8(b), after stopping the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1, the control unit CU rotates the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 at a rotational speed corresponding to the first conveying speed before the second sheet SH2 reaches the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1. In this embodiment, the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 was temporarily stopped to change its rotational speed, but the rotational speed of the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1 may be changed from a rotational speed corresponding to the first conveying speed to a rotational speed corresponding to the second conveying speed without stopping the first intermediate conveyor roller MR1.

[0113] As shown in Figure 9(a), when the sheet spacing between the first sheet SH1 and the second sheet SH2 is being transported at the second transport speed becomes the third spacing D3, the control unit CU stops the first intermediate transport roller MR1, thereby stopping the second sheet SH2. As shown in Figure 9(b), after stopping the second sheet SH2, when the sheet spacing becomes the second spacing D2, which is greater than the third spacing D3, the control unit CU transports the second sheet SH2 at the second transport speed using the first intermediate transport roller MR1. As a result, when both the first sheet SH1 and the second sheet SH2 are being transported at the second transport speed, the sheet spacing becomes the second spacing D2, which is smaller than the first spacing D1.

[0114] The second interval D2 can be set considering, for example, the following conditions: Condition 1: As shown in Figure 10(a), the second heating roller 260 is moved from a separated position to a pressed position at the timing when a portion of the sheet S slightly away from the leading edge is sandwiched between the second heating roller 260 and the pressure roller 251. Condition 2: As shown in Figure 10(b), after the rear end of the sheet S has passed through the peeling shaft A2, the second heating roller 260 is moved from the contact position to a separated position.

[0115] The reason for considering condition 1 is that when the viscoelastic layer PF3 of film PF is transferred to the leading edge of sheet S, there is a possibility that the leading edge of sheet S will not be peeled off by the peel axis A2, but will instead move toward the second guide axis A3 together with film PF. The reason for considering condition 2 is that if the second heating roller 260 is moved from the contact position to a position away from the contact position before the rear end of the sheet S reaches the peeling axis A2, the transport force of the film PF by the second heating roller 260 and the pressure roller 251 will be lost, which may prevent the rear end of the sheet S from being peeled properly. The timing of the start of movement of the second heating roller 260 in conditions 1 and 2 can be determined based on information from the layer transfer sheet sensor SS2.

[0116] The second interval D2 should be set to be the shortest possible interval, taking conditions 1 and 2 into consideration. For example, the second interval D2 can be set to an interval of at least the distance D21, which corresponds to the travel time of the second heating roller 260 from the contact position through the separation position back to the contact position. Alternatively, for example, the second interval D2 can be set to an interval of at least the distance D22 from the nip portion NP between the second heating roller 260 and the pressure roller 251 to the peeling axis A2. Alternatively, for example, the second interval D2 can be set to an interval smaller than the sum of the distances D21 and D22.

[0117] When performing double-sided processing, the control unit CU instructs the user to set the sheet S in the supply tray 131 with the peeling surface facing upwards. In other words, the control unit CU instructs the user to set the sheet S so that the peeling surface becomes the second surface.

[0118] In double-sided processing, the control unit CU controls the re-transport roller 195 and the first intermediate transport roller MR1 to fix the toner image on the first surface of the sheet S with the first heating roller 181, then re-transport the sheet S to the first heating roller 181 with the re-transport roller 195, fix the toner image on the second surface of the sheet S with the first heating roller 181, and then transport the sheet S toward the second heating roller 260 with the first intermediate transport roller MR1. Furthermore, when creating multiple transfer printing sheets PS, the control unit CU controls the re-transport roller 195 to stop the second and subsequent sheets S on the re-transport path 194. Based on information from the sheet sensor SS4, the control unit CU starts re-transporting the sheets S that were stopped on the re-transport path 194, thereby setting the sheet spacing between the two sheets S being transported at the second transport speed to the second spacing D2.

[0119] The control unit CU can perform single-sided and double-sided printing in print mode. In single-sided printing, the control unit CU forms a toner image on the first surface of the sheet S, but does not form a toner image on the second surface, and discharges the sheet S to the transfer printing sheet creation device 1, specifically to the first discharge tray 401. In double-sided printing, the control unit CU forms a toner image on both the first and second surfaces of the sheet S and discharges the sheet S to the first discharge tray 401. When the control unit CU executes print mode to print on multiple sheets S, it starts transporting the second and subsequent sheets S by the supply roller 135 based on information from the printing sheet sensor SS3. When the control unit CU executes print mode, it also notifies the user to set a sheet without a second release layer PS2, that is, a sheet consisting only of the second base material layer PS1, in the supply tray 131.

[0120] As shown in Figure 16, the control unit CU can receive a print command for printing on the sheet S, a mirror image sheet creation command for creating a mirror image sheet, and a print transfer command for creating a transfer print sheet PS. Here, the mirror image sheet is a sheet used in a dedicated layer transfer device, which is separate from the transfer print sheet creation device 1, and transfers the viscoelastic layer to the toner image on the sheet S. The mirror image sheet has a structure in which the viscoelastic layer PF3 is removed from the transfer print sheet PS. Each command is output to the control unit CU by operating, for example, the operation panel of the transfer print sheet creation device 1.

[0121] The control unit (CU) can perform image conversion processing, which involves horizontally flipping normal image data to convert it into mirror image data. When the control unit CU receives a print command, it executes the aforementioned print mode without performing image conversion processing. If the control unit CU performs single-sided printing based on the print command, it forms a normal toner image on the first surface of the sheet. If the control unit CU performs double-sided printing based on the print command, it forms a normal toner image on both the first and second surfaces.

[0122] When the control unit CU receives a command to create a mirrored image sheet, it performs image conversion processing and executes the printing mode described above. When the control unit CU performs single-sided printing processing based on the command to create a mirrored image sheet, it converts the image data corresponding to the first side from a normal image to a mirrored image and forms a mirrored toner image on the first side of the sheet S. When the control unit CU performs double-sided printing processing based on the command to create a mirrored image sheet, it converts the image data corresponding to the second side from a normal image to a mirrored image and forms a normal toner image on the first side of the sheet S and a mirrored toner image on the second side.

[0123] Furthermore, when the control unit CU performs single-sided printing based on the mirror image sheet creation command, it instructs the user to set the sheet S in the supply tray 131 with the peeling surface facing downwards. Also, when the control unit CU performs double-sided printing based on the mirror image sheet creation command, it instructs the user to set the sheet S in the supply tray 131 with the peeling surface facing upwards.

[0124] When the control unit CU receives a print transfer command, it performs image conversion processing and executes the layer transfer mode described above. When performing single-sided processing, the control unit CU converts the image data corresponding to the first side from a normal image to a mirror image, and forms a mirror image toner image on the first side of the sheet S. When performing double-sided processing, the control unit CU converts the image data corresponding to the second side from a normal image to a mirror image, and forms a normal image toner image on the first side of the sheet S and a mirror image toner image on the second side.

[0125] As described above, the control unit CU performs image conversion processing, resulting in a mirror image of the toner image formed on the underside of the sheet discharged into the first discharge tray 401, and a mirror image of the toner image formed on the underside of the sheet S discharged into the second discharge tray 290.

[0126] Next, we will explain the control of the flapper FL and the various rollers that transport the sheet by the control unit CU. When the control unit CU receives a print transfer command to perform single-sided processing, it executes the process shown in Figure 17.

[0127] In the process shown in Figure 17, the control unit CU first positions the flapper FL in the second position (S1). After step S1, when the fuser unit 108 is ready to fix the toner image T to the sheet S, the control unit CU starts transporting the sheet S by the supply unit 103 (S2). Here, the state in which the fuser unit 108 is ready to fix the toner image T to the sheet S means that the temperature of the fuser unit 108 has reached a fixing temperature suitable for fixing, or that the temperature of the fuser unit has reached a temperature that takes into account the temperature of the fuser unit that rises while the sheet S is transported from the supply unit 103 to the fuser unit 108 (a temperature slightly lower than the fixing temperature). More specifically, in step S2, the control unit CU rotates each roller from the supply roller 135 to the first intermediate transport roller MR1 at a first rotational speed corresponding to the first transport speed.

[0128] After step S2, the control unit CU determines whether the stop sheet sensor SS1 has been turned ON or not (S3). The control unit CU repeats step S3 until it determines that the stop sheet sensor SS1 has been turned ON (No), and if it determines that it has been turned ON (Yes), it stops the first intermediate transport roller MR1 one hour after the stop sheet sensor SS1 has been turned ON (S4).

[0129] After step S4, when the state of the transfer unit 250 is ready for layer transfer, the control unit CU rotates each roller from the first intermediate transport roller MR1 to the discharge roller 213 at a second rotational speed such that the transport speed of the sheet S on the first intermediate transport roller MR1 and the second intermediate transport roller MR2 becomes the second transport speed (S5).

[0130] After step S5, the control unit CU determines whether the single-sided processing job is finished (S6). If it is determined in step S6 that the job is finished, the control unit CU terminates the process after the last sheet S is discharged to the second discharge tray 290. If the job is not finished in step S6, that is, if single-sided processing is to be performed on multiple sheets S (No), it determines whether the sheet sensor SS4 is turned ON (S7).

[0131] The control unit CU repeats step S7 until it determines that the sheet sensor SS4 has turned ON (No), and when it determines that it has turned ON (Yes), it starts supplying the sheet S with the supply roller 135 (S8). In step S7, it may also be determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the sheet sensor SS4 turned ON.

[0132] After step S8, the control unit CU determines, based on information from the sheet sensor SS4, whether the trailing end of the leading sheet currently being transported by the first intermediate transport roller MR1 has left the first intermediate transport roller MR1. If it determines that the sheet has left the roller, it stops the first intermediate transport roller MR1 (S9).

[0133] After step S9, the control unit CU rotates the first intermediate transport roller MR1 at a first rotational speed (S10). After step S10, the control unit CU determines whether the stopping sheet sensor SS1 has been turned ON or not, thereby determining whether the subsequent sheet being transported after the preceding sheet has approached the preceding sheet (S11).

[0134] The control unit CU repeats step S11 until it determines that the stop sheet sensor SS1 has turned ON (No). If it determines that it has turned ON (Yes), it stops the first intermediate transport roller MR1 1 hour after the stop sheet sensor SS1 has turned ON (S12). At this time, the distance between the preceding sheet and the following sheet is the third distance D3. In other words, in step S12, the control unit CU stops the first intermediate transport roller MR1 when the distance between the preceding sheet and the following sheet becomes the third distance D3.

[0135] After step S12, the control unit CU determines whether a second time interval greater than the first time interval has elapsed since the stop sheet sensor SS1 was turned ON. If it determines that the interval has elapsed, it rotates the first intermediate transport roller MR1 at the second rotational speed. At this time, the sheet spacing between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet is the second interval D2, which is greater than the third interval D3. In other words, in step S13, when the sheet spacing between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet becomes the second interval D2, the control unit CU rotates the first intermediate transport roller MR1 at the second rotational speed. After step S13, the control unit CU returns to the process of step S6.

[0136] When the control unit CU receives a print command or a mirror image sheet creation command for performing single-sided printing, it executes the process shown in Figure 18. In the process shown in Figure 18, the control unit CU first positions the flapper FL at the first position (S31).

[0137] After step S31, when the fixing device 108 is ready to fix the toner image T to the sheet S, the control unit CU starts transporting the sheet S by the supply unit 103 (S32). Specifically, in step S32, the control unit CU rotates each roller from the supply roller 135 to the discharge roller 193 at a first rotational speed corresponding to the first transport speed.

[0138] After step S32, the control unit CU determines whether the single-sided printing job is finished (S33). If it is determined in step S33 that the job is finished, the control unit CU terminates the process after the last sheet S is discharged to the first discharge tray 401. If the job is not finished in step S33, that is, if single-sided printing is to be performed on multiple sheets S (No), the control unit CU determines whether the rear end of the sheet S has moved away from the printing sheet sensor SS3 by determining whether the printing sheet sensor SS3 has changed from ON to OFF (S34).

[0139] The control unit CU repeats step S34 until the printing sheet sensor SS3 changes from ON to OFF (No), and if it determines that the sensor has changed from ON to OFF (Yes), it starts supplying the sheet S by the supply roller 135 three hours after the printing sheet sensor SS3 has turned OFF (S35).

[0140] Here, the third time can be set to a very short period of time. For example, the third time can be set to a period of time when the distance between the preceding and succeeding seats is shorter than the second interval D2. After step S35, the control unit CU returns to the processing in step S33.

[0141] When the control unit CU receives a print transfer command to perform double-sided processing on a single sheet S, it executes the process shown in Figure 19. In the process shown in Figure 19, the control unit CU first positions the flapper FL at the first position (S51).

[0142] After step S51, when the fixing device 108 is ready to fix the toner image T to the sheet S, the control unit CU starts transporting the sheet S by the supply unit 103 (S52). Specifically, in step S52, the control unit CU rotates each roller from the supply roller 135 to the discharge roller 193 and the first intermediate transport roller MR1 at a first rotational speed corresponding to the first transport speed.

[0143] After step S52, the control unit CU reverses the rotation of the transport roller 192 and the discharge roller 193 when the sheet S is being transported by the transport roller 192 and the discharge roller 193, causing the sheet S to switch back towards the re-transport path 194 (S53). The determination of whether the sheet S is being transported by the transport roller 192 and the discharge roller 193 can be made, for example, based on information from the printing sheet sensor SS3.

[0144] After step S53, the control unit CU positions the flapper FL to the second position (S54). After step S54, the control unit CU determines whether the sheet S, on which toner images have been formed on both sides, is being transported by the first intermediate transport roller MR1 by determining whether the stop sheet sensor SS1 has been turned ON (S55).

[0145] The control unit CU repeats step S55 until the stop sheet sensor SS1 turns ON (No), and if it determines that it has turned ON (Yes), it stops the first intermediate transport roller MR1 one hour after the stop sheet sensor SS1 turns ON (S56).

[0146] After step S56, when the state of the transfer unit 250 is ready for layer transfer, the control unit CU rotates each roller from the first intermediate transport roller MR1 to the discharge roller 213 at a second rotational speed such that the transport speed of the sheet S on the first intermediate transport roller MR1 and the second intermediate transport roller MR2 becomes the second transport speed (S57). After step S57, the control unit CU terminates the process after the sheet S has been discharged to the second discharge tray 290.

[0147] When the control unit CU receives a print transfer command to perform double-sided processing on multiple sheets S, it controls the flapper FL and each roller based on the maps shown in Figures 20 to 22. The first map shown in Figure 20(a) is used when performing double-sided processing on two sheets S.

[0148] The second map shown in Figure 20(b) is used for 3 sheets S, the third map shown in Figure 21(a) is used for 4 sheets S, the fourth map shown in Figure 21(b) is used for 5 sheets S, and the fifth map shown in Figure 22 is used when performing double-sided processing on 6 or more sheets S. In each map, the printing page order is set so that each page of the multiple sheets S discharged into the second discharge tray 290 is arranged in order from bottom to top as 1, 2, 3, ...

[0149] In each map, when printing the first side of sheet S, the flapper FL is set to the first position, and a reversal process is performed to switch back sheet S using the discharge roller 193, etc. In addition, in each map, when printing the second side of sheet S, the flapper FL is set to the second position, and a process is performed to temporarily stop sheet S on the second path R2 by stopping the first intermediate transport roller MR1. After sheet S is temporarily stopped on the second path R2, as described above, the first intermediate transport roller MR1 is rotated at the second rotational speed, and sheet S is transported toward the transfer unit 250 at the second transport speed.

[0150] In each map, a process is set to pause the second and subsequent sheets S, which have their first side printed, at the re-transport path 194. Specifically, for example, in the first map shown in Figure 20(a), the second sheet S is set to pause at the re-transport path 194 before printing is done on its second side. After the sheet S is paused at the re-transport path 194, the re-transport of the sheet S is started based on information from the sheet sensor SS4, and a process is also executed to set the sheet spacing between the two sheets S being transported at the second transport speed to the second spacing D2.

[0151] In each map, when performing double-sided processing on three or more sheets S, the system is configured to insert the next sheet S between two sheets S already being transported within the image forming apparatus 100 using the supply roller 135. Specifically, for example, in the second map shown in Figure 20(b), the system is configured to insert the third sheet S between the first and second sheets S.

[0152] A specific example of double-sided processing on multiple sheets S will be explained with reference to Figures 11 to 14. As shown in Figure 11(a), when the control unit CU performs double-sided processing on three sheets S, it first supplies the first sheet SH1 with the supply roller 135 to form a toner image on the first surface F1 of the first sheet SH1. At this time, the control unit CU positions the flapper FL in the first position.

[0153] As shown in Figure 11(b), after a toner image is formed on the first surface F1 of the first sheet SH1, the control unit CU switches back the first sheet SH1 within the first path R1 and transports it to the re-transport path 194, as shown in Figure 11(c). At this time, the control unit CU also starts supplying the second sheet SH2 using the supply roller 135.

[0154] As shown in Figure 12(a), after a toner image is formed on the first surface F1 of the second sheet SH2, the control unit CU switches back the second sheet SH2 within the first path R1 and transports it to the re-transport path 194, as shown in Figure 12(b). Thereafter, as shown in Figure 12(c), the first sheet SH1 is re-transported to the image forming unit 104, and a toner image is formed on the second surface F2 of the first sheet SH1.

[0155] As shown in Figure 13(a), the control unit CU switches the flapper FL to the second position before the first sheet SH1, on which a toner image has been formed on the second surface F2, reaches the flapper FL. As a result, the first sheet SH1, on which a toner image has been formed on both sides, is transported toward the second path R2. The control unit CU also stops the re-transport roller 195, thereby temporarily stopping the second sheet SH2 being transported toward the re-transport path 194 at an appropriate position, and simultaneously starts supplying the third sheet SH3 by the supply roller 135. As a result, the third sheet SH3 is inserted between the first sheet SH1 and the second sheet SH2.

[0156] Subsequently, the control unit CU stops the first intermediate transport roller MR1, as shown in Figure 13(b), thereby temporarily stopping the first sheet SH1 on the second path R2. The control unit CU also switches the flapper FL to the first position before the third sheet SH3 reaches the flapper FL.

[0157] Subsequently, as shown in Figure 13(c), the control unit CU rotates the first intermediate transport roller MR1 at the second rotational speed to transport the first sheet SH1 at the second transport speed. When the first sheet SH1, whose transport has resumed, is detected by the sheet sensor SS4 shown in Figure 7(c), the control unit CU restarts the rotation of the re-transport roller 195 based on the information from the sheet sensor SS4, and resumes transporting the second sheet SH2.

[0158] Meanwhile, the third sheet SH3 is switched back on the first path R1 and transported to the re-transport path 194, as shown in Figure 14(a). The second sheet SH2, whose transport has resumed, moves at the first transport speed which is greater than the second transport speed, and passes through the image forming unit 104 while reducing the gap between it and the first sheet SH1, which is transported at the second transport speed. The control unit CU switches the flapper FL to the second position before the second sheet SH2 reaches the flapper FL. As a result, the second sheet SH2, on which toner images have been formed on both sides, is transported toward the second path R2.

[0159] As shown in Figure 14(b), the second sheet SH2, having entered the second path R2, is stopped by the control unit CU when the sheet spacing between it and the first sheet SH1 becomes the third spacing D3, as shown in Figure 9(a). Subsequently, when the sheet spacing becomes the second spacing D2, the control unit CU transports the second sheet SH2 at the second transport speed, so that the sheet spacing between the first sheet SH1 and the second sheet SH2 is maintained at the second spacing D2 while they are transported at the second transport speed.

[0160] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 14(b), the control unit CU temporarily stops the re-transport roller 195 while the third sheet SH3 is being transported on the re-transport path 194, thereby temporarily stopping the third sheet SH3 on the re-transport path 194. Subsequently, as shown in Figures 15(a) and (b), the control unit CU transports the second sheet SH2, which was temporarily stopped on the second path R2, at the second transport speed, and then resumes transporting the third sheet SH3 by restarting the rotation of the re-transport roller 195 based on information from the sheet sensor SS4. By resuming the transport of the third sheet SH3 in this way, the sheet spacing between the second sheet SH2 and the third sheet SH3 can be set to the third spacing D3, and then to the second spacing D2, similar to the case of the first sheet SH1 and the second sheet SH2. Note that when performing double-sided processing on multiple sheets S, the spacing between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet does not necessarily have to be the second spacing D2; for example, it may be a spacing larger than the second spacing D2.

[0161] When the control unit CU receives a print command or a mirror image sheet creation command to perform double-sided printing on a single sheet S, it executes the process shown in Figure 23. In the process shown in Figure 23, the control unit CU first positions the flapper FL at the first position (S71).

[0162] After step S71, when the fixing device 108 is ready to fix the toner image T to the sheet S, the control unit CU starts transporting the sheet S by the supply unit 103 (S72). Specifically, in step S72, the control unit CU rotates each roller from the supply roller 135 to the discharge roller 193 at a first rotational speed corresponding to the first transport speed.

[0163] After step S72, the control unit CU reverses the rotation of the transport roller 192 and the discharge roller 193 while the sheet S is being transported by the transport roller 192 and the discharge roller 193, causing the sheet S to switch back towards the re-transport path 194 (S73). After step S73, the control unit CU determines that the sheet S has been discharged to the first discharge tray 401 (S74), and then terminates this process.

[0164] When the control unit CU receives a print command or a mirror image sheet creation command for performing double-sided printing on multiple sheets S, it prints in the same order as the page order shown in the maps in Figures 20 to 22. When performing double-sided printing on multiple sheets S, the control unit CU always maintains the flapper FL in the first position. When performing double-sided printing on multiple sheets S, the control unit CU does not perform the process of temporarily pausing the sheets S on the second path R2 or the process of temporarily pausing the sheets S on the re-transport path.

[0165] As described above, the following effects can be obtained according to this embodiment. By configuring the transfer printing sheet creation device 1 to have a first heating roller 181 and a second heating roller 260, image formation and layer transfer can be performed without the user having to move the sheet from the image forming device to the layer transfer device. Furthermore, by making the sheet spacing (first spacing D1) when the supply roller 135 starts transporting the second sheet SH2 larger than the sheet spacing (second spacing D2) when both the first sheet SH1 and the second sheet SH2 are being transported at the second transport speed, interference between the first sheet SH1, which is being transported at a first transport speed greater than the second transport speed, and the second sheet SH2, which is being transported at the second transport speed, can be suppressed.

[0166] By configuring the system so that the second sheet SH2 is stopped when the distance between the first sheet SH1 and the second sheet SH2 becomes a third distance D3 (smaller than the second distance D2), and the second sheet SH2 is transported at the second transport speed when the distance becomes the second distance D2, the distance between the sheets can be more reliably set to the second distance D2.

[0167] By configuring the control unit CU to be capable of executing both layer transfer mode and printing mode, the transfer printing sheet creation device 1 can create both a transfer printing sheet PS and a printed sheet.

[0168] By configuring the system to transport a sheet S, on which toner images are fixed to both the first and second surfaces, toward the second heating roller 260, a transfer printing sheet PS can be created in which a viscoelastic layer is formed on one of the first and second surfaces and a toner image is formed on the other. Therefore, for example, information regarding the image of the viscoelastic layer formed on one surface can be formed on the other surface by the toner image.

[0169] Information related to the image of the viscoelastic layer includes, for example, lines, characters, barcodes, and 2D barcodes. Lines are, for example, lines used to position the fabric CL and the transfer printing sheet PS. Characters, barcodes, and 2D barcodes are, for example, information such as the product number of the object to which the viscoelastic layer is transferred.

[0170] When creating multiple transfer printing sheets PS, the configuration allows the second and subsequent sheets S to be stopped on the re-transport path 194, thereby preventing interference between sheets S transported at the first transport speed and sheets S transported at the second transport speed.

[0171] In single-sided printing, the control unit CU forms a mirror image toner image on the first surface, allowing, for example, a mirror image sheet used in a dedicated layer transfer device to be created by the transfer printing sheet creation device 1.

[0172] In the double-sided printing process, the control unit CU is configured to form a mirrored toner image on one of the first and second surfaces, and a normal toner image on the other, thereby enabling the transfer printing sheet creation device 1 to create a mirrored sheet. Furthermore, information related to the mirrored image formed on one surface (such as the lines and characters mentioned above) can be formed on the other surface by the normal image.

[0173] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be used in various forms as illustrated below.

[0174] When the transport of the second sheet at the first transport speed is completed, the sheet spacing between the first and second sheets may be a third spacing that is less than or equal to the second spacing. In other words, the third spacing may be the same value as the second spacing. Specifically, for example, if the rotation speed of the intermediate transport roller is changed from the first rotation speed to the second rotation speed without stopping the rotation of the intermediate transport roller, the sheet spacing when the transport speed of the second sheet becomes the second transport speed can be set to a third spacing that is the same value as the second spacing.

[0175] The printing layer may be, for example, ink.

[0176] At least one intermediate conveyor roller is sufficient. While the sheet is being conveyed by the intermediate conveyor roller, the rotation speed of the intermediate conveyor roller may be changed without stopping the rotation of the intermediate conveyor roller.

[0177] The first rotating body may be a pressure belt 182A. Also, in the first embodiment, if a pressure roller is provided instead of the first pressure member 182, the first rotating body may be a pressure roller.

[0178] The second rotating body may be a pressure roller 251. In the first embodiment, if a pressure belt such as the first pressure member 182 is provided instead of the pressure roller 251, the second rotating body may be the pressure belt.

[0179] The elements described in the above embodiments and modifications may be implemented in any combination. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0180] 1. Transfer printing sheet creation device 135 supply roller 181 First heating roller 194 Retransport Route 195 Re-transport roller 260 Second heating roller CU Control Unit MR1 First Intermediate Conveyor Roller PF film PF3 viscoelastic layer PS Transfer Printing Sheet S Seat T Toner Image

Claims

1. A transfer printing sheet manufacturing apparatus for creating a transfer printing sheet in which a sheet, a printed layer, and a viscoelastic layer are laminated in this order, and for transferring the printed layer to an object via the viscoelastic layer, A first rotating body for fixing the printed layer to the sheet, A second rotating body transfers the viscoelastic layer onto the printed layer by transporting the sheet on which the printed layer is formed and the film having the viscoelastic layer in a stacked state by the first rotating body, A retransport roller that retransports the sheet conveyed from the first rotating body back to the first rotating body via a retransport path, An intermediate conveying roller that conveys the sheet being transported from the first rotating body toward the second rotating body, It comprises a control unit and, A transfer printing sheet making apparatus characterized in that the control unit controls the re-transport roller and the intermediate transport roller to fix the printing layer on the first surface of the sheet with the first rotating body, then re-transport the sheet to the first rotating body with the re-transport roller, fix the printing layer on the second surface of the sheet with the first rotating body, and then transport the sheet toward the second rotating body with the intermediate transport roller.

2. The transfer printing sheet making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the printing layer is formed on both the first and second surfaces of the sheet, the printing layer formed on one of the first and second surfaces is a normal image, and the printing layer formed on the other surface is a mirror image.

3. When the printing layer is formed on both the first and second surfaces of the sheet, The second rotating body transfers the viscoelastic layer to the printed layer on the second surface of the sheet. The printed layer formed on the first surface of the sheet is a normal image, The transfer printing sheet making apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the printed layer formed on the second surface of the sheet is a mirror image.

4. The control unit, The transfer printing sheet making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, when making multiple transfer printing sheets, the re-transport roller is controlled to stop the second and subsequent sheets in the re-transport path.

5. The control unit, A layer transfer mode in which the sheet passes through both the first and second rotating bodies, The transfer printing sheet making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it is capable of performing a printing mode in which the sheet passes through the first rotating body and does not pass through the second rotating body.

6. The control unit, In the layer transfer mode, a single-sided process can be performed in which a printed layer is formed on the first surface and the sheet is fed to the second rotating body without forming a printed layer on the second surface. The transfer printing sheet making apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that when the aforementioned single-sided processing is performed, a mirror image printing layer is formed on the first surface.

7. The control unit, In the printing mode described above, a single-sided printing process can be performed in which a printing layer is formed on the first surface and the sheet is discharged outside the transfer printing sheet creation device without forming a printing layer on the second surface. The transfer printing sheet making apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that when the single-sided printing process is performed, a mirror image printing layer is formed on the first surface.

8. The control unit, In the printing mode described above, a single-sided printing process can be performed in which a printing layer is formed on the first surface and the sheet is discharged outside the transfer printing sheet creation device without forming a printing layer on the second surface. The transfer printing sheet making apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that when the single-sided printing process is performed, a normal image printing layer is formed on the first surface.

9. The control unit, In the printing mode described above, a double-sided printing process can be performed in which a printed layer is formed on both the first and second surfaces and the sheet is discharged outside the transfer printing sheet creation device. The transfer printing sheet making apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that when the double-sided printing process is performed, a mirror image printing layer is formed on one of the first and second surfaces, and a normal image printing layer is formed on the other surface.

10. The control unit, In the printing mode described above, a double-sided printing process can be performed in which a printed layer is formed on both the first and second surfaces and the sheet is discharged outside the transfer printing sheet creation device. The transfer printing sheet making apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that when the double-sided printing process is performed, a normal image printing layer is formed on both the first surface and the second surface.

11. A housing having a first discharge port for discharging a sheet on which the viscoelastic layer has not been transferred to the printing layer, and a second discharge port for discharging the transfer printing sheet, A flapper that is movable between a first position and a second position in order to switch the movement path of the sheet between a first path from the first rotating body toward the first discharge port and a second path from the first rotating body toward the second discharge port, further comprising a flapper that, when located in the first position, sets the movement path to the first path, and when located in the second position, sets the movement path to the second path, The control unit, When executing the aforementioned printing mode, the flapper is positioned in the first position. The transfer printing sheet making apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that when the layer transfer mode is performed, the flapper is positioned at the second position.

12. The aforementioned enclosure is A third discharge port for discharging sheets in which the viscoelastic layer has not been transferred to the printing layer, The transfer printing sheet making apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a cover for opening and closing the third discharge port, the cover having a guide for guiding the sheet sent from the first rotating body.

13. The transfer printing sheet making apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet is always in contact with at least one of the first rotating body, the intermediate conveying roller, and the second rotating body while the sheet is being conveyed from the first rotating body to the second rotating body.

14. The system further comprises an discharge tray from which the sheet that has passed through the second rotating body is discharged, The transfer printing sheet creation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the printed layer formed on the lower surface of the sheet discharged into the discharge tray is a mirror image.

Images