Thermal Transfer System

Abstract

To provide a thermal transfer system capable of appropriately preventing information that should be confidential from being leaked.SOLUTION: A thermal transfer system 10 includes a sending part 11 for sending an ink ribbon 20, a first transfer device 14 for transferring ink of an ink layer 22 of the ink ribbon 20 to an object 100 to be transferred with a first pattern P1, a winding part 12 for winding the ink ribbon 20 with the first pattern P1 transferred, a second transfer device 15 for transferring the ink of the ink layer 22 of the ink ribbon 20 positioned at the outermost circumference of the ink ribbon 20 wound up by the winding part 12 to a support layer 21 of the ink ribbon 20 on an inner side from the ink ribbon 20 with a second pattern P2, and a separation roller 16 for guiding the ink ribbon 20 so as to be wound by the winding part 12 after the ink ribbon 20 with the second pattern P2 transferred is separated from the ink ribbon 20 on the inner side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to thermal transfer systems. [Background technology]

[0002] Transfer systems that use ink ribbons to print images such as characters on a receiving material such as a card are widely used. An ink ribbon, for example, includes a ribbon (support layer) extending in a strip shape and an ink layer containing dyes or the like formed on the ribbon. In printing using an ink ribbon, ink is transferred to the receiving material in a pattern corresponding to the desired image to be printed. In this case, the ink ribbon after ink transfer contains areas where the ink has been removed by transfer to the receiving material, in a pattern corresponding to the printed image. Therefore, it is possible to identify the printed image from the ink ribbon after ink transfer. Therefore, when using an ink ribbon to print confidential information, such as ID information such as a name or address, on a receiving material, care must be taken when handling the ink ribbon after ink transfer.

[0003] To address this issue, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a thermal transfer system in which a heating element is brought into contact with the outermost ink ribbon wound around a winding section of an ink ribbon that has been ink-transferred with a first pattern corresponding to ID information, and a disturbance pattern is transferred to the support layer of the ink ribbon located inside the ink ribbon. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-111866 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In recent years, there has been a growing demand for the protection of personal information. Therefore, the present inventors have set themselves the task of providing a thermal transfer system that can more appropriately prevent the leakage of information that should be kept secret, and have conducted extensive research.

[0006] In view of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a thermal transfer system that can appropriately prevent the leakage of confidential information. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The thermal transfer system according to the present disclosure is a transfer system that transfers ink to a transferee using an ink ribbon having a support layer and an ink layer, and includes: a feed section that feeds out the ink ribbon; a first transfer device that transfers the ink of the ink layer of the ink ribbon fed from the feed section to the transferee in a first pattern; a winding section that winds up the ink ribbon on which the first pattern has been transferred; a second transfer device that transfers the ink of the ink layer of an outer ink ribbon, which is the ink ribbon located at the outermost periphery of the ink ribbons wound on the winding section, in a second pattern to the support layer of an inner ink ribbon, which is an ink ribbon wound on the winding section more inward than the outer ink ribbon and adjacent to the outer ink ribbon; and a peeling roller that guides the outer ink ribbon so that the outer ink ribbon on which the second pattern has been transferred is peeled from the inner ink ribbon and then wound up on the winding section.

[0008] The thermal transfer system may further include a main body that holds at least the first transfer device and the second transfer device, and an ink ribbon cassette that holds the peeling roller and is removably set in the main body, and the peeling roller may be configured to take an attached position within the ink ribbon cassette where it guides the ink ribbon and a retracted position where it is retracted from the ink ribbon.

[0009] The thermal transfer system may further include a main body that holds at least the first transfer device, the second transfer device, and the peeling roller, and an ink ribbon cassette that is removably set in the main body, and the peeling roller may be configured to be movable from an initial position separated from the ink ribbon when the ink ribbon cassette is set in the main body to an operating position that guides the outer ink ribbon so that the outer ink ribbon is peeled from the inner ink ribbon and rewound onto the winding section.

[0010] The thermal transfer system according to the present disclosure is a thermal transfer system that transfers ink to a transferee using an ink ribbon having a support layer and an ink layer, and includes a delivery section that delivers the ink ribbon, a first transfer device that transfers the ink of the ink layer of the ink ribbon delivered from the delivery section to the transferee in a first pattern, a winding section that winds up the ink ribbon onto which the first pattern has been transferred, and a transfer device that transfers the ink of the ink layer of an outer ink ribbon, which is an ink ribbon located at the outermost periphery of the ink ribbons wound up on the winding section, to a position inside the outer ink ribbon. The thermal transfer system may include a second transfer device that transfers a second pattern onto the support layer of an inner ink ribbon, which is an ink ribbon adjacent to the outer ink ribbon, and a control unit that controls the thermal transfer system, wherein the control unit controls the thermal transfer system to operate the second transfer device to transfer the ink of the ink layer of the outer ink ribbon onto the support layer of the inner ink ribbon in the second pattern, and then rewind the outer ink ribbon that has been wound around the winding unit, thereby peeling off the outer ink ribbon to which the second pattern has been transferred from the inner ink ribbon. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the thermal transfer system of the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately prevent the leakage of confidential information. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1]1 is a front view schematically illustrating a thermal transfer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing an area A of the ink ribbon on which a first pattern has been transferred by a first transfer device in FIG. 1; [Figure 3] 2 is an enlarged front view showing a winding section, a second transfer device, and a peeling roller of the thermal transfer system of the present embodiment, illustrating area B in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a second pattern formed by a second transfer device. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing an ink ribbon onto which a second pattern has been transferred by a second transfer device. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view showing the ink ribbon cassette of the present embodiment, showing a state in which the peeling roller is in the mounted position. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the ink ribbon cassette of the present embodiment, showing a state in which the peeling roller is in a retracted position. [Figure 8] 1 is a perspective view showing an ink ribbon cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which an ink ribbon is set; [Figure 9A] 10A to 10C are front views showing a procedure for setting an ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette of the present embodiment. [Figure 9B] 10A to 10C are front views showing a procedure for setting an ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette of the present embodiment. [Figure 9C] 10A to 10C are front views showing a procedure for setting an ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette of the present embodiment. [Figure 9D] 10A to 10C are front views showing a procedure for setting an ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette of the present embodiment. [Figure 9E] 10A to 10C are front views showing a procedure for setting an ink ribbon in the ink ribbon cassette of the present embodiment. [Figure 10A] 10A and 10B are front views showing the procedure for setting the peeling roller in the thermal transfer system of the first modified example, showing the state in which the peeling roller is in the initial position. [Figure 10B]10 is a front view showing the procedure for setting the peeling roller in the thermal transfer system of the first modified example, showing the state in the middle of moving the peeling roller. FIG. [Figure 10C] 10A and 10B are front views showing the procedure for setting the peeling roller in the thermal transfer system of the first modified example, showing the state in which the peeling roller is in the operating position. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a front view showing an ink ribbon cassette of a thermal transfer system according to a first modified example. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a front view schematically showing a thermal transfer system according to a second modification. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the flow of control for transferring a second pattern and peeling off the ink ribbon in a thermal transfer system according to a second modified example. [Figure 14A] 10 is an enlarged front view showing the flow of control for transferring a second pattern and peeling off the ink ribbon in a thermal transfer system according to a second modified example. FIG. [Figure 14B] 10 is an enlarged front view showing the flow of control for transferring a second pattern and peeling off the ink ribbon in a thermal transfer system according to a second modified example. FIG. [Figure 14C] 10 is an enlarged front view showing the flow of control for transferring a second pattern and peeling off the ink ribbon in a thermal transfer system according to a second modified example. FIG. [Figure 14D] 10 is an enlarged front view showing the flow of control for transferring a second pattern and peeling off the ink ribbon in a thermal transfer system according to a second modified example. FIG. [Figure 14E] 10 is an enlarged front view showing the flow of control for transferring a second pattern and peeling off the ink ribbon in a thermal transfer system according to a second modified example. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as "the present embodiment") will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a thermal transfer system 10 of the present embodiment.

[0015] This thermal transfer system 10 is a system that transfers ink in a desired pattern to a transfer target 100 using an ink ribbon 20 having a support layer 21 and an ink layer 22 laminated on one surface of the support layer 21.

[0016] The thermal transfer system 10 includes, in order from the upstream side in the feeding direction of the ink ribbon 20, a feed section 11, a plurality of take-up side guide rollers 13b, a first transfer device 14, a plurality of feed-side guide rollers 13a, a second transfer device 15, a peeling roller 16, and a take-up section 12. The thermal transfer system 10 also includes a control section 17 that controls the feed section 11, the take-up section 12, the first transfer device 14, and the second transfer device 15.

[0017] The delivery section 11 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow R1 in FIG. 1 to deliver the ink ribbon 20 downstream.

[0018] The plurality of delivery-side guide rollers 13a are arranged at intervals in the conveying direction of the ink ribbon 20, and guide the ink ribbon 20 delivered from the delivery section 11 toward the downstream side.

[0019] The first transfer device 14 transfers the ink of the ink layer 22 of the ink ribbon 20 sent out from the sending section 11 onto the transfer target 100 in a predetermined first pattern P1 corresponding to ID information or the like.

[0020] The first transfer device 14 has a first heating element 141 and a platen roller 142. The first heating element 141 is, for example, a print head having a heating element that generates heat when energized. This first heating element 141 is arranged on the support layer 21 side of the ink ribbon 20. The first heating element 141 heats the ink in the ink layer 22 of the ink ribbon 20 in a first pattern P1, thereby transferring the ink in the ink layer 22 of the ink ribbon 20 to the transfer recipient 100 in the first pattern P1. The platen roller 142 is arranged opposite the first heating element 141 with the ink ribbon 20 and transfer recipient 100 being conveyed therebetween, and supports the transfer recipient 100.

[0021] The plurality of take-up side guide rollers 13b are arranged at intervals in the transport direction of the ink ribbon 20, and guide the ink ribbon 20 transported from the upstream side to the take-up section 12.

[0022] 1, and winds up the ink ribbon 20 onto which the first pattern P1 has been transferred by the first transfer device 14. The winding unit 12 is driven by, for example, a stepping motor.

[0023] As described below, the second transfer device 15 transfers the ink of the ink layer 22 of the ink ribbon 20 located at the outermost periphery of the ink ribbon 20 wound on the winding section 12 to the support layer 21 of the ink ribbon 20 located inside the ink ribbon 20 in a second pattern P2, which is a disturbance pattern.

[0024] As described below, the peeling roller 16 guides the ink ribbon 20 so that the ink ribbon 20 onto which the second pattern P2 has been transferred by the second transfer device 15 is peeled off from the ink ribbon 20 located inside it and then wound onto the winding section 12.

[0025] The control unit 17 controls the operations of the delivery unit 11, the winding unit 12, the first transfer device 14, and the second transfer device 15 by outputting control signals to the drive units that drive these units.

[0026] FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing the ink ribbon 20 on which the first pattern P1 has been transferred by the first transfer device 14 in the area A of FIG.

[0027] In the ink ribbon 20 after ink transfer, the ink layer 22 consists of ink 22a that remains without being transferred to the transfer recipient 100, and ink-free portions 22b of the first pattern P1 that correspond to the ID information, etc. printed on the transfer recipient 100. Therefore, it is possible to identify the ID information, etc. printed on the transfer recipient 100 based on the pattern of the ink-free portions 22b.

[0028] FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view schematically showing the winding unit 12, the second transfer device 15, and the peeling roller 16 of the thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment, and shows the area B in FIG.

[0029] 3, the ink ribbon 20 is wound around the winding section 12 so that the support layer 21 of the ink ribbon 20 is positioned outside the ink layer 22. In this specification, the ink ribbon 20 positioned at the outermost periphery of the ink ribbon 20 wound around the winding section 12 will be referred to as the outer ink ribbon 20A, and the ink ribbon 20 wound around the winding section 12 on the inside of the outer ink ribbon 20A and adjacent to the outer ink ribbon 20A will be referred to as the inner ink ribbon 20B.

[0030] While the winding unit 12 is winding the ink ribbon 20, the second transfer device 15 transfers the ink of the ink layer 22 of the outer ink ribbon 20A onto the support layer 21 of the inner ink ribbon 20B in the form of a disturbance pattern, that is, a second pattern P2.

[0031] The second transfer device 15 has a second heating element 151 and an elevating mechanism 152. The second heating element 151 is disposed near the winding unit 12 and is movable by the elevating mechanism 152 in the direction indicated by arrow R3 in Fig. 3, i.e., in the direction approaching or moving away from the winding unit 12. The second heating element 151 moves in the direction approaching the winding unit 12 to heat the outer ink ribbon 20A from the support layer 21 side and transfers the second pattern P2, which is a disturbance pattern, onto the support layer 21 of the inner ink ribbon 20B.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the second pattern P2 transferred by the second transfer device 15. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing the ink ribbon 20 onto which the second pattern P2 has been transferred by the second transfer device 15.

[0033] As a result of the transfer of the second pattern P2 by the second transfer device 15, the first pattern P1 and the second pattern P2 are mixed in the ink layer 22 of the outer ink ribbon 20A. Also, a pattern in which the first pattern P1 and the second pattern P2 are mixed is transferred to the support layer 21 of the inner ink ribbon 20B. As a result, the pattern of the ink-missing portion 22b made of the first pattern P1 corresponding to the ID information, etc., is destroyed to the extent that it becomes unrecognizable.

[0034] The second heating element 151 of the second transfer device 15 is, for example, composed of a thermal head generally referred to as an end face head. The second heating element 151 may include multiple heating sections configured to be driven independently, or may have a single heating pattern. However, to effectively destroy the pattern of the ink-missing portion 22b, it is preferable that the second pattern P2 be changeable depending on the state of the first pattern P1. From this perspective, the second heating element 151 of the present invention preferably includes multiple heating sections configured to be driven independently.

[0035] The peeling roller 16 is positioned downstream of the second transfer device 15 near the winding section 12, and guides the outer ink ribbon 20A so that the outer ink ribbon 20A onto which the second pattern P2 has been transferred by the second transfer device 15 is peeled from the inner ink ribbon 20B and then wound onto the winding section 12.

[0036] 5, before the outer ink ribbon 20A is peeled off from the inner ink ribbon 20B, the ink transferred to the inner ink ribbon 20B by the second pattern P2 is in contact with the ink-free portions of the ink layer 22 of the outer ink ribbon 20A. In this state, there is a risk that the ink-free portions 22b corresponding to the first pattern P1 may be visible in the ink layer 22 of the outer ink ribbon 20A, just as in a state where there is no ink-free second pattern.

[0037] To address this problem, the peeling roller 16 peels the outer ink ribbon 20A from the inner ink ribbon 20B after the second transfer device 15 transfers the second pattern P2 and before the outer ink ribbon 20A is taken up by the take-up unit 12. Furthermore, with this configuration, the thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment prevents the ink-missing portions 22b corresponding to the first pattern P1 from being visible in the ink layer 22 of the outer ink ribbon 20A after the second transfer device 15 transfers the second pattern P2.

[0038] Next, a method for setting the ink ribbon 20 in the thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment will be described.

[0039] The thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment further comprises a main body that holds at least the first transfer device 14 and the second transfer device 15, and an ink ribbon cassette 30 that holds the peeling roller 16 and is detachably set in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10. The ink ribbon 20 is set in the thermal transfer system 10 by setting the ink ribbon 20 in the ink ribbon cassette 30 and then setting the ink ribbon cassette 30 in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10.

[0040] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the ink ribbon cassette 30 of this embodiment, showing the peeling roller 16 in the installed position. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the ink ribbon cassette 30 of this embodiment, showing the peeling roller 16 in the retracted position. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the ink ribbon cassette 30 of this embodiment, showing the ink ribbon 20 set therein.

[0041] Note that the up-down relationship is reversed between Figures 6 to 8 and Figure 1. In other words, the ink ribbon cassette 30 shown in Figures 6 to 8 is set in the thermal transfer system 10 so that the upper side in Figures 6 to 8 becomes the lower side in Figure 1.

[0042] The ink ribbon cassette 30 has a feed-side bobbin mounting section 31, a take-up-side bobbin mounting section 32, a feed-side guide roller 13a, a take-up-side guide roller 13b, and a peeling roller 16. The feed-side bobbin mounting section 31 is a section where the feed-side bobbin 23a of the ink ribbon 20 is mounted, and the take-up-side bobbin mounting section 32 is a section where the take-up-side bobbin 23b of the ink ribbon 20 is mounted.

[0043] The peeling roller 16 is configured to take two positions within the ink ribbon cassette 30: a mounting position where it guides the ink ribbon 20, and a retracted position where it is retracted from the ink ribbon 20.

[0044] In the illustrated example, the peeling roller 16 is configured such that one end, or first end 16a, is rotatably attached to the peeling roller pivot portion 33 of the ink ribbon cassette 30 body, and the other end, or second end 16b, is detachably engaged with the peeling roller engaging portion 34. The peeling roller 16 is in the attached position when the second end 16b is engaged with the peeling roller engaging portion 34 of the ink ribbon cassette 30.

[0045] 9A to 9E are front views showing the procedure for setting the ink ribbon 20 in the ink ribbon cassette 30 of this embodiment.

[0046] When setting the ink ribbon 20 in the ink ribbon cassette 30, first, as shown in Figures 9A and 9B, with the peeling roller 16 in the retracted position, the delivery side bobbin 23a of the ink ribbon 20 is attached to the delivery side bobbin attachment section 31, the ink ribbon 20 is passed over the delivery side guide roller 13a and the take-up side guide roller 13b, and the take-up side bobbin 23b is brought to a position below the peeling roller 16.

[0047] 9C, the second end 16b of the peeling roller 16 is engaged with the peeling roller engaging portion 34 of the ink ribbon cassette 30 to set the peeling roller 16 in the mounted position, with the ink ribbon 20 passing inside the peeling roller 16. Note that the inside of the peeling roller 16 refers to the side facing the inside of the ink ribbon cassette 30.

[0048] 9D, the take-up bobbin 23b is passed around the outside of the peeling roller 16 and brought to a position where it comes into contact with the ink ribbon 20 near the entrance of the take-up bobbin attachment section 32. The outside of the peeling roller 16 refers to the side facing the outside of the ink ribbon cassette 30.

[0049] Finally, as shown in FIG. 9E, the take-up bobbin 23b is attached to the take-up bobbin attachment section 32 while still in contact with the ink ribbon 20.

[0050] In this way, by using the ink ribbon cassette 30 of this embodiment, the ink ribbon 20 can be easily set on the winding section 12 and the peeling roller 16.

[0051] Next, a thermal transfer system 10 according to a first modified example (hereinafter referred to as "Modification 1") will be described.

[0052] In the thermal transfer system 10 of the first modification, the peeling roller 16 is provided in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10, rather than in the ink ribbon cassette 30. In other words, the thermal transfer system 10 of the first modification further includes a main body that holds at least the first transfer device 14, the second transfer device 15, and the peeling roller 16, and an ink ribbon cassette 30 that is detachably set in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10. The other configurations of the thermal transfer system 10 of the first modification are basically the same as those of the thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment.

[0053] 10A to 10C are front views showing the procedure for setting the peeling roller 16 in the thermal transfer system 10 of Modification 1. Fig. 10A shows the peeling roller 16 in its initial position, Fig. 10B shows the peeling roller 16 in the middle of being moved, and Fig. 10C shows the peeling roller 16 in its operating position.

[0054] As shown in Figures 10A to 10C, in the thermal transfer system 10 of variant example 1, after the ink ribbon cassette 30 is set in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10, the peeling roller 16 held in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10 is moved from the initial position to the operating position, thereby completing the setting of the ink ribbon 20 in the thermal transfer system 10.

[0055] Here, the initial position is a position where the peeling roller 16 is separated from the ink ribbon 20, and the operating position is a position where the outer ink ribbon 20A is guided so that the outer ink ribbon 20A is peeled from the inner ink ribbon 20B and rewound onto the winding unit 12. The peeling roller 16 is configured to move between the outer ink ribbon 20A and the winding unit 12 in a direction R4, which is the same as the winding direction of the winding unit 12, from the initial position to the operating position.

[0056] In other words, when the ink ribbon cassette 30 is set in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10, the peeling roller 16 of the thermal transfer system 10 of variant example 1 is configured to be movable from an initial position where it is separated from the ink ribbon 20 to an operating position where it guides the outer ink ribbon 20A so that the outer ink ribbon 20A is peeled from the inner ink ribbon 20B and is again wound onto the winding section 12.

[0057] FIG. 11 is a front view showing the ink ribbon cassette 30 of the thermal transfer system 10 of the first modified example.

[0058] 11, the ink ribbon cassette 30 of the first modified example has a peeling roller passing section 35 through which the peeling roller 16 can pass. In the illustrated example, the peeling roller passing section 35 is configured as an arc-shaped groove provided in the side wall on the front side of the main body of the ink ribbon cassette 30. However, the peeling roller passing section 35 of the first modified example is not limited to this configuration as long as it can pass through the peeling roller 16.

[0059] The movement of the peeling roller 16 from the initial position to the operating position may be performed manually, or may be performed automatically upon detection of the setting of the ink ribbon cassette 30 in the main body of the thermal transfer system 10. When the movement of the peeling roller 16 is performed automatically, the control unit 17 of the thermal transfer system 10 also controls the movement of the peeling roller 16.

[0060] In this way, according to the thermal transfer system 10 of the first modified example, the ink ribbon 20 can be easily set in the winding section 12 and the peeling roller 16.

[0061] Next, a thermal transfer system 10 according to a second modified example (hereinafter referred to as "Modification 2") will be described.

[0062] FIG. 12 is a front view schematically showing a thermal transfer system 10 according to the second modification.

[0063] The thermal transfer system 10 of Modification 2 does not have a peeling roller 16, and its control unit 17 controls the thermal transfer system 10 to operate the second transfer device 15 to transfer the ink in the ink layer 22 of the outer ink ribbon 20A to the support layer 21 of the inner ink ribbon 20B in the second pattern P2, and then rewind the outer ink ribbon 20A that has been wound around the winding unit 12, thereby peeling the outer ink ribbon 20A, on which the second pattern P2 has been transferred, from the inner ink ribbon 20B. The other configurations of the thermal transfer system 10 of Modification 2 are basically the same as those of the thermal transfer system 10 of this embodiment.

[0064] Fig. 13 is a flow diagram showing the control flow of the transfer of the second pattern P2 and the peeling of the ink ribbon 20 in the thermal transfer system 10 of Modification 2. Fig. 14A to Fig. 14E are enlarged front views showing the control flow of the transfer of the second pattern P2 and the peeling of the ink ribbon 20 in the thermal transfer system 10 of Modification 2.

[0065] The transfer of the second pattern P2 and the separation of the ink ribbon 20 in the thermal transfer system 10 of the second modification are controlled each time the first transfer device 14 transfers the first pattern P1 onto one transfer-receiving member 100.

[0066] In other words, the control of the transfer of the second pattern P2 by the second transfer device 15 is performed simultaneously with the control of the transfer of the first pattern to one transfer recipient 100 by the first transfer device 14, and the control of the peeling of the ink ribbon 20 is performed immediately after the completion of the control of the transfer of the first pattern to one transfer recipient 100 by the first transfer device 14.

[0067] In controlling the transfer of the second pattern, first, as shown in FIG. 14A, before the ink ribbon 20 is wound by the winding section 12 for the transfer of the first pattern by the first transfer device 14, the second heating element 151 of the second transfer device 15 is lowered to contact the outer ink ribbon 20A (S1).

[0068] 14B, while the ink ribbon 20 is being wound by the winding unit 12 for the transfer of the first pattern by the first transfer device 14, the second transfer device 15 transfers the second pattern P2 (S2). Immediately after the transfer of the second pattern P2, the second pattern transfer portion 20a of the outer ink ribbon 20A is in a state of being wound by the winding unit 12.

[0069] Next, as shown in FIG. 14C, after the winding of the ink ribbon 20 by the winding unit 12 has stopped, the second heating element 151 of the second transfer device 15 is raised (S3).

[0070] 14D, the ink ribbon 20 wound by the winding unit 12 is rewound, and the outer ink ribbon 20A is peeled off from the inner ink ribbon 20B (S4). The ink ribbon 20 is rewound to a position where the second pattern transfer portion 20a of the outer ink ribbon 20A is completely peeled off from the inner ink ribbon 20B. The length of the rewound ink ribbon 20 increases as the diameter of the ink ribbon 20 wound around the winding unit 12 increases.

[0071] The ink ribbon 20 is rewound by rotating the delivery unit 11 in the opposite direction to the direction in which the ink ribbon 20 is delivered. The delivery unit 11 is driven by, for example, a stepping motor, and the length of rewinding is controlled by the number of pulses input to the stepping motor.

[0072] 14E, the winding unit 12 winds the ink ribbon 20 to a standby position for the first transfer device 14 to transfer onto the next transfer recipient 100 (S5). Similar to the unwinding length, the winding length of the ink ribbon 20 increases as the diameter of the ink ribbon 20 wound around the winding unit 12 increases. This winding length is controlled, for example, by the number of pulses input to a stepping motor that drives the winding unit 12.

[0073] In this control, after the outer ink ribbon 20A is peeled from the inner ink ribbon 20B, the ink ribbon 20 is rewound by the winding unit 12, so that the outer ink ribbon 20A peeled from the inner ink ribbon 20B comes into contact with the inner ink ribbon 20B again. However, the present inventors have confirmed that due to factors such as stretching of the ink ribbon 20 that occurs during the above-mentioned unwinding and winding process of the ink ribbon 20, the outer ink ribbon 20A and the inner ink ribbon 20B do not overlap in the same way as before they were peeled. Therefore, in the thermal transfer system 10 of Modification 2, a state in which the ink missing portions 22b corresponding to the first pattern P1 are visible does not occur in the ink layer 22 of the ink ribbon 20 that has been controlled to peel the ink ribbon 20 and taken up by the winding unit 12.

[0074] As described above, the thermal transfer systems 10 of this embodiment, Modification 1, and Modification 2 are configured to peel the outer ink ribbon 20A from the inner ink ribbon 20B immediately after the second pattern P2 is transferred by the second transfer device 15. Such a thermal transfer system 10 can appropriately prevent the leakage of confidential information.

[0075] Although an example of an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 10 Thermal Transfer System 11 Transmission section 12 Winding section 13a Outlet guide roller 13b Winding side guide roller 14 First transcription device 141 First heating element 142 Platen roller 15 Second transcription device 151 Second heating element 152 Lifting mechanism 16 Peeling roller 16a First end 16b Second end 17 Control Unit 20 Ink ribbon 21 Support layer 22 ink layer 22a Ink 22b Ink leak area 23a Delivery bobbin 23b Winding bobbin 20a Second pattern transfer unit 20A outer ink ribbon 20B inner ink ribbon 30 Ink ribbon cassette 31. Bobbin attachment section on the delivery side 32 Winding side bobbin attachment section 33 Peeling roller pivotal attachment part 34 Peeling roller locking portion 35 Peeling roller passage 100 Transferred object

Claims

1. A transfer system for transferring ink to a transfer target using an ink ribbon having a support layer and an ink layer, a delivery section that delivers the ink ribbon; a first transfer device that transfers ink from the ink layer of the ink ribbon sent out from the delivery unit onto the transfer target in a first pattern; a winding unit that winds up the ink ribbon onto which the first pattern has been transferred; a second transfer device that transfers, in a second pattern, ink from an ink layer of an outer ink ribbon, which is an ink ribbon located at the outermost periphery of the ink ribbons wound on the winding section, onto a support layer of an inner ink ribbon, which is an ink ribbon wound on the winding section on the inner side of the outer ink ribbon and adjacent to the outer ink ribbon; a peeling roller that guides the outer ink ribbon, onto which the second pattern has been transferred, so that the outer ink ribbon is taken up by the take-up section after being peeled from the inner ink ribbon, the second transfer device has a heating element and a lifting mechanism, and the heating element is movable by the lifting mechanism in a direction toward or away from the winding unit; The peeling roller is configured to be movable from an initial position where it is separated from the ink ribbon to an operating position where it guides the outer ink ribbon so that the outer ink ribbon is peeled from the inner ink ribbon and is rewound onto the winding section. Thermal transfer system.

2. 10. The thermal transfer system of claim 1, a main body that holds at least the first transfer device and the second transfer device; an ink ribbon cassette that holds the peeling roller and is detachably set in the main body, The thermal transfer system is configured such that the peeling roller is configured to take an installation position in the ink ribbon cassette where it guides the ink ribbon and a retracted position where it is retracted from the ink ribbon.

3. 10. The thermal transfer system of claim 1, a main body that holds at least the first transfer device, the second transfer device, and the peeling roller; an ink ribbon cassette that is detachably set in the main body, The peeling roller is configured to be movable from an initial position where it is separated from the ink ribbon when the ink ribbon cassette is set in the main body to an operating position where it guides the outer ink ribbon so that the outer ink ribbon is peeled from the inner ink ribbon and is then wound around the winding section again. Thermal transfer system.

Images