Foil transfer device

Abstract

To provide a foil transfer device allowing for suppressing a foil from being transferred onto an area except for a transfer area of a sheet.SOLUTION: A foil transfer device, for transferring a foil onto an image over a sheet S with the sheet S superposed over a foil film F including a foil, comprises a heating roller 61, a pressurizing roller 51 that nips a foil film F and a sheet S together with the heating roller 61 and carries them, a removal member (second guide shaft 42) that changes an advancing direction of the foil film F in order to remove the foil film F having passed through between the heating roller 61 and the pressurizing roller 51 from the sheet S, a pressure-contact / separation mechanism that moves the heating roller 61 between a pressure-contact position in contact with the pressurizing roller 51 and a separation position separated from the pressurizing roller 51, and a control unit. The control unit controls the pressure-contact / separation mechanism to move the heating roller 61 to the separation position before a rear end A2 of a transfer area of the sheet S set up to transfer the foil arrives at the removal member after having passed through between the heating roller 61 and the pressurizing roller 51.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a foil transfer device that transfers foil onto an image on a sheet. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a foil transfer device is known that transfers foil to a toner image by contacting a foil film having a transfer layer, such as a metal foil, with a sheet on which a toner image has been formed and then heating the sheet and foil film while sandwiching them between a heat roller and a pressure roller (see Patent Document 1). This foil transfer device includes a peeling roller downstream in the sheet conveyance direction from the transfer position where the sheet and foil film are sandwiched between the heat roller and the pressure roller. The peeling roller changes the direction of travel of the foil film to peel it off from the sheet. Then, after the toner area on the sheet passes the peeling roller, the heat roller is separated from the pressure roller. This prevents disruption of the foil transfer by separating the heat roller after the foil film is peeled off from the toner area on which the foil has been transferred. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-121467 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, a user may want to set a foil transfer area on the sheet separately from the image area such as the toner image. For example, a user may want to transfer gold foil to a pattern image on the sheet, but leave the text printed below the pattern image black. In such a case, if the heating roller is separated after the part of the pattern set as the foil transfer area has passed through a peeling member such as a peeling roller, the foil may be transferred to the text below the pattern.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a foil transfer device that can prevent foil from being transferred to areas of the sheet other than the transfer area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A foil transfer device for achieving the above-mentioned object is a foil transfer device that places a sheet on a foil film containing foil and transfers the foil to an image on the sheet, and is equipped with a heating roller, a pressure roller for nipping and transporting the foil film and the sheet between the heating roller, a peeling member that changes the direction of travel of the foil film in order to peel the foil film that has passed between the heating roller and the pressure roller from the sheet, a pressure-contact / separation mechanism that moves one of the heating roller and the pressure roller between a pressure-contact position where it is pressed against the other roller and a spaced-apart position where it is spaced-apart from the other roller, and a control unit. The control unit controls the pressure-contact / separation mechanism to move one of the rollers to a separation position after the rear end of the transfer area set to transfer the foil on the sheet passes between the heating roller and the pressure roller and before it reaches the peeling member.

[0007] With this configuration, the heating roller and the pressure roller can be separated after the rear end of the transfer area passes between them and before it reaches the peeling member, thereby preventing the foil from being transferred to parts of the sheet other than the transfer area.

[0008] The foil transfer device may further include a foil film drive mechanism that is capable of transporting the foil film while one of the rollers is in the separated position.

[0009] With this configuration, even in a situation where the foil film cannot be transported by the heating roller and pressure roller, the foil film can be transported by the foil film drive mechanism.

[0010] In addition, the control unit can be configured to start driving the foil film driving mechanism before the rear end of the transfer area passes between the heating roller and the pressure roller, and to stop driving the foil film driving mechanism after the rear end of the transfer area passes through the peeling member.

[0011] With this configuration, when the heating roller and the pressure roller are spaced apart from each other, the foil film can be smoothly transported by the foil film driving mechanism.

[0012] The foil transfer device may further include a supply reel on which the foil film is wound and a take-up reel that takes up the foil film supplied from the supply reel, and the foil film drive mechanism may be configured to have a pair of rollers that nip and transport the foil film between the heating roller and the take-up reel.

[0013] The peeling member may be a rotatable peeling roller, and one of the pair of rollers may be the peeling roller.

[0014] According to this configuration, the foil film is transported using the peeling roller, so that an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.

[0015] In addition, the foil film driving mechanism may further include a motor and a first conveying force transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor to at least one of the pair of rollers, and the first conveying force transmission mechanism may be configured to include a conveying torque limiter that limits the conveying force by the pair of rollers.

[0016] The cut-off torque of the conveying torque limiter can be configured to be such that the conveying force of the pair of rollers is smaller than the conveying force of the foil film and sheet by the heating roller and pressure roller.

[0017] In addition, the first conveying force transmission mechanism further has a clutch that can be switched between a transmission state in which the driving force is transmitted and a disconnection state in which the driving force is disconnected, and the control unit can be configured to put the clutch into a transmission state before the rear end of the transfer area passes between the heating roller and the pressure roller, and to put the clutch into a disconnection state after the rear end of the transfer area has passed the peeling member.

[0018] The clutch may be arranged on the side closer to the pair of rollers than the conveying torque limiter in the transmission path of the driving force of the first conveying force transmission mechanism.

[0019] With this configuration, by disengaging the clutch, the rotational resistance when the conveying torque limiter rotates freely is not transmitted to the pair of rollers, allowing the foil film and sheet to be conveyed smoothly.

[0020] The foil transfer device may further include a supply torque limiter that applies resistance to the rotation of the supply reel, and the conveying force of the pair of rollers may be configured to be greater than the resistance force of the supply torque limiter that attempts to stop the conveyance of the foil film.

[0021] The foil transfer device may further include a winding force transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor to the winding reel, and the winding force transmission mechanism may have a winding torque limiter that limits the transport force of the foil film by the winding reel, and the cut-off torque of the winding torque limiter may be configured to be of a magnitude such that the transport force of the foil film by the winding reel is smaller than the resistance force that attempts to stop the transport of the foil film by the supply torque limiter.

[0022] The foil transfer device further includes a supply reel on which the foil film is wound, and a take-up reel that takes up the foil film supplied from the supply reel, and the foil film drive mechanism includes a motor and a second conveying force transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor to the take-up reel, the second conveying force transmission mechanism having a clutch that can switch between a transmission state in which the driving force is transmitted and a cut-off state in which the driving force is cut off, and the control unit can be configured to put the clutch into a transmission state before the rear end of the transfer area passes between the heating roller and the pressure roller, and to put the clutch into a cut-off state after the rear end of the transfer area passes through the peeling member.

[0023] With this configuration, when the heating roller and the pressure roller are spaced apart from each other, the foil film can be smoothly transported by the foil film driving mechanism.

[0024] The foil transfer device may further include a sheet speed sensor that detects the conveying speed of the sheet and a film speed sensor that detects the conveying speed of the foil film, and the control unit may be configured to control the rotation speed of the motor so that the conveying speed detected by the film speed sensor matches the conveying speed detected by the sheet speed sensor.

[0025] The foil transfer device may further include a supply torque limiter that applies resistance to the rotation of the supply reel, and the conveying force of the foil film of the take-up reel rotated by the second conveying force transmission mechanism may be greater than the resistance force of the supply torque limiter that attempts to stop the conveyance of the foil film.

[0026] The foil transfer device may further include a winding force transmission mechanism separate from the second conveying force transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor to the winding reel, and the winding force transmission mechanism may have a winding torque limiter that limits the conveying force of the foil film by the winding reel, and the cut-off torque of the winding torque limiter may be configured to be of a magnitude such that when the clutch is in a cut-off state, the conveying force of the foil film by the winding reel via the winding torque limiter is smaller than the resistance force that attempts to stop the conveyance of the foil film by the supply torque limiter. [Effects of the Invention]

[0027] According to the foil transfer device described above, it is possible to prevent the foil from being transferred to areas other than the transfer area of ​​the sheet. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1A is a diagram showing a foil transfer device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a foil film. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a view showing the foil transfer device with the cover open. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a foil film driving mechanism according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of a sheet on which an image to be foil transferred is formed, and a set transfer area. [Figure 5] 10 is a time chart illustrating the timing of sheet detection by the sheet sensor, the timing of the sheet passing the transfer position, the timing of the transfer area passing the transfer position, the timing of the transfer area passing the peeling position, and the operation of the heating roller and clutch. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the heating roller and foil film drive mechanism, in which FIG. 10A shows the state immediately before the leading edge of the transfer area enters the transfer position, and FIG. 10B shows the state when the transfer area has entered the transfer position. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams explaining the operation of the heating roller and foil film drive mechanism, showing (a) the state immediately after the rear end of the transfer area has passed the transfer position, and (b) the state immediately after the rear end of the transfer area has passed the peeling position. [Figure 8] 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams schematically showing a foil film driving mechanism of a second embodiment. [Figure 9] 10(a) and 10(b) are diagrams schematically showing a foil film driving mechanism of a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Next, the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following description, directions will be described in terms of the directions shown in Fig. 1. That is, the right side of Fig. 1 will be referred to as "front", the left side of Fig. 1 will be referred to as "rear", the front side of the paper in Fig. 1 will be referred to as "left", and the back side of the paper in Fig. 1 will be referred to as "right". Furthermore, the top and bottom of Fig. 1 will be referred to as "top and bottom".

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1(a), foil transfer device 1 is a device that overlays sheet S on foil film F containing foil and transfers the foil onto an image on sheet S. For example, foil transfer device 1 forms a toner image as an image on sheet S using an image forming device such as a laser printer, and then transfers aluminum foil or other foil onto the toner image on sheet S, thereby forming a foil image on sheet S. Foil transfer device 1 includes a housing 2, a sheet tray 3, a sheet conveying unit 10, a film supply unit 30, a transfer unit 50, and a main motor 80.

[0031] The housing 2 is made of resin or the like, and includes a device main body 21 and a cover 22. The device body 21 has an opening 21A (see FIG. 2) at the top. The opening 21A is an opening for inserting and removing a film cartridge FC, which will be described later, into the device body 21. Cover 22 is a member for opening and closing opening 21A. The rear end of cover 22 is rotatably supported by device body 21. Cover 22 is rotatable between a closed position (position shown in FIG. 1(a)) where it closes opening 21A and an open position (position shown in FIG. 2) where it opens opening 21A.

[0032] The sheet tray 3 is a tray on which sheets S such as paper and transparencies are placed. The sheet tray 3 is provided at the rear of the housing 2. The sheet S is placed on the sheet tray 3 with the surface on which the toner image is formed facing downward.

[0033] The sheet conveying section 10 includes a sheet supply mechanism 11 and a sheet discharge mechanism 12. The sheet conveying section 10 is rotationally driven by a main motor 80 to convey the sheet S. The sheet supply mechanism 11 is a mechanism that transports the sheets S on the sheet tray 3 one by one toward the transfer unit 50. The sheet supply mechanism 11 includes a pickup roller 11A, a retard roller 11B, and an upstream transport roller 11C.

[0034] The pickup roller 11A is a roller that picks up the sheets S placed on the sheet tray 3. The retard roller 11B is a roller that separates the sheets S conveyed by the pickup roller 11A into single sheets. When picking up a sheet S, the pickup roller 11A is driven, for example, for the time it takes for the pickup roller 11A to make one rotation.

[0035] The retard roller 11B is disposed above the pickup roller 11A. The retard roller 11B is rotatable in a direction to return the sheet S overlapping the sheet S fed by the pickup roller 11A toward the sheet tray 3.

[0036] The upstream transport rollers 11C are made up of two rollers, and are capable of transporting the sheet S by rotating the rollers while sandwiching the sheet S between them. The upstream transport rollers 11C are disposed between the pickup roller 11A and the transfer unit 50, and transport the sheet S picked up by the pickup roller 11A to the transfer unit 50.

[0037] A sheet sensor 11D that detects the sheet S is disposed between the pickup roller 11A and the upstream conveying roller 11C. As the sheet sensor 11D, for example, a sensor that includes a lever that rotates when the sheet S comes into contact with it and an optical sensor that detects the rotation of the lever can be used.

[0038] The sheet discharge mechanism 12 is a mechanism that discharges the sheet S that has passed through the transfer unit 50 to the outside of the housing 2. The sheet discharge mechanism 12 includes downstream transport rollers 12A and discharge rollers 12B.

[0039] The downstream conveying rollers 12A and the discharge rollers 12B each consist of two rollers, and are capable of conveying the sheet S by rotating with the sheet S sandwiched between them. The downstream conveying rollers 12A are disposed between the transfer unit 50 and the discharge rollers 12B, and convey the sheet S sent out from the transfer unit 50 to the discharge rollers 12B. The discharge rollers 12B are disposed downstream of the downstream conveying rollers 12A in the conveying direction of the sheet S, and discharge the sheet S sent out by the downstream conveying rollers 12A to the outside of the housing 2.

[0040] The film supply unit 30 is a part that supplies the foil film F so as to overlap the sheet S conveyed from the sheet supply mechanism 11. The film supply unit 30 includes a film cartridge FC.

[0041] 2, the film cartridge FC is detachably attached to the device main body 21 by passing through an opening 21A in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of a supply reel 31 (described later). The film cartridge FC includes the supply reel 31, a take-up reel 35, a first guide shaft 41, and a second guide shaft 42 serving as a peeling member. A foil film F is wound around the supply reel 31 of the film cartridge FC.

[0042] 1(b), the foil film F is a film made up of multiple layers. Specifically, the foil film F has a supporting layer F1 and a supported layer F2. The supporting layer F1 is a tape-shaped transparent substrate made of a polymer material, and supports the supported layer F2.

[0043] The supported layer F2 has, for example, a release layer F21, a transfer layer F22, and an adhesive layer F23. The release layer F21 is a layer that facilitates peeling of the transfer layer F22 from the support layer F1, and is disposed between the support layer F1 and the transfer layer F22. The release layer F21 contains a transparent material, such as a wax-based resin, that is easily peeled from the support layer F1.

[0044] The transfer layer F22 is a layer to which the toner image is transferred and contains foil. The foil is a thin metal such as gold, silver, copper, or aluminum. The transfer layer F22 also contains a coloring material such as gold, silver, or red, and a thermoplastic resin. The transfer layer F22 is disposed between the release layer F21 and the adhesive layer F23.

[0045] The adhesive layer F23 is a layer for making it easier for the transfer layer F22 to adhere to the toner image. The adhesive layer F23 contains a material that easily adheres to the toner image heated by the transfer unit 50, such as a vinyl chloride resin or an acrylic resin.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 1(a), the supply reel 31 is made of resin or the like and has a supply shaft portion 31A around which the foil film F is wound. One end of the foil film F is fixed to the supply shaft portion 31A. The take-up reel 35 is made of resin or the like and has a take-up shaft portion 35A for taking up the foil film F supplied from the supply reel 31. The other end of the foil film F is fixed to the take-up shaft portion 35A. The take-up reel 35 is rotated by a motor M (see FIG. 3) to take up the foil film F. For convenience, FIG. 1 and other figures show a state in which the foil film F is wound to its maximum extent around both the supply reel 31 and the take-up reel 35.

[0047] The first guide shaft 41 is a shaft for changing the traveling direction of the foil film F being pulled out from the supply reel 31. The second guide shaft 42 is a shaft for changing the traveling direction of the foil film F guided by the first guide shaft 41.

[0048] The first guide shaft 41 guides the foil film F pulled out from the supply reel 31 so as to overlap the sheet S, which is transported with the toner image facing downward. The first guide shaft 41 changes the transport direction of the foil film F pulled out from the supply reel 31 and guides the foil film F approximately parallel to the transport direction of the sheet S.

[0049] The second guide shaft 42 is a rotatable peeling roller that changes the traveling direction of the foil film F in order to peel the foil film F, which has passed between a heating roller 61 and a pressure roller 51 (described later) of the transfer unit 50, from the sheet S. More specifically, the second guide shaft 42 comes into contact with the foil film F that has passed through the transfer unit 50, and changes the conveying direction of the foil film F that has passed through the transfer unit 50 to a direction different from the conveying direction of the sheet S. The foil film F that has passed through the transfer unit 50 and is conveyed overlapping the sheet S is peeled off from the sheet S by being guided in a direction different from the sheet S when passing through the second guide shaft 42.

[0050] The transfer unit 50 is a section for transferring a transfer layer F22 onto the toner image formed on the sheet S by applying heat and pressure to the sheet S and the foil film F while they are sandwiched between them. The transfer unit 50 includes a pressure roller 51, a heating roller 61, and a pressure contact / separation mechanism 70. The transfer unit 50 heats and presses the sheet S and the foil film F in a superimposed state at the nip portion between the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61.

[0051] The pressure roller 51 is a roller for nipping and transporting the foil film F and the sheet S between itself and the heating roller 61, and is made of a cylindrical core metal covered with a rubber layer made of silicone rubber. The pressure roller 51 is disposed above the foil film F and is capable of contacting the surface of the sheet S opposite to the surface on which the toner image is formed. Both ends of the pressure roller 51 are rotatably supported by the cover 22.

[0052] The heating roller 61 is a roller in which a heater H is disposed inside a cylindrical metal tube, and is heated by the heater H to heat the foil film F and the sheet S. The heating roller 61 is disposed below the foil film F and is capable of coming into contact with the foil film F.

[0053] The pressure contact / separation mechanism 70 is a mechanism for switching the state of the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61 between a state in which the foil film F is sandwiched between the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61, and a state in which at least one roller is separated from the foil film F. More specifically, the pressure contact / separation mechanism 70 moves one of the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61 between a pressure contact position in which it is in pressure contact with the other roller, and a separated position in which it is separated from the other roller. In this embodiment, the pressure contact / separation mechanism 70 moves the heating roller 61 between a pressure contact position (see solid line) in which it is in contact with the pressure roller 51, and a separated position (see phantom line) in which it is separated from the pressure roller 51, thereby bringing the heating roller 61 into contact with and separated from the foil film F.

[0054] The pressure roller 51 and the heat roller 61 can be driven in a contact state to transport the foil film F and the sheet S. More specifically, the pressure roller 51 is driven to rotate by the main motor 80 while the heat roller 61 is in the pressure contact position, thereby rotating the heat roller 61. As a result, the pressure roller 51 and the heat roller 61 transport the foil film F and the sheet S sandwiched between the pressure roller 51 and the heat roller 61.

[0055] In the foil transfer device 1 configured in this manner, the sheets S placed on the sheet tray 3 with their surfaces facing downwards are transported one by one by the sheet supply mechanism 11 toward the transfer unit 50. The sheets S are overlapped with the foil film F supplied from the supply reel 31 on the upstream side of the transfer unit 50 in the sheet transport direction, and are transported to the transfer unit 50 with the toner image on the sheets S and the foil film F in contact with each other.

[0056] In the transfer section 50, when the sheet S and the foil film F pass through the nip between the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61, they are heated and pressed by the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51, and a transfer layer F22 containing foil is transferred onto the toner image formed on the sheet S. In the following description, the transfer of foil onto the sheet S will also be simply referred to as "foil transfer."

[0057] After the foil transfer, the sheet S and the foil film F are transported in close contact with each other to the second guide shaft 42. When the sheet S and the foil film F pass the second guide shaft 42, the transport direction of the foil film F changes to a direction different from the transport direction of the sheet S, and the foil film F is peeled off from the sheet S.

[0058] The foil film F peeled off from the sheet S is taken up by the take-up reel 35. Meanwhile, the sheet S from which the foil film F has been peeled off is discharged by the sheet discharge mechanism 12 to the outside of the housing 2 with the surface on which the foil has been transferred facing downward.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 3, the foil transfer device 1 further includes a foil film driving mechanism 100, a winding force transmission mechanism 200, a supply torque limiter TL2, and a control unit 300 (see FIG. 1(a)).

[0060] The foil film drive mechanism 100 is a mechanism that can transport the foil film F when the heating roller 61 is in the spaced position shown by the imaginary line. More specifically, the foil film drive mechanism 100 can transport the foil film F from the transfer section 50 toward the take-up reel 35 when the foil film F cannot be transported by the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51. The foil film drive mechanism 100 has a motor M, a foil film transport roller 110 as a pair of rollers, and a first gear train 120 as a first transport force transmission mechanism.

[0061] The foil film transport rollers 110 are rollers that nip and transport the foil film F between the heating roller 61 and the take-up reel 35. In the first embodiment, one of the foil film transport rollers 110 is a peeling roller. More specifically, the foil film transport roller 110 is made up of a first roller 111 and a second guide shaft 42 that functions as a peeling roller.

[0062] The first gear train 120 is a mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the motor M to the first roller 111 of the foil film conveying roller 110. The first gear train 120 has gears G11 to G16, a conveying torque limiter TL3, and a clutch C1.

[0063] Gear G11 meshes with drive gear G10 provided on the output shaft of motor M, gear G12 meshes with gear G11, gear G13 meshes with gear G12, gear G14 meshes with gear G13, gear G15 meshes with gear G14, and gear G16 meshes with gear G15.

[0064] The conveying torque limiter TL3 is a member that limits the conveying force of the foil film F by the foil film conveying roller 110, and is disposed between the gear G16 and the clutch C1. The cut-off torque of the conveying torque limiter TL3 is of a magnitude that makes the conveying force of the foil film F by the foil film conveying roller 110 smaller than the conveying force of the foil film F and sheet S by the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51. The conveying force here is a force that moves the foil film F from the supply reel 31 toward the take-up reel 35 without the foil film conveying roller 110, or the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51, slipping relative to the foil film F.

[0065] This prevents the foil film F transported by the pressure roller 51, the heating roller 61, and the foil film transport roller 110 from being pulled out of the nip between the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61 by the foil film transport roller 110 and rubbing against the sheet S or the heating roller 61.

[0066] The clutch C1 is an electromagnetic clutch that can be switched between a transmission state in which the driving force is transmitted from the motor M to the first roller 111 and a cut-off state in which the transmission of the driving force from the motor M to the first roller 111 is cut off. The clutch C1 may be an electromagnetic clutch that is in the transmission state when energized and in the cut-off state when de-energized, or an electromagnetic clutch that is in the cut-off state when energized and in the transmission state when de-energized. In the following description, the electromagnetic clutch being in the transmission state is referred to as being ON, and the electromagnetic clutch being in the cut-off state is referred to as being OFF.

[0067] The clutch C1 is arranged on the side closer to the foil film conveying roller 110 than the conveying torque limiter TL3 in the transmission path of the driving force of the first gear train 120. Specifically, the clutch C1 is arranged between the conveying torque limiter TL3 and the first roller 111 of the foil film conveying roller 110.

[0068] The driving force of the motor M is transmitted in the following order: gear G11, gear G12, gear G13, gear G14, gear G15, gear G16, conveying torque limiter TL3, and clutch C1, and is input from the clutch C1 in a transmitted state to the first roller 111. When the driving force of the motor M is input to the first roller 111, the first roller 111 rotates and the second guide shaft 42 is rotated accordingly, thereby conveying the foil film F from the transfer section 50 toward the take-up reel 35.

[0069] The winding force transmission mechanism 200 is a mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the motor M to the winding reel 35. The winding reel 35 rotates by the driving force transmitted from the motor M, thereby winding up the foil film F fed out from the supply reel 31. The winding force transmission mechanism 200 has a winding torque limiter TL1.

[0070] The winding torque limiter TL1 is a member that limits the conveying force of the foil film F by the winding reel 35, and is arranged between the gear G11 and the winding gear 35G provided at one end of the winding shaft portion 35A of the winding reel 35.

[0071] The supply torque limiter TL2 is a member that applies resistance to the rotation of the supply reel 31, and is in mesh with a supply gear 31G that is provided at one end of the supply shaft 31A of the supply reel 31.

[0072] The cut-off torque of the winding torque limiter TL1 is of a magnitude such that the conveying force of the foil film F by the winding reel 35 is smaller than the resistance force by the supply torque limiter TL2 that tries to stop the conveyance of the foil film F. More specifically, when the diameter of the foil film F wound around the winding reel 35 is minimum and the diameter of the foil film F wound around the supply reel 31 is maximum, the cut-off torque of the winding torque limiter TL1 is of a magnitude such that the force pulling the foil film F by the winding reel 35 is smaller than the force by the supply torque limiter TL2 that tries to stop the foil film F at the outermost periphery of the supply reel 31.

[0073] This makes it possible to restrict the foil film F from being pulled out from the supply reel 31 by the take-up reel 35 and wound up by the take-up reel 35 when the heating roller 61 is in the separated position and the clutch C1 is in the disengaged state, and also to apply tension to the foil film F to prevent it from slackening between the supply reel 31 and the take-up reel 35.

[0074] The conveying force of the foil film F by the foil film conveying roller 110 is greater than the resistance force of the supply torque limiter TL2 that tries to stop the conveyance of the foil film F. As a result, when the heating roller 61 is in the separated position and the clutch C1 is in the transmitted state, the foil film F can be conveyed by the foil film conveying roller 110 from the transfer section 50 toward the take-up reel 35. The foil film F conveyed to the take-up reel 35 is taken up by the take-up reel 35, which is rotated by the winding force transmission mechanism 200.

[0075] The control unit 300 includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, input / output circuits, etc., and performs various types of arithmetic processing based on programs and data stored in the ROM, etc., thereby executing control.

[0076] 4, the control unit 300 is configured to be able to set a transfer area TA of the foil on the sheet S. For example, the control unit 300 can set the transfer area TA by a user's operation to set a length La from the position of the leading edge S1 of the sheet S in the conveying direction of the sheet S to the transfer start position (leading edge A1 of the transfer area TA) and a length Lb from the transfer start position to the transfer end position in the conveying direction of the sheet S (the length from the leading edge A1 to the trailing edge A2 of the transfer area TA).

[0077] In the example of FIG. 4, the transfer area TA is set so that the foil is transferred onto the image IM1 of the spade design, but not onto the image IM2 of the alphabetic characters below the image IM1 of the design.

[0078] The control unit 300 executes foil transfer onto the sheet S when a start button (not shown) for starting foil transfer is operated with the sheet S set on the sheet tray 3. More specifically, when foil transfer onto the sheet S is to be performed, the control unit 300 causes the sheet supply mechanism 11 to transport the sheet S on the sheet tray 3 toward the transfer unit 50.

[0079] 5 and 6(a), the control unit 300 controls the pressure contact / separation mechanism 70 to move the heating roller 61 to the pressure contact position at time t1, which is before time t2 when the leading edge A1 of the transfer area TA, which is set to transfer the foil on the sheet S, reaches the transfer position between the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61. Note that the heating roller 61 is located at the separation position when the foil transfer device 1 is in a standby state waiting for an instruction to start foil transfer.

[0080] Furthermore, the control unit 300 starts driving the foil film driving mechanism 100 before the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA passes the transfer position between the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51. More specifically, the control unit 300 turns on the clutch C1 at time t1 before time t2 when the front end A1 of the transfer area TA reaches the transfer position between the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61, as shown in Figures 5 and 6(a).

[0081] As a result, as shown in Figures 6(a) and (b), the foil film F can be transported towards the take-up reel 35 by the pressure roller 51, the heating roller 61, and the foil film transport roller 110, and can be taken up by the take-up reel 35.

[0082] As shown in Figures 5 and 7(a), the control unit 300 controls the pressure contact / separation mechanism 70 to move the heating roller 61 to the separation position at time t4, which is after time t3 when the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA passes the transfer position between the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51 and before time t5 when it reaches the second guide shaft 42.

[0083] In addition, in a state where the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51 are separated from each other, the sheet S is conveyed toward the outside of the housing 2 by at least one of the sheet supply mechanism 11 and the sheet discharge mechanism 12.

[0084] The control unit 300 stops driving the foil film driving mechanism 100 after the trailing end A2 of the transfer area TA of the foil film F passes the peeling position where it is peeled off from the sheet S, specifically after the trailing end A2 of the transfer area TA has passed the second guide shaft 42. More specifically, as shown in Figures 5 and 7(b), the control unit 300 turns off the clutch C1 at time t6 after time t5 when the trailing end A2 of the transfer area TA has passed the second guide shaft 42. This stops the conveyance of the foil film F.

[0085] The control unit 300 controls the above-described pressure contact / separation mechanism 70 and the clutch C1 based on, for example, the detection result of the seat sensor 11D (see FIG. 1(a)).

[0086] 5, when a first time T1 has elapsed since the sheet sensor 11D detected the leading edge S1 of the sheet S, the control unit 300 controls the pressure contact / separation mechanism 70 to move the heating roller 61 to the pressure contact position, and turns on the clutch C1 to start conveying the foil film F by the foil film conveying roller 110. The first time T1 is the time at which the heating roller 61 moves to the pressure contact position and conveyance of the foil film F by the foil film conveying roller 110 starts before the leading edge A1 of the transfer area TA reaches the transfer position.

[0087] Furthermore, the control unit 300 controls the pressure contact / separation mechanism 70 to move the heating roller 61 to the separation position when a second time T2 has elapsed since the sheet sensor 11D detected the leading edge S1 of the sheet S. The second time T2 is the time during which the heating roller 61 moves to the separation position after the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA has passed the transfer position and before it reaches the second guide shaft 42.

[0088] Furthermore, when a third time T3 has elapsed since the sheet sensor 11D detected the leading edge S1 of the sheet S, the control unit 300 turns off the clutch C1 to stop the conveyance of the foil film F. The third time T3 is the time at which the conveyance of the foil film F stops after the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA passes the second guide shaft 42.

[0089] The control unit 300 calculates the first time T1, the second time T2 and the third time T3 based on the transfer area TA (length La, Lb) set by the user and the conveying speed of the sheet S in the foil transfer device 1, and uses them to control the pressure contact / separation mechanism 70 and the clutch C1.

[0090] According to the first embodiment described above, as shown in Fig. 7(a), after the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA of the sheet S passes between the heat roller 61 and the pressure roller 51, the heat roller 61 and the pressure roller 51 can be separated before the rear end A2 reaches the second guide shaft 42, thereby preventing the foil from being transferred to areas other than the transfer area TA of the sheet S. For example, in the example of Fig. 4, it is possible to prevent the foil from being transferred to the character image IM2 formed downstream of the pattern image IM1 in the conveyance direction of the sheet S.

[0091] In addition, the foil film driving mechanism 100 is provided, which can transport the foil film F when the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51 are spaced apart, so that the foil film F can be transported by the foil film driving mechanism 100 even in situations where the foil film F cannot be transported by the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51.

[0092] In addition, the foil film driving mechanism 100 starts to operate before the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA passes between the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51, and stops to operate after the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA passes the second guide shaft 42, so that the foil film F can be smoothly transported by the foil film driving mechanism 100 when the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51 are separated from each other.

[0093] Furthermore, one of the foil film conveying rollers 110 is the second guide shaft 42 (peeling roller), and the foil film F is conveyed using the second guide shaft 42, so that an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.

[0094] Furthermore, since the clutch C1 is disposed on the side closer to the foil film conveying roller 110 than the conveying torque limiter TL3 in the driving force transmission path of the first gear train 120, by disengaging the clutch C1, the rotational resistance when the conveying torque limiter TL3 rotates idly is not transmitted to the first roller 111 of the foil film conveying roller 110. This allows the foil film F and sheet S passing between the first roller 111 and the second guide shaft 42 to be smoothly conveyed.

[0095] In the first embodiment, the first gear train 120 serving as the first conveying force transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the driving force of the motor M to the first roller 111 of the foil film conveying roller 110. However, for example, the first conveying force transmission mechanism may be configured to transmit the driving force of the motor M to the second guide shaft 42 instead of the first roller 111. Furthermore, the first conveying force transmission mechanism may be configured to transmit the driving force of the motor M to both the first roller 111 and the second guide shaft 42.

[0096] Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the following, differences from the first embodiment will be described in detail, and the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0097] As shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), the foil transfer device 1 includes a foil film driving mechanism 100, a winding force transmission mechanism 200, a supply torque limiter TL2, and a control unit 300 (see FIG. 1(a)). The foil film driving mechanism 100 includes a motor M, a foil film conveying roller 110, and a first gear train 120.

[0098] In the second embodiment, the foil film transport roller 110 comprises a first roller 111 and a second roller 112 provided separately from the second guide shaft 42 (peeling roller), and transports the foil film F by nipping it between the first roller 111 and the second roller 112. The foil film transport roller 110 transports the foil film F between the heating roller 61 and the take-up reel 35. More specifically, the foil film transport roller 110 transports the foil film F between the second guide shaft 42 and the take-up reel 35. The foil film transport roller 110 is disposed between the second guide shaft 42 and the take-up reel 35.

[0099] The first gear train 120 has gears G11, G22 to G24, a conveying torque limiter TL3, and a clutch C1. Gear G22 meshes with gear G11, gear G23 meshes with gear G22, and gear G24 meshes with gear G23.

[0100] The driving force of the motor M is transmitted in this order through gear G11, gear G22, gear G23, gear G24, conveying torque limiter TL3, and clutch C1, and is input from the clutch C1 in a transmitted state to the first roller 111. When the driving force of the motor M is input to the first roller 111, the first roller 111 rotates and the second roller 112 is driven to rotate, thereby conveying the foil film F from the transfer section 50 toward the take-up reel 35.

[0101] As in the first embodiment, the control unit 300 controls the pressure contact separation mechanism 70 to move the heating roller 61 to the separation position after the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA of the sheet S passes through the transfer position between the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61 and before it reaches the second guide shaft 42.

[0102] Furthermore, the control unit 300 turns on the clutch C1 before the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA passes the transfer position between the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61, causing the foil film F to be transported by the foil film transport roller 110 toward the take-up reel 35. Furthermore, the control unit 300 turns off the clutch C1 after the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA has passed the second guide shaft 42, causing the foil film transport roller 110 to stop transport of the foil film F.

[0103] According to the second embodiment described above, similarly to the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the foil from being transferred to the portion of the sheet S other than the transfer area TA.

[0104] In the second embodiment, the first gear train 120 serving as the first conveying force transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the driving force of the motor M to the first roller 111. However, for example, the first conveying force transmission mechanism may be configured to transmit the driving force of the motor M to the second roller 112 instead of the first roller 111. Furthermore, the first conveying force transmission mechanism may be configured to transmit the driving force of the motor M to both the first roller 111 and the second roller 112.

[0105] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the first gear train 120 as the first conveying force transmission mechanism was configured to include a conveying torque limiter TL3, but for example, the first conveying force transmission mechanism may be configured not to include a conveying torque limiter.

[0106] Next, a third embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), the foil transfer device 1 includes a foil film driving mechanism 100, a winding force transmission mechanism 200, a supply torque limiter TL2, and a control unit 300 (see FIG. 1(a)).

[0107] The foil film driving mechanism 100 has a motor M and a second gear train 130 as a second conveying force transmission mechanism. In the third embodiment, the foil film driving mechanism 100 does not have a foil film conveying roller (a pair of rollers).

[0108] The second gear train 130 is a mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the motor M to the take-up reel 35. The second gear train 130 includes a gear G11, a clutch C2, and gears G32 and G33.

[0109] Clutch C2 is an electromagnetic clutch that can be switched between a transmission state in which driving force is transmitted from motor M to take-up reel 35 and a cut-off state in which transmission of driving force from motor M to take-up reel 35 is cut off. Clutch C2 may be an electromagnetic clutch that is in the transmission state when energized and in the cut-off state when de-energized, or an electromagnetic clutch that is in the cut-off state when energized and in the transmission state when de-energized.

[0110] The clutch C1 is disposed between the gear G11 and the gear G32. The gear G33 is disposed between the gear G32 and the take-up gear 35G of the take-up reel 35, and is in mesh with both the gear G32 and the take-up gear 35G.

[0111] The conveying force of the foil film F of the take-up reel 35 rotated by the second gear train 130 is greater than the resistance force of the supply torque limiter TL2 that tries to stop the conveyance of the foil film F. As a result, when the heating roller 61 is in the separated position, the take-up reel 35 rotated by the second gear train 130 can convey the foil film F from the transfer section 50 toward the take-up reel 35 and take it up by the take-up reel 35.

[0112] The winding force transmission mechanism 200 is a mechanism separate from the second gear train 130, which transmits the driving force of the motor M to the winding reel 35. The winding force transmission mechanism 200 has a winding torque limiter TL4. The winding torque limiter TL4 is a member that limits the conveying force of the foil film F by the winding reel 35, and is disposed between the gear G11 and the winding gear 35G.

[0113] The cutoff torque of the winding torque limiter TL4 is of a magnitude such that, when the clutch C2 is in a cutoff state, the conveying force of the foil film F by the take-up reel 35 via the winding torque limiter TL4 is smaller than the resistance force by the supply torque limiter TL2 that tries to stop the conveyance of the foil film F. More specifically, the cutoff torque of the winding torque limiter TL4 is of a magnitude such that, when the diameter of the foil film F wound around the take-up reel 35 is minimum and the diameter of the foil film F wound around the supply reel 31 is maximum, the force pulling the foil film F by the take-up reel 35 via the winding force transmission mechanism 200 is smaller than the force by the supply torque limiter TL2 that tries to stop the foil film F at the outermost periphery of the supply reel 31.

[0114] This makes it possible to restrict the foil film F from being pulled out from the supply reel 31 by the take-up reel 35 and wound up by the take-up reel 35 when the heating roller 61 is in the separated position and the clutch C2 is in the disengaged state, and also to apply tension to the foil film F to prevent it from slackening between the supply reel 31 and the take-up reel 35.

[0115] The foil transfer device 1 further includes a sheet speed sensor 310 for detecting the conveying speed of the sheet S and a film speed sensor 320 for detecting the conveying speed of the foil film F.

[0116] The sheet speed sensor 310 is, for example, a rotary encoder, and includes a rotating plate 311 and an optical sensor 312. The rotating plate 311 is a member that rotates together with the downstream transport rollers 12A that transport the sheet S, and includes a plurality of slits. The sheet speed sensor 310 can detect the rotation speed of the downstream transport rollers 12A by detecting the slits in the rotating rotating plate 311 with the optical sensor 312. The detection result of the sheet speed sensor 310 is output to the control unit 300, and the control unit 300 calculates the transport speed of the sheet S based on the detection result of the sheet speed sensor 310.

[0117] The film speed sensor 320 is, for example, a rotary encoder, and has a rotating plate 321 and an optical sensor 322. The rotating plate 321 is a member that rotates together with the second guide shaft 42, which is rotated by the conveyance of the foil film F, and has a plurality of slits. The film speed sensor 320 is able to detect the rotation speed of the second guide shaft 42 by detecting the slits in the rotating rotating plate 321 with the optical sensor 322. The detection result of the film speed sensor 320 is output to the control unit 300, and the control unit 300 calculates the conveyance speed of the foil film F based on the detection result of the film speed sensor 320.

[0118] When performing foil transfer onto the sheet S, the control unit 300 controls the pressure contact / separation mechanism 70 to move the heating roller 61 to the pressure contact position before the leading edge A1 of the transfer area TA reaches the transfer position between the pressure roller 51 and the heating roller 61.

[0119] Furthermore, the control unit 300 turns on the clutch C2 before the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA passes the transfer position between the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51. This allows the foil film F to be transported by the pressure roller 51, the heating roller 61, and the take-up reel 35 rotated by the second gear train 130, and to be taken up by the take-up reel 35.

[0120] In the third embodiment, the control unit 300 controls the rotation speed of the motor M so that the conveying speed of the foil film F detected by the film speed sensor 320 matches the conveying speed of the sheet S detected by the sheet speed sensor 310.

[0121] The control unit 300 controls the pressure contact separation mechanism 70 to move the heating roller 61 to the separation position after the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA passes through the transfer position between the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51 and before it reaches the second guide shaft 42.

[0122] The control unit 300 turns off the clutch C2 after the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA has passed the second guide shaft 42. At this time, the driving force of the motor M is transmitted to the take-up reel 35 via the take-up force transmission mechanism 200, but the conveying force of the foil film F by the take-up reel 35 via the take-up torque limiter TL4 is smaller than the resistance force that tries to stop the conveyance of the foil film F by the supply torque limiter TL2, so the foil film F is not pulled out from the supply reel 31 and is maintained in a taut state between the supply reel 31 and the take-up reel 35.

[0123] According to the third embodiment described above, similarly to the first and second embodiments, it is possible to prevent the foil from being transferred to portions of the sheet S other than the transfer area TA.

[0124] In addition, the clutch C2 is turned ON before the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA passes between the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51, and the clutch C2 is turned OFF after the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA passes the second guide shaft 42, so that the foil film F can be smoothly transported by the foil film driving mechanism 100 when the heating roller 61 and the pressure roller 51 are separated from each other.

[0125] The control of the rotation speed of the motor M to match the conveying speed of the foil film F with the conveying speed of the sheet S may be applied to, for example, the foil transfer device 1 of the second embodiment. In this case, the conveying speed of the foil film F may be detected by the second guide shaft 42 or by the foil film conveying roller 110 (see FIG. 8).

[0126] Although the embodiment has been described above, the foil transfer device can be modified as appropriate as exemplified below.

[0127] In the above embodiment, the timing at which the heat roller 61 is moved to the pressure contact position and the timing at which the clutch C1 is turned ON are substantially the same (see time t1 in FIG. 5), but for example, the clutch C1 may be turned ON after the heat roller 61 is moved to the pressure contact position, or the heat roller 61 may be moved to the pressure contact position after the clutch C1 is turned ON. Even in this case, it is desirable to turn on the clutch C1 before the rear end A2 of the transfer area TA passes between the heat roller 61 and the pressure roller 51.

[0128] In the above embodiment, the second guide shaft 42 as the peeling member is a rotatable peeling roller, but the peeling member may be, for example, a non-rotating round bar-shaped member.

[0129] In the above embodiment, the pressure-contact / separation mechanism 70 is configured to move the heat roller 61 between the pressure-contact position and the separated position, but for example, the pressure-contact / separation mechanism may be configured to move the pressure roller between the pressure-contact position and the separated position. That is, in the above embodiment, the heat roller 61 is "one roller" and the pressure roller 51 is "the other roller," but the pressure roller may be "one roller" and the heat roller may be "the other roller." Furthermore, the pressure-contact / separation mechanism may be configured to move both the heat roller and the pressure roller.

[0130] In the above embodiment, the clutch C1 was positioned closer to the foil film conveying roller 110 than the conveying torque limiter TL3 in the driving force transmission path of the first gear train 120, but for example, the order of the clutch and the conveying torque limiter may be reversed.

[0131] In the above embodiment, the foil transfer device 1 is a device that transfers foil to a toner image formed on a sheet S, but for example, the foil transfer device may be a device that transfers foil to an ink image formed on a sheet. Also, in the above embodiment, the foil film F having four layers is exemplified, but the foil film may have any number of layers.

[0132] The elements described in the above-described embodiment and modified examples may be implemented in any combination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0133] 1 Foil transfer device 31 Supply reel 35 Take-up reel 42 Second guide shaft 51 Pressure roller 61 Heating roller 70 Pressure contact / separation mechanism 100 Foil film drive mechanism 110 Foil film transport roller 111 First Roller 120 1st gear train 200 Winding force transmission mechanism 300 control section C1 clutch F foil film Medium motor S seat TL1 Winding torque limiter TL2 supply torque limiter TL3 Conveyor Torque Limiter

Claims

1. A foil transfer device that overlays a sheet on a foil film containing foil and transfers the foil to an image on the sheet, A heating roller; a pressure roller for nipping and conveying the foil film and the sheet between the pressure roller and the heating roller; a peeling member that changes the traveling direction of the foil film that has passed between the heating roller and the pressure roller in order to peel the foil film from the sheet; a pressure contact / separation mechanism that moves one of the heating roller and the pressure roller between a pressure contact position where the one is in pressure contact with the other roller and a separation position where the one is separated from the other roller; a foil film driving mechanism capable of conveying the foil film while the one roller is in the separated position; a supply reel on which foil film is wound; a take-up reel that takes up the foil film supplied from the supply reel; a control unit, the control unit controls the pressure contact / separation mechanism to move one of the rollers to the separation position after the rear end of a transfer area set to transfer the foil on the sheet passes between the heating roller and the pressure roller and before the rear end reaches the peeling member; The foil film driving mechanism a pair of rollers that nip and transport the foil film between the heating roller and the take-up reel; A motor; a first conveying force transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor to at least one of the pair of rollers, The foil transfer device is characterized in that the first conveying force transmission mechanism has a conveying torque limiter that limits the conveying force of the pair of rollers.

2. 2. The foil transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the cut-off torque of the conveying torque limiter is such that the conveying force of the pair of rollers is smaller than the conveying force of the foil film and sheet by the heating roller and the pressure roller.

3. the first conveying force transmission mechanism further includes a clutch that can switch between a transmission state in which the driving force is transmitted and a disconnection state in which the driving force is disconnected, The foil transfer device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the control unit puts the clutch into the transmission state before the rear end of the transfer area passes between the heating roller and the pressure roller, and puts the clutch into the disengagement state after the rear end of the transfer area passes through the peeling member.

4. 4. The foil transfer device according to claim 3, wherein the clutch is disposed on a side closer to the pair of rollers than the transport torque limiter in a drive force transmission path of the first transport force transmission mechanism.

5. a supply torque limiter that applies resistance to rotation of the supply reel; 5. The foil transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying force of the pair of rollers is greater than the resistance force of the supply torque limiter that attempts to stop the conveyance of the foil film.

6. a winding force transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the motor to the winding reel, The foil transfer device described in claim 5, characterized in that the winding force transmission mechanism has a winding torque limiter that limits the foil film transport force by the winding reel, and the cut-off torque of the winding torque limiter is of a magnitude such that the foil film transport force by the winding reel is smaller than the resistance force that attempts to stop the foil film transport by the supply torque limiter.

7. A foil transfer device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control unit starts driving the foil film drive mechanism before the rear end of the transfer area passes between the heating roller and the pressure roller, and stops driving the foil film drive mechanism after the rear end of the transfer area passes the peeling member.

8. the peeling member is a rotatable peeling roller; 8. The foil transfer device according to claim 1, wherein one of the pair of rollers is the peeling roller.

Images