Thermal transfer printing device

Abstract

To efficiently accumulate, in a collection container, margin pieces cut off from an image receiving sheet.SOLUTION: A thermal transfer printing device comprises: a printing part 1 that forms an image on an image receiving sheet 7 fed out from an image receiving paper roll 6; a cutter 8 that cuts the image receiving sheet 7 having the image formed thereon in a width direction, and cuts out a print sheet 11 including the image and margin pieces 10; and a collection container 20 for storing the margin pieces 10. The collection container 20 is provided with a tray 21 that can be moved up and down. As the amount of the out-out margin pieces 10 increase, the position of the tray 21 is lowered gradually.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Thermal transfer printers, which print by thermal transfer using a thermal head in contact with a thermal transfer sheet, are used for a variety of purposes. In such printers, an image is typically printed within a predetermined area of ​​an image-receiving sheet fed from a paper feed roll, with unprinted marginal areas formed in front and behind the image. The printed image area and the marginal areas are then cut out from the printing sheet. The cut-out image area is provided to the user as a printed sheet, while the marginal areas are collected in a collection container within the printer as unwanted margin pieces and discarded when the collection container becomes full.

[0003] In conventional thermal transfer printers, the distance from the cut end of the image-receiving sheet to the bottom of the collection container is large, resulting in variations in the way the margin pieces fall (direction, position) and posture within the collection container. This reduces the margin piece accumulation efficiency, causing margin pieces to overflow from the collection container before the planned number of sheets is printed, which can clog the printer's mechanical components. In the past, the printer had to be stopped to empty the collection container before the planned number of printed sheets was reached, which hindered efficient printing.

[0004] While it is conceivable to increase the size of the collection container to increase the capacity of the margin pieces, this would increase the variation in the way the margin pieces fall and their position as they fall, reducing the efficiency of storage, and therefore necessitating an extremely large collection container. Making the collection container larger would also increase the size of the thermal transfer printer's housing, hindering efforts to miniaturize the device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-76183 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printing device that efficiently accumulates margin pieces cut out from an image-receiving sheet in a collection container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A thermal transfer printing device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a printing unit that forms an image on an image receiving sheet unwound from an image receiving paper roll, a cutter that cuts the image-formed image receiving sheet widthwise to cut out print sheets containing the image and margin pieces, and a collection container that stores the margin pieces, the collection container having a tray that can be raised and lowered, and the position of the tray lowers as the amount of margin pieces cut out increases. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the margin pieces cut out from the image-receiving sheet can be efficiently accumulated in the collection container. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer printing device provided in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a thermal transfer sheet. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an image-receiving sheet. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an image-receiving sheet on which an image is formed. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of cutting an image-receiving sheet. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing margin pieces collected in a collection container. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a collection container. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a collection container. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a collection container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a thermal transfer printing device according to this embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of a thermal transfer sheet used in the thermal transfer printing device. The thermal transfer printing device transfers yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes from the thermal transfer sheet to an image receiving sheet (image receiving paper) to form an image.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the thermal transfer printing device is equipped with a thermal head 1 (printing unit) that uses a thermal transfer sheet 5 having a yellow dye (Y) layer 51, a magenta dye (M) layer 52, a cyan dye (C) layer 53, and a surface protection (OP) layer 54 to form an image by sublimation transfer of Y, M, and C onto an image-receiving sheet 7, and forms a protective layer on the image.

[0013] A supply section 3 formed by wrapping a thermal transfer sheet 5 is provided downstream of the thermal head 1, and a recovery section 4 is provided upstream of the thermal head 1, and the thermal transfer sheet 5 unwound from the supply section 3 passes through the thermal head 1 and is recovered in the recovery section 4.

[0014] A rotatable platen roller 2 is provided below the thermal head 1. A rotatable capstan roller 13 for transporting the image-receiving sheet 7 and a pinch roller 14 for pressing the image-receiving sheet 7 against the capstan roller 13 are provided upstream of the thermal head 1. The image-receiving sheet 7 is unwound from an image-receiving paper roll 6.

[0015] On one surface of the thermal transfer sheet 5, a Y layer 51, an M layer 52, a C layer 53, and an OP layer 54 are sequentially formed from the recovery section 4 side. The material used for the Y layer 51, the M layer 52, and the C layer 53 is preferably a material in which a sublimation dye is dissolved or dispersed in a binder resin.

[0016] The material used for the OP layer 54 is preferably transparent and has adhesiveness, light resistance, etc. By reducing the energy applied to the thermal head 1 when transferring the OP layer 54 onto the image, the surface of the protective layer can be made glossy with a high level of gloss, and by increasing the applied energy, the surface of the protective layer can be made matte with a low level of gloss.

[0017] When forming an image on the image-receiving sheet 7, first, the image-receiving sheet 7 and the Y layer 51 are aligned, and the thermal head 1 abuts against the platen roll 2 with the image-receiving sheet 7 and the thermal transfer sheet 5 interposed therebetween. Next, the capstan roller 13 and the recovery unit 4 are rotated, and the image-receiving sheet 7 and the thermal transfer sheet 5 are sent rearward. During this time, regions of the Y layer 51 are selectively heated sequentially by the thermal head 1 based on the image data, and Y is sublimation-transferred from the thermal transfer sheet 5 onto the image-receiving sheet 7.

[0018] After the Y sublimation transfer, the thermal head 1 rises and moves away from the platen roll 2. Next, the image-receiving sheet 7 and the M layer 52 are aligned. In this case, the image-receiving sheet 7 is fed forward by a distance corresponding to the print size, and the thermal transfer sheet 5 is fed backward by a distance corresponding to the gap between the Y layer 51 and the M layer 52.

[0019] In the same manner as the method of sublimation transferring Y, M and C are successively sublimation transferred onto the image-receiving sheet 7, forming an image on the image-receiving sheet 7. Next, the thermal head 1 transfers the OP layer 54 onto the entire image, forming a protective layer.

[0020] Thereafter, the image-receiving sheet 7 is cut in the width direction (short direction) by a cutter 8 on the downstream side, and the print sheets 11 are cut out and discharged from a discharge port (not shown). As will be described later, in addition to the print sheets 11, margin pieces 10 are also cut out and collected in a collection container 20 located directly below the cutter 8.

[0021] Each part of the thermal transfer printing device, such as the recovery part 4, the image receiving paper roll 6, the drive part for the capstan roller 13, the thermal head 1, the drive of the cutter 8, etc., is controlled by a control part 9 equipped with a CPU.

[0022] The image receiving sheet 7 is wound around an image receiving paper roll 6 and is unwound from the image receiving paper roll 6. The image receiving sheet 7 can be a known sheet used in this type of thermal transfer printing device, and for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a sheet in which a resin coating layer 71, paper 72, an adhesive layer 73, a void-containing film 74, and a receiving layer 75 are laminated in this order can be used. As the void-containing film 74, various types can be used as long as voids are formed in the film. For example, a void-producing agent can be added to PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and the PET and the void-producing agent are peeled off during the film formation and stretching process, thereby forming voids. A film formed within a film can be used. In addition to PET, polyolefin resins such as PP (polypropylene) and PE (polyethylene) can also be used as the base material.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the image-receiving sheet 7 on which an image has been formed and before cutting.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4, when images are formed continuously, each dye is superimposed on the image-receiving sheet 7 to form an image, and print sheet areas P1, which become print sheets 11 after cutting by the cutter 8, and margin areas M1 are formed alternately along the length of the image-receiving sheet 7.

[0025] The length of the margin area M1 in the payout direction (the width of the margin piece 10) is, for example, not less than 3.0 mm and not more than 6.0 mm.

[0026] When the boundary between the print sheet area P1 and the margin area M1 is cut by the cutter 8, the print sheet area P1 becomes a print sheet 11 and is discharged from the discharge opening, as shown in Fig. 5. Meanwhile, the margin area M1 is cut out as a margin piece 10 and collected in the collection container 20.

[0027] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the image is printed slightly larger than the print sheet area P1. In other words, the image formation area (the shaded area in Figure 4) is larger than the print sheet area P1. Therefore, the image formation area is included on both the front and rear sides of the margin area M1. This allows a print sheet 11 to be obtained with an image formed on the entire surface, even if the cutting position of the cutter 8 is slightly off.

[0028] As described above, the margin pieces 10 are cut out by the cutter 8 and then collected in the collection container 20. If the margin pieces 10 fall a large distance in the collection container 20, variations will occur in the way the margin pieces 10 fall (direction, position) and posture, making it impossible to efficiently accumulate the margin pieces 10.

[0029] Therefore, in this embodiment, a tray that can be raised and lowered is provided inside the collection container 20, and the tray is kept high while there are few margin pieces 10, thereby reducing the falling distance of the margin pieces 10. By changing the position of the tray, the size (volume) of the margin piece storage area of ​​the collection container 20 changes. The position of the tray is gradually lowered as the number of margin pieces 10 increases. Because the margin pieces 10 fall onto the margin pieces 10 stacked on the tray, the falling distance of the margin pieces 10 remains small even if the position of the tray is lowered.

[0030] This stabilizes the way the margin pieces 10 cut out by the cutter 8 fall and their posture, allowing the margin pieces 10 to be efficiently accumulated in the collection container 20, as shown in Figure 6. As a result, the frequency with which the collection container 20 needs to be removed from the thermal transfer printing device and emptied can be reduced, allowing for efficient printing processing.

[0031] The configuration of the mechanism for raising and lowering the tray of the collection container 20 is not particularly limited, as long as it can lower the tray as the margin pieces increase.

[0032] 7, a spring 22 is provided between the bottom surface of the collection container 20 and the tray 21. The spring 22 is, for example, a compression coil spring, and has a spring constant of about 5 N / m.

[0033] As the amount of margin pieces 10 increases, the weight increases, the spring 22 contracts, and the tray 21 descends. Therefore, the margin pieces 10 are prevented from overflowing from the collection container 20, and the falling distance of the margin pieces 10 can be kept small at all times.

[0034] The tray 21 may be suspended from above by a tension coil spring.

[0035] 8, an extendable arm 23 that can be controlled to extend and retract by the control unit 9 may be provided between the bottom of the collection container 20 and the receiving tray 21. The control unit 9 counts the number of print sheets 11 output (number of prints) after the image receiving sheet roll 6 is set in the thermal transfer printing device, and controls the extendable arm 23 based on the count value to adjust the height of the receiving tray 21. The total number of prints corresponds to the number of margin pieces 10.

[0036] The control unit 9 stores the number of prints since the image receiving sheet roll 6 was set in the thermal transfer printing device in the memory of the thermal transfer printing device, and updates the number of prints in the memory each time a print process is performed. Alternatively, an IC tag may be attached to the bobbin around which the thermal transfer sheet is wound or to the image receiving sheet roll 6, and the total number of prints may be written and read by a reader / writer.

[0037] A sensor may be provided to detect whether the accumulated height of the margin pieces 10 in the collection container 20 has reached a predetermined upper limit line. When the sensor detects that the accumulated height of the margin pieces 10 has reached the upper limit line, the control unit 9 retracts the extendable arm 23 by a predetermined amount to lower the tray 21. For example, when at least a portion of any of the multiple margin pieces 10 accumulated in the collection container 20 has reached the upper limit line, the tray 21 is lowered. After the tray 21 is lowered, the height of the tray 21 remains constant until it is detected again by the sensor.

[0038] When the control unit 9 detects that the collection container 20 has been removed from the thermal transfer printing device, it determines that the collection container 20 has been emptied, and then, when the collection container 20 is set in place, it may extend the telescopic arm 23 and move the tray 21 to the initial position (highest position).

[0039] As shown in FIG. 9, the height of the tray 21 may be adjusted using a lifting arm 24 whose elevation can be controlled by the control unit 9.

[0040] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the components can be modified and embodied in practice without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, some components may be omitted from all the components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, components from different embodiments may be appropriately combined. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 Thermal head 2 Platen Roll 3 Supply section 4. Recovery Section 5 Heat transfer sheet 6 receiver paper roll 7 Receiving sheet 8 Cutter 9 Control Unit 10 Margin Strips 11 Print Sheet 13 Capstan roller 14 Pinch roller 20 Collection container

Claims

1. a printing unit for forming an image on an image receiving sheet fed from an image receiving paper roll; a cutter that cuts the image-receiving sheet on which the image is formed in the width direction to cut out print sheets including the image and margin pieces; a collection container for storing the margin pieces, the collection container having a tray that can be raised and lowered; an arm that raises and lowers the tray; a control unit that controls the arm; Equipped with The control unit counts the number of prints since the receiver paper roll was set, controls the arm based on the count value, and lowers the position of the tray as the amount of margin pieces cut out increases.

2. 2. The thermal transfer printing device according to claim 1, wherein the arm is an extendable arm provided between the bottom of the collection container and the tray.

Images