Can badge making device

Abstract

This can badge making device suppresses deterioration of image quality due to bleeding of ink without lowering can badge productivity. On a path on which a medium PF is conveyed from a recording part 1 to a first lower mold M1, a first fan F1, a second fan F2, a third fan F3, a first heater H1, a second heater H2, and a third heater H3 are provided. The first fan F1, the second fan F2, and the third fan F3 blow air to the recording surface of the medium PF. The first heater H1 heats the air blown by the first fan F1. The second heater H2 and the third heater H3 heat the medium PF. On a second path 22, the conveying speed of the medium PF is reduced. Thus, even when the environmental temperature and the environmental humidity fluctuate, the recording surface of the medium PF can be efficiently dried and the bleeding of the ink on a can badge 200 can be suppressed.

Description

Badge making device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a can badge production device that produces can badges.

[0002] The can badge manufacturing process performed by the can badge manufacturing device includes the following steps: The recording surface of the medium on which an image is recorded is placed opposite the surface of the front member, and the medium covers the surface of the front member. After that, the peripheral portion of the medium that protrudes beyond the peripheral portion of the front member is sandwiched between the front member and the back member, and the back member is bonded to the front member.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-136210

[0004] If the surface material and the medium are caulked together while the ink on the medium with the image recorded on it is still wet, the image quality may be degraded due to ink bleeding. Meanwhile, waiting for the ink on the medium to dry naturally after recording increases the time required to produce the badges, reducing productivity. If the waiting time is long, for example, the pigments contained in the ink may diffuse due to Brownian motion, causing different colors to mix in adjacent areas, potentially changing the texture of the image.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to suppress a decrease in productivity of can badges and deterioration of image quality due to ink bleeding in a can badge manufacturing device.

[0006] (1) The can badge manufacturing device according to the present disclosure includes a recording unit that records an image on the recording surface of a medium by ejecting ink, a crimping unit that has a mold in which a front member and the medium are placed and crimps the medium, the front member, and the back member together to produce a can badge, a transport unit that transports the medium from the recording unit to the mold, and a drying unit that is adjacent to the transport path of the medium from the recording unit to the mold and dries the recording surface of the medium.

[0007] With the above configuration, the can badge manufacturing device can suppress a decrease in can badge productivity and deterioration of image quality due to ink bleeding.

[0008] (2) The drying section may be located in the conveying section.

[0009] (3) The transport path may have a first path extending in the vertical direction, and the drying unit may be positioned relative to the first path in a direction in which the recording surface faces when the medium is positioned on the first path, and may have a fan capable of blowing air toward the first path.

[0010] (4) The transport path has a first path extending in the vertical direction, a second path located between the recording unit and the upstream end of the first path in the transport direction, and a third path located between the downstream end of the first path in the transport direction and the mold, and the drying unit is located in the direction in which the recording surface faces when the medium is located on the second path, relative to the second path, and may be a fan capable of blowing air toward the second path.

[0011] (5) The drying section may further include a heater, and the fan may blow air heated by the heater toward the first path.

[0012] (6) The transport path may include a first path extending in the vertical direction, a second path located between the recording unit and the upstream end of the first path in the transport direction, and a third path located between the downstream end of the first path in the transport direction and the mold, and the drying unit may be located adjacent to the first path and have a heater facing the medium.

[0013] (7) The printer further includes a control unit, and the recording unit is capable of supplying the medium on which the image is recorded and a backing sheet on which no image is recorded to the conveying unit. The control unit may operate the drying unit when the medium is conveyed through the conveying unit, and may not operate the drying unit when the backing sheet is conveyed through the conveying unit.

[0014] (8) The printing apparatus may further include a sensor that detects the medium in the second path, and a control unit, and the control unit may operate the drying unit based on a signal output by the sensor.

[0015] (9) The apparatus may further include a control unit, wherein the recording unit is capable of supplying the medium on which the image is recorded and a backing sheet on which no image is recorded to the conveying unit, and the control unit may cause the conveying unit to convey the backing sheet from the recording unit to the mold in a first time, and may cause the conveying unit to convey the medium from the recording unit to the mold in a second time longer than the first time.

[0016] (10) The printing apparatus may further include a control unit, and the control unit may stop the medium for a predetermined time at a stop position facing the drying unit by the transport unit.

[0017] (11) The control unit may execute a job for the can badge manufacturing device to create the can badge, the job including image data indicating an image to be recorded on the medium by the recording unit and stop time information specifying the predetermined time, and the control unit may stop the medium for the predetermined time by the conveying unit at a stop position opposite the drying unit based on the stop time information.

[0018] (12) The device may further include a sensor that detects the medium on the second path, and a control unit, wherein the control unit executes a job for the can badge manufacturing device to create the can badge, the job including image data indicating an image to be recorded on the medium by the recording unit and position information specifying a stop position at which the medium is to be stopped on the conveying path, and the control unit may stop the medium at the stop position for a predetermined time based on the position information using the signal output by the sensor as a reference, by the conveying unit.

[0019] According to the present disclosure, in a can badge manufacturing device, a decrease in can badge productivity and deterioration of image quality due to ink bleeding are suppressed.

[0020] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the can badge manufacturing apparatus 300. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the can badge manufacturing apparatus 300 with the exterior body 101 removed. FIG. 3 is a top view of the can badge manufacturing apparatus 300 with the exterior body 101 removed. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control unit 11. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the can badge 200. FIG. 6(A) is a plan view of the medium PF, and FIG. 6(B) is a plan view of the backing sheet WF. FIG. 7 is a side view of the conveying unit 3. FIG. 8 is a process diagram explaining the manufacturing process of the can badge 200. FIG. 9 is a process diagram explaining the manufacturing process of the can badge 200 subsequent to FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a flowchart explaining the drying process. FIG. 11 is a process diagram explaining the manufacturing process of the can badge 200 without the drying process. FIG. 12 is a process diagram explaining the manufacturing process of the can badge 200 subsequent to FIG. 11. FIG. 13(A) is a front view showing the finished can badge 200a without drying, and FIG. 13(B) is a front view showing the finished can badge 200b after drying. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a setting screen 210. FIG. 15(A) is a table showing a preset time / position table, FIG. 15(B) is a table showing a job table, FIG. 15(C) is a table showing operation parameters, and FIG. 15(D) is a table showing drying parameters. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a job registration screen 220. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an image adjustment screen 230. FIG. 18 is the first half of a flow diagram explaining the operation of the can badge production device 300 and the external device 12. FIG. 19 is a flow diagram following FIG. 18 explaining the operation of the can badge production device 300 and the external device 12.

[0021] The following describes in detail the can badge manufacturing apparatus 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Note that the following embodiment is merely an example of the present disclosure, and it goes without saying that the embodiment can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0022] 1 to 3, the up-down direction is defined based on the state in which the badge production apparatus 300 is installed and ready for use. The front-rear direction is defined with the side where the conveying unit 3 is provided as the near side. The left-right direction is defined when the badge production apparatus 300 is viewed from the front.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 , the can badge production device 300 includes a recording unit 1, a crimping unit 100, a conveying unit 3, a drying unit 13, and a control unit 11. The recording unit 1 ejects ink onto the medium PF, thereby recording an image on the medium PF. The recording unit 1 can supply the medium PF with an image recorded thereon and a backing sheet WF with no image recorded thereon to the conveying unit 3. The crimping unit 100 has a mold (hereinafter referred to as the "first lower mold M1") in which the front member SE and the medium PF of the can badge 200 are arranged. The crimping unit 100 crimps the medium PF, the front member SE, and the backing member BE together to produce the can badge 200. The conveying unit 3 conveys the medium PF from the recording unit 1 to the first lower mold M1. The drying unit 13 is adjacent to the transport path of the medium PF from the recording unit 1 to the first lower mold M1, and dries the recording surface of the medium PF.

[0024] [Overview of the Can Badge 200] As shown in FIG. 5 , the can badge 200 has a structure in which four materials are stacked in order: a backing member BE, a front member SE, a backing sheet WF, and a medium PF. In this embodiment, a transparent film is used as the medium PF, but the medium PF is not limited to a transparent film. The medium PF has an ink-receiving layer on one side, and a mirror image (reversed image) of a predetermined image is recorded. By facing the recording surface of the medium PF to the backing sheet WF, a normal image of the predetermined image is displayed on the front side of the can badge 200. In this embodiment, the backing sheet WF is white, but it may be a color other than white, or it may be recorded with an image that serves as the background of the image recorded on the medium PF. The size of the backing sheet WF and the medium PF may be, for example, L size (89 mm x 127 mm) or another size. 6(A) and 6(B), the mount WF and medium PF are peeled off into a mount connection portion WFb and a medium connection portion PFb, and are used for the can badge 200. The mount connection portion WFb and the medium connection portion PFb are folded onto the back side of the front member SE and connected, so they have a larger diameter than the front member SE. As will be described later, a magnetic material such as tin-plated steel sheet is used as the material for the front member SE or the back member BE, so that the can badge 200 can be removed by magnetic attraction.

[0025] [Backing Sheet WF and Medium PF] As shown in FIG. 6B, the backing sheet WF has a backing sheet remaining portion WFa, a backing sheet connected portion WFb, a backing sheet connecting portion WFc, and a backing sheet linear weak portion WFd.

[0026] The remaining mount portion WFa is a lug portion that the transport unit 3 uses to transport the mount WF from the recording unit 1 to the first lower mold M1. The mount connected portion WFb is used as the material for the can badge 200. The mount connected portion WFb has a contour shape that corresponds to the shape of the front member SE, for example, a circular shape in a plan view. The mount connected portion WFb is biased toward the leading edge of the mount WF in the transport direction when the mount WF is transported from the recording unit 1 onto the first lower mold M1, in other words, toward the first lower mold M1. The mount connected portion WFb is surrounded by the remaining mount portion WFa. The mount connecting portion WFc is the boundary between the remaining mount portion WFa and the connected mount portion WFb. The backing paper linear weak portion WFd is a straight portion that connects the backing paper edge portion WFe1 at the leading end side in the first transport direction Dc1 and the backing paper connecting portion WFc in the shortest distance when the backing paper WF is transported from the recording unit 1 to the first lower mold M1.

[0027] The mount connecting portion WFc and the mount linear weak portion WFd have lower strength than the mount remaining portion WFa and the mount connected portion WFb and are more likely to break. The mount connecting portion WFc and the mount linear weak portion WFd may be, for example, depressions or the like that are thinner than the mount remaining portion WFa and the mount connected portion WFb. The mount connecting portion WFc and the mount linear weak portion WFd may have the same thickness as the mount remaining portion WFa and the mount connected portion WFb, but perforations may be formed by partially cutting the mount connecting portion WFc and the mount linear weak portion WFd, respectively. When the peeling unit 4 presses and fixes the connected portion WFb of the backing paper and the transporting unit 3 attempts to transport the remaining portion WFa of the backing paper along the second transport direction Dc2 to the collection box 9, the connecting portion WFc of the backing paper and the linear weak portion WFd of the backing paper break, and the connected portion WFb of the backing paper peels off from the backing paper WF.

[0028] The configuration of the medium PF is basically the same as that of the mount WF, as shown in Fig. 6A. However, whereas an image is not recorded on the mount connected portion WFb of the mount WF, an image is recorded on the medium connected portion PFb of the medium PF.

[0029] [Recording Unit 1] The recording unit 1 supplies the backing sheet WF without an image recorded thereon and the medium PF with an image recorded thereon to the transport unit 3 as materials for the can badge 200. In this embodiment, the recording unit 1 is an inkjet printer. The recording unit 1 includes a sheet holder (not shown) that accommodates the backing sheet WF and the medium PF. As shown in FIG. 7 , the recording unit 1 includes a paper feed roller 102, a platen 103, an ejection head 104, an ejection roller 105, and a controller 106. The paper feed roller 102 feeds the backing sheet WF or the medium PF from the sheet holder onto the platen 103. The ejection head 104 ejects ink according to image data to record an image on the medium connection portion PFb. The recording unit 1 does not record an image on the backing sheet WF. The ejection roller 105 ejects the backing sheet WF and the medium PF toward the receiving port of the transport unit 3.

[0030] The inkjet printer used as the recording unit 1 may have a serial head or a line head type ejection head for ejecting ink. An application program installed in the external device 12 may transmit image data to the recording unit 1 to be recorded on the medium PF. The recording unit 1 may also acquire image data from an imaging device such as a camera that captures an image to generate image data, a reading device that reads an image from a document to generate image data, a storage medium that stores image data, and a computer having a storage device that stores image data. The recording unit 1 may also acquire image data from a remote device via a communication network and use the acquired image data to record a predetermined image on the medium PF.

[0031] [Crimping unit 100] The crimping unit 100 uses the medium PF transported to the first lower mold M1 by the transport unit 3 as the material for the crimped badge 200 to produce the crimped badge 200. The crimping unit 100 includes a first loading unit 2, a peeling unit 4, a guide unit 5, a connection unit 6, a second loading unit 7, a removal unit 8, a crimped badge container 10, and a control unit 11.

[0032] [First Loading Section 2] The first loading section 2 includes a first loading stocker 2a, a first loading slope 2b, and a first loading slider 2c. The first loading stocker 2a is a vertically elongated cylindrical member that accommodates the surface member SE. The inside of the horizontal cross section of the first loading stocker 2a is shaped to fit the outer shape of the surface member SE. The first loading stocker 2a may be replaced to match the outer shape of the surface member SE. As shown in FIG. 2 , the surface members SE are stacked vertically in the first loading stocker 2a. Of the surface members SE in the first loading stocker 2a, the lowest surface member SE is placed on the first loading slope 2b.

[0033] The first loading slope 2b has a guide surface that guides the surface member SE and the first loading slider 2c toward the first lower mold M1. A gap is provided between the guide surface of the first loading slope 2b and the lower end of the first loading stocker 2a, allowing just one surface member SE to pass through. The first loading slider 2c is a flat member that moves back and forth on the guide surface of the first loading slope 2b by a rack and pinion mechanism (not shown). The first loading slider 2c slides the lowest surface member SE among the surface members SE in the first loading stocker 2a on the guide surface of the first loading slope 2b, transporting it to the first lower mold M1. This loads the surface member SE into the first lower mold M1. As will be described later, with the front member SE loaded on the first lower mold M1, the transport unit 3 transports the backing sheet WF and the medium PF sequentially onto the first lower mold M1.

[0034] [Peeling Unit 4] The peeling unit 4 includes a peeling arm 4a and a peeling head 4b. The peeling arm 4a rotates around a rotation axis (not shown). The peeling head 4b is provided at the tip of the peeling arm 4a. As the peeling arm 4a rotates, the peeling head 4b moves back and forth between a standby position and a pressing and fixing position. At the pressing and fixing position, the peeling head 4b presses and fixes the liner WF and the medium PF on the first lower mold M1. As described below, while the liner connected portion WFb on the first lower mold M1 is pressed and fixed by the peeling head 4b, the transport unit 3 transports the liner remaining portion WFa toward the collection box 9, whereby the liner connected portion WFb is peeled off from the liner remaining portion WFa. Similarly, the medium connected portion PFb is peeled off from the medium remaining portion PFa.

[0035] [Guide Unit 5 and Connection Unit 6] The guide unit 5 includes a rotary support table 5a, a first lower mold M1, and a mold for crimping the backing member BE (hereinafter referred to as the "second lower mold M2"). The rotary support table 5a rotates around a rotation axis 5b whose axial direction is the vertical direction. The first lower mold M1 and the second lower mold M2 are supported on the upper surface of the rotary support table 5a. As the rotary support table 5a rotates, the first lower mold M1 and the second lower mold M2 reciprocate between a material loading position (hereinafter referred to as the "loading position P1") and a connection position (hereinafter simply referred to as the "connecting position P2") where the material of the can badge is connected by crimping. The first lower mold M1 and the second lower mold M2 face each other across the rotation axis. Therefore, when the first lower mold M1 is located at the loading position P1, the second lower mold M2 is located at the connection position P2. Conversely, when the first lower mold M1 is located at the connecting position P2, the second lower mold M2 is located at the loading position P1.

[0036] The connection section 6 has a lifting device 6a and a connection mold (hereinafter referred to as "upper mold M0"). The lifting device 6a raises and lowers the upper mold M0 at the connection position P2, pressing it against and separating it from the first lower mold M1 and the second lower mold M2. This performs the crimping process.

[0037] At the loading position P1, the first lower mold M1 is loaded with the front member SE, backing sheet WF, and medium PF. At the connecting position P2, the first lower mold M1 connects the front member SE, backing sheet WF, and medium PF by a crimping process in which the upper mold M0 is lowered. The connected front member SE, backing sheet WF, and medium PF are held by the upper mold M0 and rise after crimping. At the loading position P1, the second lower mold M2 is loaded with the back member BE. At the connecting position P2, the second lower mold M2 connects the front member SE, backing sheet WF, medium PF, and backing member BE by a crimping process in which the upper mold M0 is lowered while holding the front member SE, backing sheet WF, and medium PF. As a result, once the can badge 200 is produced, the rotary support table 5a rotates and moves the second lower mold M2 on which the can badge 200 is placed to the loading position P1.

[0038] [Second Loading Section 7] The second loading section 7 includes a second loading stocker 7a, a second loading slope 7b, and a second loading slider 7c. The second loading stocker 7a is a vertically elongated cylindrical member that accommodates backing members BE. The interior of the second loading stocker 7a in a horizontal cross section is shaped to fit the outer shape of the backing members BE. The second loading stocker 7a may be replaced to match the outer shape of the backing members BE. As shown in FIG. 2 , backing members BE are stacked vertically in the second loading stocker 7a. The lowest backing member BE in the second loading stocker 7a is placed on the second loading slope 7b.

[0039] The second loading slope 7b has a guide surface that guides the back material BE and the second loading slider 7c toward the second lower mold M2. A gap is provided between the guide surface of the second loading slope 7b and the lower end of the second loading stocker 7a, allowing just one back material BE to pass through. The second loading slider 7c is a flat member that reciprocates on the guide surface of the second loading slope 7b by a rack and pinion mechanism (not shown). The second loading slider 7c slides the lowest back material BE in the second loading stocker 7a on the guide surface of the second loading slope 7b and transports it to the second lower mold M2. This loads the back material BE into the second lower mold M2.

[0040] [Removal Unit 8] The removal unit 8 comprises a removal arm 8a, a removal head 8b, and a seat 8c. The removal arm 8a rotates around a rotation axis (not shown). The removal head 8b is a magnetic member. The removal head 8b is provided at the tip of the removal arm 8a. As the removal arm 8a rotates, the removal head 8b moves back and forth between a collection position and a removal position. The seat 8c is provided at the collection position. The seat 8c has an upper surface and a groove. The upper surface of the seat 8c is an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the collection box 9. The groove of the seat 8c has an opening shape that can accommodate only the tip portion of the removal arm 8a, including the removal head 8b. The groove has a depth that prevents the removal head 8b accommodated in the groove from magnetically adsorbing the can badge 200 on the seat 8c.

[0041] At the removal position, the removal head 8b approaches the second lower mold M2, which is at the loading position P1, and magnetically attracts the badge 200 placed on the second lower mold M2. The removal head 8b moves to the collection position as the removal arm 8a rotates, with the badge 200 still magnetically attracted to it. At the collection position, the tip of the removal arm 8a, including the removal head 8b, is housed in the groove of the seat 8c. The badge 200 abuts against the upper surface of the seat 8c and cannot enter the groove, so it detaches from the removal head 8b. Released from the magnetic attraction of the removal head 8b, the badge 200 slides down the upper surface of the seat 8c and falls into the badge container 10, where it is collected.

[0042] [Transport Unit 3] The transport unit 3 is disposed in front of the badge production apparatus 300, in a position covering the paper discharge port through which the backing sheet WF and medium PF are discharged from the recording unit 1. As shown in FIG. 7 , the transport unit 3 includes a first sensor 31, a second sensor 32, a third sensor 33, a transport motor 35, a transport guide 36, a first transport guide piece 37, a second transport guide piece 38, a support plate 39, first transport roller Ro1 to twelfth transport roller Ro12, and a transport stopper S. The first sensor 31 is disposed near the discharge port through which the backing sheet WF and medium PF are discharged from the recording unit 1, and detects the backing sheet WF and medium PF at an inlet of the second path 22 (described later) that receives the backing sheet WF and medium PF from the recording unit 1. The first transport guide piece 37 curves the transport path of the backing sheet WF and medium PF to change the transport direction. At this position where the transport direction changes, the second sensor 32 detects the backing sheet WF and medium PF. The third sensor 33 detects the backing sheet WF and medium PF between the ninth transport roller Ro9 and tenth transport roller Ro10 and the eleventh transport roller Ro11 and twelfth transport roller Ro12. The first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, and the third sensor 33 may be optical sensors that detect changes in light intensity due to the presence or absence of the backing sheet WF and medium PF, or mechanical sensors that detect changes in the posture of a sensor member due to the presence or absence of the backing sheet WF and medium PF. Alternatively, an electrical sensor that detects disconnection of contacts due to the presence or absence of the backing sheet WF and medium PF may be used.

[0043] The transport motor 35 drives and rotates the first transport roller Ro1 to the twelfth transport roller Ro12. The rotation of the transport motor 35 is transmitted to the first transport roller Ro1 to the twelfth transport roller Ro12 via a drive transmission mechanism such as a gear or belt. The transport motor 35 may be a DC motor, or a motor other than a DC motor as long as the drive amount can be controlled. The transport motor 35 has a rotary encoder. The rotary encoder of the transport motor 35 outputs a pulse signal to the control unit 11 each time the transport motor 35 rotates a predetermined rotation angle. By counting this pulse signal, the control unit 11 detects the drive amount of the transport motor 35. Furthermore, by calculating the rotation speed from this pulse signal and feedback-controlling the drive voltage, the transport motor 35 can be driven at the desired rotation speed. Therefore, the transport speed of the backing sheet WF and the medium PF can be controlled. The first transport roller Ro1 to the twelfth transport roller Ro12 transport the liner WF, the medium PF, the remaining liner portion WFa, and the remaining medium portion PFa. The transport guide 36 and the first transport guide piece 37 guide the liner WF and the medium PF from the recording unit 1 to the first lower mold M1. The second transport guide piece 38 guides the remaining liner portion WFa and the remaining medium portion PFa from the first lower mold M1 to the collection box 9. The transport guide 36 has a pair of transport guide plates 36a, 36b.

[0044] The support plate 39 supports the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, the third sensor 33, the transport motor 35, the first transport roller Ro1 to the twelfth transport roller Ro12, the transport guide 36, the first transport guide piece 37, and the second transport guide piece 38. The transport stopper S is erected on the rotation axis 5b of the rotary support table 5a of the guide unit 5. The transport stopper S restricts the movement of the liner WF and the medium PF to prevent them from being transported rearward beyond the target position on the first lower mold M1. The distance from the nip position between the ninth transport roller Ro9 and the tenth transport roller Ro10 to the transport stopper S is shorter than the total length of the liner WF and the medium PF in the transport direction. Therefore, when the liner WF and the medium PF reach the target position, the rear ends of the liner remaining portion WFa and the medium remaining portion PFa are clamped at the nip position between the ninth transport roller Ro9 and the tenth transport roller Ro10.

[0045] Of the transport path for the backing sheet WF and medium PF from the recording unit 1 to the first lower mold M1, the portion extending in the vertical direction is referred to as the "first path 21." The portion connecting the recording unit 1 and the upstream end of the first path 21 in the transport direction is referred to as the "second path 22." The portion connecting the downstream end of the first path 21 in the transport direction and the first lower mold M1 is referred to as the "third path 23." In this embodiment, the first path 21 and the second path 22 are separated by the nip position of the first transport roller Ro1 and the second transport roller Ro2. The first path 21 and the third path 23 are separated by the position where the second sensor 32 detects the backing sheet WF and medium PF.

[0046] [Drying Unit 13] The drying unit 13 is located in the transport unit 3. The drying unit 13 has a first fan F1, a second fan F2, a third fan F3, a first heater H1, a second heater H2, and a third heater H3. The first fan F1 is located relative to the first path 21 in the direction in which the recording surface faces when the medium PF is located in the first path 21 (rearward in FIG. 7 ), and can blow air toward the first path 21. The second fan F2 is located on the recording surface side of the medium PF relative to the second path 22, and can blow air toward the second path 22. The third fan F3 is located on the recording surface side of the medium PF relative to the third path 23, and can blow air toward the third path 23. The first fan F1 blows air heated by the first heater H1 toward the first path 21.

[0047] The second heater H2 and the third heater H3 are provided adjacent to the first path 21 and face the medium PF. The second heater H2 and the third heater H3 heat the medium PF by radiation or by contact with the medium PF and conducting heat. The second heater H2 and the third heater H3 may also serve as guide members that guide the backing sheet WF and the medium PF. The first fan F1 is an axial fan in combination with the first heater H1. The second fan F2 and the third fan F3 may be axial fans or centrifugal fans. The first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3 may be electric heaters.

[0048] 4, the control unit 11 includes a control device 110, a first drive circuit 114, a second drive circuit 115, a third drive circuit 116, a fourth drive circuit 117, a fifth drive circuit 118, a sixth drive circuit 119, a seventh drive circuit 120, and an eighth drive circuit 121. The control device 110 includes a calculation unit 111, a memory unit 112, and an interface 113. The calculation unit 111 is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The memory unit 112 is, for example, a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a flash ROM, or a hard disk drive (HDD).

[0049] The memory unit 112 stores firmware and parameters. The parameters include output values ​​and drive amounts for operating the badge production device 300. The calculation unit 111 executes the firmware to control each part of the badge production device 300 in accordance with the parameters. The interface 113 connects the control unit 11 to an external device 12. The external device 12 may be, for example, a personal computer or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. The connection with the external device 12 may be wired or wireless.

[0050] The first drive circuit 114 connects the first loading unit 2 to the control device 110. The second drive circuit 115 connects the transport unit 3 to the control device 110. The control device 110 receives output signals from the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, and the third sensor 33 and controls the operation of the transport motor 35. In particular, the control device 110 stops the medium PF at a stop position for a predetermined time based on position information specifying a stop position for the medium PF on the transport path from the recording unit 1 to the first lower mold M1, using the signal output by the first sensor 31 as a reference. This stop position faces the drying unit 13. The third drive circuit 116 connects the peeling unit 4 to the control device 110. The fourth drive circuit 117 connects the guide unit 5 to the control device 110. The fifth drive circuit 118 connects the connection unit 6 to the control device 110. The sixth drive circuit 119 connects the second loading unit 7 to the control device 110. The seventh drive circuit 120 connects the removal unit 8 to the control device 110. The eighth drive circuit 121 connects the drying unit 13 to the control device 110. As a result, the control device 110 controls the operations of the first fan F1, the second fan F2, the third fan F3, the first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3.

[0051] [Controller 106] The controller 106 of the recording unit 1 has a configuration similar to that of the control device 110. The controller 106 receives instructions from the external device 12 to eject the backing sheet WF or to record an image on the medium PF. Upon receiving an instruction to eject the backing sheet WF, the controller 106 ejects one sheet of the backing sheet WF from the sheet holder to the transport unit 3. Upon receiving an instruction to record an image on the medium PF, the controller 106 removes one sheet of the medium PF from the sheet holder, records the instructed image on the recording surface of the medium PF, and then ejects the medium PF to the transport unit 3. After outputting the medium PF, the controller 106 waits for the transport of the backing sheet WF until the transport unit 3 has completed transporting the output medium PF.

[0052] [External Device 12] The external device 12 is equipped with an application program for operating the can badge production apparatus 300. The application program displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen on the external device 12 and accepts user operations. When a user specifies an image and instructs the production of a can badge 200, the external device 12 references the operating states of the recording unit 1, the crimping unit 100, the conveying unit 3, and the drying unit 13, instructs the recording unit 1 to supply a backing sheet WF and a medium PF, and instructs the control unit 11 to produce the can badge 200.

[0053] [Operation of Can Badge Production Apparatus 300] When the recording unit 1 and control unit 11 of the can badge production apparatus 300 receive a signal instructing production of a can badge 200 from the external device 12, they produce the can badge 200 as shown in Figures 8 and 9. In the following, the conveying unit 3, drying unit 13, and crimping unit 100 operate under the control of the control unit 11.

[0054] The recording unit 1 transports the backing sheet WF to the transport unit 3 (WF transport). In parallel with this, the first loading unit 2 loads the front member SE into the first lower mold M1 located at the loading position P1 (#1 SE loading). In Figure 7, the first lower mold M1 is located at the loading position P1. Also, at the connection position P2, the second lower mold M2 is located below the upper mold M0.

[0055] When the recording unit 1 completes "WF transport," it starts the process of recording a predetermined image on the recording surface of the medium PF and transporting it to the transport unit 3 (PF printing transport). After the transport unit 3 completes "SE filling," the control unit 11 controls the transport unit 3 to transport the backing sheet WF to the first lower mold M1 (#2 WF transport) when the first sensor 31 (located near the discharge outlet of the recording unit 1) detects the backing sheet WF. When the backing sheet WF is transported to the first lower mold M1, the peeling unit 4 presses and fixes the backing sheet connected portion WFb.

[0056] With the backing sheet connected portion WFb pressed and fixed, the transport unit 3 transports the remaining backing sheet portion WFa toward the collection box 9. This causes the backing sheet connected portion WFb to be peeled off (#3 WF Peeling). The transport unit 3 ejects the remaining backing sheet portion WFa into the collection box 9 (#4 WF Discharge). Thereafter, the peeling unit 4 releases the pressed-on fixation of the backing sheet connected portion WFb. In this way, the transport unit 3 and the peeling unit 4 of the crimping unit 100 work together (double lines in Figure 8) to perform "WF Peeling" and "WF Discharge".

[0057] When the transport unit 3 receives the medium PF from the recording unit 1, it transports the medium PF to the first lower mold M1 (#5 PF transport). While the transport unit 3 is transporting the medium PF, the drying unit 13 dries the recording surface of the medium PF (drying during transport). Specifically, the first fan F1, the second fan F2, and the third fan F3 are driven to blow air onto the recording surface of the medium PF, and the first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3 blow air onto the medium PF and heat the medium PF itself, thereby drying the recording surface of the medium PF.

[0058] When the transport unit 3 transports the medium PF to the first lower mold M1, the control unit 11 inputs a signal to that effect to the external device 12. In response to this signal, the external device 12 inputs a signal to the recording unit 1 instructing it to transport the next backing sheet WF, and the recording unit 1 starts transporting the backing sheet WF (WF transport). Meanwhile, the transport unit 3 cooperates with the peeling unit 4 of the crimping unit 100 (double line in Figure 8) to peel off the connected portion PFb of the medium (#6 PF peeling) and discharge the remaining portion PFa of the medium into the collection box 9 (#7 PF discharge), just as in the case of the above-mentioned backing sheet WF.

[0059] The guide unit 5 then rotates the rotary support table 5a to move the first lower mold M1 to the connection position P2 and the second lower mold M2 to the loading position P1 (#8 Rotation). The first lower mold M1 is loaded with the medium connection portion PFb, the liner connection portion WFb, and the front member SE. The connection unit 6 lowers the upper mold M0 onto the first lower mold M1 and connects the medium connection portion PFb, the liner connection portion WFb, and the front member SE by crimping (#9 SE Crimping). The connected medium connection portion PFb, the liner connection portion WFb, and the front member SE are held by the upper mold M0.

[0060] When the recording unit 1 completes the "WF transport," it starts the "PF printing transport" for the next can badge 200 to be produced. The timing for starting this "PF printing transport" is determined based on the time required for the previous "PF printing transport." In "WF discharge," the transport unit 3 rotates the ninth transport roller Ro9 through the twelfth transport roller Ro12 in the opposite direction to that used for transporting the medium PF, in order to discharge the remaining mount portion WFa into the collection box 9. For this reason, the transport unit 3 cannot transport the medium PF in parallel with the "WF discharge," and therefore the timing for starting the "PF printing transport" is determined so that the medium PF is not output to the transport unit 3 before the completion of the "WF discharge."

[0061] When the recording unit 1 completes "WF transport" and the first sensor 31 detects the backing sheet WF, the external device 12 inputs a signal to the control unit 11 instructing the retraction of the backing sheet WF, and the transport unit 3 retracts the backing sheet WF output by the recording unit 1 into the transport unit 3 (WF retraction). After "PF discharge" is completed, "WF retraction" may be performed between "rotation" and "SE crimping." This allows the production of the next can badge 200 to begin sooner. If no backing sheet WF arrives from the recording unit 1, the next "BE loading" is not performed and the unit waits. After "WF retraction" is completed, the second loading unit 7 loads the backing member BE into the second lower mold M2 (#10 BE loading), and the guide unit 5 rotates the rotary support table 5a to move the second lower mold M2 to the connection position P2 and move the first lower mold M1 to the loading position P1 (#11 rotation).

[0062] The connection unit 6 lowers the upper mold M0 toward the second lower mold M2 and crimps the material, which is made up of the medium connection portion PFb, the mount connection portion WFb, and the front member SE held by the upper mold M0, to the back member BE loaded in the second lower mold M2, producing the can badge 200 (#12 BE crimping). After "BE crimping," the guide unit 5 rotates the rotary support table 5a to move the second lower mold M2 to the loading position P1 (#13 Rotation). The removal unit 8 removes the can badge 200 placed on the second lower mold M2 and stores it in the can badge holder 10 (#14 Remove). The guide unit 5 rotates the rotary support table 5a to return the first lower mold M1, which was moved to the connection position P2 in "#13 Rotation," to the loading position P1 (#15 Rotation).

[0063] When continuously producing can badges 200, after "#15 Rotation", the first loading unit 2 loads the front member SE into the first lower mold M1 (#1 SE Load). After "#1 SE Load", the transport unit 3 transports the backing sheet WF that was retracted by "WF Retract" to the first lower mold M1 (#2 WF Transport). The subsequent processing is the same as above.

[0064] [Drying Operation] For "#5 PF Drying," the control unit 11 controls the transport unit 3 and the drying unit 13. As shown in FIG. 10 , when the recording unit 1 completes the "PF Printing Transport" and the first sensor 31 detects the backing sheet WF (S1: Yes), the control unit 11 drives the second fan F2 to start blowing air onto the second path 22 (S2). When the first sensor 31 detects the leading edge of the medium PF (S3: Yes), the control unit 11 drives the transport motor 35 to rotate the first transport roller Ro1 through the twelfth transport roller Ro12, transporting the medium PF at a second speed slower than the first speed (S4). The first speed may be, for example, a transport speed approximately equal to the transport speed of the medium PF by the recording unit 1, or may be the fastest transport speed of the transport unit 3.

[0065] The second speed is determined based on the time required to dry the recording surface of the medium PF between when the first sensor 31 detects the leading edge of the medium PF and when the second sensor 32 detects the leading edge of the medium PF. The control unit 11 drives the first fan F1 to start blowing air into the first path 21 (S5), starts driving the first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3 (S6), and stops the second fan F2 (S7).

[0066] When the second sensor 32 detects the leading edge of the medium PF (S8: Yes), the control unit 11 starts counting the drive amount of the carry motor 35 (S9). As described above, the drive amount of the carry motor 35 is detected by counting pulse signals output by the rotary encoder of the carry motor 35. The control unit 11 changes the transport speed of the medium PF to a first speed and transports the medium PF (S10). The control unit 11 drives the third fan F3 to start blowing air to the third path 23 (S11), stops driving the first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3 (S12), and stops the first fan F1 (S13).

[0067] When the drive amount of the transport motor 35 reaches the predetermined drive amount (S14: Yes), the control unit 11 stops the drive of the transport motor 35, stopping the transport of the medium PF (S15), and stops the third fan F3 (S16). The predetermined drive amount is the drive amount that allows the leading edge of the medium PF to abut against the transport stopper S. The medium PF continues to move due to inertia even after transport stops. For this reason, it is desirable to determine the predetermined drive amount taking into account the amount of movement due to inertia. In this sense, the drive of the transport motor 35 is stopped before the leading edge of the medium PF abuts against the transport stopper S.

[0068] Unlike the medium PF, the backing sheet WF does not have an image recorded on it and does not need to be dried, so the transport unit 3 transports the backing sheet WF from the recording unit 1 to the first lower mold M1 at a first speed. In other words, the transport unit 3 transports the backing sheet WF from the recording unit 1 to the first lower mold M1 in a first time. On the other hand, the medium PF is transported at a second speed that is slower than the first speed along the way, so the transport unit 3 transports the medium PF from the recording unit 1 to the first lower mold M1 in a second time that is longer than the first time.

[0069] [Effects of the embodiment] (1) The first fan F1 blows air onto the recording surface of the medium PF being transported along the first path 21, thereby facilitating drying of the recording surface. This prevents ink from transferring from the wet recording surface to the tenth transport roller Ro10, or from the ink transferred from the first transport roller Ro1 to the tenth transport roller Ro10 onto the recording surface of the subsequent medium PF, thereby preventing image quality degradation. (2) The second fan F2 blows air onto the recording surface of the medium PF being transported along the second path 22, thereby facilitating drying of the recording surface. This prevents the medium PF from being crimped while its recording surface is wet, causing ink bleeding and image quality degradation. (3) The third fan F3 blows air onto the recording surface of the medium PF being transported along the third path 23, thereby facilitating drying of the recording surface. The amount of ink adhering to the recording surface varies depending on the color of the image. Using the third fan F3 ensures that the recording surface is dried reliably, even when a large amount of ink is adhering. (4) Because the first fan F1 blows air heated by the first heater H1, the time required to dry the recording surface of the medium PF is less dependent on the ambient temperature. (5) In the first path 21, the second heater H2 and the third heater H3 heat the medium PF while transporting it at a second speed slower than the first speed, thereby accelerating the drying of the recording surface. Therefore, if the recording surface is not dry, even a uniform image without shading may experience variations in shading due to ink bleeding, as shown in FIG. 13A. However, by drying the recording surface, the occurrence of variations in shading in the image due to ink bleeding can be suppressed, as shown in FIG. 13B. Thus, according to the above-described embodiment, the recording surface can be reliably dried, thereby suppressing image quality degradation due to ink bleeding.

[0070] [Modifications] (1) [Arrangement of Fan and Heater] In the above embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, a configuration in which the first heater H1 is arranged on the intake side of the first fan F1 has been described as an example, but the first heater H1 may also be arranged on the delivery side of the first fan F1. Heaters may also be arranged for the second fan F2 and the third fan F3, and air heated by the heaters may be blown into the second path 22 and the third path 23. The heaters may be provided adjacent to the second path 22 and the third path 23 and face the medium PF. In a configuration in which the heater faces the medium PF, the heater may face the recording surface of the medium PF or the back side of the recording surface.

[0071] The drying unit 13 may include one or more of the first fan F1, the second fan F2, the third fan F3, the first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3. For example, only the first fan F1 may be used, or only the first fan F1 and the first heater H1 may be used. Furthermore, when at least one of the second heater H2 and the third heater H3 is used, the third fan F3 may be used to cool the medium PF. When a particularly large amount of ink adheres to the recording surface of the medium PF, the second fan F2 may be used in addition to the other fans and heaters. Other combinations are also possible, and omitting unused fans and heaters can reduce the component and manufacturing costs of the drying unit 13. Furthermore, the recording surface of the medium PF may be dried using means other than the first fan F1, the second fan F2, the third fan F3, the first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3.

[0072] (2) [Pause and Dry] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the transport speed of the medium PF is set to a second speed, which is slower than the first speed, from the time the first sensor 31 detects the medium PF until the second sensor 32 detects the medium PF. However, instead of this, the medium PF may be stopped for a predetermined time at the blowing position of the first fan F1. The position at which the medium PF is stopped may be, for example, the time when the count of the drive amount of the transport motor 35 starts when the first sensor 31 detects the medium PF and the drive amount reaches a predetermined amount.

[0073] (3) [Specifying Drying Section Using Drive Amount] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the transport speed of medium PF is set to a first speed, which is faster than the second speed, when second sensor 32 detects medium PF. However, the section in which the transport speed of medium PF is increased may be defined using the drive amount of transport motor 35 instead of the detection signal of second sensor 32. For example, counting the drive amount of transport motor 35 may start when first sensor 31 detects medium PF, and when the drive amount reaches a predetermined amount, the transport speed of medium PF may be set to the first speed.

[0074] (4) [Environmental Sensor] The badge production device 300 may be equipped with an environmental sensor. The control unit 11 may control the airflow of the first fan F1, the second fan F2, and the third fan F3, and the heating output of the first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3, depending on the temperature and humidity detected by the environmental sensor. For example, the drying unit 13 may be stopped during high-temperature drying, which allows the recording surface of the medium PF to dry naturally. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , the transport unit 3 transports the medium PF at a first speed in "#5 PF Transport." Therefore, the time the medium PF spends in the transport unit 3 is shorter than the time required for the recording unit 1 to perform "WF Transport." Therefore, the recording unit 1 can start "WF Transport" without waiting for the transport unit 3 to complete "#5 PF Transport." This stops the drying unit 13, thereby reducing power consumption and shortening the time required to produce the badge 200.

[0075] (5) [Configuration without External Device 12] In the above embodiment, the controller 106 of the recording unit 1 and the control unit 11 are connected via the external device 12. However, the controller 106 of the recording unit 1 and the control unit 11 may be directly connected. In this case, the control unit 11 may use the first sensor 31 to detect that the recording unit 1 has output the backing sheet WF and the medium PF, start the processes from "#2 WF transport" and "#5 PF transport" onwards, and after "#5 PF transport" is completed, input a signal to the controller 106 of the recording unit 1 instructing the start of "WF transport". Alternatively, the controller 106 of the recording unit 1 may input a signal to the control unit 11 instructing the start of "#2 WF transport" and "#5 PF transport", input a signal to the control unit 11 inquiring whether "# PF transport" has been completed, and determine the timing for the recording unit 1 to start "WF transport" from the response signal.

[0076] (6) [Adjusting Drying Time] In the above embodiment, the second speed is fixed, meaning that the transport time of the medium PF on the first path 21 is fixed. However, the control unit 11 may adjust the second speed. For example, the time required to dry the recorded surface of the medium PF increases as the amount of ink adhering to the recorded surface increases, and decreases as the amount of ink adhered decreases. Therefore, the control unit 11 may slow the second speed if the amount of ink adhered is large to ensure that the recorded surface dries, and speed the second speed if the amount of ink adhered is small to shorten the production time of the can badge 200. This allows for both improved quality of the can badge 200 and a shorter production time. The amount of ink adherence may be determined, for example, from image data. Specifically, the amount of ink adherence can be estimated by counting the number of types of ink used for each pixel and adding up the counts for all pixels. Needless to say, other methods may be used to estimate the amount of ink adherence, and the second speed may be adjusted using an indicator other than ink adherence.

[0077] (7) [Designation of first path 21] In the above embodiment, an example was given in which the drying operation is performed from the time the first sensor 31 detects the leading edge of the medium PF until the second sensor 32 detects the leading edge of the medium PF. However, instead of this, the drying operation may be performed from (a) the time the first sensor 31 detects the leading edge of the medium PF until the second sensor 32 detects the trailing edge of the medium PF, (b) the time the first sensor 31 detects the trailing edge of the medium PF until the second sensor 32 detects the leading edge of the medium PF, or (c) the time the first sensor 31 detects the trailing edge of the medium PF until the second sensor 32 detects the trailing edge of the medium PF.

[0078] (8) [Heater Control] In the above embodiment, the first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3 are started to be driven when the first sensor 31 detects the leading edge of the medium PF (S3: Yes). However, the following configuration may be adopted instead. The first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3 may be started to be driven before the first sensor 31 detects the leading edge of the medium PF. For example, the control unit 11 may start driving the first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3 when it receives a signal from the recording unit 1 indicating that the PF printing and transport is complete. Furthermore, the control unit 11 may start driving the first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3 when the recording unit 1 starts the PF printing and transport or when the crimping unit 100 loads the surface member SE into the first loading unit 2. If it takes time for the first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3 to heat up, the time required to dry the recording surface of the medium PF can be shortened by advancing the timing at which the first heater H1, the second heater H2, and the third heater H3 start to be driven.

[0079] (9) [Setting Drying Time, Registering a Job, and Adjusting an Image] The external device 12 displays, for example, the following GUI screen when setting a drying time, registering a job, and adjusting an image.

[0080] 14, the external device 12 displays a setting screen 210 to accept the setting of the drying time. The setting screen 210 has a list box 211. The list box 211 is a so-called setting menu. The list box 211 displays "Print Settings," "Drying Time," "Connection Settings," "Initialization," "Log Export," "Error List," and "Information Display," and accepts the selection of any of these items. When "Drying Time" is selected in the list box 211, the external device 12 switches the display of the setting screen 210 to a display for setting the "Drying Time."

[0081] The external device 12 displays a check box 212, radio buttons 213 and 214, and numeric input fields 215 and 216 as a display for accepting the setting of the "drying time." When the check box 212 is checked, the external device 12 enables drying time control. The radio buttons 213 and 214 accept the designation of the detection position of the medium PF in the conveying unit 3 as a reference position for specifying the stop position for drying the medium PF in the conveying unit 3. The external device 12 alternatively accepts the selection of the radio buttons 213 and 214. When the radio button 213 is selected, the external device 12 sets the detection position of the first sensor 31 as the reference position for specifying the stop position of the medium PF. When the radio button 214 is selected, the external device 12 sets the detection position of the second sensor 32 as the reference position for specifying the stop position of the medium PF. The numeric input field 215 accepts the distance from the reference position in millimeters as the stop position of the medium PF. The position data in millimeters is converted into the number of driving pulses of the transport motor 35. The numerical input field 216 accepts the drying time of the medium PF in milliseconds. Note that drying is not performed when the drying time is 0 milliseconds. Therefore, the medium PF is transported to the first lower mold M1 without stopping. The drying time and stop position of the medium PF set on the setting screen 210 are default settings that apply to all jobs, in other words, all images. Because the ease of drying varies from image to image, the drying time and stop position of the medium PF can be changed on a job-by-job basis, i.e., for each image.

[0082] The external device 12 stores the set drying time and stop position in a preset time / position table. The preset time / position table associates two parameter settings, a preset code and a time / position. In FIG. 15A, A, B, and C are preset codes. "Time" is stop time information specifying the time for the medium PF to stop at the stop position facing the drying unit 13. In other words, it is the time for the conveying unit 3 to stop conveying the medium PF and dry it. "Position" is position information specifying the stop position for the medium PF on the second path 22, and is defined by the number of drive pulses from the reference position at which counting of drive pulses of the conveying motor 35 begins. The stop position is a position facing the drying unit 13 where the medium PF can be dried by the drying unit 13 through air blowing and heating. The stop position of the medium PF may be changeable for each model of the badge production apparatus 300. Conveyance control of the conveying unit 3 may vary depending on the parameters. If the transport control differs, the print pre-read time, which is the time required for printing plus the waiting time, differs, and therefore the print timing may also differ.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 16 , the external device 12 displays a job registration screen 220 and accepts the registration of one job for each image. The job registration screen 220 displays a file selection dialog box 221, a job registration screen preview area 224, an image adjustment button 225, a numeric input counter 226, and a start production button 227. The file selection dialog box 221 accepts the selection of an image file to be used for the can badge 200. The file selection dialog box 221 has a folder text field 222 and a file list 223. The folder text field 222 accepts the designation of a folder that manages the image files to be used for the can badge 200. The external device 12 sets the designated folder as a job submission folder. The file list 223 displays a list of files managed by the folder designated in the folder text field 222 and accepts the selection of an image file.

[0084] The job registration screen preview area 224 displays a preview of the image file selected in the file selection dialog box 221. In the image previewed in the job registration screen preview area 224, the finished area is indicated by a dashed line and the roll-up area by a dot-dash line. The finished area is the area that will be shown on the front side of the can badge 200. The roll-up area is the area that will be rolled up on the back side of the front member SE by the crimping process. The image adjustment button 225 is a button for displaying the image adjustment screen, which will be described later. The numerical input counter 226 accepts the number of can badges 200 to be produced. The start production button 227 is a button that instructs the system to start manufacturing the can badges 200 in accordance with the above specifications.

[0085] 17 , the external device 12 displays an image adjustment screen 230 to accept adjustments to the image to be used on the can badge 200. The image adjustment screen 230 has an image adjustment screen preview area 231, a layout area 232, a print setting area 239, an image area 241, and a fan operation mode area 248.

[0086] [Image Adjustment Screen Preview Area 231] The image adjustment screen preview area 231 is an area that displays the image being adjusted. Like the job registration screen preview area 224, the image adjustment screen preview area 231 also indicates the finishing area with a dashed line and the wrap-around area with a dashed line.

[0087] [Layout Area 232] The layout area 232 receives the designation of the image layout. The layout area 232 has numeric input fields 233, 235, and 237.

[0088] [Image Scaling] The numeric input field 233 accepts the image scaling ratio in 1% increments. When producing the badge 200, the image is scaled by the specified scaling ratio and recorded. The image scaling ratio can also be increased or decreased using the spin button 234.

[0089] [Position] The numeric input field 235 accepts the position of the finished area in the image. The external device 12 can also accept changes to the position of the finished area in one-dot increments by tapping or clicking an arrow button 236 with up / down and left / right arrows. Each time the position is changed, the external device 12 displays the image at the changed position in the image adjustment screen preview area 231. When the can badge 200 is produced, the image is displaced and recorded on the medium PF by the number of dots accepted in the numeric input field 235.

[0090] [Rotation] The numerical input field 237 accepts the rotation angle of the finishing area in the image. The external device 12 can also accept changes to the rotation angle of the finishing area in one-degree increments using the spin button 238. Each time the rotation angle is changed, the external device 12 displays the image rotated by the changed rotation angle in the image adjustment screen preview area 231. When creating the can badge 200, the image is rotated by the specified rotation angle and recorded on the medium PF. The numerical input field 235 accepts the rotation angle in one-degree increments. The rotation center may be the upper left corner of the image or the center of the finishing area immediately before the rotation angle is changed. The rotation center may also be a position other than these.

[0091] [Print Settings Area 239] The print settings area 239 accepts whether or not finishing / wrapping correction is required. Finishing / wrapping correction is a correction that is performed when both the finishing area and the wrapping area, or only the wrapping area, include an area outside the image. Since there is no image data in that area, the area is selected to either not record an image in that area or to fill that area with the color of the image edge. In this embodiment, when the check box 240 is checked, finishing / wrapping correction is performed. Note that a GUI component other than a check box, such as a toggle switch, may also be used.

[0092] [Image Area 241] The image area 241 accepts image quality adjustments. The image area 241 has numerical input fields 242, 244, and 246, and sliders 243, 245, and 247. The sliders 243, 245, and 247 are GUI components for changing the numerical values ​​in the numerical input fields 242, 244, and 246 through simple operations while referring to the image quality adjustment results displayed in the image adjustment screen preview area 231. Numeric values ​​can also be typed into the numerical input fields 242, 244, and 246. The numerical input field 242 accepts designation of image contrast. The numerical input field 244 accepts designation of image brightness. The numerical input field 246 accepts designation of image sharpness.

[0093] [FAN Operation Mode Area 248] The FAN operation mode area 248 accepts the designation of a FAN operation mode. In this embodiment, the designation of one of FAN operation mode A, FAN operation mode B, and FAN operation mode C is accepted using radio buttons 249. However, the designation of a FAN operation mode may also be accepted using a GUI component other than the radio buttons 249, such as a check box. In this embodiment, the designation is accepted from a preset set in the preset time / position table. For example, if FAN operation mode A is designated, the "time" and "position" for which the "preset" column of the preset time / position table is A are referenced.

[0094] When the Apply button 250 is touched or clicked, the external device 12 registers the job in the job table. As shown in FIG. 15B , the job table records, for each job ID, the identification information of the print image, the number of badges to be produced, the fan drying time, and the fan stop position. In this embodiment, the external device 12 stores the file name of the print image received in the file list 223 in the job table as the identification information of the print image. The external device 12 stores the number received in the numeric input counter 226 as the number to be produced in the job table. The fan drying time is the time during which the transport unit 3 stops transporting the medium PF to dry it. The fan stop position is the position at which the transport unit 3 stops transporting the medium PF. The external device 12 stores the time / position corresponding to the preset received in the fan operation mode area 248 as the fan drying time and the fan stop position. 15B, preset A is applied to jobs with job IDs 0 to 2, and preset B and preset C are applied to jobs with job IDs 3 and 4, respectively. Also, a fan stop position that is not preset, such as for a job with job ID 5, may be manually input.

[0095] [Operation Flow] Figures 18 and 19 are flow diagrams illustrating the cooperative operation between the badge production device 300 and the external device 12. Figure 18 shows the first half of the operation flow, and Figure 19 shows the second half. The solid-line rectangle represents the processing of the badge production device 300, and the dashed-line rectangle represents the processing of the external device 12. In "Initial Settings," the external device 12 accepts the setting of an initial value for the drying mode (S21). The default setting may be used as the initial value for the drying mode. In "Read," the external device 12 accepts the designation of a job submission folder (S22). The external device 12 reads jobs from the job submission folder and creates a job table (S23).

[0096] In "First Badge Production," the external device 12 references the job table and specifies FAN mode for the badge production device 300 (S24). The badge production device 300 receives the FAN mode specification from the external device 12 (S25). The badge production device 300 retains the received FAN mode specification. Next, when the external device 12 instructs the badge production device 300 to start producing the badge 200 (S26), the badge production device 300 begins producing the badge 200 (S27). Specifically, the front member SE is loaded into the first lower mold M1. Next, the external device 12 instructs the printing of the backing sheet WF (S28). In response to this instruction, the badge production device 300 transports the backing sheet WF to the first lower mold M1, peels off the backing sheet connection portion WFb, and loads it (S29). The badge production device 300 references the operation parameter table.

[0097] The operation parameter table is a table that records parameters for operating the conveying unit 3, as shown in FIG. 15(C). In this embodiment, a conveying distance and a conveying speed are specified for each conveying section. There are three conveying sections: a section from when the first sensor 31 turns on until the first sensor 31 turns off, a section from when the first sensor 31 turns off until the second sensor 32 turns on, and a section from when the second sensor 32 turns on. The conveying distance may differ for each section and is specified by the number of drive pulses of the conveying motor 35. The conveying speed is specified by the number of drive pulses per unit time. Because the backing sheet WF does not require drying processing, the conveying unit 3 operates in accordance with the operation parameters and does not stop.

[0098] While the badge production device 300 performs the conveying / peeling / loading of the backing sheet WF (S29), the external device 12 instructs the badge production device 300 to print on the medium PF (S30). The badge production device 300 performs printing on the medium PF using the recording unit 1 and simultaneously determines the PF printing time required for printing on the medium PF through actual measurement. In the "first production," the PF printing time is the time from completion of printing on the backing sheet WF to completion of printing on the medium PF minus the time the medium PF is stopped. The badge production device 300 performs a combination of drying (S31) and conveying / peeling / loading (S32) for the medium PF. The badge production device 300 references the operating parameters shown in FIG. 15(C) and the drying parameters shown in FIG. 15(D). That is, the transport of the medium PF is started according to the operation parameters, and if the drying parameters are valid, the transport of the medium PF is stopped at the stop position, and after the medium PF is held in a stopped state for the stop time, the transport of the medium PF is resumed according to the operation parameters. The transport amount after resumption is the transport amount obtained by subtracting the transport amount from the time the first sensor 31 turns on to the time the second sensor 32 turns on in FIG. 15C from the transport amount from the time the first sensor 31 turns on to the time the transport of the medium PF is stopped. The stop position and stop time of the drying parameters may be the fan stop position and fan stop time in the job table, or may be user-set as needed.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 19 , after the drying of the medium PF (S31) and the transport / peel-loading (S32) are completed, the external device 12 instructs the badge production device 300 to print the backing sheet WF for producing the second badge 200 (S33). Concurrently, the badge production device 300 performs the remaining production steps for the first badge 200 (S34). The recording unit 1 and the crimping unit 100 can simultaneously execute processes in parallel. After the first loading unit 2 loads the front member SE of the second badge 200 into the first lower mold M1, the transport unit 3 begins transporting / peel-loading the backing sheet WF of the second badge 200 so that the backing sheet WF of the second badge 200 is transported to the first lower mold M1. In this modified example, at the time when the removal unit 8 removes the first can badge 200 and collects it in the can badge container 10, the transport unit 3 begins transporting / peeling / loading the backing sheet WF of the second can badge 200. While the transporting / peeling / loading of the backing sheet WF of the second can badge 200 is being performed, the first loading unit 2 loads the front member SE of the second can badge 200 into the first lower mold M1.

[0100] The recording unit 1 starts printing on the medium PF of the second can badge 200 so that the medium PF of the second can badge 200 is output to the conveying unit 3 at the timing when the conveying unit 3 completes conveying / peeling / loading the backing sheet WF of the second can badge 200 (S35). Therefore, the recording unit 1 starts printing on the medium PF of the second can badge 200 at a timing that precedes the expected completion timing of conveying / peeling / loading the backing sheet WF of the second can badge 200 by the PF printing time determined by actual measurement in "production of first badge." While the recording unit 1 is printing on the medium PF of the second can badge 200, the conveying unit 3 completes conveying / peeling / loading the backing sheet WF of the second can badge 200 (S36). Thereafter, the conveying unit 3 performs drying (S37) and conveying / peeling / loading (S38) using the medium PF of the second can badge 200 output by the recording unit 1. In this way, it is possible to quickly complete the production of the second can badge 200. The same effect can be obtained for the third and subsequent can badges 200.

[0101] In the above description, the PF printing time is determined by actual measurement during "production of the first badge," but the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the PF printing time setting may be accepted using an external device 12, etc. Also, the PF printing time determined by actual measurement during "production of the first badge" may be stored after the can badge 200 is produced, and the stored PF printing time may be used the next time the same can badge 200 is produced using the same image. For example, a column for PF printing time may be provided in the job table, and the accepted PF printing time setting and the PF printing time determined by actual measurement may be recorded.

[0102] [Determining PF Printing Time by Actual Measurement] The PF printing time for "first production" can be determined by actual measurement, for example, as follows. First, the length Tm of the measurable section is measured from the time when the backing sheet WF is transported to the first lower mold M1 until the time when the medium PF is transported to the first lower mold M1. In FIG. 8 , the measurable section Tm is from the completion of the first "#2 WF transport" to the completion of "#5 PF transport." Furthermore, "PF printing transport" corresponds to the adopted time T adopted as the PF printing time. To determine the adopted time T using the actually measured measurable section Tm, the time t1 required for "#2 WF transport," the time t2 required for "#5 PF transport," and the time t3 required for drying, which is performed by interrupting "#5 PF transport," are used to calculate as in the following equation (1): T = Tm + t1 - t2 - t3 (1) Note that t1 and t2 have little fluctuation, so fixed values ​​can be used. In addition, a user-set value is used for t3. In this way, the PF printing time can be determined by actual measurement.

[0103] (10) [Conveying Motor 35] As described above, the conveying motor 35 may be a motor other than a DC motor. For example, when a stepping motor is used as the conveying motor 35, the control device 110 controls the pulse signal input to the conveying motor 35 by the second drive circuit 115, thereby controlling the conveying speed and conveying distance of the medium PF.

[0104] 1... Recording unit 3... Conveying unit 11... Control unit 13... Drying unit 21... First path 22... Second path 23... Third path 31... First sensor 32... Second sensor 33... Third sensor 35... Conveying motor 100... Crimping unit 200... Can badge 300... Can badge manufacturing device BE... Backing member F1... First fan F2... Second fan F3... Third fan H1... First heater H2... Second heater H3... Third heater M0... Upper mold M1... First lower mold M2... Second lower mold PF... Medium PFa... Remaining portion of medium PFb... Portion to be connected of medium SE... Front member WF... Mounting sheet WFa... Remaining portion of mounting sheet WFb... Portion to be connected of mounting sheet

Claims

1. A can badge manufacturing device comprising: a recording unit that records an image on the recording surface of a medium by ejecting ink; a crimping unit that has a mold in which a front member and the medium are placed and crimps the medium, front member, and back member together to produce a can badge; a transport unit that transports the medium from the recording unit to the mold; and a drying unit that is adjacent to the transport path of the medium from the recording unit to the mold and dries the recording surface of the medium.

2. The can badge manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drying section is located in the conveying section.

3. A can badge manufacturing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the conveying path has a first path extending in the vertical direction, and the drying unit is positioned relative to the first path in the direction in which the recording surface faces when the medium is positioned on the first path, and has a fan capable of blowing air towards the first path.

4. The can badge manufacturing device of claim 1, wherein the conveying path comprises a first path extending in the vertical direction, a second path located between the recording unit and the upstream end of the first path in the conveying direction, and a third path located between the downstream end of the first path in the conveying direction and the mold, and the drying unit is located in the direction in which the recorded surface faces when the medium is located on the second path, relative to the second path, and is a fan capable of blowing air toward the second path.

5. The can badge manufacturing device according to claim 3, wherein the drying section further has a heater, and the fan blows air heated by the heater toward the first path.

6. A can badge manufacturing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveying path comprises a first path extending in the vertical direction, a second path located between the recording unit and the upstream end of the first path in the conveying direction, and a third path located between the downstream end of the first path in the conveying direction and the mold, and the drying unit is provided adjacent to the first path and has a heater facing the medium.

7. A can badge manufacturing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a control unit, wherein the recording unit is capable of supplying the medium on which the image is recorded and a backing sheet on which no image is recorded to the conveying unit, and the control unit operates the drying unit when the medium is conveyed through the conveying unit, and does not operate the drying unit when the backing sheet is conveyed through the conveying unit.

8. A can badge manufacturing device according to claim 4 or 6, further comprising: a sensor for detecting the medium in the second path; and a control unit, wherein the control unit operates the drying unit based on a signal output by the sensor.

9. A can badge manufacturing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a control unit, wherein the recording unit is capable of supplying the medium on which the image is recorded and a backing sheet on which no image is recorded to the conveying unit, and the control unit causes the conveying unit to convey the backing sheet from the recording unit to the mold in a first time, and causes the conveying unit to convey the medium from the recording unit to the mold in a second time longer than the first time.

10. A can badge manufacturing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit causes the conveying unit to stop the medium for a predetermined period of time at a stopping position opposite the drying unit.

11. The can badge manufacturing device described in claim 10, wherein the control unit executes a job for the can badge manufacturing device to create the can badge, the job includes image data indicating an image to be recorded on the medium by the recording unit and stop time information specifying the specified time, and the control unit stops the medium for the specified time at a stop position opposite the drying unit by the conveying unit based on the stop time information.

12. A can badge manufacturing device according to claim 4 or 6, further comprising: a sensor for detecting the medium on the second path; and a control unit, wherein the control unit executes a job for the can badge manufacturing device to produce the can badge, the job including image data indicating an image to be recorded on the medium by the recording unit and position information specifying a stop position at which the medium is to be stopped on the transport path, and the control unit stops the medium at the stop position for a predetermined time based on the position information using the signal output by the sensor as a reference, by the transport unit.

Images