Thermal Transfer Printing Apparatus for Card Side Face Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal transfer printing technologies are limited in their ability to form images on both the principal surface and side face of cards, and in creating unique printed products by stacking cards with images on their side faces.
Innovation Solution
A thermal transfer printing apparatus that includes a first feeding unit for an intermediate transfer medium with a transfer layer, a second feeding unit for a thermal transfer sheet, a printing unit for forming images on the transfer layer, and a transfer unit with heat rollers and a pressing member to transfer the image onto both the principal surface and side face of a card, allowing for the formation of sub-images on the side face by dividing the image into stripes or checkers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional thermal transfer printing is used, then images can be formed on the principal surface of cards, but images cannot be formed on the side face of cards
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extends image formation from the traditional 2D principal surface to include the 3D side face of cards. The transfer unit is configured to wrap the intermediate transfer medium around the card, enabling thermal transfer onto the side face surface that was previously inaccessible to conventional printing heads.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer unit serves multiple functions: it transfers images to both the principal surface and the side face of cards using the same intermediate transfer medium. This multi-functional capability allows a single apparatus to perform what would traditionally require separate printing operations.
2Ease of manufacture
If images are formed only on the principal surface of cards, then the printing process is simple, but unique printed products cannot be created by stacking cards
Solution Approach 1:
By adding side face image formation capability, the invention enables three-dimensional visual effects when cards are stacked. Images wrapped around the sides of stacked cards create cohesive visual narratives that extend beyond the flat 2D surface, allowing for unique product designs that leverage the vertical stacking dimension.
3Device complexity
If the transfer unit only transfers images to the principal surface, then the transfer process is simple, but images cannot appear on the side face of card stacks
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer unit is configured to wrap the intermediate transfer medium around the card edges, extending image transfer from the flat principal surface to the vertical side faces. This dimensional extension allows images to be positioned on all surfaces of stacked cards, creating continuous visual effects across multiple cards.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer process is segmented into different zones: the transfer unit handles both the principal surface transfer and the side face transfer using the same intermediate transfer medium. This segmentation allows independent control of image placement on different card surfaces while maintaining a unified transfer mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the formation of images on both the principal surface and side face of cards, allowing an image to appear on the side face of a card stack, enhancing the uniqueness of printed products by creating a cohesive image across multiple cards.
Implementation Method 1
a printing unit for heating the thermal transfer sheet based on image data and transferring an ink of the colorant layer onto the transfer layer to form an image
Implementation Method 2
a transfer unit for heating the intermediate transfer medium and transferring the transfer layer having the image formed thereon onto a principal surface and a side face of a card
Data Source
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Figure 6a~7
AI summary
An image is formed on a principal surface and a side face of a card. A thermal transfer printing apparatus includes a first feeding unit configured to feed an intermediate transfer medium including a transfer layer that is disposed on one surface of a substrate in such a manner as to be peelable from the substrate, a second feeding unit configured to feed a thermal transfer sheet including a colorant layer disposed on one surface of a base material, a printing unit configured to heat the thermal transfer sheet based on image data and transfer an ink of the colorant layer onto the transfer layer to form an image, and a transfer unit configured to heat the intermediate transfer medium and transfer the transfer layer having the image formed thereon onto a principal surface and a side face of the card.