Duplex Thermal Transfer Printing on Roll Sheets

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional thermal transfer printers face challenges in efficiently printing on both sides of roll sheets, particularly when creating photograph books, as they require manual effort and time for bookbinding, and existing duplex printing methods are not optimized for roll sheets.

Innovation Solution

A duplex printing method using thermal transfer sheets with a color material layer, where the first thermal transfer sheet is pressed against the roll sheet with a platen roller and thermal head to print one side, and the process is repeated with a second thermal transfer sheet to print the opposite side, ensuring accurate alignment and efficient conveyance using nip rollers and platen rollers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual bookbinding is performed after printing photographs on both sides, then photograph books can be created, but time and effort are required for sticking receiver paper to booklets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of bookbindingVSAvoidtime for bookbinding

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the printing process with the bookbinding process by integrating a folding unit into the printer. After duplex printing on roll sheets, the folding unit automatically folds the printed sheets along predetermined lines to create booklets, eliminating the separate manual bookbinding step and reducing both time and effort required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The printer performs bookbinding operations automatically without requiring manual intervention. The folding unit is controlled by the printer's control unit, which automatically folds printed sheets based on stored folding information, enabling the system to service itself and eliminate manual bookbinding labor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If duplex printing is performed on cut sheets using conventional methods, then both sides can be printed, but the process is not optimized for roll sheets and requires sheet cutting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting efficiencyVSAvoidcomplexity of printing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the printing process into distinct phases: printing on roll sheets in continuous form, then folding and cutting the printed roll sheets into individual booklets. This allows the printer to optimize for roll sheet printing without requiring pre-cutting, improving productivity while managing complexity through process segmentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from printing on two-dimensional cut sheets to printing on continuous roll sheets, adding the dimension of continuous material feed. This dimensional change enables more efficient duplex printing without the need for repeated sheet loading and cutting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Manufacturing precision

If images are printed on roll sheets without folding, then duplex printing can be performed, but bookbinding quality is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidsimplicity of process

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary folding of the printed roll sheets along predetermined fold lines before final cutting into booklets. This preliminary folding action ensures proper alignment and creasing of pages, maintaining high manufacturing precision while keeping the overall process simple through automated integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This method enables high-quality duplex printing on roll sheets, reducing the time and effort required for bookbinding, allowing for the creation of richly designed photograph books with correctly aligned images on both sides, and can be performed using standard-sized equipment.

Implementation Method 1

making the 1st thermal head to generate heat according to image data while conveying the 1st thermal transfer sheet and the roll sheet, transferring a color material of a color material layer of the 1st thermal transfer sheet to the 1st surface of the roll sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS8773483B2Duplex printing method, bookbinding method, printer for use in duplex printing method

Publication Date: 2014.07.08 DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO LTD

AI summary

A method for printing on both sides of a roll sheet including superimposing and pressing a thermal transfer sheet and the roll sheet between a platen roller and a thermal head so that the bottom surface of the thermal transfer sheet touches the top surface of the roll sheet and the bottom surface of the roll sheet touches the platen roller, and printing an image on the top surface of the roll sheet while conveying the sheets; and superimposing and pressing a thermal transfer sheet and the roll sheet between a platen roller and a thermal head so that the top surface of the thermal transfer sheet touches the bottom surface of the roll sheet and the top surface of the roll sheet touches the platen roller, and printing an image on the bottom surface of the roll sheet while conveying the sheets.