Protective Patch Ribbon for Laminator-Free Edge Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protective patch ribbons for thermal transfer printers require a separate laminator for attaching a protective patch, leading to reduced process efficiency and poor image quality, especially in edge regions of the recording medium.
Innovation Solution
A protective patch ribbon comprising a peeling body with a transport film and cohesion layer, a patch shape-imparting body with a cut-out area, and an image receiving layer, allowing direct image printing without a laminator, while ensuring high-quality image transfer and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate laminator is used to attach protective patch, then physical protection is provided, but process efficiency is reduced and additional equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The protective patch ribbon integrates the protective patch and retransfer intermediate transfer medium into a single laminated structure. The transport film serves as both the carrier for the protective patch and the intermediate transfer medium, eliminating the need for separate lamination equipment and processes while maintaining both protection and printing functions
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional direct thermal transfer is used, then process simplicity is maintained, but image quality deteriorates in edge regions
Solution Approach 1:
The protective patch ribbon acts as an intermediary medium between the printer and the recording medium. The image is first transferred to the image receiving layer on the protective patch ribbon, then retransferred to the recording medium through thermal lamination. This two-step process using the protective patch ribbon as mediator enables high-quality edge printing while maintaining process simplicity
3Reliability
If protective patch is attached after printing, then protection is provided, but additional equipment and time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The protective patch is prepared in advance as a laminated structure with the retransfer intermediate transfer medium. The image receiving layer is pre-formed on the protective patch ribbon before the printing process, allowing the protective function to be integrated into the printing process itself rather than added as a separate post-processing step
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 high-quality image printing on the edge regions of the recording medium without a laminator, preventing physical damage and forgery, and enhancing durability of the transferred records.
Implementation Method 1
a transport film and a patch film base material which are laminated by a cohesion layer
Implementation Method 2
it may further include a release layer positioned between the image receiving layer and the primer layer
Implementation Method 3
the desired image is first printed onto an intermediate transfer medium and then transferred onto the recording medium through thermal lamination
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a protective patch ribbon for thermal transfer printers that allows images or intended information to be directly to be recorded onto the patch shape-imparting body using existing retransfer printers without requiring a separate laminator, as well as effectively preventing physical damage to the records transferred onto the recording medium and preventing forgery or tampering of the transferred records. The protective patch ribbon includes: a peeling body comprising a transport film that undergoes repeated unrolling and winding, and a cohesion layer located on at least one side of the transport film; a patch shape-imparting body comprising a structure in which a patch film base material and a primer layer are sequentially stacked on the cohesion layer, wherein the structure includes a cut-out area; and an image receiving layer located on the patch shape-imparting body, wherein the patch shape transferred to the recording medium is defined by the cut-out area.