JP2001205990A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] A pressing force at the time of transfer does not become uneven due to a change in the thickness of a transfer body. Also, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that transfers a uniform and beautiful image forming layer without transfer defects, poor adhesion, poor transfer, and the like without partial transfer of the image forming layer on the intermediate transfer film. An image forming apparatus writes an image on an image forming layer of a transfer medium for re-transfer and re-transfers the image to a transfer target. The pressing member that presses from the opposite side of the transfer medium has lifting / lowering means whose lifting amount changes in accordance with the height of the transfer receiving surface of the transfer target body. The transfer surface of the body is arranged to act to bend.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a transfer medium in which an image has been recorded on an image forming layer on a substrate by thermal recording or other means, and transfers the image forming layer from the transfer medium to a transfer target. Transfer to form an image on a transfer-receiving body, particularly, the transfer-receiving body has a sheet shape,
Alternatively, the present invention relates to an image forming method and an image forming apparatus that form a booklet and that form a booklet and an arbitrary page in the text efficiently and beautifully.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an inverted transfer image is formed on an image forming layer of an intermediate transfer medium on which an image is formed on one surface, and the image information is transferred to an object to be transferred. An image forming method for forming an image has been proposed.

In this method, an intermediate transfer film serving as a transfer medium has a substrate and an image forming layer, and in primary transfer, ink of an ink ribbon is printed on the intermediate transfer film by a thermal head. After the image formation on the image forming layer, the printed image on the intermediate transfer film is moved onto the transfer receiving body, and is heated and pressed by the heating and pressurizing means to perform the secondary transfer. As a result, the image forming layer is transferred to the surface of the transfer object, and the image formed on the image formation layer is also transferred. When the intermediate transfer film is peeled off from the transfer object, a transfer image is formed on the surface of the transfer object. (A).

According to this method, for example, paper (plain paper,
Various types of materials such as high quality paper, art paper, synthetic paper, processed paper, etc.) and plastic goods, metal goods, glasses, ceramics, etc. can be handled. It is possible to form an image on a wide variety of booklets, or various sheet-shaped or card-shaped ones.

FIG. 1 shows a secondary transfer portion of an image forming apparatus for executing the image forming method (a), in which a transfer target is a booklet, and which is heated and pressurized by a pressing means. Heat roll 1 with heating means (not shown)
, The intermediate transfer film 3 hung on the guide roll 5 and the peeling roll 6 and the booklet 4 between the pressure roll 2 and the press roll 2, and at least the heat roll 1, the pressure roll 2, and the booklet 4 One of the image forming layers 7 existing on the side of the booklet 4 on the
Is transferred onto the surface to be transferred. An oblique line 8 in FIG. 1 indicates a transfer image in the middle of the transfer process. In addition, each figure shown after FIG. 2 is a side view seen from the instep side in FIG.

[0006]

However, when the transfer is performed by such an image forming apparatus, the transfer target is a booklet-shaped one, and when the transfer is performed to an arbitrary text page, the text below the transfer surface is not transferred. Due to the thickness of the page, the pressing force at the time of transfer becomes non-uniform, and as a result, transfer failure such as lack of transfer and poor adhesion occurs (b). Further, when the same apparatus is used in combination with a sheet-shaped object and a booklet-shaped object, the same transfer failure occurs due to the above-mentioned reason.

Further, when the transfer is performed by such an image forming apparatus, the transfer-receiving body is a booklet-shaped one, and when the transfer is performed on the reverse side of the cover, and when the transfer is performed on an arbitrary page of the text, the spine of the booklet is pivoted. Due to the thickness of the main body page on the symmetrical side, the top page comes into contact with the surface of the heat roll via the intermediate transfer film, and as a result, the top side of the main body page on the symmetrical side with respect to the spine of the booklet is unintended. The image forming layer on the intermediate transfer film is partially transferred to the portion (c).

FIG. 2 illustrates the state shown in FIG. 2B. The upper part A shows the case where the transfer object is the sheet 9, and the middle part A shows the booklet 4 where the transfer object is the booklet 4. When the transfer surface is the facing portion of the booklet, the lower c shows the case where the transfer object is the booklet 4 and the transfer surface is the body page.

The position of the pressure roll 2 is fixed, and the heat roll 1 is interposed between the sheet 9 or booklet 4 to be transferred and the intermediate transfer film 3 stretched between the guide roll 5 and the peeling roll 6. After lowering by the amount of descent A toward the pressure roll 2 and hitting the pressure roll 2, the heat roll 1 is pressed in the direction of the pressure roll 2 by a pressure mechanism (not shown).

With the pressurizing means according to this method, the lowering amount A may be the same for a and a, but is not necessary for c.
The heat roll 1 collides with the transfer surface via the intermediate transfer film 3 at a point where the thickness B of the main body page below the transfer surface is reduced, that is, lowered by (AB). For this reason, with respect to c, an amount corresponding to the descending amount B of the heat roll 1 is excessively pressed by the pressing mechanism.

Therefore, if the pressure setting of the pressurizing mechanism is fixed for the sake of simplification of the mechanism, the pressing force of c changes with respect to the above-mentioned a and b.
Uniform and stable transfer cannot be performed to all of the transfer-receiving objects.

FIG. 3 shows the state shown in FIG. 2 (c), in which the object to be transferred, which corresponds to (a) in FIG. 2, is a booklet, and the surface to be transferred is a facing portion of the booklet. In the case of the same transfer object and transfer surface, the transfer start position is closer to the booklet back 10 than in the position of FIG. When a pressurizing mechanism (not shown) comes to a position to start pressurizing, a booklet spine 10
The heat roll 1 comes in contact with the transfer surface symmetric surface 12 near the booklet back 10 with the thickness of the main body page below the transfer surface symmetric surface 12 via the intermediate transfer film 3, and The body page under the transfer plane symmetry plane 12 receives the pressing force of the hot roll 1 instead of the pressing roll 2, and as a result,
The image forming layer 7 on the intermediate transfer film 3 is partially transferred to the vicinity of the booklet spine 10 on the transfer surface symmetrical surface 12 which is not originally transferred.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and does not make the pressing force at the time of transfer non-uniform due to a change in the thickness of the transfer body. The image forming layer on the intermediate transfer film is not partially transferred to an unintended part of the top page of the main page, and as a result, the uniform and beautiful transfer of the image forming layer without the transfer defect, the adhesion failure, the transfer failure, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that performs the following.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including at least an image forming layer as a peelable layer on a base material. A transfer medium on which an image is written on a layer is supplied to an object to be transferred so that the image forming layer side of the transfer medium is in contact with the transfer medium. By moving at least one of the heating and pressurizing means and the transfer receiving body, the image forming layer and the substrate at the portion where the heating and pressing to the intended transfer area on the transfer receiving body have been completed are separated. An image forming apparatus for transferring the written image together with the image forming layer to a transfer receiving body, among members constituting the heating and pressurizing means, on the opposite side of the transfer medium via the transfer receiving body. The pressing member that presses from Characterized in that it has a lifting means for lifting the amount corresponding to the height of the transfer plane changes.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, the pressure member is disposed so that the transfer surface of the transfer object acts to be curved.

According to the image forming apparatus of the first and second aspects of the present invention, the amount of lifting and lowering of the pressing member changes in accordance with the height of the transfer surface of the booklet of the transfer object, thereby forming an image. Since the pressing force at the time of layer transfer is constant, transfer defects such as lack of transfer and poor adhesion due to insufficient pressing force are prevented.

Further, the pressing member in the heating / pressurizing means moves up and down so that the transfer surface of the book-shaped transfer object is curved.
The booklet transfer page is close to the intermediate transfer film only at the transfer position, so that the transfer of the image forming layer to another unintended body page can be prevented.

Therefore, the object to be transferred may be a sheet shape, a booklet shape, or in the case of a booklet shape, the transfer surface may be a facing back of the booklet or an arbitrary body page.
It is possible to transfer a uniform and beautiful image forming layer.

[0019]

Next, an image forming apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG.
FIG. 4 illustrates the steps of the heating and pressing mechanism and the appearance of the accompanying booklet when the object to be transferred has a booklet shape and the surface to be transferred is the facing portion of the booklet.

In the figure, a heat roll 1 having heating means (not shown), which is a heating / pressing means, and a pressure roll 2
The process of setting the intermediate transfer film 3 stretched between the guide roll 5 and the peeling roll 6 and the booklet 4 at an arbitrary position is shown. At this time, the set position of the booklet 4 on the transfer object guide 15 is the same as in FIG.
It is located near zero.

In the figure, a key indicates a step in which the pressure roll 2 is raised by a lifting mechanism (not shown) before the heat roll 1 descends and starts transfer. The amount of rise is an amount up to an arbitrary transfer reference plane, but for the following description, it is assumed that the thickness B of the main body page is below the transfer target plane symmetrical plane 12 with the booklet back 10 as the axis of symmetry. At this time, the transfer surface pressing member 14 for pressing the upper surfaces of the transfer surface 13 and the transfer surface symmetry surface 12 and the pressure roll 2 move the vicinity of the transfer surface 13 of the booklet 4 near the booklet back 10 along the surface of the pressure roll 2. It is curved, and the height in the vertical direction in the drawing at the transfer start position is higher than the position shown in the above-mentioned f.

In the figure, the mark ク indicates the start of the transfer step in which the heat roll 1 rotates after descending. The descending amount of the heat roll 1 is (A-B) like the descending amount shown in C of FIG. At this time
As the transfer surface 13 rises, the heat roll 1 comes into contact with the vicinity of the booklet back 10 on the transfer surface symmetry surface 12 via the peeling roll 6 and the intermediate transfer film 3 laid on the heat roll 1. do not do.

By performing the transfer in the above-mentioned steps (f), (c) and (c), at the portion indicated by the broken circle 11 in FIG.
In the vicinity of 0, the heat roll 1 comes into contact via the intermediate transfer film 3 due to the thickness of the body page below the transfer plane symmetry plane 12,
In addition, the main body page below the transfer surface symmetry plane 12 receives the pressing force of the hot roll 1 instead of the pressure roll 2, and as a result, the vicinity of the booklet back 10 of the transfer plane symmetry plane 12 which is not originally transferred. This eliminates the problem that the image forming layer 7 on the intermediate transfer film 3 is partially transferred.

FIG. 5 illustrates the steps of the heating and pressurizing mechanism and the appearance of the transferred object when the transferred object has a booklet shape and the transferred surface is an arbitrary text page. It is. The symbols in the figure indicate steps corresponding to the steps in FIG. At this time, the thickness of the body page below the transfer surface 13 is C.

[0027] In the figure, U indicates a process corresponding to the key of FIG.
The rising amount of the pressure roll 2 is based on B in FIG.
(B-C). Regarding the setting of C, use is made of a means for detecting the thickness of the body page below the transfer surface 13 (not shown),
Alternatively, when several types of fixed heights are determined for the operation, a mark may be attached to the transferred body, and the set amount may be determined by a reading unit (not shown) or manually switched.

In the figure, "b" indicates a step corresponding to "h" in FIG.
At this time, since the rising amount of the pressure roll is (BC), the descending amount of the hot roll may be (AB) as in the case of FIG. For raising and lowering the heat roll 1, a pressure mechanism for pressing in the direction of the pressure roll 2 is provided, and the mechanism is often complicated, but the height of the heat roll 1 when starting the heat-pressure transfer is increased. Can be kept constant, so that the mechanism can be further simplified.

Therefore, when the transfer is performed in the above-described steps (1), (2), and (3), the pressing force does not change on any transfer medium, and as a result, the transfer of any transfer medium to the same apparatus can be performed. It is possible to provide a uniform pressing force for all.

In the present embodiment, the drive for moving the booklet in the transfer step is not limited to the rotation of the heat roll 1, but may be at least one of the rotation of the pressure roll 2, the booklet 4 transport means (not shown), and the like. Just one.

In the present embodiment, the pressing member that moves up and down is not limited to the roller-shaped pressing roller, but may be a block or a rotatable belt having an R-curved surface and having a smooth surface.

Further, in the present embodiment, the member to be moved up and down among the pressing members is not limited to the pressing roll 2, and the upper surface of the transfer surface 13 and the transfer surface symmetric surface 12 provided with the transfer object guide 15 is also provided. The step may be a lifting / lowering step which is the reverse of the present embodiment with the transfer member pressing member 14 for holding the transfer member.

[0031]

According to the image forming apparatus of the first and second aspects of the present invention, the amount of elevation of the pressing member changes according to the height of the booklet transfer surface of the transfer object. Since the pressing force at the time of transferring the image forming layer is constant, it was possible to prevent poor transfer such as lack of transfer and poor adhesion due to insufficient pressing force.

Further, the pressurizing member in the heating and pressurizing means moves up and down so that the transfer surface of the booklet-shaped transfer object is curved.
The booklet transfer page was close to the intermediate transfer film only at the transfer position, thereby preventing the unintended transfer of the image forming layer to another body page.

Therefore, the transfer target may be in the form of a sheet or a booklet, and in the case of the booklet shape, the transfer surface may be facing the booklet, or may be any text page.
It was possible to transfer a uniform and beautiful image forming layer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state of secondary transfer in an image forming apparatus as a conventional technique.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a first problem to be solved by the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a second problem to be solved by the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view (No. 1) showing each step of the heating and pressurizing mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention and a state of a transferred body accompanying the steps.

FIG. 5 is a side view (part 2) showing each step of the heating and pressurizing mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention and a state of a transfer-receiving body accompanying the steps.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Heat roll 2 ... Pressure roll 3 ... Intermediate transfer film 4 ... Booklet (transfer object) 5 ... Guide roll 6 ... Peeling roll 7 ... Image forming layer 9 ··· Sheet 10 ··· Booklet back 12 ··· Symmetrical surface of transfer surface 13 ··· Transfer surface 14 ··· Transfer member holding member 15 ··· Guide of transfer object

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transfer medium having at least an image forming layer as a peelable layer on a substrate so that an image formed on the image forming layer is brought into contact with an object to be transferred on the image forming layer side of the transfer medium. Are heated and pressurized by a heating and pressurizing unit, and at least one of the heating and pressurizing unit and the transfer receiving body is moved along one direction of the transfer medium, so that a portion on the transfer receiving body is moved. An image forming apparatus that separates the image forming layer and the base material at the portion where the heating and pressurization to the transfer region of the period has been completed and transfers the written image to the transfer target together with the image forming layer. Among the members constituting the heating and pressurizing means, the pressing member that presses from the opposite side of the transfer medium with the intermediary of the object to be transferred has an elevation amount corresponding to the height of the surface of the object to be transferred. An image forming apparatus having a variable elevating means. Place. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is disposed so that the transfer surface of the transfer target body is curved.