JP2010064355A - Printing method and printing device using thermal head - Google Patents

Abstract

A printing method for directly forming a printing pattern on a recording medium made of resin without using a transfer foil such as an ink ribbon using a thermal head, and a printing equivalent to a hot stamping method using a thermal head A printing method for forming a pattern is provided.
Each of the dots corresponding to the heat generation of the heating element made of the recording medium is changed by changing the surface state of the recording medium (decorative ribbon 21) through the protective sheet 22 by the heat generation of the heating element of the thermal head. Form. In addition, a larger amount of heat is applied to the dots constituting the outline of the print pattern to form a print pattern with a clear outline, and further, a print pattern in which adjacent dots are connected is formed.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing method and a printing apparatus using a thermal head, and more specifically, a printing method using a thermal head that directly forms a printing pattern on a recording medium made of a resin without using a transfer foil such as an ink ribbon. And a printing apparatus. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a printing method and a printing apparatus using a thermal head suitable for performing such a direct printing pattern formation on a recording medium and a printing pattern formation using a metal transfer foil.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a method is known in which a thermal layer is pressed from a transfer foil such as an ink ribbon, and a transfer layer is transferred from the transfer foil using a thermal transfer printer that heats the print (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This thermal transfer printer heats ink applied to an ink ribbon by a thermal head equipped with a heating element based on a signal sent from a personal computer or the like, and transfers the ink onto a sheet or the like. In such a printing method, as shown in FIG. 9, the printed pattern P to be printed is usually formed as an aggregate of a large number of dots D formed as independent points. Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, such dot formation can be easily achieved by applying a voltage once per dot to the heating element of the thermal head.
However, in a printing pattern formed by transferring a transfer foil (hereinafter referred to as a metal transfer foil) provided with a metal layer to a transfer layer by the printing method as described above, each dot is formed as a dot, Since the printed pattern is formed, the metallic luster is poor and the appearance is poor. This is because there is a gap between the dots, or between the dots, the adhesion between the transfer layer and the recording medium is poor and wrinkles or the like are generated. Moreover, the outline of the print pattern constituted by the set of points is also unclear.

  On the other hand, a hot stamping method such as foil stamping is known as a method for forming a print pattern by transferring a metal transfer foil (see Patent Document 1). Specifically, the transfer foil is formed by laminating a transfer layer made of pigment, vapor deposited metal, or the like on a base material made of a film or the like. For such a transfer foil, in the foil stamping, a transfer mold having a predetermined print pattern is pressed from the transfer foil side, and the print pattern is transferred to the transfer material by thermocompression bonding. In hot stamp printing, a transfer foil formed of thermal transfer ink is used to transfer to a transfer material using a hot plate or a hot roll. That is, the print pattern formed by the hot stamping method is not formed as an aggregate of the points as described above, but the transfer layer pressed by a transfer mold, a plate, or the like is used. It is transferred and formed as it is. As a result, the print pattern composed of the pressure-transferred transfer layer becomes a beautiful print pattern whose entire surface has a metallic luster.

JP-A-7-186523

  However, this hot stamping method is costly and expensive because a transfer mold or plate having a desired printing pattern must be individually created for each transfer material. In addition, the printing apparatus itself is large. In order to partially correct the printing pattern, it is necessary to correct the transfer mold or plate or newly create it again.

  The present invention provides a printing method and a printing apparatus using a thermal head, and provides a printing method and a printing apparatus that directly form a printing pattern on a recording medium made of a resin or the like without using a transfer foil such as an ink ribbon. It is what. Another embodiment of the present invention is a hot stamping method in which adjacent dots are connected to each other, which is suitable for direct print pattern formation on such a recording medium or print pattern formation using a metal transfer foil. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing method and a printing apparatus using a thermal head that can form a printing pattern equivalent to the method and can clearly express the outline of the printing pattern.

The present invention is as follows.
1. In a state where the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relative to each other. A printing method for forming dots on the recording medium corresponding to heat generated by the heating elements, and forming a printing pattern composed of the dots,
A printing method using a thermal head, wherein the dots formed of the recording medium are formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium by the heat generated by the heating element.
2. The dot is formed via a protective sheet that is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium and moves relative to the thermal head. A printing method using the described thermal head.
3. The recording medium is made of synthetic resin, rubber or leather. Or 2. A printing method using the described thermal head.
4). In a state where the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relative to each other. A printing method for forming dots on the recording medium corresponding to heat generated by the heating elements, and forming a printing pattern composed of the dots,
Each of the dots is formed by applying the voltage continuously for a time equal to a movement time per dot of the relative movement.
5). Each of the dots is formed by decreasing the magnitude of the voltage stepwise. A printing method using the described thermal head.
6). In a state where the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relative to each other. A printing method for forming dots on the recording medium corresponding to heat generated by the heating elements, and forming a printing pattern composed of the dots,
A print data acquisition step of acquiring print data which is information of the shape of the print pattern;
A dot array data generation step for generating dot array data, which is array information of dots formed on the recording medium, based on the print data;
Based on the dot arrangement data, reference is made to the presence or absence of dots formed around each dot, and the magnitude and / or application time of the voltage to be applied to each heating element is set to generate application voltage data. The applied voltage data generation step,
A printing method using a thermal head, comprising: an output step of outputting a signal for causing the heating elements to generate heat based on the dot arrangement data and the applied voltage data.
7). Each of the dots is formed by applying the voltage continuously for a time equal to the movement time per dot of the relative movement. A printing method using the described thermal head.
8). Each of the dots is formed by decreasing the magnitude of the voltage stepwise. A printing method using the described thermal head.
9. The presence / absence of dots used for the reference is the presence / absence of at least one to seven dots in each of the four directions in the front-rear direction and the orthogonal direction of the relative movement of each dot. Thru 8. A printing method using the thermal head according to any one of the above.
10. The presence / absence of dots used for the reference is the presence / absence of a total of nine dots, at least three in the front, two in the rear, and two in the direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction. Above 6. Thru 8. A printing method using the thermal head according to any one of the above.
11. The dot is a dot composed of a transfer layer transferred from a transfer foil provided with a metal layer as a transfer layer by heat generation of the heating element. Thru 10. A printing method using the thermal head according to any one of the above.
12 The dot is a dot formed of the recording medium formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium by the heat generation of the heating element. Thru 10. A printing method using the thermal head according to any one of the above.
13. The dot is formed via a protective sheet which is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium and which moves relative to the thermal head. A printing method using the described thermal head.
14 The recording medium is made of synthetic resin, rubber or leather. Thru 13. A printing method using the thermal head according to any one of the above.
15. The thermal head is preheated. To 14. A printing method using the thermal head according to any one of the above.
16. In a state where the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relative to each other. A printing method for forming dots on the recording medium corresponding to heat generated by the heating elements, and forming a printing pattern composed of the dots,
A print data acquisition step of acquiring print data which is information of the shape of the print pattern;
A dot array data generation step for generating dot array data, which is array information of dots formed on the recording medium, based on the print data;
An applied voltage data generation step of setting applied voltage data by setting the magnitude of the voltage applied to each heating element with reference to the presence or absence of dots formed around each dot based on the dot arrangement data When,
An output step for outputting a signal for heating each heating element based on the dot arrangement data and the applied voltage data, and
Each of the dots is formed by applying the voltage continuously for a time equal to the movement time per dot of the relative movement, and by decreasing the magnitude of the voltage stepwise.
The presence / absence of dots used for the reference is the presence / absence of a total of nine dots, at least three in each of the dots in the relative movement direction, two in the rear, and two in the direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction. ,
The dot is a dot formed of the recording medium formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium by heat generation of the heating element,
The dots are formed via a protective sheet that is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium and moves relative to the thermal head,
A printing method using a thermal head, wherein the recording medium is a decorative ribbon made of woven resin fibers.
17. 16. The thermal head is preheated. A printing method using the described thermal head.
18. A thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line;
Moving means for relatively moving the thermal head and the recording medium,
In a state where the recording medium is pressed by the thermal head, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relatively moved by the moving means, A printing apparatus that forms dots corresponding to the heat generation of each heating element on the recording medium and forms a printing pattern composed of the dots,
A printing apparatus, wherein the dots formed of the recording medium are formed by changing a surface state of the recording medium by heat generation of the heating element.
19. The dot is formed via a protective sheet which is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium and which moves relative to the thermal head. The printing device described.
20. 18. The material of the recording medium is synthetic resin, rubber or leather. Or 19. The printing device described.
21. A thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line;
Moving means for relatively moving the thermal head and the recording medium,
In a state where the recording medium is pressed by the thermal head, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relatively moved by the moving means, A printing apparatus that forms dots corresponding to the heat generation of each heating element on the recording medium and forms a printing pattern composed of the dots,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selective heat generation of each of the heating elements is heat generation by applying a voltage equal to a voltage application time per dot equal to a movement time per dot of the relative movement.
22. 21. The selective heat generation of each of the heating elements is heat generation by voltage application in which the magnitude of the voltage decreases stepwise. The printing device described.
23. A thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line;
Moving means for relatively moving the thermal head and the recording medium,
In a state where the recording medium is pressed by the thermal head, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relatively moved by the moving means, A printing apparatus that forms dots corresponding to the heat generation of each heating element on the recording medium and forms a printing pattern composed of the dots,
A print data acquisition unit for acquiring print data which is information on the shape of the print pattern;
A dot array data generation unit that generates dot array data, which is array information of dots formed on the recording medium, based on the print data;
Based on the dot arrangement data, reference is made to the presence or absence of dots formed around each dot, and the magnitude and / or application time of the voltage to be applied to each heating element is set to generate application voltage data. An applied voltage data generation unit,
And an output unit that outputs a signal for causing each of the heating elements to generate heat based on the dot arrangement data and the applied voltage data.
24. 23. The selective heat generation of each of the heating elements is heat generation by voltage application in which a voltage application time per dot is equal to a movement time per dot of the relative movement. The printing device described.
25. 24. The selective heat generation of each of the heating elements is heat generation by voltage application in which the magnitude of the voltage decreases stepwise. The printing device described.
26. The applied voltage data generation unit refers to at least the presence or absence of 1 to 7 dots in each of the four directions in the front-rear direction and the orthogonal direction of the relative movement of each dot, and / or the magnitude of the voltage applied to each heating element and / or The above-described 23. setting the application time respectively. 26 to 25 printing apparatus.
27. The applied voltage data generation unit refers to the presence / absence of a total of nine dots, each of at least three in the front, two in the rear of the relative movement direction, and two in the direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction. The above-mentioned 23. In which the magnitude and / or the application time of the voltage applied to each of the heating elements are respectively set. 26 to 25 printing apparatus.
28. The dot is a dot formed of a transfer layer transferred from a transfer foil provided with a metal layer as a transfer layer in response to heat generation of the heating element. Thru 27. The printing apparatus in any one of.
29. Each of the dots is a dot formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium corresponding to the heat generation of the heating element. Thru 27. The printing apparatus in any one of.
30. The dot is formed via a protective sheet that is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium and that moves relative to the thermal head. The printing device described.
31. The recording medium is made of synthetic resin, rubber or leather. Thru 30 above. The printing apparatus in any one of.
32. 17. The above-described 18. further comprising preheating means for preheating the thermal head. Thru 31 above. The printing apparatus in any one of.
33. A thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line;
Moving means for relatively moving the thermal head and the recording medium,
In a state where the recording medium is pressed by the thermal head, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relatively moved by the moving means, A printing apparatus that forms dots corresponding to the heat generation of each heating element on the recording medium and forms a printing pattern composed of the dots,
A print data acquisition unit for acquiring print data which is information on the shape of the print pattern;
A dot array data generation unit that generates dot array data, which is array information of dots formed on the recording medium, based on the print data;
Based on the dot arrangement data, an applied voltage data generation unit that sets the magnitude of a voltage applied to each heating element with reference to the presence or absence of dots formed around each dot and generates applied voltage data When,
An output unit that outputs a signal for causing each of the heating elements to generate heat based on the dot arrangement data and the applied voltage data; and
The selective heat generation of each of the heating elements is a voltage application in which the voltage application time per dot is equal to the movement time per dot of the relative movement, and the magnitude of the applied voltage decreases stepwise. The applied voltage data generation unit generates a total of nine dots, each including at least three forward, two backward, and two directions in the direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction of each dot. Set the magnitude of the voltage applied to each heating element with reference to the presence or absence,
Each of the dots is a dot formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium corresponding to the heat generation of the heating element,
The dots are formed through a protective sheet that is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium and moves relative to the thermal head,
The printing apparatus, wherein the recording medium is a decorative ribbon made of woven resin fibers.
34. The above 33. further comprising preheating means for preheating the thermal head. The printing device described.

In the printing method using the thermal head of the present invention, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage while the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line. In addition, the thermal head and the recording medium are relatively moved, dots corresponding to the heat generation of the respective heating elements are respectively formed on the recording medium, and a printing pattern comprising the dots is formed. The surface condition of the recording medium is changed by the heat generation of the recording medium to form dots made of the recording medium. Therefore, compared with a printing method in which the transfer layer of the transfer foil is transferred to a recording medium having a different texture from the transfer layer to be transferred to form a print pattern, an unprecedented print with a new appearance is realized. be able to. In addition, since the transfer foil, which is a consumable item, is not used, the cost for printing can be suppressed.
In addition, when the dots are formed through a protective sheet that is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium and moves relative to the thermal head, the recording medium is directly attached to the thermal head. Since printing is performed via the protective sheet without contacting and sliding, it is possible to suppress wear of the printing portion which is the sliding surface. Moreover, foreign matters such as dust adhering to the recording medium and molten recording medium itself adhere to the thermal head, and streak-like printing defects caused by hindering heat transfer can be prevented.

In another printing method using the thermal head of the present invention, each heating element is selectively applied by applying a voltage in a state where the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged linearly. A printing method for forming a print pattern composed of dots by forming heat on the recording medium by relatively moving the thermal head and the recording medium, forming dots corresponding to the heat generated by the respective heating elements on the recording medium, Each dot is formed by applying a voltage continuously for a time equal to the movement time per dot of the relative movement. As described above, when forming one dot, voltage application is continuously performed until the voltage application timing at which the next adjacent dot is formed, so that the dots formed adjacent to each other are combined. A printed pattern can be formed.
In addition, when each dot is formed by decreasing the magnitude of the voltage step by step, the dot corresponding to the end of the print pattern is printed up to the next dot area. The so-called tailing phenomenon can be suppressed.

  In another printing method using the thermal head of the present invention, each heating element is selectively applied by applying a voltage in a state where the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged linearly. And a thermal head and a recording medium are moved relative to each other, dots corresponding to the heat generated by the respective heating elements are formed on the recording medium, and a printing pattern composed of each dot is formed. A print data acquisition step of acquiring print data which is information of the shape of the print pattern, and dot array data which generates dot array data which is the array information of dots formed on the recording medium based on the print data Applying to each heating element with reference to the presence or absence of dots formed around each dot based on the generation step and the dot arrangement data An applied voltage data generation step for setting the magnitude of the pressure and / or the application time and generating applied voltage data, and a signal for generating heat from each heating element based on the dot array data and the applied voltage data are output. And an output process. As described above, since the print pattern is formed by individually setting the magnitude and / or application time of the voltage applied to form each dot, it is possible to form dots that constitute a specific portion of the print pattern. Can perform printing suitable for forming a desired printing pattern, such as applying a larger amount of heat.

In addition, when each dot is formed by applying a voltage continuously for a time equal to the movement time per dot of the relative movement, a printing pattern in which adjacent dots are combined with each other Can be formed.
In addition, when each dot is formed by decreasing the magnitude of the voltage step by step, the so-called tailing phenomenon can be suppressed when forming the dot corresponding to the end of the print pattern.
Furthermore, if the presence or absence of dots used for the reference is the presence or absence of at least 1 to 7 dots in each of the four directions in the front-rear direction and the orthogonal direction of the relative movement of each dot, the presence / absence of surrounding dot formation is appropriate. It is possible to accurately grasp and to appropriately determine which part of the print pattern the dot constitutes.
In addition, the presence or absence of dots used for the reference is the presence or absence of a total of nine dots, two in each of the dots in the relative movement direction, two in the front and two in the direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction. In some cases, the presence / absence of surrounding dot formation can be grasped accurately and at high speed, and it is possible to more suitably determine which part of the print pattern the dot constitutes.

  Furthermore, when the dot is a dot made of a transfer layer transferred from a transfer foil provided with a metal layer in the transfer layer due to heat generated by the heating element, a print pattern formed by the transfer of the metal transfer layer is printed. Since the dots formed adjacent to each other that make up the pattern are formed by joining together, it is possible to form a print pattern with a metallic gloss on the entire surface without seams or wrinkles at the boundaries between the dots. it can. In addition, a larger amount of heat is applied to the formation of dots constituting the outline of the print pattern, the transferred transfer layer is accurately separated from the transfer layer that is not transferred, and a print pattern with a clear outline is formed. In forming a print pattern using a metal transfer foil, it is possible to perform printing suitable for forming a desired print pattern.

  In addition, when the dot is a dot made of the recording medium formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium by the heat generation of the heating element, the print formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium Since the pattern is each dot constituting the print pattern, and the dots formed adjacent to each other are formed, a seamless print pattern can be formed at the boundary between the dots. In addition, a larger amount of heat is applied to the formation of dots constituting the outline of the print pattern, the difference in surface state from the portion where the print pattern is not formed is more clearly defined, and a print pattern with a clear outline is formed. In forming a print pattern that changes the surface state of the recording medium, printing suitable for forming a desired print pattern can be performed.

Furthermore, when the thermal head is preheated, the heat energy generated when the heat generating element generates heat is not used to raise the temperature of the thermal head itself, but effectively used to form each dot. Without excessively generating heat and damaging the thermal head, sufficient thermal energy can be applied to form dots.
The printing device according to the present invention is a printing device that exhibits the same effects as all the above-described effects.

(Embodiment 1)
In the printing method using the thermal head according to the first embodiment, each heating element is selectively applied by applying a voltage in a state where the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of linearly arranged heating elements. And a thermal head and a recording medium are moved relative to each other, dots corresponding to the heat generated by the respective heating elements are formed on the recording medium, and a printing pattern composed of each dot is formed. The surface state of the recording medium is changed by the heat generation of the heating element to form dots made of the recording medium. That is, the present invention forms a print pattern directly on the surface of a recording medium by pressing and heating the recording medium with a thermal head without using a transfer foil.

The “thermal head” is not particularly limited in its structure, shape, etc., as long as it has a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line. Examples of the structure of the thermal head include an edge type (for example, see FIG. 1 and the like), an end face type (for example, see FIG. 8 and the like), a flat type, and the like.
The “recording medium” is not particularly limited in material, shape, form, or the like as long as dots corresponding to the heat generated by the plurality of heating elements are formed and a print pattern composed of the dots is formed. Examples of the material of the recording medium include synthetic resin, rubber, leather, and synthetic leather. Examples of the shape of the recording medium include a long band shape, a rectangular shape (square, rectangular, etc.), a polygonal shape, a circular shape, an oval shape, an elliptical shape, and the like. Examples of the form of the recording medium include a decorative ribbon, a cover of a book, a notebook, an album, and the like. In particular, the decorative ribbon includes a satin woven ribbon formed by weaving glossy resin fibers, a ribbon formed by weaving glossy or glossy fibers, and the like.

For example, (1) a form in which the thermal head is fixed and the recording medium is moved (see, for example, FIG. 1), (2) the recording medium And the like (for example, see FIG. 8 and the like) in which the thermal head is moved.
The above-mentioned “change the surface state of the recording medium due to the heat generated by the heating element” means that, for example, regular undulations, etc., possessed by the recording medium are smoothed by applying heat from the heating element, Is different from irregular undulations. As a result, the portion where the surface state is changed exhibits a gloss different from the portion where the original surface state remains, and dots corresponding to the heat generated by the heating element are formed, thereby forming a print pattern.

  Further, in the printing method using the thermal head according to the first embodiment, for example, the dot is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium, and the protection moves relative to the thermal head. It can be formed via a sheet. That is, the heat generated by the heating element is applied to the recording medium through the protective sheet. As a result, wear of the thermal head due to friction between the relatively moving thermal head and the recording medium can be suppressed, and foreign matter such as dust adhering to the recording medium or melted recording medium itself is thermally This is because streak-like printing defects due to adhesion to the head and hindering heat transfer can be prevented.

  The “protective sheet” is not particularly limited in material, shape, or the like as long as the print pattern is formed via a protective sheet provided between the thermal head and the recording medium. Examples of the material for the protective sheet include polyester-based synthetic resins such as PET and PEN, and fluorine resins such as PFA and FEP. Moreover, as a shape of the said protection sheet, elongate strip shape, rectangular shape (square, rectangle) etc. are mentioned, for example. As described above, the protective sheet preferably has a smaller friction coefficient than the recording medium from the viewpoint of suppressing the wear of the thermal head. Further, the protective sheet needs to be resistant to the heat generated by the heating element when forming the print pattern on the recording medium. Therefore, only a base material such as an ink ribbon or a transfer foil used for normal thermal transfer may be used as the protective sheet.

  The thermal head can be preheated. The form of preheating the thermal head is not particularly limited. For example, a form in which a preheating means such as a heater is provided on the thermal head to preheat, a form in which the heating element is always heated at a low temperature at which no print pattern is formed, etc. Is mentioned. This preheating is preferably within a temperature range that is effectively used to form each dot constituting the print pattern, rather than the thermal energy generated when the heat generating element generates heat, not raising the temperature of the thermal head itself. Specifically, the preheating temperature is preferably 40 to 70 ° C., and particularly preferably in the range of 58 to 68 degrees.

(Embodiment 2)
In the printing method using the thermal head according to the second embodiment, each heating element is selectively applied by applying a voltage in a state where the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged linearly. And a thermal head and a recording medium are moved relative to each other, dots corresponding to the heat generated by the respective heating elements are formed on the recording medium, and a printing pattern composed of each dot is formed. Each dot is formed by applying the voltage continuously for a time equal to the movement time per dot of the relative movement.
The contents described in the first embodiment can be applied to the “thermal head”, “recording medium”, and “relative movement of the thermal head and the recording medium”.

  “The voltage is continuously applied for a time equal to the movement time per dot of relative movement” means that when one dot is formed, the voltage is continuously applied until the timing of voltage application for forming the next dot. Voltage is applied (for example, see FIG. 7A). In the case of a general printing method using a conventional ink ribbon or the like, adjacent continuous dots are formed in order to clearly form each dot as an independent “point” that is not combined with other adjacent dots. The voltage application for this is intermittent voltage application (see, for example, FIG. 7B). On the other hand, in the case of the printing method in which a voltage is continuously applied as described above, a printing pattern formed by combining each dot with another adjacent dot is formed. As a result, when a print pattern is directly formed on the surface of the recording medium, the print pattern is formed as a continuous smooth surface where dots are combined or a continuous surface where irregular undulations differ from the original state occur. Thus, a seamless print pattern is formed at the boundary between adjacent dots. In the case of forming a print pattern using a metal transfer foil, the print pattern is formed as a continuous “surface” in which the dots are combined, and there is no joint or wrinkle at the boundary between the dots, and the entire surface is integrated. A print pattern having a metallic luster is formed.

  In addition, when a voltage is continuously applied for a time equal to the movement time per dot of the above-described relative movement, in particular, the magnitude of the applied voltage can be reduced stepwise (for example, FIG. 7A). reference). As a result, adjacent dots can be combined with each other, and the so-called tailing phenomenon in which the dots corresponding to the end portions of the print pattern are printed up to the next dot area can be suppressed. It is.

Further, in the printing method using the thermal head according to the second embodiment, for example, the dots are transferred from a transfer foil (for example, see FIG. 4 and the like) having a metal layer on the transfer layer due to heat generated by the heating element. It can be a dot composed of a transfer layer.
The “transfer foil” is not particularly limited as long as the transfer layer includes a metal layer.

  Here, as described above, in the printing pattern by transfer of the metal transfer foil, the printing pattern is formed as a “surface”, and there is no joint or wrinkle at the boundary of each dot, and the printing pattern has a metallic luster on the entire surface. It is required to be. For the formation of such a print pattern, a print method in which the print pattern is formed as a continuous “surface” by combining the dots as described above is suitable.

  Further, in the printing method using the thermal head according to the second embodiment, for example, as in the first embodiment, the dots are formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium by the heat generated by the heating element. It can be a dot made of the recording medium. The “changing the surface state of the recording medium” is as described in the first embodiment.

  In the above-described case, for example, as in the first embodiment, the dots are provided between the thermal head and the recording medium, and through a protective sheet that moves relative to the thermal head. Can be formed. About the said "protection sheet", the content of the above-mentioned Embodiment 1 can be applied as it is.

  The thermal head can be preheated as in the first embodiment. As the form for preheating the thermal head, the contents described in the first embodiment can be applied as they are.

(Embodiment 3)
In the printing method using the thermal head according to the third embodiment, each heating element is selectively applied by applying a voltage in a state where the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged linearly. And a thermal head and a recording medium are moved relative to each other, dots corresponding to the heat generated by the respective heating elements are formed on the recording medium, and a printing pattern composed of each dot is formed. The printing data acquisition process, the dot array data generation process, the applied voltage data generation process, and the output process described below are provided.
The contents described in the first embodiment can be applied to the “thermal head”, “recording medium”, and “relative movement of the thermal head and the recording medium”.

The “print data acquisition step” is not particularly limited as long as the print data, which is information on the shape of the print pattern, is acquired. Examples of the print data acquisition mode include a mode in which print data directly input from an input device or the like is acquired, and a mode in which print data stored in a storage medium or the like is acquired in advance.
The “dot array data generation step” is not particularly limited as long as the dot array data that is the array information of dots formed on the recording medium is generated based on the print data. Through the dot array data generation step, the print data is converted into dot array information formed by the heat generated by the heating element (see, for example, FIG. 5B).

In the “applied voltage data generation step”, the magnitude and / or the application time of the voltage applied to each heating element with reference to the presence or absence of dots formed around each dot based on the dot arrangement data As long as each is set and the applied voltage data is generated, the generation form and the like are not particularly limited. Here, “refer to presence / absence of dots formed around each dot” is a reference for determining the position of the dot in the print pattern for each dot. That is, for example, when it is determined that a dot is not formed on any one of the dots adjacent to the front, rear, left, and right in the printing direction, the dot is determined to be a dot that forms an end in the print pattern. If it is determined that dots are not formed on either the front side or the front side and the left side or the right side, the dots are determined to be dots that form corners in the print pattern. In this way, the dots determined as the dots forming the vicinity of the outline of the print pattern, such as the edges and corners, are compared with the dots determined as the dots inside the print pattern, and the amount of heat generated by the heat generated by the heating element The magnitude of the voltage and / or the application time are set so that the voltage becomes larger.
The presence or absence of dots used for the reference is preferably the presence or absence of at least 1 to 7 dots in each of the four directions in the front-rear direction and the orthogonal direction of the relative movement of each of the dots. Further, it is more preferable that there are 9 dots in total, both in the direction orthogonal to the relative movement direction (see, for example, FIGS. 6A to 6C).
The “output process” is not particularly limited in its output form and the like as long as a signal for generating heat from each of the heating elements is output based on the print pattern data and the applied voltage data.

  As described above, the formation of dots constituting the outline of the print pattern can realize beautiful printing in which the outline of the print pattern is clearly expressed by applying more heat. . That is, for example, when the print pattern is formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium, the portion corresponding to the dots constituting the outline of the print pattern is formed by applying more thermal energy, The difference from the surface state of the recording medium in a portion that is not softened or melted by heat can be clearly expressed. In addition, for example, in the case of forming a print pattern with a metal transfer layer, the transfer layer that becomes a dot near the outline of the print pattern is more firmly adhered, and the transfer layer remaining on the base side of the transfer foil is accurately transferred from the non-transferred transfer layer. By dividing into two, the outline of the transfer layer can be made clearer.

  In the transfer of the metal transfer foil, the transfer layer to be transferred is adhered to the recording medium by the adhesive layer, and the transfer layer that is not transferred remains on the substrate side due to the adhesive force of the release layer. The transfer layers which are separated from each other at the boundary with the transfer layer not formed form a print pattern on the surface of the recording medium. Therefore, in order to form a desired print pattern, the transfer layer formed as dots that become the edges and corners of the print pattern is firmly adhered to the recording medium, and is placed on the substrate side of the transfer foil. It is required to be accurately divided at the boundary with the remaining transfer layer. For the formation of such a print pattern, a printing method for realizing strong adhesion in the vicinity of the outline of the print pattern, such as the end portion and the corner portion as described above, is preferable.

  Also, the printing method using the thermal head can be formed by applying a time voltage equal to the movement time per dot of the relative movement to each of the dots, as in the second embodiment. . The description of the second embodiment can be applied as it is to “the time voltage equal to the movement time per dot of relative movement” is applied.

  In addition, in the printing method using the thermal head according to the third embodiment, for example, as in the second embodiment, the dots are transferred from a transfer foil including a metal layer on the transfer layer due to heat generated by the heating element. It can be a dot composed of a transfer layer. The contents described in the second embodiment can be applied to the “transfer foil” as they are.

  Further, in the printing method using the thermal head according to the third embodiment, for example, as in the first embodiment, the dots are formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium by the heat generated by the heating element. It can be a dot made of the recording medium. The “changing the surface state of the recording medium” is as described in the first embodiment.

  In the above-described case, for example, as in the first embodiment, the dots are provided between the thermal head and the recording medium, and through a protective sheet that moves relative to the thermal head. Can be formed. About the said "protection sheet", the content of the above-mentioned Embodiment 1 can be applied as it is.

  The thermal head can be preheated as in the first embodiment. As the form for preheating the thermal head, the contents described in the first embodiment can be applied as they are.

  Furthermore, in the above-described first to third embodiments, since the heat energy generated by the heat of the heating element is effectively used for forming each dot constituting the print pattern, the recording medium can be preheated, Furthermore, the transfer foil or the protective sheet can be preheated.

  Although the case where the present invention is realized as a method has been described above, the printing apparatus according to the present invention is configured to realize the method corresponding to the above-described first to third embodiments. The substantial operation is the same as that of the method described above. That is, each “step” described in the above method invention is to be read as each “means”, and all the matters described in the present invention related to the above “printing method” are all described in the “printing apparatus”. Is also applicable. The components described in the first to third embodiments, which are method inventions, can be similarly configured for the present invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the first and second embodiments with reference to the drawings. In Examples 1 and 2, a printing method using a thermal printer described below is exemplified, but the configuration is not intended to limit the present invention.

Example 1
(1) Configuration of Embodiment 1 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the thermal printer 1 according to Embodiment 1 includes a thermal head 11, a head heater 12 that preheats the thermal head 11, and a pressing portion of the thermal head 11. A support roller 13 that receives a pressing force by 11 a and a pinch roller 14 that moves a decorative ribbon 21 that is a recording medium relative to the thermal head 11 are provided.

The thermal head 11 is an edge type thermal head. In the thermal head 11, a plurality of heating elements are linearly arranged on the pressing portion 11a in a direction orthogonal to the printing direction. The pressing force of the thermal head 11 is 9.8 to 24.5 N per 25.4 mm (1 inch) width of the heating element, which is set larger than the pressing force of the thermal head in a normal thermal transfer printer. The heating element generates heat in response to an input signal from a personal computer or the like in a state where the pressing force is applied.
The head heater 12 is provided integrally with the thermal head 11 and preheats the thermal head 11 to 40 to 70 ° C.
The support roller 13 is rotatably provided so as to receive the pressing force of the pressing portion 11 a of the thermal head 11 via the decorative ribbon 21 and the protective sheet 22. A silicon resin is lined on the roller surface of the support roller 13.
The pinch roller 14 includes an upper roller 14a and a lower roller 14b, and sandwiches the decorative ribbon 21 and the protective sheet 22 by these. And in this clamped state, it rotates with the drive source which is not shown in figure, and sends out the decoration ribbon 21 and the protection sheet 22.

The decorative ribbon 21 is a long belt-like nylon satin woven ribbon. The decorative ribbon 21 is wound around the ribbon roller 15 in a roll shape, and is sandwiched by the pinch roller 14 through the first auxiliary roller 18a, the second auxiliary roller 18b, the support roller 13, and the third auxiliary roller 18c. Yes. The decorative ribbon 21 is fed out by the rotation of the pinch roller 14 and moves relative to the thermal head 11.
The protective sheet 22 is made of a long strip PET. The protective sheet 22 is wound around the feed roller 16 in a roll shape, and is sandwiched by the pinch roller 14 together with the decorative ribbon 21 via the fourth auxiliary roller 18d, the second auxiliary roller 18b, and the support roller 13. . The protective sheet 22 sent out from the pinch roller 14 is taken up by a take-up roller 17 having a drive source (not shown). The protective sheet 22 is overlapped with the decorative ribbon 21 between the second auxiliary roller 18 b and the support roller 13, and receives a pressing force by the pressing portion 11 a of the thermal head 11 together with the decorative ribbon 21. The decorative ribbon 21 is sandwiched between the support roller 13 and the protective sheet 22 is in contact with the pressing portion 11 a of the thermal head 11. Further, the protective sheet 22 is separated from the decorative ribbon 21 because the decorative ribbon 21 is detoured downward by the third auxiliary roller 18 c between the support roller 13 and the pinch roller 14.
Further, the thermal printer 1 includes a control unit (not shown) that controls the above-described units and executes formation of a print pattern.

(2) Operation of Example 1 Next, a method of forming a print pattern on the surface of the decorative ribbon 21 using the thermal printer 1 of Example 1 configured as described above will be described.
First, the decorative ribbon 21 and the protective sheet 22 are wound around each roller through a predetermined path as described above. Further, the thermal head 11 is preheated by the head heater 12. Start printing when preparation is complete.

When printing is started, the pinch roller 14 rotates. The decorative ribbon 21 and the protective sheet 22 sandwiched between the pinch rollers 14 are sent out at a predetermined speed in the right direction in FIG. The support roller 13 rotates in response to the decorative ribbon 21 that is fed out while receiving the pressing force from the thermal head 11 via the protective sheet 22 and the decorative ribbon 21. At the same time, the heating elements arranged in the pressing portion 11a of the thermal head 11 have a predetermined voltage magnitude and voltage output from the control unit based on the print data in a state where the pressing force of the pressing portion 11a is applied. Energization is performed during the application time, and selective heat generation is executed.
The heat generated by the heating element is conducted to the decorative ribbon 21 through the protective sheet 22. The surface of the decorative ribbon 21 is softened and melted by the conducted heat, and the surface is smoothed. This smoothed surface becomes a print pattern.

The decorative ribbon 21 on which the print pattern has been formed and has passed through the thermal head 11 and the support roller 13 is once peeled from the protective sheet 22 by the third auxiliary roller 18c in order to prevent adhesion with the protective sheet 22. Then, it passes through the pinch roller 14 and is discharged to the lower roller 14b side. On the other hand, the protective sheet 22 that has passed through the pinch roller 14 is discharged to the upper roller 14 a side and taken up by the take-up roller 17.
Note that the pinch roller 14 continues to rotate even after the predetermined printing is completed. The rotation of the pinch roller 14 is stopped when a portion where the print pattern of the decorative ribbon 21 is formed passes through the pinch roller 14 and a predetermined feed amount has been fed.

(3) Effects of Example 1 As described above, according to Example 1, the print pattern is formed by using the thermal head 11 to soften, melt and smooth the surface of the decorative ribbon 21. As described above, since the print pattern is formed by changing the surface state of the decorative ribbon 21 which is a recording medium, the print pattern is transferred by transferring the transfer layer of the transfer foil to the recording medium as in the conventional case. Compared with the printing method to be formed, it is possible to realize printing with a novel aesthetic that is not present. Further, since no transfer foil such as an ink ribbon is used, the running cost can be suppressed.

In the first embodiment, printing is performed using the protective sheet 22 whose surface is smoother than that of the decorative ribbon 21 that is a recording medium, so that the decorative ribbon 21 directly contacts the pressing portion 11a of the thermal head 11. Compared with the case of sliding, wear of the pressing portion 11a can be suppressed, and dust adhering to the recording medium, foreign matter such as the molten recording medium itself adheres to the thermal head, and It is possible to prevent streak-like printing defects caused by obstructing transmission. Further, the protective sheet 22 can be used repeatedly until it deteriorates due to wear or the like due to sliding with the pressing portion 11a.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment, since the thermal head 11 is preheated by the head heater 12, the transfer foil is transferred without the heat generated by the heating element of the thermal head 11 raising the temperature of the thermal head 11 itself. In comparison, sufficient heat energy required to soften and melt the surface of the decorative ribbon 21, which requires more heat energy, can be applied to the decorative ribbon 21, thereby effectively forming a print pattern. be able to.

(Example 2)
Next, a printing method using the thermal head according to the second embodiment will be described. The printing method according to the second embodiment will be described by exemplifying print pattern formation in which a transfer layer is transferred to a decorative ribbon as a recording medium using a metal transfer foil having an aluminum transfer layer.
In the thermal printer according to the second embodiment, the same components as those of the thermal printer 1 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

(1) Configuration of Example 2 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the thermal printer 1 according to Example 2 includes a thermal head 11, a head heater 12 that preheats the thermal head 11, and a pressing portion of the thermal head 11. Although the embodiment includes the support roller 13 that receives the pressing force of 11a and the pinch roller 14 that moves the decorative ribbon 21 that is a recording medium relative to the thermal head 11, it is similar to the first embodiment. Instead of the protective sheet of Example 1, a transfer foil 42 is used. That is, in the second embodiment, a printing method using a thermal head, and a printing method for forming a printing pattern formed by transferring a transfer layer onto a recording medium using a transfer foil will be described.
The thermal printer 1 according to the second embodiment further includes a control unit 30 shown in FIG.

  The transfer foil 42 is a metal transfer foil having an aluminum transfer layer. The transfer foil 42 is wound around the feed roller 16 in the same manner as the protective sheet 22 of the first embodiment, passes through the fourth auxiliary roller 18d, the second auxiliary roller 18b, and the support roller 13, and is used for decoration. It is sandwiched between the pinch roller 14 together with the ribbon 21. The transfer foil 42 sent out from the pinch roller 14 is taken up by a take-up roller 17 having a drive source (not shown). The transfer foil 42 is overlapped with the decorative ribbon 21 between the second auxiliary roller 18 b and the support roller 13, and receives a pressing force by the pressing portion 11 a of the thermal head 11 together with the decorative ribbon 21. The decorative ribbon 21 and the transfer foil 42 are held in contact with the support roller 13 and the pressing portion 11a of the thermal head 11, respectively. Further, the transfer foil 42 is separated from the decoration ribbon 21 because the decoration ribbon 21 is detoured downward by the third auxiliary roller 18 c between the support roller 13 and the pinch roller 14.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the transfer foil 42 has a structure in which a release layer 42b, a transfer layer 42c, and an adhesive layer 42d are sequentially laminated on the surface of a PET substrate 42a. The transfer foil 42 has a thickness of about 12 .mu.m for the base material 42a and about 0.9 .mu.m for the transfer layer 42c. Compared with a total of 2.5 to 6 .mu.m of ink ribbons used for general thermal transfer. It is quite thick. Therefore, unless a considerable amount of heat energy is applied, the release layer 42b and the adhesive layer 42d of the transfer foil 42 are not activated, and the transfer layer 42c is difficult to peel from the release layer 42b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 30 includes a print data acquisition unit 30a, a dot array data generation unit 30b, an applied voltage data generation unit 30c, and an output unit 30d.
The print data acquisition unit 30a acquires print data (see FIG. 5A) input by an input unit (not shown). The acquired print data corresponds to the entire shape of the print pattern which is a set of dots.

  The dot array data generation unit 30b generates data representing an array of dots formed by being transferred to the decorative ribbon 21 based on the print data acquired by the print data acquisition unit 30a. In other words, the dot arrangement data is data representing the dot configuration in which the print pattern is formed. For example, when “ten” as shown in FIG. 5A is formed as a print pattern, FIG. 5B shows the dot configuration in which “ten” is formed. It corresponds to. Here, each square in FIG. 5B represents one dot, and in each square, a white square represents a place where no dot is formed, and a hatched square represents a place where a dot is formed. Yes.

  The applied voltage data generation unit 30c sets the magnitude of the voltage applied to the heating element for forming each dot from the dot arrangement state indicated by the dot arrangement data, and generates the application voltage data. That is, for each dot in the dot array data, the position of the print pattern is grasped, and data in which the magnitude of the voltage to be applied is set according to the position is generated. Which position in the print pattern each dot constitutes is determined by referring to the presence or absence of dot formation around the dot. In the second embodiment, the dots to be referenced are 3 dots upstream in the printing direction of the dots (dots printed before the dots), 2 dots downstream in the printing direction, and both sides in a direction orthogonal to the printing direction. A total of 9 dots, 2 dots each.

For example, in the case of dots Da to Dc shown in FIG. 5B, the dots to be referred to are as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, respectively. In this way, it can be determined that the dot Da is a dot constituting the corner of the print pattern, Db is a dot constituting the end of the print pattern, and Dc is a dot constituting the inside of the print pattern. Then, more thermal energy is applied to the formation of dots constituting the outline of the print pattern such as corners and edges, and the transfer layer 42c is more firmly bonded to the decorative ribbon 21. Here, the magnitude of the voltage applied is determined in correspondence in advance for all the combinations of the presence or absence pattern of the illustrated reference dot (2 ^nine) in FIG. 6 (a) ~ (c). In addition, when the magnitudes Ha to Hc of heat applied for forming the dots Da to Dc described above are compared, Ha>Hb> Hc.
Based on the dot arrangement data and the applied voltage data generated as described above, the output unit 30d outputs a voltage having a predetermined magnitude and application time applied to the heating element at a predetermined timing.

  Furthermore, in the printing method according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7A, a voltage that is equal to the moving time per dot of the decorative ribbon 21 and that decreases stepwise is applied. As a result, one dot is formed. That is, in Example 2, when forming one dot, continuous voltage application and voltage application in which the voltage decreases stepwise are performed until the voltage application timing for forming the next dot. Further, the width (time) of each step of the voltage that decreases stepwise is obtained by dividing the voltage application width (time) per dot into 31 equal parts. The magnitude of each voltage is set based on the applied voltage data generated by the applied voltage data generation unit 30c as described above. As shown in FIG. 7A, one dot is formed. Of the applied voltages, the voltage at the first stage is the largest, and gradually decreases at the second, third, and fourth stages, and is constant after the fourth stage. Then, for example, when a print pattern composed of three adjacent dots is formed by such a voltage application method, a print pattern in which dots are combined as shown in FIG. On the other hand, in the case of a general printing method using an ink ribbon as a transfer foil, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), voltage application is intermittent when forming continuous dots, and the next dot is formed. The interval until the timing of voltage application is very large compared to the application time of the applied voltage. Then, by such a voltage application method, when a print pattern composed of three adjacent dots is formed in the same manner as described above, as shown in FIG. The print pattern becomes

(2) Operation of Embodiment 2 Next, a method of forming a print pattern formed by transferring a metal transfer layer onto the surface of the decorative ribbon 21 using the thermal printer 1 of Embodiment 2 configured as described above. explain.
First, a method for generating print pattern data and applied voltage data will be described.
First, the control unit 30 acquires print data input from the input unit by the print data acquisition unit 30a. Next, the dot array data generation unit 30b generates dot array data based on the acquired print data. Then, the applied voltage data generation unit 30c generates applied voltage data in which a voltage to be applied to the heating element of the thermal head 11 for dot formation is set for each dot based on the dot arrangement data. In this way, the dot arrangement data and the applied voltage data are generated in advance by the control unit 30.

  On the other hand, the thermal printer 1 winds the decorative ribbon 21 and the transfer foil 42 around each roller along a predetermined path as described above. Further, the thermal head 11 is preheated by the head heater 12. Start printing when preparation is complete.

  When printing is started, the pinch roller 14 rotates. The decorative ribbon 21 and the transfer foil 42 sandwiched between the pinch rollers 14 are sent out at a predetermined speed in the right direction in FIG. The support roller 13 is driven by the decorative ribbon 21 that is fed out and rotates while receiving the pressing force from the thermal head 11 via the transfer foil 42 and the decorative ribbon 21. At the same time, the heating elements arranged in the pressing part 11a of the thermal head 11 are converted into dot arrangement data and applied voltage data output from the output part 30d of the control part 30 with the pressing force of the pressing part 11a applied. On the basis of the power, selective heat generation is performed.

As described above, the heat generated in each heating element is conducted to the transfer foil 42. In the transfer foil 42, the release layer 42b and the adhesive layer 42d are softened and melted by the conducted heat, respectively, and the release layer 42b is weakly bonded to the transfer layer 42c, and the adhesive layer 42d is the surface of the decorative ribbon 21. Adhere to.
The decorative ribbon 21 that has passed through the thermal head 11 and the support roller 13 peels off the transfer layer 42c adhered to the surface by the adhesive layer 42d from the base material 42a and from the untransferred transfer layer 42c remaining on the base material 42a side. In order to divide the sheet, the sheet is fed away from the transfer foil 42 by the third auxiliary roller 18c. Then, it passes through the pinch roller 14 and is discharged to the lower roller 14b side. On the other hand, the protective sheet 22 that has passed through the pinch roller 14 is discharged to the upper roller 14 a side and taken up by the take-up roller 17.
Note that the pinch roller 14 continues to rotate even after the predetermined printing is completed. The rotation of the pinch roller 14 is stopped when a portion where the print pattern of the decorative ribbon 21 is formed passes through the pinch roller 14 and a predetermined feed amount has been fed.

(3) Effects of Example 2 As described above, according to Example 2, the thermal head 11 is used to transfer the transfer layer 42c including a metal foil onto the surface of the decorative ribbon 21, thereby forming a print pattern. . At this time, the dots constituting the vicinity of the outline of the print pattern are given larger thermal energy than the dots constituting the vicinity of the center of the print pattern, so that the adhesive layer 42d is firmly bonded to the decorative ribbon 21. Like to do. As a result, the transfer layer that becomes the dots in the vicinity of the contour of the print pattern can be more firmly bonded, and can be accurately separated from the non-transferred transfer layer remaining on the substrate side of the transfer foil, from the transferred transfer layer 42c. The outline of the printed pattern can be made clearer.

  Further, the positions of the dots in the print pattern are discriminated by referring to the presence or absence of a total of nine dots, both in the front three in the relative movement direction, in the rear two, and in the direction orthogonal to the relative movement direction. Since it did in this way, it can grasp | ascertain accurately and at high speed which position of each dot each dot comprises.

  Further, in the second embodiment, when forming one dot, continuous voltage application and voltage application in which the magnitude of the voltage is gradually reduced are performed until the voltage application timing for forming the next dot. As a result, it is possible to form a print pattern in which each dot is combined with other adjacent dots and no tailing occurs, and there is no seam or wrinkle at the boundary of each dot. As well as being able to form beautiful printed patterns with metallic luster.

  In the second embodiment, since the thermal head 11 is preheated by the head heater 12, the transfer foil is transferred without the heat generated by the heating element of the thermal head 11 raising the temperature of the thermal head 11 itself. In comparison, sufficient heat energy required to soften and melt the surface of the decorative ribbon 21, which requires more heat energy, can be applied to the decorative ribbon 21, thereby effectively forming a print pattern. be able to.

(Other examples)
In the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments, and various modified embodiments can be made within the scope of the present invention depending on the purpose and application. That is, in Example 1 described above, the protective sheet 22 is used to change the surface state of the decorative ribbon 21 that is a recording medium to form a print pattern. Instead of using it, the pressing portion 11a of the thermal head 11 may be brought into direct contact with the surface of the decorative ribbon 21 and slid to form a print pattern.

  In Examples 1 and 2, the long satinous ribbon ribbon 21 made of nylon satin is used as the recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and resin fibers such as polyester and urethane are used. A woven ribbon may be used, and the shape may be a rectangular or circular woven fabric. Furthermore, it is not limited to a textile, A sheet form etc. may be used. Further, the material is not limited to resin, and may be rubber, leather, synthetic leather or the like.

  In the second embodiment, the print pattern is formed using the metal transfer foil. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the print pattern is formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium as in the first embodiment. You may make it do. As a result, it is possible to form a print pattern formed by combining each dot with other adjacent dots, and form an integrated print pattern that is seamless (not a set of dots) at the boundary of each dot. In addition, the dots constituting the vicinity of the outline of the print pattern can be applied with greater thermal energy than the dots constituting the vicinity of the center of the print pattern, and the outer area is softened by heat. The difference from the surface state of the recording medium in the unmelted portion can be clearly expressed, and the outline of the print pattern can be made clearer.

  Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the control unit 30 sets the magnitude of the applied voltage for each dot and adjusts the amount of heat applied for dot formation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When intermittent voltage application is performed as in 7 (b), not only the magnitude of the applied voltage but also the application time may be individually set. Thereby, the amount of heat generated by the heating element for forming each dot can be appropriately adjusted.

  In the first and second embodiments, the thermal head 11 is fixed and the decorative ribbon 21 as a recording medium is conveyed to relatively move the thermal head and the recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the thermal head and the recording medium may be relatively moved by providing the thermal head so as to be movable and fixing the recording medium. Such a configuration will be described using the thermal printer 50 shown in FIG. 8 as an example.

  A thermal printer 50 shown in FIG. 8 preheats a thermal head 51, a head heater 52 for preheating the thermal head 51, a support portion 53 on which a resin sheet 61 as a recording medium is placed and supported, and a transfer foil 42. The foil heater 59 is provided. The thermal printer 50 includes the control unit 30 as in the second embodiment, and forms a print pattern by the same control as in the second embodiment.

  The thermal head 51 is an end face type thermal head. As in the first and second embodiments, the thermal head 51 has a plurality of heating elements arranged linearly in the pressing portion 51a in a direction perpendicular to the printing direction. The pressing force of the thermal head 51 is set to 9.8 to 24.5 N per 25.4 mm (1 inch) width of the heating element, which is larger than a general pressing force as in the first and second embodiments. Yes. The heating element generates heat in response to an input signal from a personal computer or the like in a state where the pressing force is applied.

As in the first and second embodiments, the head heater 52 is provided integrally with the thermal head 51 and preheats the thermal head 51 to 40 to 70 ° C.
The support portion 53 is provided so as not to move so as to receive the pressing force of the pressing portion 51 a of the thermal head 51 via the resin sheet 61 and the transfer foil 42.
The foil heater 59 is provided upstream of the thermal head 51 in the printing direction, and preheats the transfer foil 42 superimposed on the upper side of the resin sheet 61 placed on the support portion 53 to 40 to 80 ° C. To do.

The transfer foil 42 is wound around the feed roller 56 in a roll shape, and has a drive source (not shown) via the first auxiliary roller 58a, the second auxiliary roller 58b, the third auxiliary roller 58c, and the fourth auxiliary roller 58d. It is wound around a winding roller 57. The transfer foil 42 is the same metal transfer foil as that of the second embodiment.
The resin sheet 61 is made of rectangular polypropylene.

  The thermal head 51 is movably provided, and moves to the left in FIG. 8 during printing. The resin sheet 61 is placed and fixed on the support portion 53. With such a configuration, the thermal head 51 moves relative to the resin sheet 61 that is a recording medium. The feed roller 56, the first auxiliary roller 58 a, the second auxiliary roller 58 b, the third auxiliary roller 58 c, the fourth auxiliary roller 58 d, and the take-up roller 57 around which the transfer foil 42 is wound are the heads together with the thermal head 51. It constitutes a unit and moves as the thermal head 51 moves. Further, the tension of the transfer foil 42 is adjusted by controlling the drive source of the take-up roller 57 and the brake of the feed roller 56, and the second auxiliary roller 58b and the third auxiliary roller are used for printing. During the period 58c, the sheet is wound around the winding roller 57 so as to move relatively with respect to the recording medium and move relative to the thermal head 51.

As described above, even in the case of a thermal printer in which the thermal head and the recording medium are relatively moved by providing the thermal head so as to be movable and fixing the recording medium, the above-described embodiment The same printing method as in 1 and 2 can be realized.
In the above embodiment, the metal transfer foil is transferred to form the print pattern. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the surface state of the resin sheet 61 that is a recording medium is changed as in the first embodiment. In this case, similarly to the first embodiment, printing may be performed via a protective sheet, or the protective sheet may not be used.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the rectangular polypropylene resin sheet 61 is used as the recording medium. However, the shape, material, and the like are not limited to this, and a circular shape, a long belt shape, rubber, leather, synthetic material, etc. It is good also as leather.

1 is a front view of a thermal printer according to Embodiments 1 and 2. FIG. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a transfer foil according to Example 2. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating (a) print data and (b) dot arrangement data according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the reference dot presence pattern which concerns on Example 2, (a)-(c) shows the reference dot presence pattern of each dot of D1-D3 of FIG.5 (b), respectively. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the application method of a voltage, (a) shows the example of a continuous voltage application, (b) shows the example of an intermittent voltage application, respectively. It is a figure explaining the thermal printer of other forms. It is explanatory drawing which shows the printing pattern formed with the conventional printing method.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 50; Thermal printer 11, 51; Thermal head, 11a, 51a; Press part, 12, 52; Head heater, 13: Support roller, 14: Pinch roller, 14a; Upper roller, 14b: Lower roller, 15 Ribbon roller 16, 56; feed roller 17, 57; take-up roller 18a, 58a; first auxiliary roller 18b, 58b; second auxiliary roller 18c, 58c; third auxiliary roller 18d, 58d; Fourth auxiliary roller, 21; decorative ribbon, 22; protective sheet, 30; control unit, 30a; print data acquisition unit, 30b; dot array data generation unit, 30c; applied voltage data generation unit, 30d; Transfer foil, 42a; substrate, 42b; release layer, 42c; transfer layer, 42d; adhesive layer, 53; support, 59; foil heater, 61; resin sheet, D, D , D2, D3; dots, P; printing pattern.

Claims (34)

In a state where the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relative to each other. A printing method for forming dots on the recording medium corresponding to heat generated by the heating elements, and forming a printing pattern composed of the dots,
A printing method using a thermal head, wherein the dots of the recording medium are formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium by heat generated by the heating element.   The printing method using a thermal head according to claim 1, wherein the dots are formed via a protective sheet that is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium and moves relative to the thermal head. .   The printing method using a thermal head according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is made of synthetic resin, rubber, or leather. In a state where the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relative to each other. A printing method for forming dots on the recording medium corresponding to heat generated by the heating elements, and forming a printing pattern composed of the dots,
Each of the dots is formed by applying the voltage continuously for a time equal to a movement time per dot of the relative movement.   The printing method using a thermal head according to claim 4, wherein each dot is formed by decreasing the magnitude of the voltage stepwise. In a state where the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relative to each other. A printing method for forming dots on the recording medium corresponding to heat generated by the heating elements, and forming a printing pattern composed of the dots,
A print data acquisition step of acquiring print data which is information of the shape of the print pattern;
A dot array data generation step for generating dot array data, which is array information of dots formed on the recording medium, based on the print data;
Based on the dot arrangement data, reference is made to the presence or absence of dots formed around each dot, and the magnitude and / or application time of the voltage to be applied to each heating element is set to generate application voltage data. The applied voltage data generation step,
A printing method using a thermal head, comprising: an output step of outputting a signal for causing the heating elements to generate heat based on the dot arrangement data and the applied voltage data.   7. A printing method using a thermal head according to claim 6, wherein each dot is formed by applying the voltage continuously for a time equal to a movement time per dot of the relative movement.   The printing method using a thermal head according to claim 7, wherein each dot is formed by decreasing the magnitude of the voltage stepwise.   The thermal presence according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the presence or absence of a dot used for the reference is the presence or absence of at least one to seven dots in each of four directions in the front-rear direction and the orthogonal direction of the relative movement of each dot. Printing method using a head.   The presence / absence of dots used for the reference is the presence / absence of a total of nine dots, at least three in the front, two in the rear, and two in the direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction. A printing method using the thermal head according to claim 6.   The printing using the thermal head according to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the dots are dots formed of a transfer layer transferred from a transfer foil having a transfer layer provided with a metal layer by heat generation of the heating element. Method.   The printing using the thermal head according to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the dots are dots formed of the recording medium formed by changing a surface state of the recording medium by heat generation of the heating element. Method.   The printing method using a thermal head according to claim 12, wherein the dots are formed via a protective sheet that is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium and moves relative to the thermal head. .   The printing method using a thermal head according to any one of claims 4 to 13, wherein a material of the recording medium is synthetic resin, rubber, or leather.   The printing method using the thermal head according to claim 1, wherein the thermal head is preheated. In a state where the recording medium is pressed by a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relative to each other. A printing method for forming dots on the recording medium corresponding to heat generated by the heating elements, and forming a printing pattern composed of the dots,
A print data acquisition step of acquiring print data which is information of the shape of the print pattern;
A dot array data generation step for generating dot array data, which is array information of dots formed on the recording medium, based on the print data;
An applied voltage data generation step of setting applied voltage data by setting the magnitude of the voltage applied to each heating element with reference to the presence or absence of dots formed around each dot based on the dot arrangement data When,
An output step for outputting a signal for heating each heating element based on the dot arrangement data and the applied voltage data, and
Each of the dots is formed by applying the voltage continuously for a time equal to the movement time per dot of the relative movement, and by decreasing the magnitude of the voltage stepwise.
The presence / absence of dots used for the reference is the presence / absence of a total of nine dots, at least three in each of the dots in the relative movement direction, two in the rear, and two in the direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction. ,
The dot is a dot formed of the recording medium formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium by heat generation of the heating element,
The dots are formed via a protective sheet that is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium and moves relative to the thermal head,
A printing method using a thermal head, wherein the recording medium is a decorative ribbon made of woven resin fibers.   The printing method using the thermal head according to claim 16, wherein the thermal head is preheated. A thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line;
Moving means for relatively moving the thermal head and the recording medium,
In a state where the recording medium is pressed by the thermal head, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relatively moved by the moving means, A printing apparatus that forms dots corresponding to the heat generation of each heating element on the recording medium and forms a printing pattern composed of the dots,
A printing apparatus, wherein the dots formed of the recording medium are formed by changing a surface state of the recording medium by heat generation of the heating element.   The printing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the dots are formed via a protective sheet that is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium and moves relative to the thermal head.   The printing apparatus according to claim 18 or 19, wherein a material of the recording medium is synthetic resin, rubber, or leather. A thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line;
Moving means for relatively moving the thermal head and the recording medium,
In a state where the recording medium is pressed by the thermal head, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relatively moved by the moving means, A printing apparatus that forms dots corresponding to the heat generation of each heating element on the recording medium and forms a printing pattern composed of the dots,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selective heat generation of each of the heating elements is heat generation by applying a voltage equal to a voltage application time per dot equal to a movement time per dot of the relative movement.   The printing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the selective heat generation of each of the heating elements is heat generation by voltage application in which the magnitude of the voltage decreases stepwise. A thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line;
Moving means for relatively moving the thermal head and the recording medium,
In a state where the recording medium is pressed by the thermal head, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relatively moved by the moving means, A printing apparatus that forms dots corresponding to the heat generation of each heating element on the recording medium and forms a printing pattern composed of the dots,
A print data acquisition unit for acquiring print data which is information on the shape of the print pattern;
A dot array data generation unit that generates dot array data, which is array information of dots formed on the recording medium, based on the print data;
Based on the dot arrangement data, reference is made to the presence or absence of dots formed around each dot, and the magnitude and / or application time of the voltage to be applied to each heating element is set to generate application voltage data. An applied voltage data generation unit,
And an output unit that outputs a signal for causing each of the heating elements to generate heat based on the dot arrangement data and the applied voltage data.   24. The printing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the selective heat generation of each of the heating elements is heat generation due to voltage application for which the voltage application time per dot is equal to the movement time per dot of the relative movement.   25. The printing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the selective heat generation of each of the heating elements is heat generation by voltage application in which the magnitude of the voltage decreases stepwise.   The applied voltage data generation unit refers to at least the presence or absence of 1 to 7 dots in each of the four directions in the front-rear direction and the orthogonal direction of the relative movement of each dot, and / or the magnitude of the voltage applied to each heating element and / or 26. The printing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the application time is set.   The applied voltage data generation unit refers to the presence / absence of a total of nine dots, each of at least three in the front, two in the rear of the relative movement direction, and two in the direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction. 26. The printing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the magnitude and / or application time of the voltage applied to each of the heating elements is set.   The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein the dots are dots formed of a transfer layer transferred from a transfer foil having a transfer layer provided with a metal layer in response to heat generated by the heating element.   The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein each of the dots is a dot formed by changing a surface state of the recording medium corresponding to heat generation of the heating element.   30. The printing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the dots are formed via a protective sheet that is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium and moves relative to the thermal head.   The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 30, wherein a material of the recording medium is synthetic resin, rubber, or leather.   32. The printing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising preheating means for preheating the thermal head. A thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line;
Moving means for relatively moving the thermal head and the recording medium,
In a state where the recording medium is pressed by the thermal head, each heating element is selectively heated by applying a voltage, and the thermal head and the recording medium are relatively moved by the moving means, A printing apparatus that forms dots corresponding to the heat generation of each heating element on the recording medium and forms a printing pattern composed of the dots,
A print data acquisition unit for acquiring print data which is information on the shape of the print pattern;
A dot array data generation unit that generates dot array data, which is array information of dots formed on the recording medium, based on the print data;
Based on the dot arrangement data, an applied voltage data generation unit that sets the magnitude of a voltage applied to each heating element with reference to the presence or absence of dots formed around each dot and generates applied voltage data When,
An output unit that outputs a signal for causing each of the heating elements to generate heat based on the dot arrangement data and the applied voltage data; and
The selective heat generation of each of the heating elements is a voltage application in which the voltage application time per dot is equal to the movement time per dot of the relative movement, and the magnitude of the applied voltage decreases stepwise. The applied voltage data generation unit generates a total of nine dots, each including at least three forward, two backward, and two directions in the direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction of each dot. Set the magnitude of the voltage applied to each heating element with reference to the presence or absence,
Each of the dots is a dot formed by changing the surface state of the recording medium corresponding to the heat generation of the heating element,
The dots are formed through a protective sheet that is provided between the thermal head and the recording medium and moves relative to the thermal head,
The printing apparatus, wherein the recording medium is a decorative ribbon made of woven resin fibers.   34. The printing apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising preheating means for preheating the thermal head.

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