JPH07214843A - Thermal transfer card printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a thermal transfer card printer having components of reduced numbers, being small in size and enabling execution of high-speed and precise printing on the whole surface of a card. CONSTITUTION:A carrying roller 22 and an idler roller 23 which can be separated from and brought into contact with this roller are provided on the upstream side of a platen roller 4 in relation to the direction of carriage of a card 1, while carrying rollers 24 and 26 and idler rollers 25 and 27 which can be separated from and brought into contact with these rollers are provided on the downstream side thereof. In a process of carrying the card 1 toward the upstream side to a printing start position, a process of returning it toward the downstream side and a process of carrying it toward the upstream side after completion of printing, the card 1 is held by the carrying rollers 22, 24 and 26 and the idler rollers 23, 25 and 27 between and controlled and carried thereby. In a printing process, the carrying rollers and the idler rollers are separated from each other and the card 1 is carried by the control and drive by the platen roller 4 alone.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer card printer for printing images such as facial photographs and characters such as names on cards such as ID cards, optical cards and IC cards.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The basic printing operation of a thermal transfer card printer for printing images such as face photographs and characters such as names on cards such as ID cards, optical cards, and IC cards is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-208193. There is. FIG. 7 shows the basic configuration of the thermal transfer card printer described in that prior application. In FIG. 7, a card-shaped recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a card) 1 and an ink application surface of a transfer film 2 are overlapped with each other, and a thermal head 3 and a platen roller 4 are provided.
Sandwich it between and. At the same time when the thermal head 3 is energized, the card 1 and the transfer film 2 are moved in the directions of arrows A and B, respectively, so that the yellow (Y) transfer recording is performed. After the transfer of Y is completed, the card 1 is pulled back in the direction of the arrow A ′, and the transfer recording of magenta (M) on the transfer film 2 is similarly performed. By repeating this operation with cyan (C) and protective overcoat (R), images, characters, etc. are printed on the card 1. In addition, if necessary, Y, M, C
In some cases, four colors are added by adding black (Bk).

In such a basic operation, when the card 1 is pulled back in the direction of the arrow A'after the transfer recording for one color is completed, the transfer film 2 is also transferred at the same time if the thermal head 3 is not separated from the platen roller 4. I'll be back,
In general, the thermal head 3 can be conveyed in only one direction, so the thermal head 3 may be damaged. Therefore, the thermal head 3 is separated from the platen roller 4. Further, another driving force is required to move the card 1 in the direction of arrow A or pull it back in the direction of arrow A '.

8 and 9 are schematic configuration diagrams of a thermal transfer card printer having a conventional configuration for moving the card 1 in the directions of arrows A and A '. The thermal transfer card printer shown in FIG. 8 is provided with a pair of rollers of a capstan roller 5 and a pinch roller 6 on the upstream side with respect to the conveying direction of the card 1, and the card 1 is always sandwiched so that the card 1 is indicated by an arrow A.
Direction and A'direction are controlled and driven to perform thermal transfer printing. Of course, when the card 1 is pulled back in the direction of the arrow A ', the thermal head 3 is separated from the platen roller 4 by means not shown as described above. The thermal transfer card printer shown in FIG. 9 is provided with a card holding mechanism 7 having a platen platen in place of the platen roller 4, the card 1 is inserted and ejected at the card attaching / detaching position shown by the broken line, and the card 1 at the printing position shown by the solid line. The printing operation is performed. Of course, when the card 1 is pulled back in the direction of the arrow A ', the thermal head 3 is separated from the platen roller 4 by means not shown as described above.

[0005]

In the conventional thermal transfer card printer shown in FIG. 8, since the card 1 is sandwiched between the capstan roller 5 and the pinch roller 6 and the card 1 is controlled and conveyed, the platen roller 4 and the pinch roller 6 are used. 6
An interval L is required between and. Therefore, there is a problem that the printable range on the card 1 is limited and the entire surface of the card 1 cannot be printed. Further, in the conventional thermal transfer card printer shown in FIG. 9, a card holding mechanism 7 for securely fixing the card 1 and a diagram for moving the card holding mechanism 7 between the card attaching / detaching position and the printing position described above. A moving mechanism (not shown) and a space for these are required. Therefore, there are problems that the number of parts increases, the device becomes large, and it is difficult to increase the printing speed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer card printer which has a small number of parts and is small in size and capable of performing high-speed and accurate printing on the entire surface of the card. And

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the present invention comprises a platen roller and a thermal head in pressure contact with the platen roller. In a thermal transfer card printer that conveys a transfer film and a card in an overlapping manner, presses the thermal head, and energizes the thermal head to transfer the ink of the transfer film to the card, in the conveyance direction of the card. On the other hand, each of the upstream side and the downstream side of the platen roller is provided with at least a pair of rollers of a transport roller and an idler roller which can be freely contacted and detached from the transport roller, and the card is moved to a print start position directly below the thermal head. A step of conveying the card to the upstream side, a step of returning the card to the downstream side, In the step of transporting to the upstream side after completion of printing, while the card is sandwiched between the transport roller and the idler roller for controlled transport, in the printing step of transferring the ink of the transfer film to the card, The thermal transfer card printer is characterized in that the conveyance roller and the idler roller are separated from each other and the card is conveyed by control drive only by the platen roller.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A thermal transfer card printer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a thermal transfer card printer of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side plan view showing an embodiment of a thermal transfer card printer of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 to 6 are of a thermal transfer card printer of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation. 1 to 6, the same parts as those in FIGS. 7 to 9 are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main components of the thermal transfer card printer of the present invention are housed in a housing 10 shown by a broken line. 1 or 2, the transfer film 2 has an ink application surface between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4 provided below the thermal head 3.
It is sandwiched toward the side. The thermal head 3 can be vertically moved vertically along a thermal head guide groove (not shown) provided on the side plate of the housing 10, and is configured to press against the platen roller 4 by a pressing mechanism (not shown). . The transfer film 2 is fed by a feeding roll 2a supported by a shaft (not shown) attached to the casing 10, and a winding roll 2 supported by a shaft (not shown) also attached to the casing 10.
It is wound up by b. The winding roll 2b is DC
The transfer film 2 is driven by a transfer film winding drive unit 11 including a deceleration mechanism using a motor and a gear, and the transfer film 2 is wound at a printing speed.

A film roller 12 for detecting the running of the transfer film 2 is provided on the upstream side (the left side in FIG. 2) of the thermal head 3 with respect to the carrying direction of the card 1.
At the tip of the shaft, a slit disk 13 and a photo sensor 14 for reading a rotation pulse of the slit disk 13 are attached. Transfer film winding drive unit 1 described above
In No. 1, the photo sensor 14 reads the rotation pulse of the slit disk 13 and is driven by PWM control so that the winding tension becomes substantially constant according to the change in the diameter of the winding roll 2b. A film mark sensor 15 for detecting a color mark on the transfer film 2 is provided between the feeding roll 2a and the film roller 12. Further, the transfer film 2 is guided along its traveling path by the film guide 16, and in order to prevent the transfer film 2 from loosening and to give a proper back tension at the time of winding, a rotary damper 17 is loaded on the shaft of the feeding roll 2a. I have it as.

Further, a transport roller 18 for transporting the card 1 into the chassis 10 and an idler roller 19 which is driven to rotate are provided at an end portion of the chassis 10 upstream of the transport direction of the card 1. A transport roller 20 for transporting the card 1 to the outside of the chassis 10 and an idler roller 21 that is driven to rotate are provided at an end portion of the chassis 10 on the downstream side in the transport direction of the card 1. ing. These idler rollers 19 and 21 are constantly pressed by a spring (not shown) against the conveying rollers 18 and 20 with a set load, and when the card 1 described later is inserted, the conveying rollers 18 and 20 are
The distance between 20 and the idler rollers 19 and 21 is expanded to obtain a conveying force.

A transport roller 22 for transporting the card 1 between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4 and a idler roller which is driven and rotated between the transport roller 18, the idler roller 19 and the thermal head 3. 23 are provided. Between the thermal head 3 and the transport roller 20 and the idler roller 21, a transport roller 24 near the thermal head 3 for further transporting the card 1 to the downstream side, an idler roller 25 that is driven to rotate, and a thermal head. A conveyance roller 26 and an idler roller 27, which are driven and rotated, are provided apart from 3. Further, a card position sensor 28 for determining the print start position of the card 1 is provided between the carrying roller 18, idler roller 19 and the carrying roller 22, idler roller 23, and the carrying roller 26, the idler roller 27 and the carrying roller are provided. A paper discharge sensor 29 for detecting the discharge of the card 1 after printing is provided between the idler roller 21 and the idler roller 21.

By the way, the distance between the conveying roller 18, the idler roller 19 and the conveying roller 22, the idler roller 23, the distance between the conveying roller 22, the idler roller 23 and the thermal head 3, the platen roller 4, the thermal head 3, the platen roller 4 Between the transport roller 24 and the idler roller 25, the transport roller 24, the idler roller 25
And the conveyance roller 26 and the idler roller 27, and the conveyance roller 26 and the idler roller 27 and the conveyance roller 20 and the idler roller 21, respectively, are arranged at intervals smaller than the length of the card 1.

The above idler rollers 23, 25, 27
Is configured to press against the transport rollers 22, 24, 26 by the force of the springs 30, 31, 32, respectively. The springs 30, 31, 32 are arranged below the idler rollers 23, 25, 27, and in FIG. 1, the spring 31 is hidden by the thermal head 3 and is not shown (FIG. 3). ~ Shown in Figure 6). The idler rollers 23, 25, 27 are connected to and separated from the transport rollers 22, 24, 26 by the DC solenoid 3
3, controlled by a solenoid bar 34 and a spring 35 having one end fixed to the wall on the upstream side of the housing 10. That is, when the plunger of the DC solenoid 33 is not in the attracting state, the spring 35 pulls the solenoid bar 34 toward the upstream side wall of the housing 10, so that the springs 30, 31, 32 connected to the solenoid bar 34 are connected.
Is in a contracted state, and the idler rollers 23, 25, 27 are separated from the transport rollers 22, 24, 26. Conversely, DC
When the plunger of the solenoid 33 is in the suction state, the springs 30, 31, 32 are extended and the idler roller 2
3, 25 and 27 are set to the conveying rollers 22, 24, and
Press on 26.

The platen roller 4 arranged as described above
The transport rollers 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are controlled and driven by the same drive source as follows. A platen pulley 36 is fixed to the end of the shaft of the platen roller 4, and timing pulleys 37, 38, 39, 40, and 40 are attached to the ends of the shafts of the transport rollers 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26, respectively.
41 are fixed respectively. The timing pulleys 37 and 39 are connected by the timing belt 42, and the timing pulleys 40 and 41 are connected to the timing belt 4.
3, the timing pulleys 41 and 38 are connected by a timing belt 44. further,
A two-toothed timing belt 45 is provided between the platen pulley 36 and the timing pulleys 39 and 40 to adjust the rotation direction.
Are fixed by applying tension by a tension adjusting member 46 so that tooth jump does not occur.

Further, the platen roller 4 and the conveying roller 1
8, 20, 22, 24, 26 have a reduction ratio of the peripheral speed of the platen roller 4 and the conveying rollers 18, 20, 22, 24, 26.
It is designed to have the same peripheral speed. That is, the number of teeth of the pulleys 36 to 41 is determined by the moving speed of the card 1 by the platen roller 4 and the conveying rollers 18, 20, 22, 24, 2.
The number of teeth is set by the ratio of the roller diameters so that the moving speed of the card 1 by 6 is the same. Then, the stepping motor 47a and the timing belt 47
b and 47d, the timing belt 47d of the platen drive system 47 composed of the reduction pulley 47c is connected to the platen pulley 36.
The pulleys 36 to 41 set as described above are controlled and driven by one drive source of the platen drive system 47. It should be noted that the gear ratio of the platen drive system 47 is an integer consisting of the number of revolutions of the stepping motor 47a so that printing (300 dots / inch in this embodiment) at the energizing pulse interval to the thermal head 3 can be obtained on the card 1. It is set by the reduction ratio. Further, the timing belts 47b and 47d and the speed reduction pulley 47c used for this deceleration are not trapezoidal teeth that are generally used, but have involute tooth profiles. This is because the one having the involute tooth profile has smoother meshing, so that it is possible to prevent uneven printing due to meshing resistance or the like.

Next, the operation of the thermal transfer card printer of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3A shows the initial state,
In this state, the thermal head 3 moves to the platen roller 4
It is about 3 to 6 mm apart just above. Since the plunger of the DC solenoid 33 is not in the attracted state, the spring 35 pulls the solenoid bar 34 toward the upstream side wall of the housing 10 as described above.
1, 32 are contracted, and idler rollers 23, 2
5 and 27 are separated from the transport rollers 22, 24 and 26. FIG. 3B shows a standby state for transporting the card 1. In this state, the thermal head 3 is separated immediately above the platen roller 4 as in the initial state.
The plunger of the DC solenoid 33 is energized to be in a suction state, and the idler rollers 23, 25, 27 are pressed against the transport rollers 22, 24, 26 with a set pressure.

When the power of this device (thermal transfer card printer) is turned on, first, the standby state shown in FIG. 3B is entered, and the card 1 is placed downstream in order to confirm whether there is any card 1 remaining in the device. It is driven for a set time so as to be transported to the side (the right side in FIG. 2). Then, while the transfer film winding drive unit 11 winds the transfer film 2, the film mark sensor 15 is used to locate the transfer film 2. The transfer film 2 is composed of Y, M, and C as in the conventional case.
Color + overcoat R or four colors of Y, M, C and Bk + overcoat R is used. After this cue is over,
Returning from the standby state of FIG. 3B to the initial state of FIG. 3A, the initialization of the apparatus is completed, and in this state, the host computer (not shown) waits for an instruction.

When a printing instruction is issued from the host computer, the standby state shown in FIG. 3B is entered. In this state, the stepping motor 47a of the platen drive system 47 is operated to convey the card 1 to the downstream side. So that the platen roller 4 is rotated. At this time, the transport rollers 18, 20,
Since the cards 22, 22 and 26 are also rotated so that the card 1 is conveyed to the downstream side, when the card 1 is inserted from the upstream end of the housing 10, as shown in FIG. It is carried into the inside of the housing 10 by the carrying roller 18 and the idler roller 19.

In FIG. 4 (d), the card 1 is conveyed, the card position sensor 28 recognizes the front end of the card 1, and counts the pulses of the stepping motor 47a until the trailing edge passes, and confirms the passing of the trailing edge. At that point, the transportation of the card 1 is stopped. Then, in FIG. 4E, the card 1 is returned so that the set print start position of the card 1 is the position of the thermal head 3, and the thermal head 3 is pressed. When the pressing is finished, the energization of the DC solenoid 33 is stopped, and the solenoid bar 34 is pulled toward the upstream wall of the housing 10 by the spring 35 as shown in FIG. 25, 27
The pressing of the carrier rollers 22, 24, 26 is released.
Therefore, the card 1 is held only by the thermal head 3 pressing the platen roller 4 via the card 1.

In this state, when a printing instruction is issued from the host computer, rotation of the platen roller 4 and winding of the transfer film 2 are started as shown in FIG. 5 (g). In order to avoid printing disturbance due to the effect of mechanical shock at the start of rotation, the start of energization of the thermal head 3 is delayed by a few msec from this timing so that the platen roller 4 is energized and then energized. .
When the printing of the set length on the card 1 is completed, first, the idler rollers 23, 25, 27 are pressed against the conveying rollers 22, 24, 26 to hold the card 1, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5 (i), the thermal head 3 is pulled up. Up to this point, the printing operation for one color is performed.
As is clear from the above description, in the thermal transfer card printer of the present invention, printing can be performed on the entire surface of the card 1 in the steps of FIGS. 4 (f) to 5 (i).

Further, when printing the next color continuously,
As shown in FIG. 6 (j), the transport drive system for the card 1, that is, the platen roller 4 and the transport rollers 18, 20, 22,
When the card position sensor 28 detects the trailing edge of the card 1, the reverse rotation is stopped. This position is the same as the above-mentioned state of FIG. 4D, and the operation after this state is performed for each color of M, C, Bk and the overcoat R.
By repeating the above, full-color printing can be performed on the entire surface of the card 1. It should be noted that the transfer film 2 winds up the set length while the card 1 is fed backward to detect the position for printing the next color.

FIG. 6 (k) shows the operation of discharging the paper after printing is completed. When the full-color printing or the single-color printing in FIG. 5I is completed, the thermal head 3 is pulled up after holding the card 1 by the transport roller 24 and the idler roller 25, and the transport drive system is configured to transport the card 1 to the downstream side. To rotate. Then, the card 1 is sequentially transported from the transport roller 24 and the idler roller 25 to the transport roller 26, the idler roller 27, and further to the transport roller 20 and the idler roller 21. After the trailing edge of the card 1 passes the paper discharge sensor 29 and the card 1 separates from the transport roller 20 and the idler roller 21 at the downstream end, the transport drive system is stopped.

With the above, a series of operations of the thermal transfer card printer of the present invention is completed. To continue printing, the state of FIG. 6 (k) is changed to the state of FIG. 3 (c), and the next card 1 is inserted. The energization is stopped, the idler rollers 23, 25, 27 return to the initial state of FIG. 3A in which they are separated from the transport rollers 22, 24, 26, and the next instruction is awaited.

By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the conveying roller 22 and the pair of idler rollers 23 which can freely come into contact with the conveying roller 22 are provided on the upstream side of the platen roller 4 in the conveying direction of the card 1. On the downstream side, two pairs of rollers, that is, a transport roller 24 and an idler roller 25 that can be contacted and detached from the transport roller 24, a transport roller 26, and an idler roller 27 that can be contacted and detached from the transport roller 26, are provided. The downstream side may be a pair of rollers, and the present invention can be achieved by providing at least a pair of rollers each of which is composed of a transport roller and an idler roller which can freely come into contact with the transport roller on the upstream side and the downstream side. . Further, the idler rollers 23, 25, 27 are configured to be brought into contact with and separated from the conveying rollers 22, 24, 26, but conversely, the conveying rollers 22, 24, 26 may be brought into contact with and separated from the idler rollers 23, 25, 27. The construction does not depart from the gist of the present invention.

[0026]

As described above in detail, in the thermal transfer card printer of the present invention, the transport roller is provided on each of the upstream side and the downstream side of the platen roller with respect to the transport direction of the card, and the separation roller is brought into contact with the transport roller. Providing at least a pair of rollers with a free idler roller, and transporting the card upstream to the print start position directly below the thermal head,
In the step of returning the card to the downstream side and the step of transporting the card to the upstream side after completion of printing, the card is nipped by the transport roller and the idler roller and controlled and transported, and the ink of the transfer film is transferred to the card. In the transfer printing process, the conveyance roller and the idler roller are separated from each other, and the card is conveyed by the control drive only by the platen roller, so that the number of parts is small, the card is small, and the entire surface of the card can be printed accurately at high speed. It becomes possible to do.

Further, the platen roller and the carrying roller are controlled and driven by the same drive source, and the reduction ratio of the platen roller and the carrying roller is set so that the peripheral speed of the platen roller and the peripheral speed of the carrying roller are the same. By doing so, the number of parts can be further reduced, and the card can be satisfactorily conveyed. Further, if the idler roller and the conveying roller are separated and contacted by the control of the electromagnetic attraction force of the solenoid and the return force of the spring, a quick and smooth operation can be achieved with a simple structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a basic configuration of a thermal transfer card printer.

FIG. 8 is a side plan view showing a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Card 2 Transfer Film 2a Feeding Roll 2b Winding Roll 3 Thermal Head 4 Platen Roller 10 Housing 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 Conveying Roller 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 Idler Roller 28 Card Position Sensor 29 Paper Ejection Sensor 33 DC solenoid 34 Solenoid bar 30, 31, 32, 35 Spring 36 Platen pulley 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 Timing pulley 47 Platen drive system 47a Stepping motor 42, 43, 44, 45, 47b, 47d Timing belt 47c Reduction pulley

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location B41J 13/076

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A platen roller and a thermal head that is in pressure contact with the platen roller, wherein a transfer film and a card are superposed and conveyed between the platen roller and the thermal head, and the thermal head is pressed. A thermal transfer card printer that energizes the thermal head and transfers the ink of the transfer film to the card together with a transport roller on each of the upstream side and the downstream side of the platen roller with respect to the transport direction of the card. Providing at least a pair of rollers with an idler roller which can be freely contacted and detached with a transport roller, a step of transporting the card to an upstream side to a print start position immediately below the thermal head, and a step of returning the card to a downstream side, In the step of transporting the card to the upstream side after completion of printing, In the printing step of sandwiching the feed roller and the idler roller for controlled conveyance, and for transferring the ink of the transfer film to the card, the conveyance roller and the idler roller are separated from each other and control is performed only by the platen roller. A thermal transfer card printer characterized in that the card is conveyed by driving. 2. The platen roller and the carrying roller are controlled and driven by the same drive source, and the speed reduction ratio between the platen roller and the carrying roller is set to the peripheral speed of the platen roller and the peripheral speed of the carrying roller. 2. The thermal transfer card printer according to claim 1, wherein the same is set. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the idler roller and the carrying roller are separated from and brought into contact with each other by control by an electromagnetic attraction force of a solenoid and a return force of a spring. Thermal transfer card printer.