JPH11138932A - Method for thermal transfer printing, ink ribbon cassette used for the method and thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal transfer printer for printing in a multigrade expressible manner with a gloss by controlling a position of an ink ribbon guide. SOLUTION: In the thermal transfer printer 10' comprising an ink ribbon 24 coating a film with inks and binders of a plurality of sets, a recording medium 30 to be superposed on the ribbon 24, a thermal head 11 having a heating resistor 16, and a platen roller 17 for sending the ribbon 24 and the medium 30 held in a pressed state from the ribbon supply side to the ribbon winding side between the head 11 and the resistor 16, the thermal head 11 is vertically disposed, the resistor 16 is provided at its lower end, an ink ribbon guide 27 for controlling a releasing position of the ribbon 24 from the medium 30 is provided at a predetermined position of the ribbon winding side, and the guide 27 is movable in a direction for bringing it into contact with or separating from the ribbon 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printing method of a fusion type thermal transfer system, and an ink ribbon cassette and a thermal transfer printing apparatus used in the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 11 shows an example of this type of thermal transfer printing apparatus of the fusion type thermal transfer system. The thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 of the fusion type thermal transfer system is configured such that a plurality of sets of a hot melt ink and a transparent hot melt binder (both not shown) are applied on a thin film film, and the ink ribbon 2 is superimposed on the ink ribbon 2. Paper 3 as a recording medium on which a hot-melt ink and a transparent hot-melt binder are thermally transferred, and a thermal head 4 having a heating resistor 6 for melting the hot-melt ink and the hot-melt binder
And the heating resistor 6 of the thermal head 4 sandwiching the ink ribbon 2 and the recording medium 3 in a pressed state from the supply reel 7 as the ink ribbon supply side to the take-up reel as the ink ribbon take-up side. The platen roller 9 for feeding the ink ribbon 2 and the recording paper 3 is provided on the side 8.

The thermal head 4 is installed horizontally (horizontally) and has a rectangular flat ceramic substrate 4a.
A heating resistor 6 is provided so as to extend in the width direction of the ink ribbon 2 via an upwardly convex glaze 5. Further, the thermal head 4 is swingable with respect to the platen roller 9 so that the heating resistor 6 of the thermal head 4 can be used during printing.
The ink ribbon 2 and the recording medium paper 3 superposed between the recording medium 3 and the platen roller 9 are sandwiched in a pressed state.

The heating resistor 6 of the thermal head 4 is placed in close contact with the ink ribbon 2 and the recording paper 3 superposed.
And between the heating resistor 6 of the thermal head 4 and the platen roller 9,
An electric current is applied to the heating resistor 6 of the thermal head 4 to generate heat, and the heat-fusible ink applied to the ink ribbon 2 is melted and transferred to the recording paper 3, and further transferred to the recording paper 3. Printing was performed by overcoating a transparent hot-melt binder on the ink.

[0005]

However, in the conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus 1, since the thermal head 4 is installed horizontally and the convex heating resistor 6 is located away from the end, the ink ribbon is not used. The peeling position between the recording paper 2 and the recording paper 3 is limited, and after transferring the hot-melt ink to the recording paper 3, the transparent hot-fusible binder is overcoated to protect the ink and control the gloss by the peeling position. It was difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it has been proposed that the peeling position between an ink ribbon and a recording medium can be changed so as to protect the ink and control glossiness capable of multi-tone expression. An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printing method that can be easily performed, and an ink ribbon cassette and a thermal transfer printing apparatus used in the method.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a thermal head by superposing an ink ribbon having a plurality of sets of a hot melt ink and a transparent hot melt binder applied on a thin film film and a recording medium. After being sent between a resistor and a platen roller and pressed between the heating resistor of the thermal head and the platen roller, an electric current is passed through the heating resistor of the thermal head to generate heat, and the ink is applied to the ink ribbon. Dissolving the transferred ink and transferring it to the recording medium, and further performing the printing by overcoating the binder on the transferred ink, wherein the ink ribbon and the recording medium are It is characterized in that the peeling is performed immediately after passing through the heating resistor of the vertical thermal head.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an ink ribbon in which a plurality of sets of a hot-melt ink and a transparent hot-melt binder are applied on a thin film is superimposed on a recording medium, and a heating resistor of a thermal head, a platen roller, After pressing between the heating resistor of the thermal head and the platen roller, an electric current is applied to the heating resistor of the thermal head to generate heat, thereby melting the ink applied to the ink ribbon. In the thermal transfer printing method in which the recording medium is transferred to the recording medium and the binder is printed on the transferred ink by overcoating, the peeling between the ink ribbon and the recording medium may be performed vertically. After passing through the heating resistor of the head, the ink ribbon is fed to the winding side of the ink ribbon by a predetermined distance.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the thermal transfer printing method according to the first or second aspect, wherein the ink ribbon guides having different lengths for varying a peeling position between the ink ribbon and the recording medium are wound. A plurality of ink ribbon cassettes provided on the side are prepared in advance, and printing is performed by selectively using one ink ribbon cassette from each of the ink ribbon cassettes.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink ribbon in which a plurality of sets of a heat-fusible ink and a transparent heat-fusible binder are applied on a thin film, and a recording medium is superposed on the ink ribbon. After pressing between the heating resistor of the thermal head and the platen roller, an electric current is applied to the heating resistor of the thermal head to generate heat, thereby melting the ink applied to the ink ribbon. Used in a thermal transfer printing method in which printing is performed by transferring the ink onto the recording medium and further overcoating the transferred ink with the binder, an opening into which the thermal head and the platen roller are inserted , A supply reel and a take-up reel rotatably housed in the cassette body, and In an ink ribbon cassette provided with a plurality of sets of ink and a binder and ink ribbons having both ends connected to the respective reels, the ink ribbon and the recording medium are separated from each other on a take-up reel side in the cassette body. An ink ribbon guide for controlling a position immediately after passing through a heating resistor of the thermal head is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink ribbon in which a plurality of sets of a heat-fusible ink and a transparent heat-fusible binder are applied on a thin film, and a recording medium is superimposed on the ink ribbon. After pressing between the heating resistor of the thermal head and the platen roller, an electric current is applied to the heating resistor of the thermal head to generate heat, thereby melting the ink applied to the ink ribbon. Used in a thermal transfer printing method in which printing is performed by transferring the ink onto the recording medium and further overcoating the transferred ink with the binder, an opening into which the thermal head and the platen roller are inserted , A supply reel and a take-up reel rotatably housed in the cassette body, and In an ink ribbon cassette provided with a plurality of sets of ink and a binder and ink ribbons having both ends connected to the respective reels, the ink ribbon and the recording medium are separated from each other on a take-up reel side in the cassette body. An ink ribbon guide is provided for controlling the position of the ink ribbon to a position fed a predetermined distance to the winding side of the ink ribbon after passing the heating resistor of the thermal head.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink ribbon in which a plurality of sets of a hot-melt ink and a transparent hot-melt binder are applied on a thin film, and a recording wherein the ink and the binder are thermally transferred by being superimposed on the ink ribbon. A thermal head having a heat generating resistor for dissolving the ink and the binder; and a heat generating resistor for the thermal head, the ink ribbon and the recording medium being held in a pressed state by winding the ink ribbon from the ink ribbon supply side. In a thermal transfer printing apparatus provided with a platen roller for feeding the ink ribbon and the recording medium on the take-up side, the thermal head is installed vertically and the heating resistor is provided at the lower end thereof, while the thermal head is provided on the ink ribbon take-up side. At a predetermined position facing the ink ribbon, a peeling position of the ink ribbon from the recording medium is set. The Gosuru ink ribbon guide is provided, abutting the ink ribbon guide relative to the ink ribbon, characterized in that the movable in a direction away.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a thermal transfer printing apparatus of a fusion type thermal transfer system using an ink ribbon cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the ink ribbon cassette, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which an ink ribbon cassette is mounted and printing is performed, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the gloss transfer ink ribbon cassette is mounted in the thermal transfer printing apparatus and printing is performed.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a thermal transfer printing apparatus 10 of a fusion type thermal transfer system comprises a thermal head 11
And a platen roller 17 made of rubber or the like, which is provided movably in a direction in which the thermal head 11 comes into contact with and separates from the thermal head 11 and is driven to rotate in the forward and reverse directions, and is rotatably disposed on the ink ribbon supply side. And a take-up reel base 19 rotatably disposed on the ink ribbon take-up side.
A non-gloss ink ribbon cassette 20 and a gloss ink ribbon cassette 20 'are mounted between 19 from one side of the apparatus main body (not shown) so as to be freely inserted and removed.

The thermal head 11 is installed vertically (vertically).
And a rectangular flat plate 12 made of epoxy resin.
A glass substrate 13 fixed to one surface of the rectangular flat plate 12 on the supply reel table 18 side;
A cylindrical glass rod 15 fixed by an adhesive 14 so as to extend laterally along 2a, and a heating resistor 16 fixed to the lower half of the outer peripheral surface of the glass rod 15 by soldering or the like
It is composed of The heating resistor 16 has a common electrode 16a on one side on the take-up reel base 19 side and an individual electrode 16b on the other half on the supply reel base 18 side.
It has become.

As shown in FIG. 3, the matte ink ribbon cassette 20 is made of a synthetic resin substantially box-shaped cassette body 21 having an opening 21a into which the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 17 are inserted. A supply reel 22 and a take-up reel 23 rotatably housed in a cassette body 21, and a hot-melt ink 24 of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) on a thin film 24a.
b, 24c, 24d and a transparent hot-melt binder (O
P) A plurality of sets of 24e are applied, and both ends
2, the ink ribbon 24 connected to the take-up reel 23 in the cassette main body 21 and the peeling position between the ink ribbon 24 and the surface porous recording medium 30 as a recording medium. An ink ribbon guide 25 for controlling a position immediately after passing through the heating resistor 16 and a supply reel 22 in the cassette body 21;
And an ink ribbon guide 26 that guides the position of the ink ribbon 24 that is disposed between the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 17 and is superimposed on the surface porous recording medium 30. I have.

Each of the ink ribbon guides 25 and 26 has a rectangular plate shape wider than the width of the ink ribbon 24 and is formed integrally with the cassette body 21 so as to protrude therefrom. Is to be inserted. In addition, each ink ribbon guide 2
The lower end surfaces of the ink ribbon guides 25 and 26 are arcuate, and the position of the lower end surface of the ink ribbon guide 25 on the take-up reel 23 is the position of the lower end surface of the ink ribbon guide 26 on the supply reel 22 side. The height is higher than the predetermined height. Thereby, the ink ribbon 24 and the surface porous recording medium 30
Is peeled off immediately after passing through the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, the glossy ink ribbon cassette 20 'is made of a synthetic resin substantially box-shaped cassette body 21 having an opening 21a into which the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 17 are inserted. The supply reel 22 and the take-up reel 23 rotatably housed in the cassette body 21, and C, M, Y on the thin film 24a.
A plurality of sets of hot-melt inks 24b, 24c, 24d and a transparent hot-melt binder 24e are applied, and an ink ribbon 24 having both ends connected to the reels 22, 23, respectively, and a take-up inside the cassette body 21. Reel 23
And the peeling position of the ink ribbon 24 and the surface porous recording medium 30 as the recording medium
And an ink ribbon guide 25 'for controlling the position to be fed to the take-up reel 23 side as the ink ribbon take-up side by a predetermined distance L (for example, L = 2.0 mm or more) after passing through the heating resistor 16; An ink that is arranged on the supply reel 22 side in the cassette body 21 and is superposed on the surface porous recording medium 30 and that guides the position of the ink ribbon 24 that is sent between the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 17. And a ribbon guide 26.

Each of the ink ribbon guides 25 'and 26 has a rectangular plate shape wider than the width of the ink ribbon 24, and is integrally formed with the cassette main body 21. The head 11 is inserted. The lower end surfaces of the ink ribbon guides 25 'and 26 are arc-shaped, and the positions of the arc-shaped lower end surfaces of the ink ribbon guides 25' and 26 are substantially the same. As a result, the ink ribbon 24 and the superficially porous recording medium 30 are separated from each other after passing through the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11 and then being fed to the take-up reel 23 by a predetermined distance. Further, the ink ribbon guide 25 'is connected to the ink ribbon guide 2
It is longer than 5.

These two ink ribbon cassettes 20,
Table 1 below shows the printing conditions of the thermal transfer printing apparatus 10 using 20 '. As shown in FIG. 6, the superficially porous recording medium 30 as the recording medium has the first condition that the Beck smoothness is 500 seconds or more and the print surfacing of 3 μm.
The substrate 31 satisfies at least one of the second conditions of not more than m and a porous layer 32 having an average pore diameter of 1 μm to 10 μm laminated on the surface side of the substrate 31.

[0022]

[Table 1] The printing operation of the thermal transfer printing apparatus 10 using the matte ink ribbon cassette 20 and the glossy ink ribbon cassette 20 'of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
Is used, the ink ribbon 24 and the superficially porous recording medium 30 are sent between the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 17 in a close contact state in which the ink ribbon 24 and the superficially porous recording medium 30 are overlapped. . Next, the platen roller 17 is moved toward the thermal head 11 to press the ink ribbon 24 and the superficially porous recording medium 30 between the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 9. 11 heating resistors 16
And heat is applied to the ink ribbon 24 to melt the hot-melt inks 24b to 24d applied thereto and transfer them to the porous layer 31 of the surface porous recording medium 30 for printing. At this time, the heat-meltable inks 24d, 24c, and 24b of Y, M, and C of the ink ribbon 24 shown in FIG. 5 are sequentially transferred, and finally overcoated with a transparent heat-meltable binder 24e. Then, the ink ribbon 24 and the surface porous recording medium 3
The peeling of 0 is performed immediately after the thermal transfer of the heat-fusible binder 24e by the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11 by the ink ribbon guide 25 of the matte ink ribbon cassette 20. This makes it possible to easily obtain a glossy print image.

When printing is performed by switching to the glossy ink ribbon cassette 20 'shown in FIG. 4, the ink ribbon 24 and the surface porous recording medium 30 are separated from each other by the ink ribbon guide 25 of the glossy ink ribbon cassette 20'. ′ Is performed after a lapse of a predetermined time from the thermal transfer of the heat-fusible binder 24 e by the heat-generating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11 (the surface porous recording medium 30 is attached to the ink ribbon 24 and pulled. The recording medium 30 is peeled off), and a glossy printed image can be easily obtained. In this manner, by selecting and using each of the ink ribbon cassettes 20, 20 'provided with the ink ribbon guides 25, 25' having different lengths, a glossy print image and a glossy print image can be printed on the ink ribbon cassettes 20, 25 '. It can be easily obtained by simply replacing the 20 '. The printing results are shown in Table 2 below.

[0024]

[Table 2] In Table 2, the heating resistor 1 of the thermal head 11
6 from the center of the ink ribbon guide 25 '(0.8mm width
The distance to the center of the rounded tip was L, and this was varied. The distance between the tip of the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11 and the tip of the ink ribbon guide 25 'in the height direction is such that the porous layer 31 of the surface porous recording medium 30 does not directly contact the ink ribbon guide 25'. 0.2 mm to 0.7 mm.

In the gradation expression, a state in which multi-gradation characteristics are obtained by the surface porous recording medium 30 and the ink ribbon 24 with a low coating amount is regarded as good. Also, the ink ribbon guides 25 and 2
The farther the position 5 'is from the thermal head 11, the lower the gradation expression and the higher the gloss of the ink. This means that the ink ribbon 24 and the superficially porous recording medium 30 are peeled off (hereinafter, hot-melt inks 24b, 24c, and 24d (hereinafter referred to as inks, the symbols of which are omitted) before the ink ribbon 24 and the superficially porous recording medium 30 are completely cooled. When the ink is peeled off), the ink is transferred to the surface porous recording medium 30 according to the heating amount,
It penetrates into the superficially porous recording medium 30, and also penetrates the transparent hot-melt binder 24e. As a result, the surface becomes dull rather than smooth. Next, when the ink is heated and then separated in a cooled state (hereinafter referred to as "cold separation"), the ink cools down, and the bond with the surrounding ink becomes strong again. As a result, the ink should remain on the thin film film 24a side. The surrounding ink is also peeled off and transferred to the superficially porous recording medium 30. At this time, the surface of the superficially porous recording medium 30 on the thin film 24a side is more smooth than the surface on the porous layer 31 side. The gloss appears on the transfer surface to the porous recording medium 30.

Further, the ink is applied to the surface porous recording medium 3.
0, and has a slightly poor thermal conductivity including a coloring material such as a pigment, so that it is somewhat slow to be released in a cold state, and the transparent heat-fusible binder 24e has no heat conduction without a pigment or the like. Because it is better than ink, it quickly enters the peeling state when cold.
When the ink is peeled off at the time of cooling, the surface porous recording medium 3
It is necessary to avoid this state because the penetration into 0 becomes unstable, the gradation expression is reduced, and a so-called binary state is selected to determine whether or not ink is transferred. On the other hand, since the transparent heat-fusible binder 24e does not perform gradation expression, gloss is obtained in the binary selection state, which is necessary.

As a result, Table 2 shows that gloss selectivity can be obtained in the region where the gradation of ink can be expressed. That is, the distance L from the center of the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11 to the center of the ink ribbon guide 25 'is 2.0 m.
When the distance L is less than m, a print image with a glossy gradation expression is obtained, and when the distance L is 2.0 mm or more and 4.5 mm or less, a print image with a glossy gradation expression is obtained. .

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a thermal transfer printing apparatus of a fusion type thermal transfer system according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a matte printing state of the thermal transfer printing apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a glossy printing state of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a thermal transfer printing apparatus 10 ′ of a fusion type thermal transfer system includes a thermal head 11,
A platen roller 17 made of rubber or the like is provided so as to be movable in a direction of coming into contact with and separating from the thermal head 11, and is rotatably driven in the forward and reverse directions. A supply reel table 18, a take-up reel table 19 rotatably arranged on the ink ribbon take-up side, a supply reel 22 detachably mounted on the supply reel table 18, and the take-up reel A take-up reel 23 detachably mounted on the base 19; and C, M, Y hot-melt inks 24b, 2 on a thin film 24a.
4c, 24d and a plurality of sets of transparent hot-melt binders 24e are applied, and the ink ribbon 24, both ends of which are connected to the respective reels 22, 23, are superimposed on the ink ribbon 24 at the time of printing, and are transported by the platen roller 17. And a surface porous recording medium 30 fixed to the supply reel 22 side.
0 and the heating resistor 1 of the thermal head 11
An ink ribbon guide 26 for guiding the position of the ink ribbon 24 fed between the ink ribbon 24 and the platen roller 17 and a predetermined position facing the ink ribbon 24 on the take-up reel 23 (the center of the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11). (A position further away from the take-up reel 23 by a distance L)
An ink ribbon guide 27 for controlling a position where the ink ribbon 23 is peeled off from the superficially porous recording medium 30.

The ink ribbon guide 27 is connected to the tip of a moving rod 29 of an electromagnetic plunger 28 as a position control means, and is configured to reciprocate up and down in contact with and away from the ink ribbon 24. . Further, the position of the ink ribbon guide 27 is set such that the peeling position between the ink ribbon 24 and the superficially porous recording medium 30 does not change even if the diameter of the ink ribbon 24 is wound around the take-up reel 23. Is set. Further, when the ink ribbon guide 27 shown in FIG. 9 is lowered, the distance between the tip of the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11 and the tip of the ink ribbon guide 27 in the height direction is changed by the porous layer of the surface porous recording medium 30. The width is set to 0.2 mm to 0.7 mm so that the ink jet guide 31 does not directly hit the ink ribbon guide 27. Other configurations are the same as those of the thermal transfer printing apparatus 10 of the above-described embodiment and the like, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, the printing conditions by the thermal transfer printing apparatus 10 'were set to be the same as those shown in Table 1 above.

The thermal transfer printing apparatus 10 'of another embodiment described above.
Will be described. As shown in FIG.
The heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11 is kept in close contact with the ink ribbon 24 and the superficially porous recording medium 30 superposed.
And between the platen roller 17 and the platen roller 1
7 is moved to the thermal head 11 side, and the ink ribbon 24 is moved.
Then, the surface porous recording medium 30 is pressed between the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 9, and then a current is caused to flow through the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11 to generate heat. The applied hot-melt inks 24b to 24d are melted to form a surface porous recording medium 30.
Is transferred to the porous layer 31 for printing. At this time, the heat-meltable inks 24d, 24c, and 24b of Y, M, and C of the ink ribbon 24 shown in FIG. 5 are sequentially transferred, and finally overcoated with a transparent heat-meltable binder 24e.

Each of the hot-melt inks 24d, 24c, 2
During the transfer of 4b, the ink ribbon guide 27 is lifted and stopped at the position shown in the solid line in FIG. 7 and in the position shown in FIG. 8, and the separation of the ink ribbon 24 and the superficially porous recording medium 30 is performed by the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11. Immediately afterwards. Thereby, a multi-tone print image without gloss can be easily obtained. Next, at the time of transfer of the hot-melt binder 24e, the ink ribbon guide 27 is positioned at the position shown by the dotted line in FIG.
Is stopped, and the ink ribbon 24 and the superficially porous recording medium 30 are separated from each other after a lapse of a predetermined time from the heating by the heating resistor 16 of the thermal head 11. As a result, a glossy multi-tone print image can be easily obtained. As a result, the same results as in Table 2 of the above embodiment were obtained.
That is, in the case of printing by the thermal transfer printing apparatus 10 'of this other embodiment, each of the heat-fusible inks 24d, 24c, 2
Focusing on the fact that gradation expression and gloss performance do not always match depending on the peeling position of 4b and the transparent hot-melt binder 24e, the purpose of the hot-melt inks 24d, 24c, 24b and the transparent hot-melt binder 24e was met. A peeling position is established to obtain a glossy multi-tone print image.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the position control means used for the ink ribbon guide 27 of the thermal transfer printing apparatus 10 'of the other embodiment. The electromagnetic plunger 28 'as the position control means includes first to pivotally supported pins.
The first moving rod 29 includes third moving rods 29a to 29c.
A tension coil spring (elastic biasing member) 29A for lifting the ink ribbon guide 27 is attached to the end of the line a.

At the time of hot peeling shown in FIG. 8, the electromagnetic plunger 28 'is stopped to pull the tension coil spring 29A.
9 raises the ink ribbon guide 27, and
At the time of the cold peeling shown in FIG. 5, an electric current is applied to the electromagnetic plunger 28 'to lift the first moving rod 29a,
The ink ribbon guide 27 is lowered by pushing down the third moving rod 29c via the second moving rod 29b swinging about B. Thus, the ink ribbon guide 27 can be moved up and down similarly to the electromagnetic plunger 28.

Although the printing method and apparatus of the fusion type thermal transfer system have been described in the above embodiments, it is a matter of course that the above embodiments can be applied to black and white thermal transfer printing.

[0036]

As described above, according to the thermal transfer printing method of the first aspect of the present invention, the ink ribbon is separated from the recording medium immediately after passing through the heating resistor of the vertically placed thermal head. Therefore, a print image without gloss can be easily obtained.

According to the thermal transfer printing method of the present invention, the separation between the ink ribbon and the recording medium is fed to the ink ribbon winding side by a predetermined distance after passing through the heating resistor of the vertical thermal head. Since it is performed later, a glossy print image can be easily obtained.

According to the thermal transfer printing method of the third aspect of the present invention, by selecting and using each of the ink ribbon cassettes having ink ribbon guides having different lengths, it is possible to print a glossy print image and a glossy print image. It can be easily obtained by simply changing sets.

According to the ink ribbon cassette of the present invention, the peeling position between the ink ribbon and the recording medium is controlled to the position immediately after passing through the heating resistor of the thermal head on the take-up reel side in the cassette body. Since the ink ribbon guide is provided, a print image having no gloss can be easily obtained.

According to the ink ribbon cassette of the present invention, the ink ribbon is wound on the take-up reel side in the cassette body after the separation position between the ink ribbon and the recording medium has passed through the heating resistor of the thermal head. By providing an ink ribbon guide for controlling a position fed a predetermined distance to the side, a glossy print image can be easily obtained.

According to the thermal transfer printing apparatus of the present invention, a thermal head is installed vertically and a heating resistor is provided at the lower end thereof, while a thermal head is provided at a predetermined position facing the ink ribbon on the ink ribbon winding side. Since an ink ribbon guide for controlling the peeling position of the ink ribbon from the recording medium is provided, and the ink ribbon guide is movable in a direction of coming into contact with and separating from the ink ribbon, a glossy multi-tone print image is provided. Etc. can be easily obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a thermal transfer printing apparatus using an ink ribbon cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a matte ink ribbon cassette is mounted on the thermal transfer printing apparatus to perform printing.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a glossy ink ribbon cassette is mounted on the thermal transfer printing apparatus to perform printing.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an ink ribbon used in the ink ribbon cassette.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a recording medium used in the thermal transfer printing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a matte printing state of the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the other embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a glossy printing state of the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the other embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a position control unit of another aspect of the ink ribbon guide used in the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the other embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10 'Thermal transfer printing device 11 Thermal head 16 Heating resistor 17 Platen roller 20, 20' Ink ribbon cassette 21 Cassette body 21a Opening 22 Supply reel 23 Take-up reel 24 Ink ribbon 24a Thin film (film) 24b to 24d Thermal melting Ink (ink) 24d Heat-fusible binder (binder) 25, 25 ', 27 Ink ribbon guide 30 Surface porous recording medium (recording medium)

Claims (6)

[Claims] An ink ribbon formed by applying a plurality of sets of a heat-fusible ink and a transparent heat-fusible binder on a thin film film and a recording medium are superimposed and sent between a heating resistor of a thermal head and a platen roller; After pressing between the heating resistor of the thermal head and the platen roller, an electric current is applied to the heating resistor of the thermal head to generate heat, and the ink applied to the ink ribbon is melted and transferred to the recording medium. And a thermal transfer printing method in which printing is performed by overcoating the transferred ink with the binder. The heating resistor of a thermal head vertically disposed to separate the ink ribbon from the recording medium. A thermal transfer printing method characterized in that the method is performed immediately after passing through. 2. An ink ribbon having a plurality of sets of a heat-meltable ink and a transparent heat-meltable binder applied on a thin film film and a recording medium are superimposed and sent between a heating resistor of a thermal head and a platen roller, After pressing between the heating resistor of the thermal head and the platen roller, an electric current is applied to the heating resistor of the thermal head to generate heat, and the ink applied to the ink ribbon is melted and transferred to the recording medium. And a thermal transfer printing method in which printing is performed by overcoating the transferred ink with the binder. The heating resistor of a thermal head vertically disposed to separate the ink ribbon from the recording medium. A thermal transfer printing method which is performed after a predetermined distance is passed to the winding side of the ink ribbon after passing through the ink ribbon. 3. The thermal transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of ink ribbon guides having different lengths for varying a peeling position between the ink ribbon and the recording medium are provided on the ink ribbon winding side. Wherein a plurality of ink ribbon cassettes are prepared in advance, and printing is performed using one of the ink ribbon cassettes. 4. An ink ribbon obtained by applying a plurality of sets of hot-melt ink and a transparent hot-melt binder on a thin film is superimposed on a recording medium and sent between a heating resistor of a thermal head and a platen roller. After pressing between the heating resistor of the thermal head and the platen roller, an electric current is applied to the heating resistor of the thermal head to generate heat, and the ink applied to the ink ribbon is melted and transferred to the recording medium. A cassette body used in a thermal transfer printing method for performing printing by overcoating the transferred ink with the binder, and having an opening into which the thermal head and the platen roller are inserted; And a supply reel and a take-up reel rotatably housed in the cassette main body, and ink and ink on the film. And an ink ribbon having both ends coated with ink ribbons, the ends of which are separated from each other on the take-up reel side of the cassette body. An ink ribbon cassette provided with an ink ribbon guide for control at a position immediately after passing through a heating resistor of the thermal head. 5. An ink ribbon obtained by applying a plurality of sets of hot-melt ink and a transparent hot-melt binder on a thin film film and a recording medium are superimposed and sent between a heating resistor of a thermal head and a platen roller, After pressing between the heating resistor of the thermal head and the platen roller, an electric current is applied to the heating resistor of the thermal head to generate heat, and the ink applied to the ink ribbon is melted and transferred to the recording medium. A cassette body used in a thermal transfer printing method for performing printing by overcoating the transferred ink with the binder, and having an opening into which the thermal head and the platen roller are inserted; And a supply reel and a take-up reel rotatably housed in the cassette main body, and ink and ink on the film. And an ink ribbon having both ends coated with ink ribbons, the ends of which are separated from each other on the take-up reel side of the cassette body. An ink ribbon cassette provided with an ink ribbon guide for controlling a position at which the ink ribbon has been fed a predetermined distance to the ink ribbon winding side after passing through the heating resistor of the thermal head. 6. An ink ribbon in which a plurality of sets of a heat-fusible ink and a transparent heat-fusible binder are applied on a thin film film, a recording medium which is superimposed on the ink ribbon, and on which the ink and the binder are thermally transferred, and A thermal head having a heating resistor for dissolving the binder, and the heating resistor of the thermal head sandwiching the ink ribbon and the recording medium in a pressed state from the ink ribbon supply side to the ink ribbon take-up side. A thermal transfer printing apparatus comprising a ribbon and a platen roller for feeding a recording medium, wherein the thermal head is installed vertically and the heating resistor is provided at the lower end thereof, while facing the ink ribbon on the ink ribbon winding side. At a predetermined position to control the peeling position of the ink ribbon from the recording medium. The provided pattern guide, contact, thermal transfer printing apparatus being characterized in that the movable in the direction away of the ink ribbon guide relative to the ink ribbon.