Nisca Corporation

Hajime Isono

Takehito Kobayashi

Toshihito Shiina

Wataru Tsuruta

Hiroshi Mochizuki

Masahide Shirasu

Satoshi Kanemaru

Kenji Ueno

Teruo Tsunoda

Ken'Ichi Yui

Shin'ichiro Chiba

A card printing apparatus includes an information recording unit for printing an image to a card medium having at least a rewrite printing region capable of repeatedly coloring and deleting of color through application of heat. The information recording unit has a single thermal head for printing the image to a rewrite printing region and an individual information printing region where the coloring and deleting of color are not performed.

Thermal transfer film and thermal transfer printing apparatus

In direct transfer, a card is transported to an image forming portion, same size, reduced or gradation corrected image data is used for forming an image to the entire surface of at least one side of a card. In indirect transfer, intermediate transfer film is transported to an image forming portion, and same size, reduced or gradation corrected image data is used to form images on the intermediate transfer film, then while transporting the intermediate transfer film to a transfer portion, a card is also transported to the transfer portion where images formed on the intermediate transfer film are transferred to the entire area of at least one side of the card. Image data size is varied. By switching between a direct transfer method and an indirect transfer method makes either transfer method applicable thereby improving printer user convenience, enables the forming of beautiful printing to the entire print surface, lowers running costs and enables high applicability of the printing system.

Printing method and printing system and printing apparatus

A printing apparatus has an image forming portion for forming an image on an intermediate transfer sheet for temporarily retaining the image and a transfer portion for transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to a card. An over-coating device is provided for covering a surface of the card with the image with a coating film. The image forming portion is also capable of printing an image directly on a card. A platen roller supports the card or the intermediate transfer medium. The apparatus can switch between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method, thereby reducing a size and a cost of the printing apparatus.

Printing apparatus

A printing apparatus prints directly to a card and has an image forming portion for forming images to an intermediate transfer sheet for temporarily retaining images and a transfer portion for transferring images formed on an intermediate transfer medium to a card. A thermal head in the image forming portion prints directly to a card and forms images on an intermediate transfer medium. A platen roller supports a card or the intermediate transfer medium. Members are shared for the direct transfer and indirect transfer. The apparatus switches between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method for printing, is compact and low cost.

An image transfer apparatus includes a transfer medium supply portion, a transfer medium transport device for transporting a transfer medium back and forth, a transfer device for transferring an image on the transfer medium to a recording medium, and a transfer medium take-up portion for taking up the transfer medium. The transfer medium transport device transports the transfer medium backward to the transfer medium supply portion when the transfer device transfers the image to the recording medium.

Image transfer apparatus and image transfer method

A printing apparatus for printing a recording medium includes a recording medium transport device for transporting the recording medium from a supply portion along a transport path; a first printing device arranged on the transport path for forming an image on the recording medium or an intermediate transfer medium through a thermal transfer film; a thermal transfer film transport device for transporting the thermal transfer film; a second printing device arranged on the transport path for transferring the image to the recording medium; and an intermediate transfer medium transport device for moving the intermediate transfer medium back and forth relative to the second printing means. A control device controls the printing apparatus so that the second printing device prints at the same time the thermal transfer film is being transported for the first printing device to print the thermal transfer film.

Printing apparatus and printing method

In a method for coating the recording surface of an information card by selectively using one of protective films of various types, the selected protective film loaded in a coating device is thermally transferred to the card at the optimal thermal-transfer temperature and optimal feeding speed determined according to the film type of the loaded protective film which is automatically identified. The film type of the protective film is recognized by detecting at least one discrimination mark on a film ribbon for the protective film by use of one or more mark sensors. The discrimination mark also serves as positioning means for the protective film in coating. By thermally transferring the protective film to the card at the optimal thermal-transfer temperature and optimal feeding speed, a high-quality information card coated with flat layers including printing ink layers and protective films and having excellent peel strength can be produced.

Information card coating method

A thermal transfer printing device for printing photorealistic color images with dye-sublimation inks of different colors and two-gradation images such as character and bar code patterns with a monochrome thermal wax-transfer ink respectively in separated printing sections. The bar code pattern is printed in the widthwise direction of the code bars with heating energy smaller than that for printing the bar code pattern in the lengthwise direction of the bars, thus increasing the reproductivity in producing the bar code pattern. Deviations in specific resistance among heating elements of a thermal print head can be compensated by multiplying image data energy to be supplied to the heating elements by ratios of the specific resistance of the respective heating elements to the maximum resistance in the heating elements, thus producing high-quality images on the recording medium.

Thermal transfer printing device and method

A thermal transfer printer for printing images and patterns on a card with thermally transferable color inks while moving the card back and forth in such a state that the card is held and urged against a thermal print head through an ink ribbon by capstan and platen rollers. In printing, the card is first forwarded over a print-starting point, and then, reversed until the leading end thereof arrives at an overrun stop point prescribed behind the print starting point, and thereupon, moved forward until the leading end of the card is positioned at the print-starting point to start printing. Thus, mechanical clearance giving rise to backlash essentially possessed of mechanical elements can be completely eliminated, thereby enabling remarkably high-quality color images to be produced.

A thermal transfer printer for printing images and patterns on a card with thermally transferable color inks while moving the card back and forth in such a state that the card is held and urged against a thermal print head through an ink ribbon by capstan and platen rollers. In printing, the card is first forwarded over a print-starting point, end then, reversed until the leading end thereof arrives at an overrun stop point prescribed before the print starting point, and thereupon, moved forward until the leading end of the card is positioned at the print-starting point to start printing. Thus, mechanical clearance giving rise to backlash essentially possessed of mechanical elements can be completely eliminated, thereby enabling remarkably high-quality color images to be produced.

Growing community of inventors

Yamanashi-ken, Japan

Hajime Isono