Thermal transfer apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10894436-B2
Application number	US-201816143563-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2018
Priority date	Oct 13, 2017
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A thermal transfer apparatus includes a fixture, a foil securing film, a film retainer, a foil transfer tool, and a carriage conveyor. The fixture retains a transfer object. The foil securing film is disposed above the fixture. The foil securing film allows light to pass therethrough. The foil securing film presses, from above, a thermal transfer foil on the transfer object so as to secure the thermal transfer foil onto the transfer object. The film retainer retains the foil securing film. The film retainer moves the foil securing film in an up-down direction relative to the fixture. The foil transfer tool presses the foil securing film and the thermal transfer foil on the transfer object. The foil transfer tool emits light to the foil securing film. The carriage conveyor moves the foil transfer tool relative to the fixture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A thermal transfer apparatus comprising:
a stand to retain a transfer object;
a foil securing film disposed above the stand to allow light to pass therethrough and to press, from above, a thermal transfer foil on the transfer object to secure the thermal transfer foil onto the transfer object;
a film retainer to retain the foil securing film and to move the foil securing film in a vertical direction relative to the stand;
a foil transfer tool to press the foil securing film and the thermal transfer foil on the transfer object and to emit light to the foil securing film; and
a conveyor to move one of the stand and the foil transfer tool relative to the other one of the stand and the foil transfer tool.

2. The thermal transfer apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a light absorber disposed under the foil securing film, wherein
the foil transfer tool is structured to press the thermal transfer foil, the light absorber, and the foil securing film.

3. The thermal transfer apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the light absorber is affixed to the foil securing film; and
the film retainer retains the foil securing film and the light absorber.

4. The thermal transfer apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a decorative film disposed on or under the light absorber, the decorative film including an uneven surface, wherein
the foil transfer tool is structured to press the thermal transfer foil, the light absorber, the decorative film, and the foil securing film.

5. The thermal transfer apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the light absorber is a light absorbing film.

6. The thermal transfer apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the film retainer includes:
at least one slide bar extending in the vertical direction; and
a retaining frame slidable along the at least one slide bar, the retaining frame including an opening passing through the retaining frame in the vertical direction; and

the foil securing film is retained by the retaining frame such that the foil securing film overlaps with at least a portion of the opening in a plan view.

7. The thermal transfer apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the at least one slide bar includes:
a first slide bar extending in the vertical direction; and
a second slide bar extending in the vertical direction, the second slide bar being disposed in parallel or substantially in parallel with the first slide bar;

a length of the second slide bar in the vertical direction is shorter than a length of the first slide bar in the vertical direction;
the retaining frame includes:
a first through hole to receive the first slide bar; and
a second through hole to receive the second slide bar; and

upward movement of the retaining frame and resulting removal of the second slide bar from the second through hole enable rotation of the retaining frame around the first slide bar.

8. The thermal transfer apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
the film retainer includes a stopper to limit rotation of the retaining frame; and
contact of the retaining frame with the stopper causes the second through hole to overlap with the second slide bar in the plan view.

9. The thermal transfer apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the foil transfer tool includes:
a hollow pen body including an extremity;
a presser disposed on the extremity of the pen body to press at least the thermal transfer foil and the foil securing film;
a light guide at least partially disposed in the pen body and including a first end and a second end; and
a light source connected to the first end of the light guide;

the second end of the light guide is disposed in the extremity of the pen body such that the second end of the light guide faces the presser in the pen body; and
the presser is made of a material that allows light emitted from the light source to pass therethrough.

10. The thermal transfer apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the presser is attachable to and detachable from the extremity of the pen body.

Assignees

• Roland Dg Corp

Inventors

• Takahashi Fumihiro
• Mukunoki Arata

Classifications

• B41F16/0046

  with means for applying print under heat and pressure, e.g. using heat activable adhesive · CPC title

• B41F16/006 Primary

  Arrangements for moving, supporting or positioning the printing foil or band · CPC title

• B41M5/38214 Primary

  Structural details, e.g. multilayer systems (composition of individual layers B41M5/42) · CPC title

• B44C1/1716

  Decalcomanias provided with a particular decorative layer, e.g. specially adapted to allow the formation of a metallic or dyestuff layer on a substrate unsuitable for direct deposition · CPC title

• B41M5/46

  characterised by the light-to-heat converting means; characterised by the heat or radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers · CPC title