Image forming device and image forming method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021008921-A1
Application number	US-202016924566-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2020
Priority date	Jul 9, 2019
Publication date	Jan 14, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image forming device comprises: a receiving part that receives image data containing first image data relating to a black and white image and second image data relating to a foil image; a carrying path along which a recording medium is carried in a predetermined direction; an inkjet printing part, arranged on the carrying path, injects an ink based on the first image data to the recording medium, and forms the black and white image or the color image on the recording medium; a toner image printing part, arranged on the carrying path, forms the toner image for adhesion based on the second image data, and transfers the toner image to the recording medium; and a foil image forming part, arranged on the carrying path, enables the toner image transferred to the recording medium to melt and attaches the foil to the melted toner image to form the foil image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image forming device comprising:
a receiving part that receives image data containing first image data relating to a black and white image and second image data relating to a foil image; a carrying path along which a recording medium is carried in a predetermined direction; an inkjet printing part, arranged on the carrying path, injects an ink based on the first image data to the recording medium carried along the carrying path, and forms the black and white image or the color image on the recording medium; a toner image printing part, arranged on the carrying path, forms the toner image for adhesion based on the second image data, and transfers the toner image to the recording medium; and a foil image forming part, arranged on the carrying path, enables the toner image transferred to the recording medium to melt and attaches the foil to the melted toner image to form the foil image.

2 . The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein the foil image forming part:
comprises a fix part that fixes the toner image to the recording medium; inserts a sheet material whereon the foil is carried into the fix part; heats and presses the recording medium and the sheet material when the recording medium to which the toner image is transferred passes through the fix part; and attaches the foil which is carried on the sheet material to the toner image to release the foil from the sheet material.

3 . The image forming device according to claim 2 , wherein
the sheet material is enabled to be removed from the fix part, and the foil image forming part: fixes the toner image to the recording medium at the time when the sheet material is removed from the fix part; and forms an image based on the toner image on the recording medium.

4 . The image forming device according to claim 3 , wherein
the foil image forming part uses a toner in a color different from the ink used by the inkjet printing part to form the toner image.

5 . The image forming device according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a hardware processor that obtains data, which is not contained in the image data, to print on the recording medium, wherein the toner image printing part forms the toner image based on the obtained data.

6 . The image forming device according to claim 2 , wherein
the sheet material is enabled to be removed from the fix part, the foil image forming part dries and fixes the black and white image or the color image formed by the inkjet printing part at time the sheet material is removed from the fix part.

7 . The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein
the inkjet printing part is arranged at an upstream side of the toner image printing part on the carrying path.

8 . The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein
the inkjet printing part is arranged at a downstream side of the toner image printing part on the carrying path.

9 . The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein
the inkjet printing part is arranged at a downstream side of the foil image forming part on the carrying path.

10 . An image forming method to form a black and white image or a color image on a recording medium and to form a foil image on the recording medium at time the recording medium is being carried along a predetermined carrying path, the method being applied at an image forming device, the method comprising:
receiving image data containing first image data relating to the black and white image or the color image and second image data relating to a foil image; injecting an ink based on the first image data and forming the black and white image or the color image on the recording medium at time the recording medium passes through a first position on the carrying path; forming a toner image for adhesion based on the second image data and transferring the toner image to the recording medium at time the recording medium passes through a second position on the carrying path; and enabling the toner image transferred to the recording medium to melt and attaching the foil to the melted toner image to form the foil image at time the recording medium passes through a third position on the carrying path.

11 . The image forming method according to claim 10 , wherein
the image forming device comprises a fix part that fixes the toner image to the recording medium, a sheet material whereon the foil is carried is inserted in advance into the fix part, the recording medium to which the toner image is transferred is passed through the fix part, a heating process and a pressing process are conducted on the recording medium and the sheet material, and the foil carried on the sheet material is attached to the toner image and released from the sheet material.

12 . The image forming method according to claim 10 , wherein
the first position is placed at an upstream side of the second position on the carrying path.

13 . The image forming method according to claim 10 , wherein
the first position is placed at a downstream side of the second position on the carrying path.

14 . The image forming method according to claim 10 , wherein
the first position is placed at a downstream side of the third position on the carrying path.

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Sakai Tetsuya
• Tsutsumi Yoshinori
• Tsuru Kenji
• Nakano Munenori

Classifications

• B41M3/008

  Sequential or multiple printing, e.g. on previously printed background; Mirror printing; Recto-verso printing; using a combination of different printing techniques; Printing of patterns visible in reflection and by transparency; by superposing printed artifacts · CPC title

• B44C1/1729 Primary

  Hot stamping techniques · CPC title

• B44C1/145 Primary

  Devices for applying metal leaves of foils · CPC title

• B41F16/0026

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