Printing apparatus with controller for preventing warping of intermediate transfer film and printing method for the same

摘要

When an image formed on an intermediate transfer film is heat-transferred to a recording medium, the film surface is prevented from being deteriorated or distorted due to heat so as to enable high-quality printing. The printing apparatus of the present invention comprises a recording medium supply unit, an image formation unit which forms the image on the transfer film, a transfer unit which transfers the image on the transfer film to the recording medium, a film supply unit which supplies the transfer film, a film winding unit which winds the film, a media transport path which transports the recording medium sent from a medium supply unit to the transfer unit through an information recording unit, a film transport path which transports the transfer film sent from the film supply unit to the transfer unit through the image formation unit, a film delay unit which temporarily delays the transfer film disposed at the film transport path, a driving means which is connected to at least one of the film supply unit and the film winding unit, and a control means which controls the driving means.

主权项

1. A printing apparatus that transfers an image formed on a transfer film onto a recording medium, comprising:
a medium supply section configured to supply the recording medium; an image forming section configured to form an image on the transfer film; a transfer section configured to transfer the image formed on the transfer film onto the recording medium; a supply section configured to supply the transfer film; a film winding section configured to winding the transfer film supplied from the film supply section; a medium conveying path along which the recording medium supplied from the medium supply section is conveyed to the transfer section through an information recording section; a film conveying path along which the transfer film supplied from the film supply section is conveyed to the transfer section through the image forming section; a film standby section provided on the film conveying path, at which the transfer film is made to stand by temporarily; a drive unit connected to at least one of the film supply section and film winding section; and a controller configured to control the drive unit, wherein the transfer section is provided with a transfer platen that supports the recording medium and a heating member that press holds the recording medium and transfer film with the transfer platen, and the controller moves, when making the transfer film to be conveyed from the film supply section to the transfer section stand by temporarily, the transfer film such that a film part that faces the heating member is changed to another film part in a case where the same film part is exposed to the heating member for a predetermined time period or more.