Patent ID: 6796647
Filing Date: 2004-09-28
Classification: B41J,B41M,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for forming an image on a card, comprising:sheet feed means for feeding a transfer sheet along a traveling passage, said transfer sheet having a substrate layer, and an ink image-receiving layer laminated on a surface of the ink image-receiving layer; printing means arranged to face said traveling passage, for printing an image on the transfer sheet in synchronism with feed of the transfer sheet, by an ink jet printing method by using a sublimable dye ink; card conveyor means for conveying a card along a transport passage, the card having a substrate layer, and an ink-fixing layer laminated on a surface of the substrate layer; and thermal pressing means arranged to face a confluent portion of said traveling passage and said transport passage, for positioning and overlaying an image-formed portion of the transfer sheet to the ink-fixing layer of the card, and affixing the transfer sheet to the card by pressure while applying heat thereto, to thereby cause diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving layer in the ink-fixing layer and color development to form an image; peeling means arranged at a location downstream of said thermal pressing means, for peeling the transfer sheet off the card; and a single casing for accommodating said sheet feed means, said printing means, said card conveyor means, said thermal pressing means, and said peeling means.