Patent Publication Number: US-9421791-B2

Title: Printing apparatus and printing system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and printing system, and more particularly, to a printing apparatus that forms an image on an intermediate transfer medium and that transfers the image to a printing medium, and a printing system provided with the printing apparatus and a host computer. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, such a printing apparatus has been known widely that forms an image such as a photograph of face and character information on a printing medium such as a plastic card. Such a printing apparatus uses an indirect printing scheme for forming an image (mirror image) on a transfer film (intermediate transfer medium) with a thermal head via an ink ribbon, and next transferring the image formed on the transfer film to the printing medium. 
     In this type of printing apparatus, known is a technique for forming a YMC image in a first region of the transfer film and an invisible image (UV image) visualized by irradiation of a visualization light beam in a second region different from the first region, and transferring onto a card in the order of the YMC image and the invisible image (for example, see Patent Document 1). 
     Further, also known is another technique for layering a plurality of protective layers on the same surface of the printing medium to improve wear resistance (for example, see Patent Document 2). 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Gazette No. 5055917 (see Claim  1  and  FIG. 3 ) 
     [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-355999 (see paragraphs [0023] and [0027], and  FIG. 7 ) 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     In addition, in the invention of Patent Document 1, since the invisible image (UV image) is arranged on the surface side of the card, the invisible image is first lost when wear occurs on the card surface. For example, the invisible image is visualized by applying a visualization light beam such as black light, and therefore, is used mainly in security, and when apart of data constituting the invisible image is lost, there is the risk that a normal judgment on security is impaired. Further, as in the invention of Patent Document 1, when the invisible image is formed with fusible ink, asperities on the card surface are promoted (see  FIG. 3 ) to tend to wear. Furthermore, it is preferable that the invisible image mainly used in security has resistance to forgery and the like. 
     On the other hand, in the case where the invisible image is arranged on the inner side of the YMC image, the concentration of the invisible image in a portion overlapping the YMC image is changed (thinned) corresponding to the concentration (gray scale of printing data constituting the YMC image) of the YMC image, and when the invisible image overlaps a portion in which the concentration of the YMC image is high, a new problem arises that a concentration difference (concentration fluctuation) occurs in the invisible image invisualizing by applying a visualization light beam. 
     In view of the above-mentioned matters, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and printing system for enabling cards high in durability and security properties to be formed, and it is a second object of the invention to provide a printing apparatus and printing system that do not generate concentration fluctuations in an invisible image in applying a visualization light beam. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     To attain the above-mentioned first object, in a first aspect of the present invention, a printing apparatus that forms an image on an intermediate transfer medium to transfer the image to a printing medium is provided with an image formation section that forms an invisible first image, which is visualized by applying a visualization light beam, in a first region of the intermediate transfer medium and that forms a visible second image with sublimation ink in a second region different from the first region, and a transfer section that transfers the first image formed in the first region to the printing medium and that transfers the second image formed in the second region onto the first image. 
     In the first aspect, the transfer section transfers the first image formed in the first region to the printing medium and transfers the second image with sublimation ink formed in the second region onto the first image, the surface of the printing medium is thereby almost flat to improve durability, and since the first image is arranged on the inner side of the second image, it is possible to enhance security properties. 
     In the first aspect, the image formation section may form a third image with fusible ink together in the first region, and the transfer section may transfer the first image and the third image formed in the first region to the printing medium. Further, the intermediate transfer medium has a protective layer and an ink reception layer on a substrate, the image formation section may form a UV image or UR image in the ink reception layer in the first region while forming a YMC image in the ink reception layer in the second region, and the transfer section may transfer the ink reception layer in the first region with the UV image or UR image formed and the protective layer in the first region integrally in this order to the printing medium, while transferring the ink reception layer in the second region with the YMC image formed and the protective layer in the second region integrally in this order thereonto. 
     Further, in order to attain the above-mentioned second objet, in the first aspect, the apparatus is further provided with a determination section that determines a gray-scale value or printing energy of each of pixels constituting printing data of the first image, corresponding to a gray-scale value of a pixel of printing data of the second image that corresponds to a position overlapping another pixel constituting printing data of the first image, or of the pixel and a peripheral pixel around the pixel, so that a concentration is constant when the first image is visualized by irradiation of the visualization light beam, and the image formation section may form the first image in the first region according to the gray-scale value or printing energy of each of pixels constituting printing data of the first image determined in the determination section. Alternatively, the apparatus is further provided with a determination section that determines a gray-scale value or printing energy of each of pixels constituting printing data of the first image, corresponding to a gray-scale value of a pixel of printing data of the second image that corresponds to a position overlapping another pixel constituting printing data of the first image, or of the pixel and a peripheral pixel around the pixel, the determination section may determine the gray-scale value or printing energy of each of pixels constituting printing data of the first image when the gray-scale value is high in the pixel of printing data of the second image or in the pixel and the peripheral pixel around the pixel to be higher than the gray-scale value or printing energy of each of pixels constituting printing data of the first image when the gray-scale value of the pixel of printing data of the second image or of the pixel and the peripheral pixel around the pixel is lower than a predetermined gray-scale value, and the image formation section may form the first image in the first region according to the gray-scale value or printing energy of each of pixels constituting printing data of the first image determined in the determination section. 
     At this point, the determination section may determine a gray-scale value or printing energy of each of pixels constituting printing data of the first image, corresponding to gray-scale values of respective pixels of a plurality of items of printing data of the second image that corresponds to a position overlapping a pixel constituting printing data of the first image, or gray-scale values of respective pixels of a plurality of items of printing data of the second image that corresponds to the overlapping position and gray-scale values of peripheral pixels around respective pixels of a plurality of items of printing data, so that a concentration is constant when the first image is visualized by irradiation of the visualization light beam. Further, the determination section may determine a gray-scale value of pixels constituting printing data of the first image to be larger than a gray-scale value of pixels constituting printing data of the first image that is an original. 
     Further, in order to attain the first and second objects, a second aspect of the present invention is a printing system provided with the printing apparatus of the first aspect and a host computer, and is characterized in that one of the printing apparatus and the host computer is provided with a determination section that determines a gray-scale value or printing energy of each of pixels constituting printing data of the first image, corresponding to a gray-scale value of a pixel of printing data of the second image that corresponds to a position overlapping another pixel constituting printing data of the first image, or of the pixel and a peripheral pixel around the pixel so that a concentration is constant when the first image is visualized by irradiation of the visualization light beam, and that the image formation section forms the first image in the first region according to the gray-scale value or printing energy of each of pixels constituting printing data of the first image determined in the determination section. 
     In the second aspect, one of the printing apparatus and the host computer may be further provided with a correction section that corrects printing data of the first image based on a gray-scale value of each of pixels constituting printing data of the first image determined in the determination section, so that the image formation section forms the first image in the first region according to a gray-scale value of each of pixels constituting printing data of the first image corrected in the correction section. 
     Advantageous Effect of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, since the transfer section transfers the first image formed in the first region to the printing medium and transfers the second image with sublimation ink formed in the second region onto the first image, it is possible to obtain the effects that the surface of the printing medium is almost flat to improve durability, and that since the first image is arranged on the inner side of the second image, it is possible to enhance security properties. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an outside view of a printing system including a printing apparatus of an Embodiment to which the present invention is applicable; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic configuration view of the printing apparatus of the Embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is an explanatory view of a control state by a cam in a waiting position in which pinch rollers and film transport roller are separated from each other, and a platen roller and thermal head are separated from each other; 
         FIG. 4  is an explanatory view of a control state by the cam in a printing position in which the pinch rollers and film transport roller are brought into contact with each other, and the platen roller and thermal head are brought into contact with each other; 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory view of a control state by the cam in a transport position in which the pinch rollers and film transport roller are brought into contact with each other, and the platen roller and thermal head are brought into contact with each other; 
         FIG. 6  is an operation explanatory view to explain the state of the waiting position in the printing apparatus; 
         FIG. 7  is an operation explanatory view to explain the state of the transport position in the printing apparatus; 
         FIG. 8  is an operation explanatory view to explain the state of the printing position in the printing apparatus; 
         FIG. 9  is an outside view showing a configuration of a first unit integrated to incorporate the film transport roller, platen roller and their peripheral parts into the printing apparatus; 
         FIG. 10  is an outside view showing a configuration of a second unit integrated to incorporate the pinch rollers and their peripheral parts into the printing apparatus; 
         FIG. 11  is an outside view of a third unit integrated to incorporate the thermal head into the printing apparatus; 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a control section in the printing apparatus of the Embodiment; 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  contain explanatory views schematically illustrating the relationship among an ink ribbon, transfer film and card, where  FIG. 13A  illustrates the relationship between a first region and a second region of an ink ribbon and transfer film in an image formation section, and  FIG. 13B  shows a state in which the first region and second region of the transfer film are transferred to the card in a transfer section; 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  contain explanatory views schematically illustrating the cross section of the transfer film, where  FIG. 14A  illustrates the transfer film in the first region or the second region, and  FIG. 14B  illustrates an ink reception layer and protective layer peeled off from the transfer film in the transfer section; 
         FIGS. 15A to 15C  contain explanatory views schematically illustrating layouts of a UV image, Bk image and YMC image on the card, where  FIG. 15A  illustrates a desired layout,  FIG. 15B  illustrates a layout of the UV image and Bk image, and  FIG. 15C  illustrates a layout of the YMC image; 
         FIG. 16  is a flowchart of a card issue routine executed by a CPU of a microcomputer of the control section in the printing apparatus of this Embodiment; 
         FIG. 17  is a flowchart of a UV printing energy determination routine executed by the CPU of the microcomputer of the control section; 
         FIGS. 18A to 18C  contain explanatory views illustrating the relationship between UV printing data and YMC printing data, where  FIG. 18A  illustrates the relationship between UV printing energy and UV coloring,  FIG. 18B  illustrates the relationship of a concentration of the UV image with a gray-scale value of a pixel of the YMC printing data in applying an invisible light beam when a pixel of the UV printing data overlaps a pixel of the YMC printing data, and  FIG. 18C  illustrates the relationship of an energy correction amount of the pixel of the UV printing data with the gray-scale value of the YMC printing data when the pixel of the UV printing data overlaps the pixel of the YMC printing data; and 
         FIG. 19  is an explanatory view schematically illustrating a pixel of the YMC printing data that corresponds to a position overlapping a pixel of the UV printing data and its peripheral pixels. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     With reference to drawings, described below is an Embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a printing apparatus for printing and recording text and image on a card, while performing magnetic or electric information recording on the card. 
     &lt;System Configuration&gt; 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 12 , a printing apparatus  1  of this Embodiment constitutes a part of a printing system  200 . In other words, the printing system  200  is broadly comprised of a higher apparatus  201  (for example, host computer such as a personal computer), and the printing apparatus  1 . 
     The printing apparatus  1  is connected to the higher apparatus  201  via an interface with the figure omitted, and the higher apparatus  201  is capable of transmitting image data, magnetic or electric recording data and the like to the printing apparatus  1  to indicate recording operation and the like. In addition, the printing apparatus  1  has an operation panel section (operation display section)  5  (see  FIG. 12 ), and as well as recording operation indication from the higher apparatus  201 , recording operation is also capable of being indicated from the operation panel section  5 . 
     The higher apparatus  201  is connected to an image input apparatus  204  such as a digital camera and scanner, an input apparatus  203  such as a keyboard and mouse to input commands and data to the higher apparatus  201 , and a monitor  202  such as a liquid crystal display to display data and the like generated in the higher apparatus  201 . 
     &lt;Printing Apparatus&gt; 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the printing apparatus  1  has a housing  2 , and in the housing  2  are provided an information recording section A, printing section B, media storage section C, storage section D and rotating unit F. 
     (Information Recording Section) 
     The information recording section A is comprised of a magnetic recording section  24 , non-contact type IC recording section  23 , and contact type IC recording section  27 . 
     (Media Storage Section) 
     The media storage section C aligns and stores a plurality of cards in a standing posture, is provided at its front end with a separation opening  7 , and feeds and supplies sequentially starting with the card in the front row with a pickup roller  19 . 
     (Rotating Unit) 
     The fed blank card Ca (see  FIG. 13B ) is first sent to a reverse unit F with carry-in rollers  22 . The reverse unit F is comprised of a rotating frame  80  bearing-supported by the housing  2  to be turnable, and two roller pairs  20 ,  21  supported on the frame. Then, the roller pairs  20 ,  21  are axially supported by the rotating frame  80  to be rotatable. 
     In the outer region of the rotating reverse unit F are disposed the above-mentioned magnetic recording section  24 , non-contact type IC recording section  23 , and contact type IC recording section  27 . Then, the roller pairs  20 ,  21  form a medium transport path  65  for transporting the card Ca toward one of the information recording sections  23 ,  24  and  27 , and data is magnetically or electrically written on the card Ca in the recording sections. 
     (Printing Section) 
     The printing section B is to form an image such as a photograph of face and text data on the frontside and backside of the card Ca, and a medium transport path P 1  for carrying the card Ca is provided on an extension of the medium transport path  65 . Further, in the medium transport path P 1  are disposed transport rollers  29 ,  30  that transport the card Ca, and the rollers are coupled to a transport motor not shown. 
     The printing section B has a film-shaped medium transport mechanism, and is provided with an image formation section B 1  that forms an image, with a thermal head  40 , on a transfer film  46  transported with the transport mechanism, and a transfer section B 2  that subsequently transfers the image formed on the transfer film  46  to the surface of the card Ca on the medium transport path P 1  with a heat roller  33 . 
     On the downstream side of the printing section B is provided a medium transport path P 2  for carrying the printed card Ca to a storage stacker  60 . In the medium transport path P 2  are disposed transport rollers  37 ,  38  that transport the card Ca, and the rollers are coupled to a transport motor not shown. 
     A decurl mechanism  36  is disposed in between the transport roller  37  and the transport roller  38 , presses the card center portion held between the transport rollers  37 ,  38 , and thereby corrects curl generated by thermal transfer with the heat roller  33 . Therefore, the decurl mechanism  36  is configured to be able to shift to positions in the vertical direction as viewed in  FIG. 2  by an up-and-down mechanism including a cam not shown. 
     (Storage Section) 
     The storage section D is configured to store cards Ca sent from the printing section B in the storage stacker  60 . The storage stacker  60  is configured to shift downward in  FIG. 2  with an up-and-down mechanism  61 . 
     (Details of the Printing Section) 
     Next, the printing section B in the entire configuration of the above-mentioned printing apparatus  1  will be further described specifically. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13A , the transfer film  46  has the shape of a band having a width slightly larger than the width direction of the card Ca, is, as shown in  FIG. 14A , comprised of four layers, and is formed by layering, from above, an ink reception layer  46   d  that receives ink of an ink ribbon  41 , a transparent protective layer  46   c  that protects the surface of the ink reception layer  46   d , a peeling layer  46   b  to promote integral peeling of the ink reception layer  46   d  and protective layer  46   c  by heat, and a substrate (base film)  46   a  in this order. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the transfer film  46  is wound up or fed by a wind-up roll  47  or feed roll  48  that rotates inside a transfer film cassette by driving of motor Mr 2  or M 4 , respectively. In other words, in the transfer film cassette, a wind-up spool is disposed in the center of the wind-up roll  47 , a feed spool is disposed in the center of the feed roll  48 , a rotation drive force of the motor Mr 2  is transferred to the wind-up spool via a gear not shown, and a rotation derive force of the motor Mr 4  is transferred to the feed spool via a gear not shown. A film transport roller  49  is a main drive roller to carry the transfer film  46 , and by controlling drive of the roller  49 , transport amount and transport halt position of the transfer film  46  are determined. The film transport roller  49  is coupled to a stepping motor not shown. The motors Mr 2  and Mr 4  are also driven in driving the film transport roller  49 , are to wind the transfer film  46  fed from one of the wind-up roll  47  and feed roll  48  by the other one, and are not driven as main transport of the transfer film  46 . 
     Pinch rollers  32   a  and  32   b  are disposed on the periphery of the film transport roller  49 . Although not shown in  FIG. 2 , the pinch rollers  32   a  and  32   b  are configured to be movable to move and retract with respect to the film transport roller  49 , and in a state in the figure, the rollers move to the film transport roller  49  to come into press-contact, and thereby wind the transfer film  46  around the film transport roller  49 . By this means, the transfer film  46  undergoes accurate transport by a distance corresponding to the number of revolutions of the film transport roller  49 . 
     The ink ribbon  41  is stored in an ink ribbon cassette  42 , a supply spool  43  for supplying the ink ribbon  41  and wind-up spool  44  for winding up the ink ribbon  41  are stored in the cassette  42 , the wind-up spool  44  rotates by a drive force of a motor Mr 1 , and the supply spool  43  rotates by a drive force of a motor Mr 3 . Forward-backward rotatable DC motors are used for the motors Mn 1  and Mr 3 . Further, “Se 2 ” shown in  FIG. 2  denotes a transmission sensor to detect an empty mark indicative of a use limit of the ink ribbon  41  attached to the end portion of the ink ribbon  41 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13A , the ink ribbon  41  exhibits the shape of a band obtained by repeating ink of UV (ultraviolet), Bk (Black), Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), and C (Cyan) in a face sequential manner with a width slightly larger than the length in the longitudinal direction of the card Ca on the film. Thermofusible ink (fusible ink) is used in the ink of Bk, and thermal sublimation ink (sublimation ink) is used in the ink of UV, Y, M and C. In addition, the UV ink is ink visualized by irradiation of a visualization light beam, and as an invisible (colorless) fluorescent material, uses pigments containing crystals of metal oxide, metal sulfide and the like as a main component, and organic compounds (for example, publicly-known fluorescent brightening agents of stilbene system, diamino diphenyl system, oxazole system, imidazole system, thiazole system, coumarin system, naphthalimide system, thiophene system and the like). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a platen roller  45  and thermal head  40  form the image formation section B 1 , and the thermal head  40  is disposed in a position opposed to the platen roller  45 . The thermal head  40  has a plurality of heating elements lined in the main scanning direction, these heating elements are selectively heated and controlled by a head control IC (not shown) according to printing data, and an image is printed on the transfer film  46  via the ink ribbon  41 . In addition, a cooling fan  39  is to cool the thermal head  40 . 
     The ink ribbon  41  with which printing on the transfer film  46  is finished is peeled off from the transfer film  46  with a peeling roller  25  and peeling member  28 . The peeling member  28  is fixed to the ink ribbon cassette  42 , the peeling roller  25  comes into contact with the peeling member  28  in printing, and the roller  25  and member  28  nip the transfer film  46  and ink ribbon  41  to peel. Then, the peeled ink ribbon  41  is wound around the wind-up spool  44  by the drive force of the motor Mr 1 , and the transfer film  46  is transported to the transfer section B 2  having the platen roller  31  and heat roller  33  by the film transport roller  49 . 
     In the transfer section B 2 , the transfer film  46  is nipped together with the card Ca by the heat roller  33  and platen roller  31 , and the image on the transfer film  46  is transferred to the card surface. In addition, the heat roller  33  is attached to an up-and-down mechanism (not shown) so as to come into contact with and separate from the platen roller  31  via the transfer film  46 . 
     The configuration of the image formation section B 1  will specifically be described further together with its action. As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  are respectively supported by an upper end portion and lower end portion of a pinch roller support member  57 , and the pinch roller support member  57  is supported rotatably by a support shaft  58  penetrating the center portion of the member  57 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the support shaft  58  is laid at its opposite end portions between long holes  76 ,  77  formed in the pinch roller support member  57 , and is at its center portion fixed to a fix portion  78  of a bracket  50 . Further, the long holes  76 ,  77  are provided with spaces in the horizontal direction and vertical direction with respect to the support shaft  58 . By this means, it is made possible to adjust the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  with respect to the film transport roller  49 , described later. 
     Spring members  51  ( 51   a ,  51   b ) are mounted on the support shaft  58 , and end portions on which the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  are installed of the pinch roller support member  57  respectively contact the spring members  51 , and are biased to the direction of the film transport roller  49  by the spring forces. 
     The bracket  50  comes into contact with the cam operation surface of a cam  53  in a cam receiver  81 , and is configured to shift in the horizontal direction viewed in the figure with respect to the film transport roller  49 , corresponding to rotation in the arrow direction of the cam  53  with a cam shaft  82  as the axis rotating by a drive force of a drive motor  54  (see  FIG. 10 ). Accordingly, when the bracket  50  moves toward the film transport roller  49  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  come into press-contact with the film transport roller  49  against the spring members  51  with the transfer film  46  nipped, and wind the transfer film  46  around the film transport roller  49 . 
     At this point, the pinch roller  32   b  in a farther position from a shaft  95  as a rotation axis of the bracket  50  first comes into press-contact with the film transport roller  49 , and next, the pinch roller  32   a  comes into press-contact. In this way, by arranging the shaft  95  that is the rotation axis higher than the film transport roller  49 , the pinch roller support member  57  comes into contact with the film transport roller  49  while rotating, instead of parallel shift, and there is the advantage that the space in the width direction is less than in the parallel shift. 
     Further, the press-contact forces when the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  come into press-contact with the film transport roller  49  are uniform in the width direction of the transfer film  46  by the spring members  51 . At this point, since the long holes  76 ,  77  are formed on the opposite sides of the pinch roller support member  57  and the support shaft  58  is fixed to the fix portion  78 , it is possible to adjust the pinch roller support member  57  in three directions, and the transfer film  46  is transported in a correct posture by rotation of the film transport roller  49  without causing skew. In addition, adjustments in three directions described herein are to (i) adjust the parallel degree in the horizontal direction of the shafts of the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  with respect to the shaft of the film transport roller  49  to uniform the press-contact forces in the shaft direction of the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  with respect to the film transport roller  49 , (ii) adjust shift distances of the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  with respect to the film transport roller  49  to uniform the press-contact force of the pinch roller  32   a  on the film transport roller  49  and the press-contact force of the pinch roller  32   b  on the film transport roller  49 , and (iii) adjust the parallel degree in the vertical direction of the shafts of the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  with respect to the shaft of the film transport roller  49  so that the shafts of the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  are perpendicular to the film travel direction. 
     Furthermore, the bracket  50  is provided with a tension receiving member  52  that comes into contact with a portion of the transfer film  46  which is not wound around the film transport roller  49  when the bracket  50  moves toward the film transport roller  49 . 
     The tension receiving member  52  is provided to prevent the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  from retracting from the film transport roller  49  respectively against the biasing forces of the spring members  51  due to the tension of the transfer film  46  occurring when the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  bring the transfer film  46  into press-contact with the film transport roller  49 . Accordingly, the tension receiving member  52  is attached to the front end of the end portion on the rotation side of the bracket  50  so as to come into contact with the transfer film  46  in the position to the left of the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  viewed in the figure.  FIG. 2  shows a state in which the tension receiving member  52  is brought into contact with the transfer film  46 . 
     By this means, the cam  53  is capable of directly receiving the tension occurring due to elasticity of the transfer film  46  through the tension receiving member  52 . Accordingly, the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  are prevented from retracting from the film transport roller  49  due to the tension and from decreasing the press-contact forces of the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b , thereby maintain the winding state in which the transfer film  46  is brought into intimate contact with the film transport roller  49 , and are able to perform accurate transport. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the platen roller  45  disposed along the transverse width direction of the transfer film  46  is supported by a pair of platen support members  72  rotatable on a shaft  71  as the axis. The pair of platen support members  72  support opposite ends of the platen roller  45 . The platen support members  72  are respectively connected to end portions of a bracket  50 A having the shaft  71  as a common rotating shaft via spring members  99 . 
     The bracket  50 A has a substrate  87 , and cam receiver support portion  85  formed by bending the substrate  87  in the direction of the platen support member  72 , and the cam receiver support portion  85  holds a cam receiver  84 . A cam  53 A rotating on a cam shaft  83  as the axis driven by the drive motor  54  is disposed between the substrate  87  and the cam receiver support portion  85 , and is configured so that the cam operation surface and cam receiver  84  come into contact with each other. Accordingly, when the bracket  50 A moves in the direction of the thermal head  40  by rotation of the cam  53 A, the platen support members  72  also shift to bring the platen roller  45  into press-contact with the thermal head  40 . 
     The spring members  99  and cam  53 A are thus disposed vertically between the bracket  50 A and platen support members  72 , and it is thereby possible to store a platen shift unit within the distance between the bracket  50 A and platen support members  72 . Further, the width direction is held within the width of the platen roller  45 , and it is possible to save space. 
     Moreover, since the cam receiver support portion  85  is fitted into bore portions  72   a ,  72   b  (see  FIG. 9 ) formed in the platen support members  72 , even when the cam receiver support portion  85  is formed while protruding in the direction of the platen support members  72 , the distance between the bracket  50 A and the platen support members  72  is not increased, and also in this respect, it is possible to save space. 
     When the platen roller  45  comes into press-contact with the thermal head  40 , the spring members  99  connected to respective platen support members  72  act each so as to uniform the press-contact force on the width direction of the transfer film  46 . Therefore, when the transfer film  46  is transported by the film transport roller  49 , the skew is prevented, and it is possible to perform image formation on the transfer film  46  by the thermal head  40  accurately without the printing region of the transfer film  46  shifting in the width direction. 
     The substrate  87  of the bracket  50 A is provided with a pair of peeling roller support members  88  for supporting opposite ends of the peeling roller  25  via spring members  97 , and when the bracket  50 A moves to the thermal head  40  by rotation of the cam  53 A, the peeling roller  25  comes into contact with the peeling member  28  to peel off the transfer film  46  and ink ribbon  41  nipped between the roller and member. The peeling roller support members  88  are also provided respectively at opposite ends of the peeling roller  25  as in the platen support members  72 , and are configured so as to uniform the press-contact force in the width direction on the peeling member  28 . 
     A tension receiving member  52 A is provided in an end portion on the side opposite to the end portion on the shaft support  59  side of the bracket  50 A. The tension receiving member  52 A is provided to absorb the tension of the transfer film  46  occurring in bringing the platen roller  45  and peeling roller  25  respectively into press-contact with the thermal head  40  and peeling member  28 . The spring members  99  and  97  are provided so as to uniform the press-contact force on the width direction of the transfer film  46 , and in order for the spring members  99  and  97  not to be inversely behind the tension of the transfer film  46  and decrease the press-contact force on the transfer film  46 , the tension receiving member  52 A receives the tension from the transfer film  46 . In addition, since the tension receiving member  52 A is also fixed to the bracket  50 A as in the above-mentioned tension receiving member  52 , the cam  53 A receives the tension of the transfer film  46  via the bracket  50 A, and is not behind the tension of the transfer film  46 . By this means, the press-contact force of the thermal head  40  and platen roller  45  and the press-contact force of the peeling member  28  and peeling roller  25  are held, and it is thereby possible to perform excellent printing and peeling. Further, any error does not occur in the transport amount of the transfer film  46  in driving the film transport roller  49 , the transfer film  46  corresponding to the length of the printing region is accurately transported to the thermal head  40 , and it is possible to perform printing with accuracy. 
     The cam  53  and cam  53 A are driven by same drive motor  54  with a belt  98  (see  FIG. 3 ) laid therebetween. 
     When the printing section B is in a waiting position as shown in  FIG. 6 , the cam  53  and cam  53 A are in the state as shown in  FIG. 3 , the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  are not brought into press-contact with the film transport roller  49 , and the platen roller  45  is not brought into press-contact with the thermal head  40  either. In other words, in the waiting position, the platen roller  45  and thermal head  40  are positioned in separate positions in which the roller  45  and head  40  are separate. 
     Then, when the cam  53  and cam  53 A are rotated in conjunction with each other and are in the state as shown in  FIG. 4 , the printing section B shifts to a printing position as shown in  FIG. 7 . At this point, the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  first wind the transfer film  46  around the film transport roller  49 , and concurrently, the tension receiving member  52  comes into contact with the transfer film  46 . Subsequently, the platen roller  45  comes into press-contact with the thermal head  40 . In this printing position, the platen roller  45  shifts toward the thermal head  40  to nip the transfer film  46  and ink ribbon  41  and come into press-contact, and the peeling roller  25  is in contact with the peeling member  28 . 
     In this state, when transport of the transfer film  46  is started by rotation of the film transport roller  49 , at the same time, the ink ribbon  41  is also wound around the wind-up spool  44  by operation of the motor Mn 1  and transported in the same direction. During this transport, a positioning mark provided in the transfer film  46  passes through a sensor Se 1  and shifts a predetermined amount, and at the time the transfer film  46  arrives at a printing start position, printing by the thermal head  40  is performed on the predetermined region of the transfer film  46 . Particularly, since the tension of the transfer film  46  is large during printing, the tension of the transfer film  46  acts on the direction for separating the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  from the film transport roller  49  and the direction for separating the peeling roller  25  and platen roller  45  from the peeling member  28  and thermal head  40 . However, as described above, since the tension of the transfer film  46  is received in the tension receiving members  52 ,  52 A, the press-contact forces of the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  are not decreased, it is thereby possible to perform accurate film transport, the press-contact force of the thermal head  40  and platen roller  45  and the press-contract force of the peeling member  28  and peeling roller  25  are not decreased either, and it is thereby possible to perform accurate printing and peeling. The ink ribbon  41  with which printing is finished is peeled off from the transfer film  46  and wound around the wind-up spool  44 . 
     A shift amount by transport of the transfer film  46  i.e. a length in the transport direction of a printing region to undergo printing is detected by an encoder (not shown) provided in the film transport roller  49 , rotation of the film transport roller  49  is halted corresponding to detection, and at the same time, winding by the wind-up spool  44  by operation of the motor Mr 1  is also halted. By this means, finished is printing with the ink of the first ink panel on the printing region of the transfer film  46 . 
     Next, when the cam  53  and cam  53 A are further rotated in conjunction with each other and are in the state as shown in  FIG. 5 , the printing section B shifts to a transport position as shown in  FIG. 8 , and the platen roller  45  returns to the direction of retracting from the thermal head  40 . In this state, the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  still wind the transfer film  46  around the film transport roller  49 , the tension receiving member  52  is in contact with the transfer film  46 , and the transfer film  46  is transported backward to an initial position by rotation in the backward direction of the film transport roller  49 . Also at this point, the shift amount of the transfer film  46  is controlled by rotation of the film transport roller  49 , and the transfer film  46  is transported backward corresponding to the length in the transport direction of the printing region subjected to printing. In addition, the ink ribbon  41  is also rewound a predetermined amount with the motor Mr 3 , and the ink panel of the ink to print next waits in the initial position (feeding position). 
     Then, the control state by the cam  53  and cam  53 A becomes the state as shown in  FIG. 4  again and the printing position as shown in  FIG. 7 , the platen roller  45  is brought into press-contact with the thermal head  40 , the film transport roller  49  rotates in the forward direction again to shift the transfer film  46  corresponding to the length of the printing region, and printing with the ink of the next ink panel is performed with the thermal head  40 . 
     Thus, the operation in the printing position and transport position is repeated until printing with ink of all or predetermined ink panel is finished. Then, when printing with the thermal head  40  is finished, the image-formed region of the transfer film  46  is transported to the heat roller  33 , and at this point, the cam  53  and cam  53 A shift to the state as shown in  FIG. 3 , and release press-contact with the transfer film  46 . Subsequently, transfer to the card Ca is performed while transporting the transfer film  46  by driving of the wind-up spool  47 . 
     Such a printing section B is divided into three units  90 ,  91 , and  92 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , in the first unit  90 , a unit frame body  75  is installed with a drive shaft  70  that rotates by driving of the motor  54  (see  FIG. 10 ), and the drive shaft  70  is inserted in the film transport roller  49 . Below the film transfer film  49  are disposed the bracket  50 A and a pair of platen support members  72 , and these members are supported rotatably by the shaft  71  laid between opposite side plates of the unit frame body  75 . 
     In  FIG. 9 , a pair of cam receiver support portions  85  that are a part of the bracket  50 A appear from the bore portions  72   a ,  72   b  formed in the platen support members  72 . The cam receiver support portions  85  hold a pair of cam receivers  84  disposed at the back thereof. Then, at the back of the cam receivers  84  is disposed the cam  53 A installed in the cam shaft  83  inserted in the unit frame body  75 . The camshaft  83  is laid between opposite side plates of the unit frame body  75 . 
     The above-mentioned thermal head  40  is disposed in the position opposed to the platen roller  45  with a transport path of the transfer film  46  and ink ribbon  41  therebetween. The thermal head  40 , members related to heating and cooling fan  39  are integrated into the third unit  92  as shown in  FIG. 11 , and are disposed opposite the first unit  90 . 
     The first unit  90  collectively holds the platen roller  45 , peeling roller  25  and tension receiving member  52 A varying in position by printing operation in the movable bracket  50 A, and thereby eliminates the need of position adjustments among the members. Moreover, by shifting the bracket  50 A by rotation of the cam  53 , it is possible to shift the members to predetermined positions. Further, since the bracket  50 A is provided, it is possible to store in the same unit as that of the fixed film transport roller  49 , the transport drive portion by the film transport roller  49  required to transport the transfer film with accuracy and the transfer position regulation portion by the platen roller  45  are included in the same unit, and therefore, the need is eliminated for position adjustments between both portions. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , in the second unit  91 , the cam shaft  82  installed with the cam  53  is inserted in a unit frame body  55 , and is coupled to an output shaft of the drive motor  54 . Then, the second unit  91  supports the bracket  50  in the unit frame body  55  movably to come into contact with the cam  53 , and to the bracket  50  are fixed the support shaft  58  that supports the pinch roller support member  57  rotatably and the tension receiving member  52 . 
     In the pinch roller support member  57 , the spring members  51   a ,  51   b  are attached to the support shaft  58 , and their end portions are respectively brought into contact with the opposite ends of the pinch roller support member  57  that supports the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  to bias to the direction of the film transport roller  49 . In the pinch roller support member  57 , the support shaft  58  is inserted in the long holes  76 ,  77 , and is fixed and supported in the center portion by the bracket  50 . 
     A spring  89  for biasing the pinch roller support member  57  toward the bracket  50  is provided between the bracket  50  and the pinch roller support member  57 . By this spring  89 , the pinch roller support member  57  is biased in the direction of moving backward from the film transport roller  49  of the first unit  90 , and therefore, it is possible to easily pass the transfer film  46  through between the first unit  90  and the second unit  91  in setting the transfer film cassette in the printing apparatus  1 . 
     The second unit  91  holds the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b , and tension receiving member  52  varying in position corresponding to printing operation in the bracket  50 A, shifts the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  and tension receiving member  52  by shifting the bracket  50 A by rotation of the cam  53 , and thereby simplifies position adjustments between the rollers and member, and position adjustments between the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b  and the film transport roller  49 . Such a second unit  91  is disposed opposite the first unit  90  with the transfer film  46  therebetween. 
     By thus making the units, it is also possible to pull each of the first unit  90 , second unit  92  and third unit  93  out of the main body of the printing apparatus  1  as in the cassette of each of the transfer film  46  and ink ribbon  41 . Accordingly, in replacing the cassette due to consumption of the transfer film  46  or ink ribbon  41 , when the units  90 ,  91  and  92  are pulled out as required, it is possible to install the transfer film  46  or ink ribbon  41  readily inside the apparatus in inserting the cassette. 
     As described above, by combining the first unit  90  into which are integrated the platen roller  45 , bracket  50 A, cam  53 A, and platen support member  72 , and the second unit  91  into which are integrated the pinch rollers  32   a ,  32   b , bracket  50 , cam  53  and spring members  51 , and placing and installing the third unit  92  with the thermal head  40  attached thereto opposite the platen roller  45 , it is possible to perform assembly in manufacturing the printing apparatus and adjustments in maintenance with ease and accuracy. Moreover, by integrating, it is possible to perform removal from the apparatus with ease, and the handleability as the printing apparatus is improved. 
     Described next is control and electric system of the printing apparatus  1 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the printing apparatus  1  has a control section  100  that performs operation control of the entire printing apparatus  1 , and a power supply section  120  that transforms utility AC power supply into DC power supply that enables each mechanism section, control section and the like to be driven and actuated. 
     &lt;Control Section&gt; 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the control section  100  is provided with a microcomputer  102  that performs entire control processing of the printing apparatus  1 . The microcomputer  102  is comprised of a CPU that operates at fast clock as the central processing unit, ROM in which is stored basic control operation (programs and program data) of the printing apparatus  1 , RAM that works as a work area of the CPU, and internal buses that connect the components. 
     The microcomputer  102  is connected to an external bus. The external bus is connected to an interface, not shown, to communicate with the higher apparatus  201 , and buffer memory  101  to temporarily store printing data to print on the card Ca, recording data to magnetically or electrically record in a magnetic stripe or stored IC of the card Ca, and the like. 
     Further, the external bus is connected to a sensor control section  103  that controls signals from various sensors, an actuator control section  104  that controls motor drivers and the like for outputting drive pulses and drive power to respective motors, a thermal head control section  105  to control thermal energy to heating elements constituting the thermal head  40 , an operation display control section  106  to control the operation panel section  5 , and the above-mentioned information recording section A. 
     (Power Supply Section) 
     The power supply section  120  supplies operation/drive power to the control section  100 , thermal head  40 , heat roller  33 , operation panel section  5 , information recording section A and the like. 
     &lt;Characteristics and Others of the Printing Apparatus  1 &gt; 
     Described next are features of the printing apparatus  1  of this Embodiment. 
     In order to enhance wear resistance and security properties, one feature of the printing apparatus  1  of this Embodiment is that the image formation section B 1  forms a UV image in the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46 , and further forms a YMC image in the ink reception layer  46   d  of the second region R 2  of the transfer film  46  as shown in  FIG. 13A , and that the transfer section B 2  transfers the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  with the UV image formed and the protective layer  46   c  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46  integrally in this order to the card Ca, and further transfers the ink reception layer  46   d  of the second region R 2  with the YMC image formed and the protective layer  46   c  of the second region R 2  integrally in this order to the transferred layer as shown in  FIG. 13B . 
     Further, in order to ensure flatness on the surface side of the card Ca, another feature of the printing apparatus  1  of this Embodiment is that the image formation section B 1  forms a Bk image in the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46  together as shown in  FIG. 13A , and that the transfer section B 2  transfers the UV image and Bk image formed in the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46  to the card Ca. In addition, since the printing apparatus  1  of this Embodiment is an intermediate transfer type printer using the transfer film  46 , in forming the images in the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46 , by printing in the order of UV and Bk, the UV image is not hidden behind the Bk image of fusible ink in retransferring the first region R 1  to the card Ca. 
     Furthermore, as still another feature of the printing apparatus  1  of this Embodiment, in transferring as described, since a portion of the UV image overlapping a portion of the YMC image of printing data with a high gray-scale value is hard to view in visualizing the UV image by applying the visualization light beam, the still another feature is to determine printing energy of each of pixels constituting printing data of the UV image (hereinafter, referred to as UV printing data) corresponding to a gray-scale value of a pixel of printing data of the YMC image (hereinafter, referred to as YMC printing data) that corresponds to the position overlapping the pixel constituting the UV printing data and gray-scale values of peripheral pixels adjacent to the pixel, so that the concentration is constant when the UV image is visualized by the visualization light beam. 
     (Operation) 
     Card issue operation by the printing apparatus  1  according to this Embodiment will be described next with particular emphasis on the CPU of the microcomputer  102 . In addition, the entire operation of the printing apparatus  1  is already described, and therefore, the card issue operation related to the above-mentioned features of the printing apparatus  1  will mainly be described herein. 
     First, in order to make it easy to grasp the content of the card issue operation of the printing apparatus  1 , a desired layout to print on the card Ca will be described. 
       FIGS. 15A, 15B and 15C  schematically show layouts of the UV image, Bk image and YMC image on the card Ca,  FIG. 15A  illustrates a desired layout,  FIG. 15B  illustrates a layout of the UV image and Bk image, and  FIG. 15C  illustrates a layout of the YMC image. In other words, the desired layout of  FIG. 15A  is obtained by superimposing the layout of the UV image and Bk image of  FIG. 15B , and the layout of the YMC image of  FIG. 15C . 
     The higher apparatus  201  side generates these UV image, Bk image and YMC image with application software. In generating, the UV image and Bk image are monochrome images of 256-level gray scale, and the YMC image is a color image (RGB image) of 256-level gray scale. An operator generates three kinds of images including the monochrome images for UV and Bk and RGB image for YMC with the application software, and color component image data of R, G, B is generated from the RGB image by the application software. 
     Further, the operator inputs magnetic or electric recording data to record on the card Ca on the higher apparatus  201  side, using the same application software as described above or another application software. Then, the higher apparatus  201  outputs these items of data to the printing apparatus  1 . 
     The CPU (hereinafter, simply referred to as CPU) of the microcomputer  102  receives the image data (image data of UV, image data of Bk and color component image data of R, G, B) for one surface (for example, frontside) and the other side (for example, backside) and the magnetic or electric recording data from the higher apparatus  201  to store in the buffer memory  101 . Next, the CPU determines whether or not to receive a printing start command, and in a negative determination, waits for the printing start command to be received, while in a positive determination, executing a card issue routine as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , in the card issue routine, in step  302 , the card Ca is fed out of the media storage section C, and based on the magnetic or electric recording data, the CPU performs recording processing on the card Ca in one of the magnetic recording section  24 , non-contact type IC recording section  23 , and contact type IC recording section  27  constituting the information recording section A, and then, transports the card Ca to the transfer section B 2 . 
     In parallel with the processing in step  302 , in step  304  the CPU performs printing data generation processing and UV printing energy determination processing. In other words, in the printing data generation processing, the CPU converts the color component image data of R, G, B for one surface and the other surface into printing data of Y, M C, respectively. Further, the printing apparatus  1  similarly uses the image data of UV and Bk for one surface and the other surface received from the higher apparatus  201  as the printing data of UV and Bk. As described above, since it is necessary to determine printing energy for the UV printing data, as shown in  FIG. 17 , the CPU executes a UV printing energy determination routine to determine the UV printing energy for the UV printing data with the thermal head  40 . In addition, the UV printing energy determination routine is executed by the CPU as a part of subroutine of step  304  of the card issue routine. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15A , in the desired layout, there are portions in which the UV image and YMC image overlap one another. As shown in  FIG. 13A , since the UV image is transferred under the YMC image, in applying the visualization light beam, the UV image in the portion in which the UV image overlaps the YMC image is harder to see than that in the portion in which the images do not overlap one another. The UV printing energy determination routine is to correct the tendency to be hard to see, while determining the UV printing energy so that the concentration of the entire UV image is constant (to eliminate fluctuations in the concentration so as make the entire image easy to see). In this case, although it is also conceivable to correct the YMC printing data, when the YMC printing data is corrected, there is the risk that the image quality of the printed YMC image deteriorates. Therefore, in this Embodiment, the printing energy with respect to the gray-scale value of the pixel constituting the UV printing data is determined to be larger than the printing energy with respect to the gray-scale value of the pixel constituting the UV printing data that is an original. 
       FIG. 18A  illustrates the relationship between the printing energy for the UV printing data and coloring of the UV printing data. In the case where the pixel of the UV printing data does not overlap the pixel of the YMC printing data, or the case where the gray-scale value of the pixel of the UV printing data is “0” or close to “0” (for example, in the case where the gray-scale value is “10” or less, hereinafter, such a case is simply referred to as that the gray-scale value is “0” including the case where the gray-scale value is closer to “0”), it is not necessary to correct the printing energy for the pixel of the UV printing data, and according to the relationship as shown in  FIG. 18A , it is only required to output the UV printing data to the thermal head control section  105 . On the other hand,  FIG. 18B  illustrates that the concentration of the UV image degrades by irradiation of the visualization light beam, as the gray-scale value of the YMC data increases, in the case where the pixel of the UV printing data and the pixel of the YMC printing data overlap one another. Therefore, in order to make the concentration of the UV image constant, as shown in  FIG. 18C , it is necessary to correct the printing energy for the pixel of the UV printing data, corresponding to the gray-scale value of the pixel of the YMC printing data that corresponds to the position overlapping the pixel of the UV printing data. 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , in the UV printing energy determination routine, in step  322 , the CPU reads the gray-scale value of the pixel (target pixel) of the UV printing data. Next, in step  324 , the CPU determines whether or not the gray-scale value read in step  322  is “0”. When the gray-scale value is “0”, since the correction of the printing data is not necessary, the CPU proceeds to step  334 . When the gray-scale value is not “0”, since the correction of the printing data is necessary, the CPU proceeds to step  326 . 
     In step  326 , as shown in  FIG. 19 , the CPU reads the gray-scale values of the pixel Pc of the YMC printing data that corresponds to the position overlapping the target pixel and eight peripheral pixels Pp adjacent to this pixel Pc. The reason for thus reading also the gray-scale values of peripheral pixels Pp adjacent to the pixel Pc of the YMC printing data that corresponds to the position overlapping the target pixel is to consider a pixel deviation of the pixel Pc from the target pixel and the effects on the target pixel by the peripheral pixels Pp in irradiating the card with the invisible light beam obliquely. 
     In next step  328 , the CPU calculates an average value of gray-scale values of the pixel Pc of the YMC printing data and eight peripheral pixels Pp adjacent to the pixel Pc. The pixel Pc and peripheral pixels Pp are comprised of pixels of printing data of Y, M, C, respectively. Therefore, the CPU first calculates the gray-scale values of the pixel Pc and peripheral pixels Pp. It is possible to obtain such calculation of gray-scale values, for example, by performing beforehand determined weighting for each of gray-scale values of pixels of the printing data of Y, M, C to add. In other words, since the effect (change in the concentration in applying the invisible light beam) of pixels constituting the YMC printing data on pixels constituting the UV printing data is varied with the mix ratio of YMC, large weights are assigned to gray-scale values of pixels of the printing data of Y, M, C with significant effects. For such calculation, for example, in the same manner as in the lookup table used in general color conversion, such a form may be used that weighting is beforehand made numerical with respect to the three-dimensional arrangement of the gray-scale value (256-level gray scale) of each of pixels of the printing data of Y, M, C. 
     Accordingly, in this Embodiment, the printing energy of each of pixels constituting the UV printing data is determined, corresponding to the gray-scale value of the pixel Pc of each of the printing data of Y, M, C of the YMC image that corresponds to the position overlapping the pixel constituting the UV printing data and the gray-scale values of the peripheral pixels Pp adjacent to the pixel Pc of the printing data of Y, M, C, respectively. 
     Next, in step  330 , as shown in  FIG. 18C , the CPU reads a table showing the relationship between the gray-scale value of the YMC printing data and the UV printing energy correction amount, and in next step  332 , applies the gray-scale value of the YMC printing data calculated in step  328  to the table to calculate the energy correction amount of the pixel of the UV printing data. In next step  324 , the CPU stores the correction amount calculated in step  332  in the RAM. 
     Next, in step  336 , the CPU determines whether or not the target pixel is the last pixel to constitute the UV printing data, and in a negative determination, returns to step  322  to perform the same processing as described above on the next target pixel, while in a positive determination, finishing the UV printing energy determination routine to proceed to step  306  in  FIG. 16 . 
     In step  306 , as shown in  FIG. 13A , the image formation section B 1  forms the UV image in the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46 , and next, forms the Bk image in the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46 . In forming the UV image, the CPU transmits the printing data of the UV printing data together with the correction amount stored in step  334  in  FIG. 17  to the thermal head control section  105 , the thermal head control section  105  controls the thermal head  40  based on the amount and data, and the UV image is thereby formed in the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46 . In addition, the CPU does not calculate a correction amount such as the amount for the UV printing data on the Bk printing data and YMC printing data described later, and transmits the Bk printing data and YMC printing data (printing data of each of Y, M, C) to the thermal head control section  105 . 
     In next step  308 , as shown in  FIG. 14B , the transfer section B 2  transfers the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  with the UV image formed and the protective layer  46   c  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46  integrally in this order to the card Ca. By this means, as shown in  FIG. 13B , on the card Ca are stacked the ink reception layer  46   d  (hereinafter, referred to as the first ink reception layer  46   d  (R 1 ) including the origin of the region of the transfer film  46 ) of the first region R 1  with the UV image and Bk image formed and the protective layer  46   c  (hereinafter, referred to as first protective layer  46   c  (R 1 ) including the origin of the region of the transfer film  46 ). 
     Next, in step  310 , as shown in  FIG. 13A , the image formation section B 1  forms the YMC image in the order of Y, M, C in the ink reception layer  46   d  of the second region R 2  of the transfer film  46 . Next, in step  312 , as shown in  FIG. 14B , the transfer section B 2  transfers the ink reception layer  46   d  of the second region R 2  with the YMC image formed and the protective layer  46   c  of the second region R 2  integrally in this order onto the protective layer  46   c  of the first region R 1  transferred to the card Ca in step  308 . By this means, as shown in  FIG. 13B , on the card Ca are stacked four layers i.e. the first ink reception layer  46   d  (R 1 ), the first protective layer  46   c  (R 1 ), the ink reception layer  46   d  (hereinafter, referred to as second ink reception layer  46   d  (R 2 ) including the origin of the region of the transfer film  46 ) of the second region R 2  with the YMC image formed, and the protective layer  46   d  (hereinafter, referred to as second ink protective layer  46   c  (R 2 ) including the Origin of the region of the transfer film  46 ) of the second region R 2 . 
     In next step  314 , the CPU determines whether or not printing is two-sided printing on the card Ca, and in a positive determination, returns to step  306  to similarly print on the other surface. In a negative determination, the CPU corrects curl of the card Ca occurring by thermal transfer by the heat roller  33  with the decurl mechanism  36 , then discharges the card Ca toward the storage stocker  60 , and finishes the card issue routine. 
     &lt;Effects and Others&gt; 
     The effects and others of the printing apparatus  1  of this Embodiment will be described next. 
     In the printing apparatus  1  of this Embodiment, the image formation section B 1  forms a UV image in the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46 , and further forms a YMC image in ink reception layer  46   d  of the second region R 2  of the transfer film  46 , and the transfer section B 2  transfers the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  with the UV image formed and the protective layer  46   c  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46  integrally in this order to the card Ca, and further transfers the ink reception layer  46   d  of the second region R 2  with the YMC image formed and the protective layer  46   c  of the second region R 2  integrally in this order onto the transferred layer. As shown in  FIG. 13B , on thus generated (issued) card are stacked four layers of the first ink reception layer  46   d  (R 1 ), first protective layer  46   c  (R 1 ), second reception layer  46   d  (R 2 ) and second protective layer  46   c  (R 2 ) in this order. 
     Herein, in comparing the card (see  FIG. 13B , hereinafter, referred to as card of this Embodiment) generated in the printing apparatus  1  of this Embodiment with the card (Patent Document 1, see FIG. 3, hereinafter referred to as card of Patent Document 1) by the invention of Patent Document 1, the cards are common in the respect that both of the cards are four-layer structure and have two protective layers, and in the card of Patent Document 1, the YMC image is arranged on the inner side, while the UV image is arranged on the outer side. In contrast thereto, in the card of this Embodiment, the UV image is arranged on the inner side, while the YMC image is arranged on the outer side. In the card of Patent Document 1, since the UV image is arranged on the outer side, when wear occurs on the card surface, the UV image is first lost. Since the UV image is used mainly in security, when a part of the data constituting the UV image is lost, there is the risk that normal determination of security is impaired. In contrast thereto, in the card of this Embodiment, since the UV image is arranged on the inner side and the YMC image is arranged on the outer side, even when wear occurs on the card surface, the UV image is not lost, and the YMC image such as a photograph of face of the card owner, and mark or logo of the company to which the card owner belongs is only partially lost, and does not lose the functionality by partial loss. 
     Further, in the card of Patent Document 1, since the UV image and Bk image are formed with thermofusible ink, the asperities on the card surface are promoted to tend to wear. In contrast thereto, in the card of this Embodiment, the UV image is formed with thermal sublimation ink, the Bk image is formed with thermofusible ink, the thermofusible ink is used in Bk ink as in the card of Patent Document 1, asperities of the Bk image with the thermofusible ink are absorbed by the YMC image and protective layer arranged on the outer side, the surface of the card is made almost flat, the card surface is hard to wear, and durability is improved. 
     Furthermore, in the card of this Embodiment, since the UV image is arranged on the inner side, the data constituting the UV image is not lost, the determination on security is ensured, and it is possible to enhance resistance to forgery of the UV image used in security. 
     Still furthermore, in the card of this Embodiment, the Bk image is formed in the first ink reception layer  46   d  (R 1 ) together with the UV image. The card of Patent Document 1 shows the example where the Bk image is formed in the ink reception layer with the YMC image formed (see  FIG. 3 ), but in such an example, asperities on the card surface are not eased. In this respect, as in the card of this Embodiment, when the Bk image is formed together in the first ink reception layer  46   d  (R 1 ), since the asperities of the first ink reception layer  46   d  (R 1 ) are absorbed by the second ink reception layer  46   d  (R 2 ) and second protective layer  46   c  (R 2 ) arranged on the outer side, it is possible to make the card surface almost flat even though the card has the Bk image. 
     Moreover, in the printing apparatus  1  of this Embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 19 , the printing energy of each of pixels constituting the UV printing data is determined (corrected) corresponding to gray-scale values of the pixel Pc of the YMC printing data that corresponds to a position overlapping the pixel constituting the UV printing data and pixels Pp adjacent to the pixel Pc so that the concentration is constant when the UV image is visualized by irradiation of the visualization light beam. Accordingly, even in adopting the four-layer structure as described above on the card Ca, it is possible to prevent the portion of the UV printing data overlapping the portion with a high gray-scale value of the YMC printing data from being hard to see in applying the visualization light beam to visualize the UV image, and it is also possible to prevent the occurrence of concentration fluctuations of the entire UV image. In addition, only in consideration of the purpose for preventing the occurrence of concentration fluctuations of the entire UV image, the gray-scale value of the UV printing data overlapping the portion with a low gray-scale value (including the gray-scale value of “0”) of the YMC printing data may be determined (corrected) to be lower than the gray-scale value of the UV printing data overlapping the portion with a high gray-scale value of the YMC printing data. Further, it may be determined (corrected) that the gray-scale value of the UV printing data overlapping the portion with a low gray-scale value of the YMC printing data is lower than the original gray-scale value, and that the gray-scale value of the UV printing data overlapping the portion with a high gray-scale value of the YMC printing data is higher than the original gray-scale value. 
     In addition, this Embodiment exemplifies a UV image as the first image (invisible image) and a YMC image with ink of three colors as the second image, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a UR (ultrared) image may be used as the first image, while using an image with thermal sublimation ink of one or more colors as the second image. Further, this Embodiment shows the example of forming the UV image with thermal sublimation ink, and the UV image may be formed with thermofusible ink. Also in this case, asperities of the UV image and Bk image with the thermofusible ink are absorbed by the YMC image and protective layer arranged on the outer side, the surface of the card is made almost flat, the card surface is hard to wear, and durability is improved. 
     Further, as the image formation/transfer procedure, this Embodiment shows the example in which the image formation section B 1  forms the UV image and Bk image in the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46 , the transfer section B 2  transfers the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  with the UV image and Bk image formed and the protective layer  46   c  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46  integrally in this order to the card Ca, subsequently the image formation section B 1  forms the YMC image in the ink reception layer  46   d  of the second region R 2  of the transfer film  46 , and the transfer section B 2  transfers the ink reception layer  46   d  of the second region R 2  with the YMC image formed and the protective layer  46   c  of the second region R 2  integrally in this order onto the protective layer  46   c  of the first region R 1 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and such a procedure may be adopted that the image formation section B 1  forms the UV image and Bk image in the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46 , and forms the YMC image in the ink reception layer  46   d  of the second region R 2 , and that subsequently the transfer section B 2  transfers the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  with the UV image and Bk image formed and the protective layer  46   c  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46 , and transfers the ink reception layer  46   d  of the second region R 2  with the YMC image formed and the protective layer  46   c  of the second region R 2  thereonto. 
     Furthermore, in forming images in the ink reception layer  46   d  of the first region R 1  of the transfer film  46 , this Embodiment shows the example of forming in the order of the UV image and Bk image, and the images may be formed in the inverse order. Still furthermore, in order to enhance wear resistance of the card, as shown in Patent Document 2, a protective layer surface may be provided in the ink ribbon  41  to transfer the protective layer of the protective layer surface to the surface side of the card to cover. 
     Moreover, in discharging the card, this Embodiment shows the example of correcting curl of the card occurring by thermal transfer by the heat roller  33  with the decurl mechanism  36 , and since the decurl mechanism  36  of this Embodiment has also the function of pressing the card surface (to promote flatness of the card surface) as well as the function of correcting the card, the curl of the card may be corrected with the decurl mechanism  36  between steps  308  and  310  of  FIG. 16  (after transferring the first ink reception layer  46   d  (R 1 ) and first protective layer  46   c  (R 1 ) to the card). 
     Further, this Embodiment shows the example of determining the printing energy of each of pixels constituting the UV printing data corresponding to the gray-scale values of the pixel Pc of the YMC printing data that corresponds to the position overlapping the pixel constituting the UV printing data and peripheral pixels Pp adjacent to the pixel Pc (step  326 ), but the present invention is not limited thereto. The printing energy of each of pixels constituting the UV printing data may be determined corresponding to only the gray-scale value of the pixel Pc of the YMC printing data that corresponds to the position overlapping the pixel constituting the UV printing data, while ignoring the gray-scale values of the peripheral pixels Pp. Moreover, this Embodiment illustrates a single peripheral pixel of the pixel Pc as the peripheral pixel, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of peripheral pixels may be made the peripheral pixels (for example, in addition to a pixel adjacent to the pixel Pc, another pixel further adjacent to this adjacent pixel may be made the peripheral pixel.) 
     Furthermore, this Embodiment shows the example of determining the printing energy of each of pixels constituting the UV printing data corresponding to an average value of gray-scale values of the pixel Pc of the YMC printing data that corresponds to the position overlapping the pixel constituting the UV printing data and peripheral pixels Pp adjacent to the pixel Pc (step  328 ), but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, different weights may be assigned to the gray-scale value of the pixel Pc of the YMC printing data and gray-scale values of the peripheral pixels Pp adjacent to the pixel Pc. In this case, a larger weighting coefficient may be assigned to the gray-scale value of the pixel Pc having the significant effect on the pixel constituting the UV printing data than that of the peripheral pixels Pp. 
     Still furthermore, this Embodiment shows the example of determining the printing energy of each of pixels constituting the UV printing data corresponding to the gray-scale values of the pixel Pc of the YMC printing data that corresponds to the position overlapping the pixel constituting the UV printing data and peripheral pixels Pp adjacent to the pixel Pc (step  332 ), but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the gray-scale value of each of pixels constituting the UV printing data may be determined or corrected. In this case, in step  330 , the CPU reads a table showing the relationship between the gray-scale value of the YMC printing data and a gray-scale value correction amount of the UV printing data, and in next step  332 , applies the gray-scale value of the YMC printing data calculated in step  328  to the table to calculate the gray-scale value correction amount of the pixel of the UV printing data. In this case, the CPU may generate corrected UV printing data obtained by correcting the UV printing data according to the gray-scale value correction amount of the pixel of the UV printing data. At this point, as in the case of the printing energy as described in the Embodiment, it is preferable that the gray-scale value of the pixel constituting the UV printing data is determined (corrected) to be larger than the gray-scale value of the pixel constituting the UV printing data that is an original. 
     Moreover, this Embodiment exemplifies 256-level gray scale for the UV printing data, Bk printing data and YMC printing data, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, 64-level gray scale or the like may be used. 
     Further, this Embodiment shows the example where the UV printing energy determination is made on the printing apparatus  1  side, but present invention is not limited thereto, and the UV printing energy determination may be made on the higher apparatus  201  side. Moreover, the higher apparatus  201  side may calculate a correction value of gray scale of each of pixels of the UV printing data so that the concentration is constant when the UV image is visualized by irradiation of the visualization light beam, or generate new UV printing data with the calculated correction value to output to the printing apparatus  1  side. 
     In addition, this application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-079539 incorporated herein by reference.