Patent Publication Number: US-2015085055-A1

Title: Stamping plate holder

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-196487, filed on Sep. 24, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a stamping plate holder used during the production of stamping plates. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A press seal that impregnates its stamping material with ink, the stamping material being a sponge rubber, to affix a seal is well-known. Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No. H 10-100464 discloses a system that produces stamping plates of press seals such as the forgoing type. This system forms a stamping face comprising a melted and solidified part being non-permeable to ink, and a non-melted part being permeable to ink by pressure-contacting a surface of a porous sheet with a thermal head that includes a plurality of dot-like heating elements and selectively applying heat to the stamping material with the thermal head while conveying the thermal head. 
     However, the managing of multiple stamping plates produced by a production system such as indicated in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai Publication No. H10-100464 is cumbersome. For example, in order to manage multiple stamping plates, it is necessary for the user to perform tasks including the writing of information for identification purposes (for example, creation date, design pattern, and/or the like) onto each stamping plate, the registering of information pertaining to stamping plates into an information terminal, and the managing of this information. 
     In light of these circumstances, it is desirable to have a way to easily manage stamping plates. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure has been made in order to solve the above-described circumstances, and it is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a stamping plate holder that can facilitate management of stamping plates. 
     In order to solve the above-explained issue, the stamping plate holder in the present disclosure includes a board configured to receive a stamping plate on a surface of the board, the stamping plate that comprises a surface configured for plate-making processing to form a stamping face; and a print medium arranged in an area on the surface of the board, the area being outside of an area that receives the stamping plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of this application can be obtained when the following detailed description is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a printer structure of an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the printer of the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3A  is a plan view showing an internal structure of the printer of the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B  is cross-sectional view of the printer of the embodiment as shown in of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a plan view of a stamping plate holder of the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of a stamping plate holder taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 4C  is a rear-view diagram of a stamping plate holder; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of area “b” shown in  FIG. 4B  with a dashed line; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram schematically showing a press seal that employs a stamping plate; 
         FIG. 7A  is a diagram showing a result of seal pressing; 
         FIG. 7B  is a diagram showing a stamping plate before plate-making; 
         FIG. 7C  is a diagram showing a stamping plate after plate-making; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing an example on a strip of paper; and 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart of plate-making processing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A stamping plate holder according to an embodiment for carrying out the present disclosure is explained in detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings. 
     Prior to explaining in detail about a stamping plate holder according to an embodiment, a thermal printer  1  for plate-making used to create a stamping plate (hereinafter referred to as “printer  1 ”) is explained. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a structure of printer  1 .  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the external appearance of printer  1  with a stamping plate holder  16  attached.  FIG. 3A  is a plan view schematically showing an interior of printer  1  whereas  FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of printer  1  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , printer  1  includes a central control circuit  2 , a sensor  3 , a thermal head  4 , a power source circuit  5 , a motor driver  6 , a display screen control circuit  7 , a memory control circuit  8 , a user interface control circuit  9 , a USB (Universal Serial Bus) control circuit  10 , a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module and wireless LAN (Local Area Network) module  11 , a stepper motor  12 , and a display device  13 . 
     When it is essential for printer  1  to be connected (wired connection or wireless connection) to a PC (Personal Computer), the user executes operation of printer  1  via PC  14  or a GUI (Graphical User Interface) of a mobile terminal not shown, and/or the like. Please note that display screen control circuit  7  and display device  13  can be omitted. Display device  13 , display screen control circuit  7 , user interface (UI) control circuit  9 , USB control circuit  10 , Bluetooth (registered trademark) module and wireless LAN (Local Area Network) module  11 , and/or the like can be omitted as necessary. 
     Central control circuit  2  comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and/or the like, and controls an entire system. Although  FIG. 1  shows an example of a structure in which most of the circuits are only connected to the central control circuit  2 , the structure is not limited to this, and may be a structure in which the circuits are mutually connected via a bus to perform data communication. 
     Sensor  3 , for example, comprises a reflection-type optical sensor. Sensor  3  detects a notch  22  disposed on stamping plate holder  16  described later. 
     Thermal head  4  includes a driver IC (Integrated Circuit). Driver IC receives data and a printing signal output from central control circuit  2  and in accordance with the data, performs heating and non-heating control of energizing dots (heating elements) in the driver IC (Integrated Circuit) located inside thermal head  4 . This enables thermal head  4  to apply printing to a stamping plate made up of a porous ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, and/or the like. Note that printing on a stamping plate is also called plate-making for stamping face formation. 
     Power source circuit  5  which includes a power source IC (Integrated Circuit), and/or the like supplies necessary power to each circuit. 
     Motor driver  6  receives a drive signal output from central control circuit  2  and supplies drive power to stepper motor  12 . Note that motor driver  6  may receive only an excitation signal from central control circuit  2 , and stepper motor  12  may obtain actual drive power from power source circuit  5 . 
     In the present embodiment, central control circuit  2  can determine how many times stepper motor  12  is rotated by counting the pulse number of signals output to motor driver  6 . How often stamping plate holder  16  is conveyed is determined based on this number of rotations. In the present embodiment, note that stepper motor  12 , as a one-to-two phase excitation motor is configured by gearing for 1 line (0.125 mm) translation per 16 steps. In other words, in the present embodiment, a conveyance of 0.0078 mm is performed in each step, 
     Display screen control circuit  7  performs data transfers to display device  13 , controls the turning on and turning off of a light, and/or the like. Display device  13  includes, for example, a display apparatus such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and/or the like. 
     Memory control circuit  8  includes and controls devices such as ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and/or the like. 
     User interface control circuit  9  controls the display of a menu screen, and/or the like based on information input from an input device including a keyboard, mouse, remote control, button, touch panel, and/or the like. 
     USB control circuit  10  is connected to PC (Personal Computer)  14 . 
     Bluetooth (registered trademark) module and wireless LAN module  11  is a module that provides wireless communication between printer  1  and a portable terminal such as a smartphone. The user, for example, is able to transmit various types of data, described below, to printer  1  via a mobile terminal by short-distance wireless communication of a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module, and/or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , printer  1  includes a print medium insertion opening  15  into which stamping plate holder  16  is inserted, and ejection opening  17  which ejects stamping plate holder  16 .  FIG. 2  shows a state in which stamping plate holder  16  is inserted in print medium insertion opening  15  and tip  16   a  of stamping plate holder  16  is protruding to the outside of ejection opening  17 . The details are explained later but stamping plate  18  is retained in stamping plate holder  16 . Also,  FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a state just after stamping plate  16  is inserted in print medium insertion opening  15  of printer  1 . In this state, tip  16   a  of stamping plate holder  16  is to be inserted as far as the vicinity of the arranged position of sensor  3 . Sensor  3  senses along dashed line  23  shown in  FIG. 3A , and detects a notch  22  formed on the side of stamping plate holder  16 . Also, as shown in  FIG. 3B , printer  1  includes a thermal head  4  and a platen roller  19  on the conveyance path of stamping plate holder  16 . 
     Next, stamping plate holder  16  is explained. 
     Stamping plate holder  16  is shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C  and  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 4A  is a plan view of stamping plate holder  16  retaining stamping plate  18 .  FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of stamping plate holder  16  taken along line A-A′ shown in  FIG. 4A .  FIG. 4C  is a rear-view diagram of stamping plate holder  16 . Note that the arrow “a” shown in  FIG. 4A  shows the conveyance direction of stamping plate holder  16  in printer  1 .  FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of area “b” that is encircled with a dashed line shown in  FIG. 4B . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  and  FIG. 5 , stamping plate holder  16  includes a paper strip  20 , a thick cardboard  21 , notch  22 , a recess  24  for removably retaining a stamping plate  18 , and a film  26 . 
     Recess  24  is provided in the center of stamping plate holder  16 , and stamping plate  18  is fitted in and retained. Stamping plate  18  comprises a porous sponge body that can be impregnated with ink. As the material of this sponge body, an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, for example, is used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 5 , the recess is configured to have a depth such that the top portion (a stamping face or a stamping face formation target surface) of loaded stamping plate  18  slightly protrudes beyond the top portion of thick cardboard  21 . To be more specific, stamping plate holder  16  comprises a top thick cardboard  21   a  and a bottom thick cardboard  21   b  laminated together. An opening is formed on top thick cardboard  21  where stamping plate  18  is fitted. The thickness of stamping plate  18  is formed to be, for example, 1.5 mm, and the thickness of top thick cardboard  21   a  is formed to be, for example, 0.79 mm Thus, when stamping plate  18  is fitted in to recess  24 , the top surface of stamping plate  18  slightly protrudes beyond the top surface of top thick cardboard  21   a . Thermal head  4  can perform plate-making while slightly crushing stamping plate  18 . Note that all four sides of stamping plate  18  are cut by a thermal cutting machine. Thus, the ink impregnating the inside of stamping plate  18  does not ooze from the four sides of stamping plate  18 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , recess  24  that accommodates stamping plate  18  and paper strip  20  are arranged on the same surface as stamping plate holder  16 . Of the two main surfaces of the stamping plate holder  16 , the surfaces on which paper strip  20  and stamping plate  18  are arranged is the printing surface on which printing by thermal head  4  of printer  1  is applied. 
     Paper strip  20  is a medium on which printing is applied. Heat-sensitive paper is used for paper strip  20 . Also, printing is applied onto paper strip  20  by thermal head  4 . Information relating to the stamping face (for example, the date the stamping face was created, information relating to the save destination of the seal impression data, color information when the stamping face comprises a plurality of colors, and/or the like.) is printed on paper strip  20 . The planar shape of paper strip  20  can be rectangular as shown in  FIG. 4A , or can be suitably changed to a square with four equal sides, a round shape, elliptical shape, and/or the like. 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of information recorded on paper strip  20 . In this example, information relating to the stamping plate, such as the date the stamping plate was created, is printed onto paper strip  20 . This makes it easy to manage stamping plate  18 . Also, the information displayed on paper strip  20  can also include information indicating the save destination of data essential for plate-making (for example, an address). Information indicating the save destination is inscribed using, for example, characters, numbers, a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark), and/or the like. The recording of information indicating the save destination enables quick retrieval of data based on such information when re-creating the same press seal, when a different person creates a similar press seal, or when updating seal impression data to create a new press seal. 
     Also, if the design pattern of the stamping face is to contain multiple colors, displaying the color information on paper strip  20  indicating which area of the design pattern has which color, provides great convenience when impregnating stamping plate  18  with ink. In the example shown in  FIG. 8 , information is recorded indicating that the design pattern of the panda is black, and that the design pattern of the musical note is red. The color information can be included using written letters or symbols, for example, the word “black” can be affixed to the design pattern of the panda, and the word “red” can be affixed to the design pattern of the musical note. Also, if the paper strip  20 , which is heat-sensitive paper, changes to various colors by heat processing, the design pattern of the panda can be printed in black, and the design pattern of the musical note can be printed in red, and also the printed design patterns can be displayed on paper strip  20  to make the colors easily recognizable. 
     Paper strip  20  is adhered to stamping plate holder  16  by glue, an adhesive agent, and/or the like. The choice to use glue, adhesive agent, and/or the like, can be made based upon the application of paper strip  20 . For example, by folding thick cardboard  21  into a mountain-shape, stamping plate holder  16  can be utilized as a platform for retaining the press seal shown in  FIG. 6 . In such a situation, as the stamping plate holder  16  is used with paper strip  20  adhered thereto, the stick-and-peel function, such as with an adhesive agent, is not necessarily essential. 
     However, if the user sticks paper strip  20  to stamp wooden base  30  of the stamp shown in  FIG. 6 , then it is necessary to have an adhesion means for peeling paper strip  20  from stamping plate holder  16 , and sticking paper strip  20  to stamp wooden base  30 . The same applies to objects other than stamp wooden base  30 . An adhesive agent that has a stick-and-peel function, a double-sided tape including a base material with glue or an adhesive agent on both sides, and/or the like can be used as a means for adhesion. 
     Paper strip  20  can be positioned anywhere on a surface of stamping plate holder  16 , so long as the surface is the side that allows paper strip  20  to come in contact with thermal head  4  while plate-making processing is performed. Paper strip  20  can be positioned so that printing is applied after the plate-making of stamping plate  18  (In  FIG. 4A , referring to directly below stamping plate  18 ). Paper strip  20  can also be positioned adjacent to stamping plate  18  (In  FIG. 4A , the position can be either to the right or left of stamping plate  18 , or on both sides of stamping plate  18 ) so that paper strip  20  is printed at the same time as stamping plate  18 . Also, paper strip  20  can be set at any distance from stamping plate  18 . 
     In the present embodiment, as explained below in plate-making processing, there is a process in which the thermal head  4  is preheated before printing is applied to stamping plate  18 . Also, from the standpoint of utilizing the preheating prior to applying printing to stamping plate  18  and from the standpoint of reducing the time duration for plate-making, it is preferable that paper strip  20  can be printed in the thermal head-pre-heating stage. Concretely, when stamping plate holder  16  is inserted in print medium insertion opening  15  of printer  1 , paper strip  20  is positioned so that paper strip  20  is heat-processed by thermal head  4  before stamping plate  18  (in other words, directly above stamping plate  18  in  FIG. 4A ). Moreover, the number of paper strip  20  is not limited to one, so multiple sheets can be used. 
     Thick cardboard  21  can be formed from board-type paper. Concretely, thick cardboard  21  comprises top thick cardboard  21   a  and bottom thick cardboard  21   b  that are bonded together by a double-sided adhesive sheet  27   b  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Top thick cardboard  21   a  and bottom thick cardboard  21   b  are made of thick paper such as coated board. The center area of top thick cardboard  21   a  is provided with an opening that corresponds with the shape of stamping plate  18 . Conversely, bottom thick cardboard  21   b  is not provided with an opening in the center area. The opening of top thick cardboard  21   a  and the bottom thick cardboard  21   b  provided below the opening form recess  24 . Stamping plate  18  is positioned and retained in this recess  24 . In other words, thick cardboard  21  is configured to receive stamping plate  18  on one side of thick cardboard  21 . 
     Bottom thick cardboard  21   b  and top thick cardboard  21   a  are formed to have the same outer shape and the entire internal surface is formed to be a flat surface. Bottom thick cardboard  21   b  and top thick cardboard  21   a  are bonded together to form a single body, and bottom thick cardboard  21   b  contacts the bottom surface of stamping plate  18  thereby retaining stamping plate  18  from the bottom. As shown in  FIG. 4C , this bottom thick cardboard  21   b  is provided with perforations  25  that run along one side of recess  24  shown in  FIG. 4A . The upper part of perforations  25  extends from the right and left to both sides of bottom thick cardboard  21   b  forming perforations  25   a.    
     Notch  22  is formed on one part of a side of stamping plate holder  16  (right side in  FIG. 4A ). Printer  1  uses sensor  3  to detect notch  22  along dashed line  23 . The end of notch  22  and the end of stamping plate holder  18  are arranged at the same distance from a stamping plate holder edge  16   a . Therefore, by detecting notch  22  mentioned in detail further below, the printing start position of stamping plate  18  can be determined. 
     Film  26  is made of heat-resistant thermally-conductive materials having surface smoothness, for example PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), polyamide, or the like as a base material. With respect to heat-resistance, a film  26  having a higher melting point than the melting point of stamping plate  18  is used a film  26 . In the present embodiment, the heat generated by thermal head  4  will not melt film  26  even if the surface of stamping plate  18  is melted by the heat. Also, the frictional force between film  26  and thermal head  4  is extremely low. Therefore, thermal head  4 , due to the converting properties of film  26 , does not become embedded in stamping plate  18  softened by melting. Also, thermal head  4  can easily continue plate-making along the surface of film  26 , due to the low friction with film  26 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , film  26  and top thick cardboard  21   a  are adhered together by using double-sided adhesive sheet  27   a . This means that surfaces of film  26  and stamping plate holder  16  are adhered together by double-sided adhesive sheet  27   a.    
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 4B , film  26  covers side surface  18   b  and front surface  18   a  of stamping plate  18  exposed from recess  24  to an area above the recess  24 . However, film  26  is not adhered to side surface  18   b  and front surface  18   a  with glue. Upon completion of plate-making, bottom thick cardboard  21   b  is folded rearward along perforations  25   a . Then, the portions surrounded by perforations  25  and  25   a  are pulled apart from top thick cardboard  21   a . Afterward, stamping plate  18  can easily be extracted from stamping plate holder. 
     Next, the principle of plate-making by applying heat with a thermal head to the surface of porous EVA constituting plate  18  will be briefly explained while referencing  FIGS. 7A-7C .  FIG. 7A  shows the seal-pressing result,  FIG. 7B  shows the stamping plate before plate-making, whereas  FIG. 7C  shows the stamping plate after plate-making. 
     Porous EVA (hereinafter simply referred to as EVA) which includes countless air bubbles makes it possible to impregnate the inside, which is like a sponge, with liquid such as ink. EVA also has thermoplasticity. For example, when heat ranging from 70-120 degrees is applied, the area on which heat is applied softens, and once the weakened area cools it hardens. Furthermore, the air bubbles in the hardened area get filled up making the area non-porous, thereby preventing liquid such as ink from passing through the area. Making good use of this characteristic of EVA, heat is applied by thermal head  4  to any area on the EVA surface for 1 to 5 milliseconds. Then the area is cooled to make the area non-porous. When this happens, ink is prevented from passing through the non-porous area. 
     Compared with the seal impression of the seal-pressing result shown in  FIG. 7A , the white and black colors of seal impression printed on stamping plate  18  shown in  FIG. 7C  are inverted. In  FIG. 7C , the area shown in black is the area on which heat was applied, and ink does not pass through this heated area. Conversely, since the non-heated areas remain porous, ink can pass through to achieve a desired seal pressing result. Also, the printing data used when printer  1  performs plate-making processing serves as the mirror data of the seal impression data created by the user (the design patterns of the pandas in  FIGS. 7A and 7C ). Note that a user creates the seal impression data with a predetermined application on a PC14 or a mobile terminal. 
     In the aforementioned heat processing of EVA surface, ink oozes out from the areas on which heat is not applied. As a result, the user must apply heat so that ink does not come out of areas other than the intended seal impression area. 
     However, an assembly error in a mass production step, for example, causes the center position of EVA to slightly deviate from the design value with respect to the center line of thermal head  4 . In this situation, ink leaks from areas unintended by the user (for example, the edges of EVA). To concretely illustrate the point, suppose a user, for example, created seal impression data that is 30 mm×30 mm. Also suppose that the printing data, on which thermal processing is performed with thermal head  4 , is also 30 mm×30 mm. 
     Now suppose that the position of EVA deviates by 1 mm in a scanning direction due to an assembly error. When this happens, not only does the center of the stamping face deviate by 1 mm, the 1 mm part on the edge that is unheated causes ink to leak from the edge. 
     In order to prevent this leakage of ink, data that indicates an area to be heated by thermal head  4  is provided around the periphery of the seal impression created by the user. The printing data with the heated area added is the printing data that is actually executed. The final printing data is the data with the heated area added around the periphery of a desired seal impression created by the user. This data is input into thermal head  4  and then plate-making processing is performed on stamping plate  18 . 
     In order to address this kind of addition, the user is provided with, for example, stamping plate holder  16  that displays that the stamping plate holder  16  is to be used for stamping faces with a size of 30 mm×30 mm. At this time, the dimensions of the actual stamping plate are (30+L)×(30+L) mm, and L, for example, 1 mm-2 mm. 
     Upon completion of plate-making, stamping plate  18  extracted from stamping plate holder  16  is affixed to stamp wooden base  30  as shown in  FIG. 6  and used as a seal.  FIG. 6  shows that stamping plate  18 , with stamping face oriented downwards, is attached, via double-sided adhesive sheet  31 , to the bottom surface of stamp wooden base  30  consisting of a round handle  28  and a pressing part  29 . Paper strip  20  shown in  FIG. 8 , for example, can be attached to the top surface or side surface or top surface of pressing part  29  of stamp wooden base  30 . Paper strip  20  can also be attached to handle  28 . 
     Also, by immersing the stamping face of stamping plate  18  in ink for a fixed duration, the ink impregnates the inside of the stamping face. After wiping away excess ink grime from the front surface of the stamping face, the user holds handle  28  by hand and presses pressing part  29  down on a to-be-sealed object. When this is done, the ink impregnated in stamping face is extruded out, thus forming an imprinted seal. 
     Next, plate-making processing carried out by central control circuit  2  (hereinafter referred to as controller) of printer  1  is explained with reference to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 9 . Note that for this plate-making processing, seal impression data and data relating to stamping plate  18  are sent to printer  1  from PC  14  or a mobile terminal. Also, plate-making processing is prompted to start upon receipt by printer  1  of the various types of sent data. 
     Concretely, a user creates seal impression data (for example, data indicating the design pattern of a panda shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7C ) with a predetermined application on PC  14  or a mobile terminal. In addition to seal impression data, a user inputs dimension data and paper strip data into PC  14  or a mobile terminal. Here, dimension data refers to data necessary for printing stamping plate  18  and paper strip  20  including the dimensions of stamping plate  18  (W1 and L1 shown in  FIG. 4 ), dimensions of paper strip  20  (W2, L3 shown in  FIG. 4A ), the distance between paper strip  20  and stamping plate  18  (L2 shown in  FIG. 4 ), and/or the like. Note that W1 and L1 are dimensions after the aforementioned heating area is added to the stamping face on display to the user. 
     Here, for the inputting of the dimension data, the user can input or select a serial number of stamping plate holder  16  from PC  14  or a mobile terminal. Alternatively, the dimensions of stamping plate  18 , paper strip  20 , and/or the like can be input or selected individually from PC  14  or a mobile terminal. Note that data such as the serial number of stamping plate holder  16 , is preliminarily associated with data including dimensions of stamping plate  18 , paper strip  20 , the distance between stamping plate  18 , paper strip  20 , and/or the like. 
     Also, paper strip data is information that the user desires to display on the paper strip, for example, information such as the seal impression data, the creation date and the save destination of the data. This paper strip data is created by the user with a predetermined application. 
     Here, the seal impression data and the paper strip data created by the user, and the dimension data input or selected by the user, are transmitted to printer  1  via PC  14  or a mobile terminal. Also, the plate-making processing explained hereafter commences once printer  1  received the various types of data. 
     First, the controller of printer  1  causes sensor  3  to operate upon receipt of the various types of data (Step S 11 ). Concretely, the controller receives the various types of data, then pre-heating processing of thermal head  4  is performed, and when the controller enters print standby state, the controller causes sensor  3  to operate. At this time, the controller illuminates a lamp (not shown in the diagrams) arranged on printer  1  to notify the user that printing  1  is printer-ready. 
     The user that has confirmed the lamp inserts stamping plate holder  16  in print medium insertion opening  15  of printer  1 . Once sensor  3  detects a tip  16   a  of stamping plate holder  16 , the controller commences with rotation of stepper motor  12  (Step S 12 ). Concretely, the controller supplies a pulse signal that rotates stepper motor  12  that in turn drives the rotation of platen roller  19 . 
     When an edge of notch  22  of stamping plate holder  16  is inserted as far as sensor  3 , the light emitted from sensor  3  stops reflecting due to stamping plate holder  16 . Thus, sensor  3  detects notch  22  and the controller determines that notch  22  of stamping plate holder  16  reached sensor  3 . 
     Next, the controller starts measuring the number of steps in a pulse signal that is supplied to stepper motor  12 . 
     Here, the size of the heating elements of thermal head  4  of the present embodiment is 0.125 mm per line meaning 8 lines are equal to 1 mm. Also, stepper motor  12  of the present embodiment as a 1-2 phase excitation motor has a gear ratio that is 16 steps per line (0.125 mm). As a result, for example, a 1 mm conveyance is performed in 128 steps. Therefore, if the conveyance distance is represented as D (mm), the number of steps S in relation to the conveyance distance D is expressed as S=128×D. 
     One edge of notch  22  and an edge corresponding with the printing start position of stamping plate  18  are arranged at the same distance from tip  16   a  of stamping plate holder  16 . In printer  1 , the distance separating sensor  3  and thermal heat  4  is predetermined Therefore, the number of steps that need to be conveyed for the printing start position of stamping plate  18  to reach thermal head  4  from the point in time sensor  3  detects notch  22 , is also predetermined. 
     Therefore, when the edge of notch  22  is detected by sensor  3 , the controller starts measuring the number of steps in a pulse signal supplied to stepper motor  12 . In this way, the controller determines whether the predetermined number of steps were conveyed, and in turn determines whether stamping plate  18  of stamping plate holder  16  reached the printing start position (Step S 13 ). 
     When the controller determines that stamping plate  18  did not reach the printing start position (Step S 13 : No), the controller rotates stepper motor  12  by a single step and conveys stamping plate holder  16  only for a single step rotation. 
     Next, when the controller determines that stamping plate  18  reaches the printing start position (Step S 13 : Yes), the controller initializes variable N for storing the number of printing lines by one (Step S 14 ). Next, the controller transfers the seal impression data of Nth-line to thermal head  4 , and applies heat to thermal head  4  (Step S 15 ). As explained previously, the printing data that is actually executed is the data relating to the heating area that is added around the periphery of the seal impression created by the user. 
     Suppose that the length of the conveyance direction of stamping plate  18  is L1 (mm) (see  FIG. 4A ) and suppose that S1 is the number of steps when the printing of stamping plate  18  is complete. The printing of stamping plate  18  finishes when variable N for storing the number of printing lines reaches N=S1/16=8×L1. 
     Therefore, by determines whether N is this value, the controller determines that the printing of stamping plate  18  is finished (Step S 16 ). If variable N for storing the number of printing lines does not satisfy 8×L1 (Step S 16 : No), the controller adds one to variable N for storing the number of printing lines (Step S 17 ). Next, the controller transfers the data of Nth line again and applies heat to the thermal head (Step S 15 ). 
     If variable N for storing the number of printing lines reaches 8×L1 (Step S 16 : Yes), then the controller drives stepper motor  12  and conveys stamping plate holder  16  as far as printing start position of paper strip  20  (Step S 18 ). When this happens, suppose that the distance that separates stamping plate  18  and paper strip  20  is L2 (mm) (see  FIG. 4A ), and that the number of steps necessary for conveying stamping plate holder  16  by a distance of L2 is represented by S2, (The relationship between S2 and L2 is expressed by an equation, S2=128×L2. Therefore, the controller starts measuring the number of steps in a pulse signal that is supplied to stepper motor  12 , drives stepper motor  12 , and conveys stamping plate holder  16  until S2 is reached (S2 step). 
     Next, after the controller drives stepper motor  12  until the number of steps reaches S2, the controller initializes the variable N for storing the number of printing lines by 1 (Step S 19 ). Next, the controller transfers data relating to Nth line of seal impression and applies heat to thermal head  4  (Step S 20 ). 
     The length of the conveyance direction of paper strip  20  shall be L3 (mm) (see  FIG. 4A ) and the number of steps when printing of paper strip  20  finishes shall be S3. The printing of paper strip  20  finishes when variable N for storing the number of printing lines reaches N=S3/16=8×L3. 
     Therefore, by determines whether N is this value, the controller determines that the printing of stamping plate  20  is finished (Step S 21 ). If variable N for storing the number of printing lines does not satisfy 8×L3 (Step S 21 : No), the controller adds one to variable N for storing the number of printing lines (Step S 22 ). Next, the controller transfers the data of Nth line again and applies heat to the thermal head  4  (Step S 20 ). 
     Conversely, if variable N for storing the number of printing lines is 8×L3 (Step S 21 : Yes), then the controller drives stepper motor  12  only for the number of steps sufficient to eject stamping plate holder  16  (Step S 23 ). 
     After detecting ejection of stamping plate holder  16  by sensor  3 , the controller stops sensor  3  and also stops the driving of stepper motor  12  (Step S 24 ), and finishes plate-making processing. 
     In this way, in the present disclosure, the area, in which stamping plate  18  is not retained on the printing side of stamping plate holder  16 , can be used to display information relating to the stamping face such as the seal impression data and the plate-making date. Also, paper strip  20  which can be printed onto by thermal head  4  is arranged in this area. In this way, information desired by a user can be printed on paper strip  20  during a one-time conveyance step necessary for making stamping plate  18 . Therefore, the management of stamping plate  18  becomes greatly simplified. 
     It should be understood that the present disclosure should not be limited to the above-described embodiment and that many variations and alternative uses are possible. 
     For example, stamping plate  18  shown in  FIG. 4  is a square with four equal sides and stamping plate holder  16  is described as a rectangle; however, the shapes are not limited thereto. A stamping plate holder can be of any shape or dimensions as long as the stamping plate holder is insertable into printer  1 , for example, stamping plate  18  can be a rectangle and stamping plate holder  16  can be a square with four equal sides. 
     Also, in the embodiment presented above, the edge of notch  22  and the edge of stamping plate  18  are explained with the understanding that they are arranged at the same distance from stamping plate holder edge  16   a , but they are not limiting. For example, the edge of notch  22  and the edge of stamping plate  18  can deviate from each other. Concretely, the edge of notch  22  deviates so as to be detected first by sensor  3 . In other words, the edge of stamping plate  18  is deviating behind the edge of notch  22 . Also, the number of steps to corresponds with the deviation (mm) is calculated in advance. As such, it is possible to control the timing the printing by thermal head  4  commences. The decision of the printing start position for plate-making processing in  FIG. 9  is conducted as follows. First, sensor  3  detects the edge of notch  22 . Then, the controller counts the total number of steps by adding the number of steps corresponding with the deviation to the number of steps calculated in advance based on a distance between sensor  3  and thermal head  4 . Then the printing start position is determined. 
     Also, the materials of stamping plate  18  were introduced as being EVA but are not limited to this. The physical properties can have thermoplasticity and can contain porous materials that enable ink impregnation. 
     Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, it was explained that the board-type thick cardboard  21  consists of paper, but as long as it has a desired level of heat-resistance, then materials other than paper can be used. 
     Also, perforations  25  can be arranged either on top thick cardboard or on bottom thick cardboard in accordance with the purpose of use of stamping plate holder  16  and the extraction method of stamping plate  18 . For example, when stamping plate holder  16  is used as a stand to retain a press seal, perforations can be arranged on top thick cardboard  21   a  to easily bend top thick cardboard  21   a  into a mountain-shape. 
     The foregoing describes some example embodiments for explanatory purposes. Although the foregoing discussion has presented specific embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. This detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is defined only by the included claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.