Patent Publication Number: US-6655287-B2

Title: Printing apparatus and printing method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-290255, filed on Sep. 21, 2001: the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method and, more particularly, to a printing apparatus and a printing method for printing prescribed data on data receiving media such as passbooks and so forth. 
     A printing apparatus that performs the printing of high quality without affected by the surface condition of data receiving media such as cards, passbooks and other media is demanded in recent years. As one of this kind printing apparatus, a printing apparatus to use an intermediate transfer ribbon is well known. This type of printing apparatus comprises a printer portion and a transfer portion. The printer portion has a thermal head and an ink ribbon. The transfer portion has a heat roller and a back up roller. 
     The intermediate transfer ribbon is fed into the printer portion. In the printer portion, the thermal head is heated according to prescribed data and an ink of the ink ribbon is fused and prints prescribed data such as characters and bar codes on the surface of an intermediate transfer ribbon. 
     The intermediate transfer ribbon having prescribed data printed is fed between the heat roller and the back up roller in the transfer portion. At this time, an image receiving medium arranged to face its transfer surface to the intermediate transfer ribbon is simultaneously fed between the heat roller and the back up roller. 
     The heat roller is rotated in this state and the intermediate transfer ribbon and an image receiving medium are pushed against the back up roller and heated, and prescribed data are transferred on the surface of the image receiving medium. The intermediate transfer ribbon comprises a long base film and a transfer layer coated on this base film. In the transfer portion, the transfer layer is transferred on an image receiving medium together with prescribed data printed on the transfer layer. 
     On the transfer layer or an image receiving medium, prescribed data that are optically read may be printed sometimes. On the other hand, in order for preventing forgery of peculiar prescribed data on an image receiving medium, a protection film given with a transparent hologram in a specified pattern may be coated over an image receiving medium. The printing apparatus described above is capable of printing prescribed data on an image receiving medium and coating a surface protection film at the same time. 
     When reading prescribed data printed in a reading area of an image receiving medium that is coated with a protection film having the transparent hologram layer with an optical reading device, a prescribed pattern of a transparent hologram layer superposed on the prescribed data are read simultaneously and the prescribed data may not be read accurately or recognized in the image processing. 
     Further, data receiving media having the reading area and those having no reading area are supplied irregularly and therefore, it becomes difficult to overcoat the optimum protection film to these media, respectively. Further, if a protection film for an image receiving medium is coated over an image receiving medium having no reading area, prescribed data printed on the image receiving medium may not be covered partially by a prescribed pattern of a transparent hologram layer. As a result, there may be caused a problem that the sufficient forgery preventing effect may not be obtained. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a printing apparatus and a printing method capable of surely reading prescribed data printed in a reading area, obtaining a sufficient forgery preventing effect and performing a high quality printing stably irrespective of the surface conditions of data receiving media. 
     According to this invention, a printing apparatus is provided. This printing apparatus comprises: a supply portion to supply an intermediate transfer medium provided with a transfer layer having a first area that has a prescribed pattern and a blank and transparent second area; a printer portion to print prescribed data on the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium supplied from the supply portion; a transfer portion to transfer the prescribed data printed by the printer portion onto an image receiving medium through the transfer layer; and a controller to control the printer portion and the transfer portion in a first mode to cover the entire image receiving medium by the first area and a second mode to cover the image receiving medium by the first and second areas. Further, according to this invention, a printing method is provided. 
     This printing method comprises: supplying a transfer layer having a first area in a prescribed pattern and a plank and transparent second area; printing prescribed data on corresponding prescribed positions of the transfer layer of the supplied intermediate transfer medium in a first mode to cover the entire image receiving medium and in a second mode to cover the data transfer medium by the first and second areas; and transferring the prescribed data printed in the corresponding prescribed areas in the first mode and the second modes on the image receiving medium. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a printing apparatus involved in an embodiment of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a heat roller applied to the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a control system in the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG.  4 A and FIG. 4B are diagrams for explaining a first printing mode and a second printing mode that are applicable to the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing the structure of an intermediate transfer ribbon that is applied to the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIGS.  6 A through FIG. 6C are schematic sectional views showing the structure of the intermediate transfer ribbon that is applicable to the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, respectively; 
     FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the printing operation by the printer portion to print prescribed data on the intermediate transfer ribbon shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIGS.  8 A through FIG. 8D are diagrams for explaining the transfer operation by the transfer portion to transfer prescribed data on the intermediate transfer ribbon on an image receiving medium shown in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the printing system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, a printing apparatus and a printing method involved in an embodiment of this invention will be explained referring to the drawings. This printing apparatus is an intermediate transfer type printing apparatus which executes the printing of prescribed data on data receiving media such as cards, passbooks and so forth, and providing a protection film on the printing surface at the same time. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a printing apparatus  20  comprises a printer portion  3  which functions as a printing means and a transfer portion  4  which functions as a transferring means provided below the printer portion  3 . 
     The printer portion  3  is provided with a platen roller  6 , a thermal head  5  and other components that are arranged facing the thermal head  5 . Between the thermal head  5  and the platen roller  6 , there is an ink ribbon  7  having yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K) melting inks. The platen roller  6  functions as a supply means to supply an intermediate transfer ribbon  28  at a prescribed speed. 
     One end of the ink ribbon  7  is wound round a take-out shaft  8  and the other end is wound round a rolling-up shaft  9 . At least either one of the take-out shaft  8  and the rolling-up shaft  9  can be driven independently in both the forward and reverse directions. The middle portion of the ink ribbon  7  taken out from the take-out shaft  8  is put over a guide shafts  21  and  22 . 
     As the ink ribbon  7 , a ribbon in a single color only is usable and ribbon materials may have such functions as a fluorescent pigment ink that becomes luminous when ultraviolet rays are applied, a glossy metallic thin film (aluminum vaporized) layer for printing or a hologram layer for printing. 
     The transfer portion  4  has a heat roller  26  as a transfer roller, a back up roller  26  arranged facing to the heat roller  26 . Between the heat roller  26  and the back up roller  27 , there is an intermediate transfer ribbon  28  that functions as an intermediate transfer medium. 
     One end of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  is wound round the take-out shaft  30  provided at the upper side of the printer portion  3  and the other end is wound round the rolling-up shaft  31  provided at the lower side of the printer portion  3 . At least either one of the take-out shaft  30  and the rolling-up shaft  31  can be driven independently in both the forward and reverse directions. Further, the take-out shaft  30  and the rolling-up shaft  31  function as a supply means to supply the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  toward the printer portion  3 . The middle portion of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  taken out from the take-out shaft  30  is put over guide shafts  31   a - 31   c  and also, put over a tension roller  32  and is maintained at almost a fixed tension. 
     Further, the transfer portion  4  is provided with a first conveying roller pair  13 A and a second conveying roller pair  13 B. The first conveying roller pair  13 A is arranged at the upper stream side in the conveying direction from a heat roller  26 . The second conveying roller pair  13 B is arranged at the downstream side in the conveying direction from the heat roller  26 . 
     The first and second conveying roller pairs  13 A and  13 B convey a passbook  1  that is inserted through the take-in port  2  as an image receiving medium with a printing page opened to a prescribed transferring position by the heat roller  26  along a conveying path  11 . That is, these first and second conveying roller pairs  13 A and  13 B convey the passbook  1  so that the transfer start position on the printing page of the passbook  1  is aligned with the transfer position by the heat roller  26 . 
     Further, the transfer portion  4  is provided with a first sensor S 1  and a second sensor S 2  which function as detecting means arranged along the supply path of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28 . The first sensor S 1  and the second sensor S 2  output signals for detecting a bar mark arranged at the outside of an effective area of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28 , which will be described later. Further, the transfer portion  4  is provided with a third sensor S 3  and a fourth sensor S 4  which function as detecting means arranged along the conveying path  11  of the passbook  1 . The third sensor S 3  and the fourth sensor S 4  output signals for detecting the presence of the passbook  1  inserted through the take-in port  2 . 
     Further, the first through the fourth sensors S 1  through S 4  are, for example, transmittance type sensors and equipped with a pair of light emitting portion and light receiving portion but they may be constructed by reflection type sensors. 
     The heat roller  26  has the almost semicircular section in the plane that is vertical to the rotating shaft as shown in FIG.  2 . That is, the heat roller  26  has a core metal  35 . This core metal  35  has a cut surface  35 A that is cut to a plane shape on a part of its outer surface. In the inside of the core metal  35 , a heater  65  is provided. The outer surface of an arc portion  35 B of the core metal  35  is covered by a 1-2 mm thick heat resistance rubber  26 . 
     Further, the heat resistance rubber  36  can be used to cover not only the arc portion  35 B of the core metal  35  but also the whole outer surface including the cut surface  35 A. In addition, the heat roller  26  may have the core metal only without the heat resistance rubber. In this case, it is desirable to apply the Teflon (the product name of du Pont) process to the surface of the heat roller to prevent adhesion of dirt. Further, the length of the heat roller  26  is formed in the length along the circumferential direction of the arc portion  35 B almost equal to the length of the transfer area of the passbook  1 . 
     The heat roller  26  is arranged almost in parallel with the conveying path  11  by facing the cut surface  35 A to it as shown in FIG.  2 . Thus, a clearance is formed between the heat roller  26  and the back up roller  27  to arrange the passbook  1 . At this time, it is desirable to arrange the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  at a position where it does not contact the heat roller  26  and the back up roller  27  and also, the surface of the passbook  1  that is entering when the printing starts. 
     The printing apparatus  20  is equipped with a CPU  100  that functions as a control means for controlling the entire apparatus as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The CPU  100  is connected with a memory  101  that stores a control program for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, an interface  102  for receiving printing data required for printing from such external apparatus as a host computer and so forth. The printing data received through the interface  102  is tentatively stored in the memory  101 . 
     Further, the CPU  100  is further connected with a thermal head controller  103 , a printer portion conveyer controller  104 , a heater temperature controller  105 , a heat roller rotation controller  106 , a transfer portion conveying controller  107 , a medium conveying controller  108 , and a sensor input circuit  109 . 
     The thermal head controller  103  controls the printing operation of the thermal head  5  based on the printing data. The printer portion conveyer controller  104  controls the driving of the take-out shaft  8  and the rolling-up shaft which function as conveying mechanisms in the printer portion  3 . The heater temperature controller  105  drives the heater  65  in the heat roller  26  so as to maintain the heat roller  26  at a specified temperature. 
     The heat roller rotation controller  106  controls the rotation and driving of the heat roller  26 . That is, the heat roller rotation controller  106  transfers prescribed data on the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  on the passbook  1  by rotating the heat roller  26  in the prescribed direction after bringing the edge portion of the cut surface  35 A of the heat roller  26  in contact with the transfer start position in the state with the transfer start position of an image receiving medium aligned with the transfer position of the prescribed data printed on the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  by the heat roller  26 . 
     The transfer portion conveyer controller  107  controls the driving of the platen roller  6 , the take-out shaft  30  and the rolling-up shaft  31  which function as the conveying mechanism in the transfer portion  4 . The medium conveyer controller  108  controls the driving of the first and second conveying roller pairs  13 A and  13 B, takes in the passbook  1  from the take-in port  2  and conveys to the prescribed transfer position, and discharges the data transfer completed passbook  1  from the take-in port  2 . 
     The sensor input circuit  109  detects the bar mark of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  according to the signals output from the first sensor S 1  and the second sensor S 2 . Further, the sensor input circuit  109  detects the presence of the passbook  1  based on the output signals from the third sensor S 3  and the fourth sensor S 4 . 
     Next, the printing method that is applied to the printing apparatus described above; that is, the first printing mode and the second printing mode will be explained. 
     In the first printing mode, a protection film given with a transparent hologram layer in a prescribed pattern is coated over the entire passbook  1 ; for example, the printing area  10 A of the whole surface of the printing page  10  of the passbook  1  as shown by the oblique lined portion in FIG.  4 A. 
     That is, in the first printing mode, the protection film given with the transparent hologram layer is coated over the entire length a along the conveying direction of the printing page  10  and the entire width w along the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, 
     In the second printing mode, a blank and transparent protection film is coated over a part of an image receiving medium; for example, the reading area  10 B of the passbook  1 , which is optically read and a protection film given with a transparent hologram layer in a prescribed pattern is coated over the other portion of the image receiving medium; for example, the printing area  10 A of the printing page  10  of the passbook  1  as shown in FIG.  4 B. 
     That is, in this second printing mode, the protection film given with the transparent hologram layer is coated over the entire length b and width w along the conveying direction of the printing page  10  (the oblique lined portion). Further, the blank transparent protection film is coated over the entire length c (=a−b) and width w along the conveying direction of the printing page  10 . 
     In the printing area  10 A, such prescribed data as peculiar identification data and face image data are printed. In the reading area  10 B, data codes (bar codes) which are coded peculiar identification data and face image data are printed. The reading area  10 B is formed, for example, in a prescribed width provided at the lower end of the printing page  10 . 
     In this embodiment, when a protection film is coated over the passbook  1  which has the printing area  10  formed on the whole surface of the printing page  10  as shown in FIG. 4A, the first printing mode is executed. Further, when a protection film is coated over the passbook  1  which has the printing area  10 B formed in a part of the printing page  10  and the printing area  10 A in the other portion as shown in FIG. 4B, the second printing mode is executed. 
     As described above, even when data receiving media with different arrangement conditions as in the printing area  10  and the printing area  10 B are supplied irregularly, the optimum printing mode is judged for every supplied image receiving medium. By executing the first or second printing mode thus judged, it becomes possible to coat the optimum protection film over respective image receiving medium. 
     Therefore, data codes that are used, for example, mainly for reading by an optical reading apparatus and corresponding to prescribed data printed on the printing area  10 A will not be read jointly with a specified pattern of a transparent hologram layer when read by an optical reading device. Accordingly, when reading data codes, it becomes possible to read data codes accurately and surely recognize. 
     In the case of an optical reading apparatus of such type to read the passbook  1  by moving its lower end where data codes are printed along an optical system, noises other than data will affect the reading rate. It is therefore effective to coat the reading area  10 B from the lower end of the passbook  1  up to a fixed height with a blank transparent protection film entirely as in this embodiment. 
     On the other hand, either in the first printing mode or the second printing mode, the printing area  10 A in the printing page  10  of the passbook  1  is coated by a protection film given with the transparent hologram layer in the prescribed pattern. Therefore, it becomes possible to get fully the forgery preventing effect of the printed prescribed data. 
     In the above embodiment, the bar codes as the data codes are printed in the reading area  10 B. However, characters readable by OCR (Optical Character Reader) may be printed as the data codes in the reading area  10 B. 
     Next the structure of the intermediate transfer ribbon that is applicable to the printing apparatus described above will be explained. 
     The intermediate transfer ribbon  28  is, for example, in three-layer structure as shown in FIG.  6 A. That is, this ribbon is composed of a base layer  40 , a hologram layer  41  provided on the base layer  40 , and an adhesion layer  42  that is arranged on the hologram layer  41  and functions as an image receiving layer. On the adhesion layer  42 , prescribed data is printed by the printer portion  3 . 
     Of three layers of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28 , the hologram layer  41  and the adhesion layer  42  function as transfer layers and are transferred on the passbook  1  jointly with the prescribed data printed on the adhesion layer  42  in the transfer portion  4 . The hologram layer  41  that is arranged on the top layer when transferred on the passbook  1  functions as a protection film. 
     The intermediate transfer ribbon  28  is not restricted to the structure shown in FIG. 6A but can be in a structure with a separation layer  43  provided between the base layer  40  and the hologram layer  41  as shown in FIG.  6 B. In this structure, a separation layer  43 , the hologram layer  41  and the adhesion layer  42  function as the transfer layers. 
     The intermediate transfer ribbon  28  may be in such a structure that the separation layer  43 , a protection layer  44 , the hologram layer  41 , and the adhesion layer  42  are laminated in this order on the base layer  40 . In the case of such structure, the separation layer  43 , the protection layer  44 , the hologram layer  41 , and the adhesion layer  42  function as the transfer layers. 
     The hologram layer  41  of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  has the first area  41 A comprising a transparent hologram layer in a prescribed pattern, the blank transparent second area  41 B, and the third area  41 C that is equivalent to a margin as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6A. The first area  41 A, the second area  41 B, and the third area  41 C are arranged in order along the supply direction of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  and form a unit pattern. 
     Further, the hologram layer  41  of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  has a bar mark  41 D defining a unit pattern comprising the first area  41 A, the second area  41 B, and the third area  41 C. This bar mark  41 D is provided in the area  28 - 2  outside the effective area  28 - 1  of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28 . 
     That is, the first area  41 A of the hologram layer  41  is an area having the diffraction effect to diffract the incident light from the prescribed first direction in the second direction. As a pattern itself, for example, a character, picture, logo and so forth can be freely designed; however, when a printed data forgery preventing effect is taken into consideration, it is desirable that a pattern is formed on the whole surface as could as possible. 
     The second area  41 B has no effect to diffract rays of light in the visible light area and its neighboring frequency band in the hologram layer  41  and is a visible almost transparent area. The third area  41 C is an area equivalent to a margin taking the shift of a transfer position into consideration and a visually almost transparent area having no diffraction effect likewise the second area  41 B. 
     The bar mark  41 D is arranged repeatedly for every unit pattern and has a prescribed pattern having the diffraction effect. This bar mark  41 D is detected by the first sensor S 1  and the second sensor S 2 . That is, the printing apparatus is able to detect the position of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  by detecting this bar mark  41 D. 
     Further, the bar mark  41 D is arranged in the area  28 - 2  outside the effective area  28 - 1 . That is, the outside area  28 - 2  is a visually almost transparent area having no diffraction effect and is not arrange in any other place than the bar mark  41 D along the supply direction of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28 . Therefore, the printing apparatus is enabled to surely detect the bar mark  41 D based on the output signals from the first sensor S 1  and the second sensor S 2  arranged to face the outside area  28 - 2  of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28 . 
     A unit pattern comprising the first area  41 A, the second area  41 B, and the third area  41 C is arrange at a pitch P along the supply direction of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     The first area  41 A is formed in a rectangular shape extending over the length A and the width W 1  of the effective area  28 - 1  along the supply direction. The first area  41 A has the length A slightly longer than the length a of the conveying direction of the printing area  10 A in the passbook  1  equivalent to the maximum transfer length. 
     That is, the length A of the first area  41 A is longer than the length a required for transfer to the printing area  10 A of the passbook  1  in the first transfer mode. As a matter of course, the length of the first area  41 A is longer than the length b (&lt;a) required for the transfer to the printing area  10 A of the passbook  1  in the second printing mode. Further, the width W1 of the first area  41 A has a length almost equal to or longer than the width w of the passbook. 
     The second area  41 B is formed in a rectangular shape extending over the length B along the supply direction and the width W of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28 . The second area  41 B has the length B that is slightly longer than the length c in the conveying direction of the reading area  10 B in the passbook  1  equivalent to the maximum transfer length. Further, the width W2 of the second area  41 B is longer than the width w of the passbook. 
     The third area  41 C is formed in a rectangular shape extending over the length C along the supply direction and the width W1 of the effective area  28 - 1 . At this time, 
     
       
           P=A+B+C ( C&gt; 0) 
       
     
     and preferably, the length C of the third area  41  is set in the range of 5-50 mm. 
     In the first and second printing modes, it becomes possible to surely cover the printing area  10 A of the passbook  1  by the protection film given with the hologram layer  41  in the prescribed pattern when the length A and the width W1 are set up as described above. 
     Further, in the second printing mode, it becomes possible to surely cover the reading area  10 B of the passbook  1  by the blank and transparent protection film when the length B and the width W2 of the second area  41 B are set up as described above. Further, when the length C and the width W1 of the third area  41 C which is a margin are set up as described above, even if the transfer position, etc. were shifted, it becomes possible to surely cover the printing area  10 A by the first area  41 A and the reading area  10 B by the second area  41 B. 
     Next, the printing operation to the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  by the printer portion  3  of the printing apparatus will be explained. 
     The CPU  100  of the printing apparatus judges whether the printing should be made in either the first printing mode or the second printing mode according to the received printing start direction. At this time, the CPU  100  judges the printing mode according to, for example, data received jointly with the printing start direction, printing data stored in a memory  101  and data relative to the printing page  10  of the passbook  1  inserted through the take-in port  2 . 
     In succession, the CPU  100  controls a transfer portion conveyer controller  107 , drives the platen roller  6 , the take-out shaft  30  and the rolling-up shaft  31  that comprise the conveying mechanism, and sends out the intermediate transfer ribbon  28 . Then, the CPU  100  detects the bar mark  41 D of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  according to the signal that is output from the first sensor S 1  through a sensor input circuit  109 . 
     Then, the CPU  100  calculates a sending amount of the intermediate transfer ribbon  29  from a reference position of the bar mark  41 D based on the printing data and the printing mode using the detected position of the bar mark  41 D. That is, the CPU  100  calculates an amount of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  taken out from the position of the bar mark  41 D detected at the first sensor S 1  to the print start position by the thermal head  5  at which the specified position of the first area  41 A or the second area  41 B of the hologram layer  41  arrives. 
     In succession, the CPU  100  controls the transfer portion conveyer controller  107  based on the calculated sending amount of the ribbon, drives the platen roller  6 , the take-out shaft  30  and the rolling-up shaft  31 , sends the intermediate transfer ribbon  29  by a prescribed sending amount to move the prescribed printing position of the first area  41 A or the second area  41 B to the print start position by the thermal head  5 . 
     In succession, the CPU  100  controls a thermal head controller  103  based on the printing data, drives the thermal head  5  and prints color or black prescribed data by transferring inks of the ink ribbon  7  on the adhesion layer  42  as shown in FIG.  7 . That is, thermal head  5  is heated based on the printing data and the inks of the ink ribbon  7  are melted and transferred on the surface of the adhesion layer  42  of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28 . 
     That is, in the first printing mode, the CPU  100  controls the position of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  so as to start the printing operation to the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  in the printer portion  3  from the printing position on the adhesion layer  42  corresponding to a point close to the end portion of the first area  41 A and does never print prescribed data on the adhesion layer  42  corresponding to the second area  41 B. 
     Further, in the second printing mode, the CPU  100  controls the position of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  so as to start the printing operation from the printing position on the adhesion layer  42  corresponding to the point close to the middle portion of the first area  41 A and when necessary, prints prescribed data, for example, a bar code on the adhesion layer  42  corresponding to the second area  41 B. 
     Prescribed data can be printed in a single color such as black or multi-colors of yellow, magenta, cyan and black colors superposed. When necessary, a single color ink ribbon or multi-colors ink ribbons can be coated repeatedly. Further, a fused black ink may be used for printing characters, and yellow, magenta, cyan and black sublimation dyes can be coated repeatedly for the color printing. In the case of the multi-color superposing printing, the printing is made by moving the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  to and from the thermal head  5  by the same number of times as the number of colors. The intermediate transfer ribbon  28  is conveyed after the conveying speed is determined mainly by the platen roller  6  and therefore, the platen roller  6  is accurately driven in combination of a 5-phase stepping motor with a reduction mechanism. Further, prescribed data to be printed has a feature that the data is a reversed image. 
     Next, the transfer operation of prescribed data to the passbook  1  by the transfer portion  4  of the printing apparatus will be explained. In this embodiment, the adhesion layer  42  of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  that has the prescribed data printed in the printer portion  3  is put over the applicable printing page  10  of the passbook  1 , and the adhesion layer  42  and the hologram layer  341  are transferred at the same time on the passbook  1  jointly with the prescribed data. 
     That is, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the passbook  1  is inserted into the take-in port  2 , the fourth sensor S 4  senses the insertion of the passbook  1  and the CPU  100  of the printing apparatus  20  inputs the output signal from the sensor S 4  into the sensor input circuit  109 . The sensor input circuit  109  into which the output signal from the fourth sensor S 4  is input controls the media conveyer controller  108 . The media conveyer controller  108  drives the second conveying roller pair  13 B and the first conveying roller pair  13 A. that are the conveying mechanism, conveys the passbook  1  with the printing page  10  opened to the transfer position. 
     In succession, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the third sensor S 3  detects the end portion of the passbook  1 , the CPU  100  of the printing apparatus  20  inputs the output signal from the third sensor S 3  into the sensor input circuit  109 . When the output signal is input, the sensor input circuit  109  controls the media conveyer controller  108 . The media conveyer controller  108  once stops to drive the first conveying roller pair  13 A and the second conveying roller pair  13 B. 
     Then, the CPU  100  controls the media conveyer controller  108  to align the transfer start position on the passbook  1  with the transfer position in the transfer portion  4  based on the printing data and the printing mode. The media conveyer controller  108  finely adjusts the position of the passbook  1  by the first conveying roller pair  13 A and the second conveying roller pair  13 B. That is, the passbook  1  is positioned so that the edge portion of the cut surface  35 A of the heat roller  26  is brought in contact with a portion close to the seam of the printing page  10 . 
     On the other hand, the CPU  100  judges whether the first printing mode or the second printing mode should be executed based on the received print start direction. 
     Then, the CPU  100  drives the platen roller  6 , the take-out shaft  30  and the rolling-up shaft  31  by controlling the transfer portion conveyer controller  107  and sends out the intermediate transfer ribbon having the prescribed data printed in the printer portion  3 . Then, the CPU  100  detects the bar mark  41 D of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  that is sent out according to the output signal from the second sensor S 2  via the sensor input circuit  109 . 
     In succession, using the position of the detected bar mark  41 D as the reference, the CPU  100  calculates an take-out amount of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  from the reference position of the bar mark  41 D according to the printing data and the printing mode. That is, the CPU  100  calculates the take-out amount of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  from the position wherein the bar mark  41 D was detected by the second sensor S 2  to the transfer position of the heat roller  26  at which the prescribed position of the first area  41 A or the second area  41 B arrives in the hologram layer  41 . 
     In succession, the CPU  100  drives the platen roller  6 , the take-out shaft  30  and the rolling-up shaft  31  by controlling the transfer portion conveyer controller  107  based on the calculated take-out amount, takes out the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  by the prescribed take-out amount and have the prescribed printing position of the first area  41 A or the second area  41 B arrive at the transfer position in the transfer portion  4 . 
     Then, the CPU  100  drives the heater  65  by controlling the heater temperature controller  105  and heats the heat roller  26  to a prescribed temperature as shown in FIG. 8 c . Then, the CPU  100  rotates the heat roller  26  by controlling a heat roller rotation controller  106  at a prescribed timing. 
     That is, the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  and the passbook  1  are superposed each other jointly with the rotation of the heat roller  26  that has the cut surface  35 A that is partially cut on the circumference. At this time, the transfer is started with the ribbon and the passbook superposed each other so that the seamed portion of the printing page  10  of the passbook  1  becomes in parallel to the cross direction orthogonal to the supply direction of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28 . 
     At the same time, the passbook  1  is conveyed by the conveying roller pair  13 A and  13 B and the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  is conveyed by the take-in shaft  30 , the rolling-up shaft  31  and the platen roller  6 . At this time, both the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  and the passbook  1  are heated under pressure. 
     Thus, the prescribed data printed adhesion layer  42  and the hologram layer  41  are transferred on the printing surface  10  of the passbook  1 . Further, in this embodiment the heat roller  26  can be driven at a more accurate fixed speed using a DC servo motor or a stepping motor and the pressure generated by a coil spring is applied between the heat roller  26  and the freely rotating back up roller. 
     This transfer process is explained more in detail. The CPU  100  controls the position of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  in the first printing mode so that the transfer operation to the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  is started from the position close to the top portion of the first area  41 A in the transfer portion  4 . Then, only the first area  41 A in the hologram layer  41  of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  is press fit on the printing page  10  of the passbook  1  by the arc portion  35 B of the heat roller  26 . That is, the second area  41 B in the hologram layer  41  of he intermediate transfer ribbon  28  is not positioned on the arc portion  35 B. As a result, the first area  41 A of the hologram layer  41 , the adhesion layer  42  and the prescribed data printed on the adhesion layer  42  are transferred on the printing page  10  of the passbook  1 . 
     In the second printing mode, the CPU  100  controls the position of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  so that the transfer operation is started from the position close to the middle portion of the first area  41 A. Then, the first area  41 A and the second area  41 B of the hologram layer  41  of the intermediate transfer ribbon  28  are press fit on the printing page  10  of the passbook  1  by the arc portion  35 B of the heat roller  26 . Thus, the first and second areas  41 A and  41 B of the hologram layer  41 , the adhesion layer  42 , and the prescribed data printed on the adhesion layer  42  are transferred on the printing page  10  of the passbook  1 . 
     In succession, the CPU  100  drives the first conveying roller pair  13 A and the second conveying roller pair  13 B by controlling the media conveyer controller  108 , and discharges the transfer completed passbook  1  from the take-in port  2  as shown in FIG.  8 D. 
     By the printing operation and the transfer operation described above, it becomes possible to print prescribed data on the printing page  10  of the passbook  1  and cover the whole surface of the printing area  10 A with peculiar prescribed data printed by a protection film that has the diffraction effect and the whole surface of the reading area  10 B printed with optically readable prescribed data by a protection film that has no diffraction effect. 
     Next, the printing system equipped with the printing apparatus described above will be explained. 
     That is, this printing system has a passbook take-in portion  12  that houses received plural closed passbooks  1  in the stacked state and takes in the passbook one by one and a conveying path  11  extending in the right direction in FIG. 9 from this passbook take-in portion  12  as shown in FIG.  9 . On the conveying path  11 , there are provided plural conveying roller pair  13  . . . for conveying the passbooks  1  taken in from the passbook take-in portion  12  in both the forward and reverse directions. In the following explanation, the right direction from the passbook take-in portion  12  toward the printing apparatus in FIG. 9 is regarded as the forward direction and the opposite direction as the reverse direction. 
     Further, this printing system is provided with a page detecting sensor  14  for detecting the opened printing page  10  of the passbook  1  that is an image receiving medium, a page turn over portion  16  having a page turn over mechanism  15 , and the printing apparatus  20  that prints prescribed data on the passbook  1  with a prescribed page opened by the page turn over portion  16  along the conveying path  11 . The printing apparatus  20  is in the same structure of the printing apparatus  20  described above and therefore, the detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here. 
     The page detecting sensor  14  detects an image on the opened printing page of the passbook  1 , reads a bar code (not shown) given to a prescribed position of that page based on its image data and recognizes the opened page of the passbook  1 . 
     The page turn over mechanism  15  has a back up plate  17  provided below the conveying path  11 , a turn over roller  18  provided above the conveying path  11  and a swing shaft  19  that rotates freely centering around a fulcrum  19   a  provided to the back up plate  17  and is mounted with the turn over roller  18  rotatably at its swing end. When the swing shaft  19  is swung by a motor (not shown) to a position shown by the broken line in FIG. 9, the turn over roller  18  is swung and the back up plate  17  is also swung in conjunction with the turn over roller  18 . Further, the turn over roller  18  can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by a motor (not shown). 
     When the page of the passbook  1  is turned over by the page turn over mechanism  15 , the passbook  1  is first conveyed to a prescribed position in the page turn over mechanism  15  and stopped there and then, for example, the swing shaft  19  is swung leftward as shown by the broken line in FIG. 9, and the turn over roller  18  is pushed against the passbook  1 . At this time, the back up plate  17  is also swung accompanied with the swing of the swing shaft  19  and the back surface of the passbook  1  is pushed upward by the inclined back up plate  17 . 
     Under this state, the turn over roller  18  pushed against a page at the upper stream side in the conveying direction of the passbook  1  is rotated and the turn over operation of the top page of the passbook  1  is started. By this turn over operation, the applicable page is swelled as if pushed up and the turn over roller  18  is stopped when the page is turned over to the some extent. Further, after the swing shaft  19  is moved back to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 9 from this state, the turn over roller  18  is rotated again and the said page is completely turned over on the turn over roller  18 . 
     Then, the passbook  1  is conveyed in the reverse direction, the turned over page on the turn over roller is opened, image data on the opened page is detected by the page detecting sensor  14  and further, by reading a bar code, the opened page is confirmed. As a result, it becomes possible to open a desired page of the passbook  1  automatically and confirm the opened page. Thus, the passbook  1  of which kind is recognized and desired page is opened is conveyed to the printing apparatus  20  wherein prescribed data is printed and a protection film is transferred on its surface. 
     Further, by operating the operation described above in the reverse order, it is possible to open pages of the passbook  1  in the reverse direction. 
     The passbook  1  having prescribed data printed in the printing apparatus  20  is further conveyed toward the downstream side in the conveying direction and discharged into a passbook receiving portion. 
     According to such a printing system described above, it becomes possible to automatically prepare the passbook  1  having printed prescribed data continuously. 
     As explained above, according to this printing apparatus and the printing method, by printing prescribed data on the image layer (the adhesion layer) of the intermediate transfer medium and transferring the adhesion layer jointly with the prescribed data on an image receiving medium, it becomes possible to make the high quality printing stably without affected by the surface condition of an image receiving medium. 
     Further, even when data receiving media having different arranging conditions of the printing area having peculiar prescribed data printed and the reading area having optically readable prescribed data printed are supplied irregularly, the optimum printing mode is judged for every supplied image receiving medium. 
     Then, when it is judged that an image receiving medium of which whole surface is the printing area, a first printing mode is executed to cover the whole surface of the printing area by a protection film having the diffraction effect after printing peculiar prescribed data in the printing area of an image receiving medium. Further, when it is judged that an image receiving medium a part of which is a reading area and the remainder is the printing area is supplied, a second printing mode is executed. The second printing mode is to cover the printing area by a protection film having the diffraction effect after printing prescribed data in the printing area and the reading area as necessary and cover the reading area by a protection film having no diffraction effect. 
     As a result, it becomes possible to coat the optimum protection film on respective data receiving media. Therefore, when reading the reading area by an optical reading device, it is possible to accurately read data codes of the reading area and recognize data certainly. 
     Further, in the first and second printing modes, all of the printing areas of data receiving media are coated with a protection film given with a transparent hologram layer in a prescribed pattern having the diffraction effect. Therefore, it becomes possible to get forgery preventing effect of printed prescribed data sufficiently. 
     As explained above, this invention is able to provide a printing apparatus and a printing method capable of reading prescribed data printed in the reading area surely, obtaining the sufficient forgery preventing effect and executing the high quality printing stably irrespective of the surface conditions of data receiving media.