US 11,890,892 B2
Layer transfer device
Tomoya Yamamoto, Aichi (JP); and Kouichi Sugimoto, Aichi (JP)
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/388,408.
Application 17/388,408 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2019/020645, filed on May 24, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-012736 (JP), filed on Jan. 29, 2019; application No. 2019-014415 (JP), filed on Jan. 30, 2019; application No. 2019-014419 (JP), filed on Jan. 30, 2019; and application No. 2019-015452 (JP), filed on Jan. 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0016878 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. B44C 1/17 (2006.01); B41F 16/00 (2006.01); G03G 15/20 (2006.01); B32B 37/00 (2006.01); B32B 38/00 (2006.01)
CPC B44C 1/17 (2013.01) [B32B 37/0053 (2013.01); B32B 38/004 (2013.01); B41F 16/00 (2013.01); G03G 15/2032 (2013.01); G03G 15/2064 (2013.01); B32B 2037/0061 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A layer transfer device for transferring a transfer layer of a multilayer film onto an image formed on a sheet, the layer transfer device comprising:
a film unit comprising a supply reel on which the multilayer film is wound, and a take-up reel on which to take up the multilayer film;
a housing main body having an opening that allows the film unit to be installed into and removed from the housing main body therethrough along a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the supply reel;
a cover movable between an open position in which the opening is open and a closed position in which the opening is closed while the film unit is installed in the housing main body;
a heating member provided in the housing main body and configured to heat the multilayer film and the sheet;
a pressure member provided on the cover and configured to nip the multilayer film and the sheet laid on the multilayer film between the heating member and the pressure member; and
a shutter movable between a protecting position in which the heating member is covered with the shutter, and a retreated position in which the shutter is away from the protecting position,
wherein the shutter is in the protecting position when the cover is in the open position, and
wherein the shutter is configured to move along the multilayer film while being kept apart from the multilayer film.