Image forming apparatus and modification sheet cartridge using the same

A modification sheet cartridge used in an image forming apparatus in which, after forming an image onto a recording medium using a thermal transfer sheet and forming a protective layer that protects the image, a surface modification portion, disposed at a surface modification sheet, for modifying a surface state of the protective layer is aligned with a plane in which the protective layer is formed, so that heat and pressure are applied by the thermal head to modify the surface state of the protective layer formed on the recording medium, the modification sheet cartridge comprising:

• two reels upon which the surface modification sheet is placed so that the surface modification sheet is capable of being taken up and rewound, the two reels being disposed apart from each other by a predetermined distance so as to oppose each other;
• a protective cover that covers a vicinity of a movement path of the surface modification sheet excluding a portion of the surface modification sheet, placed between the two reels, corresponding to the thermal head;
• and
• modification sheet dust processing means for removing dust adhered to the surface modification sheet, the modification sheet dust processing means being disposed in the movement path of the surface modification sheet between the two reels.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a conveying unit configured to convey a recording medium in a predetermined direction;
• a thermal transfer sheet traveling unit configured to cause a thermal transfer sheet to travel in a predetermined direction, the thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer and a protective layer disposed side by side on a ribbon base sheet in a longitudinal direction of the base sheet, the dye layer being thermally transferred onto a surface of the recording medium to form an image thereon, the protective layer being thermally transferred onto a surface of the image formed on the surface of the recording medium to protect the image;
• a modification sheet moving unit configured to move a surface modification sheet, the surface modification sheet having a print open portion and a surface modification portion disposed side by side at a ribbon base sheet in a longitudinal direction of the base sheet, the print open portion being provided so as to allow the thermal transfer sheet to directly contact the surface of the recording medium, the surface modification portion being provided to modify a surface state of the protective layer that protects the image formed on the recording medium;
• a thermal head that applies thermal energy and thermally transfers sequentially the dye layer and the protective layer onto the recording medium while the dye layer or the protective layer of the thermal transfer sheet opposes the surface of the recording medium;
• and
• a modification sheet protecting unit disposed in a movement path of the surface modification sheet, and configured to prevent adhesion of dust to the surface modification sheet or to eliminate the adhesion,
• wherein, after forming the image onto the recording medium using the thermal transfer sheet and forming the protective layer that protects the image, the surface modification portion of the surface modification sheet is aligned with a plane in which the protective layer is formed, so that heat and pressure are applied by the thermal head to modify the surface state of the protective layer formed at the recording medium.

A modification sheet cartridge used in an image forming apparatus in which, after forming an image onto a recording medium using a thermal transfer sheet and forming a protective layer that protects the image, a surface modification portion, disposed at a surface modification sheet, for modifying a surface state of the protective layer is aligned with a plane in which the protective layer is formed, so that heat and pressure are applied by the thermal head to modify the surface state of the protective layer formed on the recording medium, the modification sheet cartridge comprising:

• two reels upon which the surface modification sheet is placed so that the surface modification sheet is capable of being taken up and rewound, the two reels being disposed apart from each other by a predetermined distance so as to oppose each other;
• a protective cover that covers a vicinity of a movement path of the surface modification sheet excluding a portion of the surface modification sheet, placed between the two reels, corresponding to the thermal head;
• and
• a modification sheet dust processing unit configured to remove dust adhered to the surface modification sheet, the modification sheet dust processing unit being disposed in the movement path of the surface modification sheet between the two reels.