Roller imprinter and production method of imprinted sheet

Abstract

At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a roller imprinter that allows easy replacement of a transfer roller, and a method of producing an imprinted sheet. IN at least one embodiment, a roller imprinter is disclosed for transferring a pattern on a surface of a transfer roller to a surface of a workpiece sheet through rotation of the transfer roller, the roller imprinter including an axis shaft of rotation for the transfer roller, and the axis of the shaft being non-coincident with the rotation axis of the transfer roller.

1 . A roller imprinter for transferring a pattern on a surface of a transfer roller to a surface of a workpiece sheet through rotation of the transfer roller,
 the roller imprinter comprising an axis shaft of rotation for the transfer roller,   the axis of the shaft being non-coincident with the rotation axis of the transfer roller.   
     
     
         2 . The roller imprinter according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising at least three pinch rollers,   wherein the transfer roller is configured to rotate while being held by the pinch rollers.   
     
     
         3 . The roller imprinter according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising at least two tension rollers,   wherein the sheet is made strained between a plurality of the tension rollers, and then brought into contact with the transfer roller.   
     
     
         4 . A roller imprinter for transferring a pattern on a surface of a transfer roller to a surface of a workpiece sheet through rotation of the transfer roller,
 the roller imprinter comprising:   at least two tension rollers for straining the sheet; and   at least three pinch rollers for pinching the sheet with the transfer roller,   the roller imprinter being configured to strain the sheet between a plurality of the tension rollers, and then to bring the sheet into contact with the transfer roller, and on transferring the pattern to the surface of the sheet, to pinch the sheet by the transfer roller and the pinch rollers, and to rotate the transfer roller while holding the transfer roller by the pinch rollers.   
     
     
         5 . The roller imprinter according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein at least two of the pinch rollers also serve as the tension rollers.   
     
     
         6 . The roller imprinter according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the transfer roller has a cylindrical shape,   a shaft component is disposed inside the transfer roller, and   the shaft component and the transfer roller have different and independent axes of rotation located at different positions from each other.   
     
     
         7 . The roller imprinter according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the transfer roller is configured to be held by the shaft component when the sheet is strained, and on transferring the pattern to the surface of the sheet, to pinch the sheet with the pinch rollers by a pressure applied by the shaft component.   
     
     
         8 . The roller imprinter according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein on transferring the pattern to the surface of the sheet, the position of the axis of rotation of any of the pinch rollers is horizontally higher than that of the transfer roller.   
     
     
         9 . The roller imprinter according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the transfer roller has a substantially seamless surface.   
     
     
         10 . The roller imprinter according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the transfer roller is an aluminum cylindrical roller having a surface defined by nanometer-sized cavities formed by anodization.   
     
     
         11 . The roller imprinter according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the transfer roller is made of a glass or ceramic material.   
     
     
         12 . The roller imprinter according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the transfer roller is formed by coating an aluminum thin film on the outer surface of a cylindrical glass or ceramic roller and providing nanometer-sized cavities on the film by anodization.   
     
     
         13 . The roller imprinter according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the transfer roller further includes a cooling mechanism.   
     
     
         14 . The roller imprinter according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the cooling mechanism includes:   a fin disposed on the inner surface of the transfer roller or a cylindrical fin disposed on the inner surface side of the transfer roller; and   a duct for supplying a cooling fluid to the fin or the cylindrical fin.   
     
     
         15 . A method of producing an imprint sheet having a surface with a pattern formed thereon,
 the method comprising use of a workpiece sheet, a transfer roller having a surface with a pattern formed thereon, at least two tension rollers for straining the sheet, at least three pinch rollers for pinching the sheet with the transfer roller, and   the method comprising:   straining the sheet between a plurality of the tension rollers and then bringing the sheet into contact with the transfer roller; and   transferring the pattern to the surface of the sheet by holding and rotating the transfer roller by the pinch rollers while pinching the sheet between the transfer roller and the pinch rollers.   
     
     
         16 . The production method according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein any of the pinch rollers also serve as the tension rollers.