JPH03174159A - Image forming material and transferred image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the images faithful to original images by providing a colored photosensitive layer which is changed in tacky adhesiveness by photoirradiation via a thermally softening layer on a base. CONSTITUTION:The colored photosensitive layer 4 which is changed in the tacky adhesiveness by the photoirradiation is provided via the thermally softening layer 3 on the base 2. The colored photosensitive layer parts 4a having the large tacky adhesiveness are, therefore, liable to part from the thermally softening layer 3 after image exposing. This thermally softening layer 3 peels from the medium to be transferred together with the base at the time of peeling of the base. The colored photosensitive layer parts 4a having the large tacky adhesiveness part from the thermally softening layer 3 at the boundary with the thermally softening layer 3 and the entire part is transferred to the medium 8 to be transferred. The colored photosensitive layer parts 4b having the small tacky adhesiveness part from the medium 8 to be transferred by sticking to the resilient thermally softening layer 3 without sticking to the medium 8 to be transferred. The images faithful to the original images are obtd. in this way.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention A. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an image forming material and a transfer image forming method, for example, an image forming material used for proofing in color printing and an image forming material using this image forming material. The present invention relates to a transfer image forming method for forming the color image for proofreading.

It is well known in the art that a color proof (also called a color sheet) for color proofing is used to save the labor and time of proof printing, which is performed as a pre-printing process in conventional multicolor printing. ing.

Since color proofs are originally used to predict the image reproduction of final printed matter, it is strongly desired that the image reproducibility of color proofs be extremely similar to that of printed matter.

For example, there are the following methods for creating a color proof. That is, this is a method in which a transfer medium (image sheet) and a transfer target (image-receiving sheet) are placed one on top of the other, and the image on the image sheet is transferred to the image-receiving sheet by applying heat and pressure. To create a color proof using this method, use four types of image sheets: cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (BK) for -4>. 4
By multiple transfers, images of each color are transferred onto the image-receiving sheet so as to overlap each other, thereby forming a full-color transferred image on the image-receiving sheet.

The image sheet is created by exposing an image forming material to actinic light to form a latent image, and developing the latent image to form a visible image. The image forming material has a colored photosensitive layer supported on a support film, and the colored photosensitive layer is formed by applying a coating solution in which a photosensitive substance and a dye and/or pigment are dispersed in an organic solvent to the support film. It is applied and dried.

A visible image is obtained from the colored photosensitive layer by imagewise exposure to actinic rays (ultraviolet rays), development in which the light-receiving or non-light-receiving areas solubilized by this imagewise exposure are dissolved in a developer, and then washed with water and dried. It will be done.

In the above method, the steps of developing, rinsing, and drying take time, so a method for creating color proofs that omit these steps has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63147162).
.

In the image forming material used in this method, the colored photosensitive layer on the support film is a photopolymerizable photosensitive layer having adhesive properties. Therefore, upon imagewise exposure, the light-receiving portion of the colored photosensitive layer is polymerized and solidified by the light reception, and this portion loses its tackiness. The non-light-receiving part remains sticky. Next, the non-light-receiving portion of the colored photosensitive layer is transferred to the transfer paper by its adhesive property, and the support film is peeled off. Since the light-receiving portion in the colored photosensitive layer has lost its adhesiveness, it separates from the transfer paper together with the support film.

However, with the above method, it is difficult to obtain a color proof image that is faithful to the original image. This will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing the state in which the support film is peeled off from the transfer paper. The image-forming material 21 that has been exposed to light is in contact with the transfer paper 8 on the colored photosensitive layer 24 side, and the non-light-receiving portion 24a of the colored photosensitive layer 24 is adhered to the transfer paper 8.

When the support film 22 is peeled off from the transfer paper 8 in the direction of the arrow, the light-receiving portion 24b of the colored photosensitive layer has lost its adhesiveness, so it is peeled off from the transfer paper 8 together with the support film 22. Since the non-light-receiving portion 24a maintains adhesiveness, it adheres to the transfer paper 8. However, since the non-light-receiving portion 24a also adheres to the support film 22 and is flexible, the 2 separated, one remains on the transfer paper 8, and the other adheres to the support film 22 and remains on the transfer paper 8.
depart from. In this way, the non-light receiving portion 2 of the colored photosensitive layer
Only a portion of the image 4a will be transferred to the transfer paper 8.

Therefore, the colored photosensitive layer is made thick in consideration of the non-transferred portion of the non-light-receiving portion 24a, but the ratio of the non-transferred portion to the non-transferred portion of the non-light-receiving portion is not exactly constant. The color density of the final color proof image will vary.

C.1 Purpose of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide an image forming material and a method for forming a transferred image, in which transfer can be performed reliably and an image faithful to the original image can be obtained.

Structure of the 20th Invention The 20th invention relates to an image forming material in which a colored photosensitive layer whose adhesiveness changes upon irradiation with light is provided on a support via a heat softening layer.

In a second invention, when forming a transferred image on a transfer medium, an image forming material having a structure in which a colored photosensitive layer is adhered on a support via a heat softening layer is subjected to image forming light to form the colored photosensitive layer. a first step of creating a difference in adhesion between a light-receiving portion and a non-light-receiving portion of the image forming material; and a second step of bringing the transfer medium and the colored photosensitive layer of the image-forming material exposed to light into pressure contact with each other. , the support is peeled off from the transfer medium together with the heat-softening layer, and at this time, the colored photosensitive layer portion with high tack remains on the transfer medium, and the colored photosensitive layer portion with low tackiness is peeled off from the transfer medium. The present invention relates to a transfer image forming method including a third step of adhering to a softened layer.

The substances constituting each layer of the image forming material will be explained below.

The support is preferably colorless and transparent. The reason for this is that when image exposure is performed from the support side, the image formed on the colored photosensitive layer becomes a reverse image with respect to the original image, and when this is transferred, a normal image is obtained.

As the support, a polyester film, especially an axially oriented polyethylene terephthalate film, is preferable in terms of dimensional stability against water and heat, but acetate film 11,
Polyvinyl chloride film, polystyrene film, polypropylene film 11, polyethylene film may also be used.

The thermosoftening layer performs the following functions. When paper is used as an object to be transferred, its surface is usually uneven, so that the paper and the colored photosensitive layer do not come into perfect contact with each other during transfer. The heat-softening layer is softened by heating during transfer, and allows the surface of the colored photosensitive layer to conform to the uneven surface of the paper, ensuring close contact between the two.
Ensure reliable transcription. Further, when the support is peeled off, the heat-softened layer is peeled off from the transfer medium together with the support.

The thermosoftening layer is made of thermoplastic resin and has the property of softening at the temperature during thermal transfer. The thermoplastic resin preferably has a softening point of 130 to 150°C. The softening point temperature shown here is the value shown by the VICAT softening point or the ring and ball method. In the present invention, specifically, the following resins can be mentioned as preferred resins.

Polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene.

Ethylene copolymers such as ethylene and vinyl acetate, ethylene and acrylic ester, and ethylene and acrylic acid.

PVC.

Vinyl chloride copolymers such as vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate.

Polyvinylidene chloride.

Vinylidene chloride copolymer.

polystyrene.

Styrene copolymers such as styrene and maleic anhydride.

Polyacrylic acid ester.

Polyester resin.

Polyurethane resin.

Acrylic ester copolymers such as acrylic ester and vinyl acetate.

Polymethacrylic acid ester.

Methacrylate ester copolymers such as methyl methacrylate and vinyl acetate, and methyl methacrylate and acrylic acid.

Polyvinyl acetate.

Vinyl acetate copolymer.

Vinyl butyral resin.

Polyamide resins such as nylon, copolymerized nylon, and N-alkoxymethylated nylon.

synthetic rubber.

Petroleum resin.

Chlorinated rubber.

Polyethylene glycol.

Polyvinyl alcohol hydrozine phthalate.

Cellulose derivatives, cellulose acetate phthalate,
Cellulose acetate succinate.

Schlatsk.

wax.

The heat-softening layer can be provided on the support using a known method.

The thickness of the thermally softened layer is suitably in the range of 1 to 50 μm, particularly preferably in the range of 5 to 30 μm.

The colored photosensitive layer contains at least a photopolymerizable component and a colorant. In addition, a photopolymerization initiator, a thermal polymerization inhibitor, and an organic binder can be contained.

Examples of the coloring agent include dyes and pigments.

In particular, when used for color proofing, pigments and dyes with the usual colors required, i.e., yellow, magenta, cyan, and the same tone as the blank, are required, as well as other pigments such as metal powder, white pigments, fluorescent pigments, etc. is also used. Below are some examples of various pigments and dyes known in the art.

(C,I means color index.) Victoria Pure Blue (C,I 42595) Auramine (C,I 4100
0) Cathylone brilliant flavin (C, I Basic 13) Rhodamine 6GCP, (C, I 4
5160) Rhodamine B (C,
I 45170) Safranin 0K70:100
(C, + 50240) Erioglaucine X
(C, 42080) Fast Black H
B (C, 26150) No, 1201 Lionol Yellow (C,! 21090) Lionol Yellow GRO (C, + 21090) Zimler Fast Yellow 8CF (C.

Benzodine Yellow 4 T-564D (C.

Shimla Fast Red 4015 (C.

Lionor Lend 7 B12O3 (C.

First Gen Blue T G RL (C.

21105) 21095) 12355) 15830) 74160) Lionor Blue SM (C, I 261
50) Mitsubishi Carbon Black M A-100 Mitsubishi Carbon Black #30. #40. The content of the #50 colorant in the colored photosensitive layer is selected in consideration of the target optical density and the removability of the colored photosensitive layer to the developer, but it is preferably in the range of 10 to 30% by weight. .

Examples of the photopolymerizable composition contained in the colored photosensitive layer include the following compositions. (meth)acrylic acid, methyl (meth)acrylate, butyl (meth)acrylate,
Cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate, dimethylagodiethyl (meth)acrylate, benzyl (meth)acrylate, carpitol (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, lauryl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2 -Hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, glycidyl (meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylamide, N-methylol (meth)acrylamide, styrene, acrylonitrile, N-vinylpyrrolidone, ethylene glycol diacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate Acrylate, polyethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, polypropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, butyl catechol di(meth)acrylate, neopentyl glycol di(meth)acrylate, 1,4-butanediol diacrylate, 1. 6 hexanediol di(meth)
acrylate, pentaerythritol diacrylate,
Low molecular weight photopolymerizable compounds such as pentaerythritol i-reacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, (meth)acrylate of alkylene oxide adduct of phenol, or epoxy acrylate, urethane acrylate, polyester acrylate There are high molecular weight photopolymerizable compounds such as alkyd acrylates, acrylate modified products of petroleum resins, and unsaturated polyesters. One or a mixture of two or more of these may be used.

As the binder, a thermoplastic, non-photopolymerizable polymer that has excellent compatibility with the photopolymerizable compound can be used.

For example, polyvinyl chloride, poly(meth)acrylic acid, poly(meth)acrylic ester, polyvinyl ether,
Polyvinyl acecool, urethane resin, epoxy resin,
These include polyamide, diallyl phthalate resin, etc.

As the photopolymerization initiator, one with low absorption in the visible region is preferable. For example, benzophenone, 4,4-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone, 4-methoxy-4
One or more of conventionally known photopolymerization initiators such as -dimethylaminobenzophenone, 2-ethylanthraquinone, phenanthraquinone, benzoin, benzoin methyl ether, and benzoin phenyl ether can be used.

Further, as the thermal polymerization inhibitor, p-methoxyphenol, hydroquinone, t-butylcatechol, pyrogallol, pyridine, aryl phosphite, etc. can be used as necessary.

The thickness of the colored photosensitive layer may be about 0.5 μm, and the appropriate coating amount varies depending on the dye and/or pigment contained, but is suitably 0.5 to 30 g/rrf.

Coating can be carried out using a bar coater or the like, but it goes without saying that a spin coater or a similar method may also be used.

Po, Example The present invention will be explained in detail below.

An image forming material was produced by the method shown below, and a colored photosensitive layer-type dispersion was prepared using the following recipe.

A 30% methyl ethyl ketone solution of polyester (Vylon 300, manufactured by Toyobo) was prepared in 111, and 4811. Dissolved by shaking for 30 minutes. A photosensitive solution having the following composition was prepared using this polymer solution.

Bentontoki polymer solution 400 g Tetraethylene glycol diacrylate (A-4EC, manufactured by Shin Nakamura Chemical) 6 g Trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ATMPT, manufactured by Shin Nakamura Chemical) 18
g 2-Hydroxy-2-methyl-propiophenone (Darocur 1173, manufactured by Merck & Co.) 4.3 g To this photosensitive solution, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black pigments were added with the following composition and shaken with a red devil for 5 minutes. Pigments were mixed into the photosensitive solution several times to prepare four colored photosensitive layered t'PL solutions.

Color ' Yellow photosensitive liquid 136g Lionol Yellow FG30 6.5g (manufactured by Toyo Ink) Magenta photosensitive liquid 136g Lionol Red 7 8 FG 4412 6.
5g (manufactured by Toyo Ink) One color? 7. Cyan photosensitive liquid 136g Lionol Blue FG 7330 6.5g (manufactured by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) Photosensitive liquid 136g Mitsubishi Carbon MA7 (manufactured by Mitsubishi Kasei) 3.2g As shown below A support film on which a heat-softening layer was attached was separately prepared.

Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (trade name: Evaflex, manufactured by DuPont Mitsui Chemicals) was coated on a polyethylene terephthalate film by an extrusion lamination method.
The coating was applied to a thickness of 0 μn1 to produce a support having a heat-softened layer.

On the support having the heat-softening layer obtained above, the dispersions for forming the four colored photosensitive layers obtained earlier were applied so that the dry IlΔ thickness was 3 μm, and then an infrared lamp (3kw ), and the image forming materials shown in FIG. 1 were produced in four colors: yellow magenta, cyan, and black.

The image forming material 1A has a laminated structure in which a heat softening layer 3 and a colored photosensitive layer 4 are sequentially deposited on a support film 2. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, a cover sheet 5 of polyethylene film is placed on the colored photosensitive N4 of the image forming material 1A.
Laminated for easy peeling. The cover sheet 5 is for protecting the colored photosensitive layer 4 from being scratched before use, and is peeled off from the image forming material 1A immediately before transfer.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a color separation mesh positive film 6 of each color is placed on the surface of the support film 2 of the image forming material 1A of the four colors obtained as described above using register pins (not shown). They were combined and superimposed, and image exposure was performed for 20 seconds using a 1.5 kW ultra-high pressure mercury lamp (manufactured by Kamo Denki Co., Ltd., not shown) to obtain a four-color image (IEI). The light-receiving portion 4b of the colored photosensitive N4 undergoes photopolymerization, solidifies, and loses its tackiness.

The non-light-receiving portion 4a does not cause any reaction and maintains its adhesiveness. In FIG. 2, 7 is active light including ultraviolet light.

Next, the cover sheet 5 is peeled off from the yellow image sheet IB, and as shown in FIG. Transfer was carried out under heating and pressure conditions of 50 kg/er&, and then the support film 2 was peeled off as shown in FIG. 2(b). Peeling was easily performed, and only the yellow image area (non-light receiving area 4a) was transferred onto the art paper. The non-light-receiving part 4a is not divided into two, but is completely covered by the paper 8.
No portion was observed that was transferred to the paper and separated from the art paper 8 together with the support film 2. This is because the heat-softening layer 3 is softened by heating and easily separates from the non-light-receiving portion 4a, which retains its adhesive properties.

Further, the solidified light receiving portion 4b is replaced by the softened thermally softened layer 3.
It sticks to the paper and peels off from the art paper 8 together with the heat softening layer 3.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3(C), the reproduced image (non-light receiving area 4a) transferred onto the art paper 8 is exposed to light 10 again using a high-pressure mercury lamp to cause photopolymerization, and the reproduced image is was made even stronger.

Subsequently, the non-light-receiving area 4a is transferred in the same manner as magenta, cyan, and black in this order, and as a result, as shown in FIG.
), a color proof IC was obtained in which a color proofing image consisting of four colors was formed on art paper 8.

When several color proofs were created by repeating these operations, all of the color proofing images obtained in this example were faithful to the original image, and there was no difference in the finished quality. A transferred image with excellent stability could be obtained.

The four colored dispersions for forming a colored photosensitive layer prepared in the previous example were applied to a biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate film to a dry film thickness of 5 μm, and then heated under an infrared lamp (3 kW) for 30 minutes. It was dried by irradiation for seconds. A polyethylene film cover sheet was laminated on the dried colored photosensitive layer to produce four colored image forming materials. The reason why the thickness of the colored photosensitive layer was increased to 5 μm, which was greater than that in the above embodiment, was to take into consideration that some of the non-light-receiving areas would not be transferred, as previously explained with reference to FIG.

Using the four-color image forming materials obtained above, several color proofs were prepared in the same manner as in the previous example. The color proofing image of the color proof obtained in this manner had variations in tone and lacked stability in quality.

The process shown in FIG. 3(a) is performed, for example, by the transfer apparatus shown in FIG. 4.

The image receiving sheet and the transfer paper (for example, art paper) (neither of which are shown) are placed one on top of the other, and these are heated by the auxiliary heater 14.
．． 14! ! Thus, the pair of rollers 12 is auxiliarily heated.
．． 13 (with a built-in heater) to heat and pressurize the image sheet to transfer the image on the image sheet to the transfer paper. When each color is transferred four times to one sheet of transfer paper, a full color image is formed on the transfer paper and a color proof is created.

In the figure, 15 is a feeding roller, 16 is a cooling fan, 17 is an insertion table, and 18 is a receiving table.

In the transfer device shown in FIG. 4, the image sheet 1B and the image sheet 8 are stacked on a reinforcing plate 11 such as a thick aluminum plate, as shown in FIG. Perform the transcription.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various modifications can be made to the above examples based on the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the image to be formed can be applied to form a full-color image consisting of four colors, as well as black-and-white, one-color monochrome, or a color image formed by a combination of two colors. It is also applicable to

1 Effect of the Invention The image forming material based on the first invention has a colored photosensitive layer whose tackiness changes with light irradiation on the support via a heat-softening layer, so that the tackiness changes after image exposure. The large colored photosensitive layer portion is easily separated from the flexible heat-softening layer during transfer, and this heat-softening layer is peeled off from the transfer medium together with the support when the support is peeled off. It separates from the heat-softened layer at the interface with the softened layer, and a part of it does not adhere to the heat-softened layer. Therefore, the entire portion of the highly adhesive colored photosensitive layer is transferred to the transfer medium.

Moreover, the colored photosensitive layer portion with low adhesiveness does not adhere to the transfer medium, but adheres to the flexible heat-softening layer and separates from the transfer medium. As a result of the above, the obtained image is faithful to the original image, and the variation in image quality is small.

The transfer image forming method based on the second invention uses the image forming material based on the first invention, and when the support is peeled off from the transfer medium, the heat-softening layer is also peeled off, and coloring with a high degree of II adhesion is achieved. Since the photosensitive layer portion remains on the transfer target and the less sticky colored photosensitive layer portion is attached to the heat-softening layer, during the above-mentioned separation, the colored photosensitive layer portion with high stickiness is attached to the interface with the heat-softening layer. It does not separate from the heat-softened layer and a part of it does not adhere to the heat-softened layer. Therefore, the entire portion of the highly adhesive colored photosensitive layer is transferred to the transfer medium. As a result, the resulting transferred image is faithful to the original image and has small variations in image quality.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 5 show examples of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is an enlarged partial sectional view of an image forming material, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the image forming material is subjected to image exposure. The enlarged partial cross-sectional view, FIG. 3, shows the procedure for forming a transferred image.
b) and the same figure (C) are enlarged partial sectional views of each process, the same figure (
d) is an enlarged partial perspective view of the obtained color proof, FIG. 4 is an internal front view of the transfer device, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a reinforcing plate used in the transfer device of FIG. 4. Figure 6 shows Figure 3 when using a conventional image forming material (
FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view corresponding to b). In addition, in the symbols shown in the drawings, IA... Image forming material 1B... Image sheet 1C... Color proof 2...・・・・・・
Support film 3 Heat softening layer 4 Colored photosensitive layer 4a Non-light-receiving portion 4b of colored photosensitive layer・
...... Light-receiving portion 5 of colored photosensitive layer...
・・・Cover sheet 6・・・・・・Positive film for color separation of original 7・
......Image exposure light 8...Art paper (transfer paper) 11...
. . . Reinforcement plate 12.13 . . . Heating and pressure roll.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An image-forming material in which a colored photosensitive layer whose adhesiveness changes upon irradiation with light is provided on a support via a heat-softening layer. 2. When forming a transferred image on a transfer medium, an image-forming material having a structure in which a colored photosensitive layer is adhered to a support via a heat-softening layer is subjected to imagewise exposure so that the light-receiving portion of the colored photosensitive layer and the non-light-receiving portion are separated. a first step of creating a difference in adhesion between the light-receiving portion; a second step of press-contacting the transfer medium and the image-exposed colored photosensitive layer of the image-forming material; The colored photosensitive layer is peeled off from the transfer medium together with the heat softening layer, and at this time, the colored photosensitive layer portion with high adhesiveness remains on the transfer medium, and the colored photosensitive layer portion with low adhesiveness is attached to the heat softening layer. A transfer image forming method comprising a third step.