JPH04332685A - Preparation of image forming mask material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of an image fault such as missing dots on an image forming mask material even when impurities are contained in a thermal transfer sheet. CONSTITUTION:A thermal transfer sheet 1 having at least a light impervious thermal transfer layer 21 and a receiving sheet 7 are superposed one upon another and an arbitrary pattern is printed under heating from the rear of the thermal transfer sheet 1 and, subsequently, the thermal transfer sheet 1 is released. The thermal transfer sheet 1 is again superposed on the receiving sheet 7 and the same pattern is superposed on the same place of the receiving sheet 7 twice or more to be printed to prepare an image forming mask material. Since re-printing is applied to the same place, the receiving sheet 7 after thermal transfer is fed back to be accurately aligned.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a method for creating a mask material for image formation using a thermal transfer sheet. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for creating a mask material for image formation using a thermal transfer sheet. Alternatively, the present invention relates to a method for creating an image forming mask material in which a light-impermeable layer forming a part of the layer is overlapped two or more times and printed.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Photographic prints include, for example, printing an image from a negative film onto photographic paper and simultaneously printing an illustration image or the like using an image forming mask material. Such image-forming mask materials are made by overlapping a thermal transfer sheet with a light-impermeable thermal transfer layer and a light-transmissive receptor, and heat characters, figures, etc. from the back side of the thermal transfer sheet with a thermal head to transfer light. An impermeable thermal transfer layer is transferred to the receiver side, and this thermal transfer sheet is then peeled off. When creating a mask material for image formation using such a thermal transfer system, the transfer layer must be resistant to printing scratches, so the thermal transfer layer should contain more thermoplastic resin than hot melt resin. preferable. Such a thermal transfer layer is rather hard at room temperature and tends to have a high viscosity when heated.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, in the conventional method for preparing a mask material for image formation, insoluble materials and
When impurities such as aggregates and dust are included, thermal transfer may not be successful due to the influence of the dust. Furthermore, even when dust or the like is attached to the receptor, the adhesion between the thermal transfer layer and the receptor decreases, and thus the transfer may be inhibited. This inhibition of thermal transfer causes image defects such as so-called white spots, and these defects become targets for so-called opaques, which reduces the work efficiency of mask material creation and leads to increased costs. .

In order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of conventional image-forming mask materials and methods for producing the same, the present invention has been developed by thermally transferring a light-opaque layer forming an arbitrary pattern onto a receptor by thermal printing, and then Provided is a method for creating an image forming mask material that does not cause image defects such as white spots by printing a light-opaque layer that forms all or part of the pattern on the same part of the body twice or more. It is intended to.

[0005] Also provided is a method for producing an image forming mask material that allows printing by accurately overlapping a light-opaque layer on the same portion of a printed receptor.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, a method for producing an image forming mask material according to claim 1 is provided by superimposing a thermal transfer sheet having at least a light-opaque layer and a receptor. In a method for creating a mask material for image formation, which is created by thermally printing an arbitrary pattern from the back side of a thermal transfer sheet using a heating printing means, then peeling off the thermal transfer sheet and thermally transferring the light-impermeable layer to the receiver side. , after thermally printing the pattern on the receptor, peeling off the thermal transfer sheet, and thermally transferring the light-impermeable layer to the receptor side, the thermal transfer sheet is superimposed again, and the thermal printing means is bonded to the receptor. and place the same pattern on the same spot on the receptor.
It is characterized by printing more than once.

[0007] A method for producing an image forming mask material according to claim 2 includes superimposing a thermal transfer sheet having at least a light-impermeable layer and a receptor, and optionally applying a thermal printing means from the back side of the thermal transfer sheet. In the method for creating an image forming mask material, the method includes thermally printing a pattern on the receptor, then peeling off the thermal transfer sheet and thermally transferring the light-impermeable layer to the receptor side. After peeling off the thermal transfer sheet and thermally transferring the light-impermeable layer to the receptor side, the thermal transfer sheets are overlapped again, the receptor and the heating printing means are aligned, and the thermal transfer layer is thermally transferred onto the receptor. The light-opaque layer of the thermal transfer sheet is printed overlapping twice or more within a plane area of the light-opaque layer that forms the pattern.

[0008] The method for producing an image forming mask material according to claim 3 is characterized in that the receptor is a sheet-like receptor.

[0009] Furthermore, the method for producing an image forming mask material according to claim 4 includes holding the receptor by a holding means, and aligning the receptor and the heating printing means by moving the holding means. It is characterized by

[0010] Furthermore, in the method for producing an image forming mask material according to claim 5, the receptor is held by a holding means, and the positioning of the receptor and the heating printing means is performed by moving the heating printing means. It is characterized by

[0011] The method for producing an image forming mask material according to claim 6 is characterized in that the holding means is a cylindrical member that wraps around the entire surface of the receptor.

[0012] The method for producing an image-forming mask material according to claim 7 is characterized in that the holding means is a pair of cylindrical members that wrap around the ends of both side surfaces of the receptor. There is.

[0013] The method for producing an image forming mask material according to claim 8 is characterized in that the holding means is a flat plate member on which the receptor is placed.

[0014] The method for producing an image forming mask material according to claim 9 is characterized in that the receptor is a roll-shaped receptor.

The invention according to claims 1 to 8 will be explained based on FIGS. 1 to 7. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a thermal transfer system for creating a mask material for image formation, Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a transfer drum around which a receptor sheet is wound, and Figure 3 is a plane view of a pattern thermally transferred onto a receptor sheet. An explanatory diagram of a method of printing by overlapping a light-opaque layer in a region, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a transfer drum having another winding means, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a pair of cylinders around which ends of both sides of a receiving sheet are wound. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a holding member made of a flat plate member on which a receiving sheet is placed, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the structure and transfer operation of a thermal transfer sheet and a receiving sheet.

In FIG. 1, this thermal transfer system A includes a source magazine 2 for winding an unused thermal transfer sheet 1, a thermal head 3 constituting a heating printing means, and a transfer drum 4 constituting a holding means. a guide roller 5 and a take-up roller 6 that are guided and conveyed between the
A feed roller 8 that feeds the receiving sheet 7 constituting the receptor between the transported thermal transfer sheet 1 and the transfer drum 4.
have.

Attached to the outer periphery of the transfer drum 4 are a leading edge holding means 4a for holding the leading edge of the receiving sheet 7 conveyed by the feed roller 8, and a trailing edge holding means 4b for holding the trailing edge of the receiving sheet 7. has been done. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2(a), the front end holding means 4a and the rear end holding means 4b are parallel to each other at a predetermined interval in the drum axis direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the body 4c of the transfer drum 4. It is located in

A drive motor 4e and rotation angle detection means 9, such as a rotary encoder, are engaged with the rotation shaft 4d of the transfer drum 4. The rotation angle of the transfer drum 4 is sent to the control means 10 via the rotation angle detection means 9. This control means 10 includes a feed roller 8, a winding roller 6, a leading end holding means 4a of the transfer drum 4, a trailing end holding means 4b,
It is also connected to the drive motor 4e and the thermal head 3, and controls their respective operations to convey the receiving sheet 7 and perform thermal printing.

Next, the operation of this thermal transfer system A will be explained. The receiving sheet 7 conveyed by the feed roller 8 has its leading end held by the leading end holding means 4a of the transfer drum 4,
It is wrapped around the outer periphery of the transfer drum 4 as the transfer drum 4 rotates. At this time, since the rear end of the receiving sheet 7 is held by the rear end holding means 4b of the transfer drum 4, the receiving sheet 7 is held in close contact with the outer periphery of the transfer drum 4. Thereafter, the receiving sheet 7 is again sent to the thermal head 3 as the transfer drum 4 rotates. The rotation of the transfer drum 4 at this time may be either forward rotation or reverse rotation.

When the rotation angle detection means 9 and the control means 10 detect that the predetermined position of the receiving sheet 7 is located at the thermal head 3, the rotation of the transfer drum 4 is controlled to normal rotation, and the receiving sheet 7 and the thermal transfer Overlap sheets 1,
Based on the print signal sent from the control means 10, the thermal head 3 heats and prints predetermined characters, codes, etc. from the back side of the thermal transfer sheet 1 (FIG. 2(b)). By this printing, the thermal transfer layer 21, which is a light-impermeable layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1, is transferred onto the receiving sheet 7. After the printing operation at a predetermined position is completed, the control means 10 rotates the drive motor 4e, take-up roller 6, and feed roller 8 by a predetermined angle to peel the thermal transfer sheet 1 from the receiving sheet 7. Thereafter, under the control of the control means 10, the drive motor 4e is rotated forward or backward by a predetermined angle to backfeed the receiving sheet 7, and accurate positioning is performed so that the printed position is located on the thermal head 3 again. During this time, the thermal transfer sheet 1 is wound up at a predetermined angle by the drive of the winding roller 6, so that an unused portion of the thermal transfer sheet 1 is positioned on the thermal head 3. In this way, the thermal transfer sheet 1 is again superimposed on the printed area of the receiving sheet 7, and the same pattern is printed again in an overlapping manner.

At this time, instead of printing the same pattern overlappingly, as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b),
Thermal transfer layer 21 is again applied within the plane area of the thermal transfer layer 21 that is thermally transferred onto the receiving sheet 7 to form the predetermined pattern 13.
It may also be possible to print them overlappingly. In the case of this method, by limiting the second and subsequent printing areas to the inside of the previous printing area for parts of the printed pattern that require high resolution, white blanking, which is almost equivalent to overlapping printing of the same pattern, can be achieved. Not only can the prevention effect be maintained, but the accuracy of overlapping printing can be increased to eliminate misalignment of printing.

After overprinting for one line is completed, the control means 10 rotates the drive motor 4e, take-up roller 6, and feed roller 8 by a predetermined angle to begin printing at the next position. In this way, the receiving sheet 7 is rotated a necessary number of times and the thermal transfer sheet 1 is sent out while printing is repeated, and a series of printing operations are sequentially performed. When all the printing for one receiving sheet 7 is completed and the transfer drum 4 rotates once and returns to the initial position, the control means 10 holds the leading end holding means 4a and the trailing end holding means 4b of the transfer drum 4. is released, the receiving sheet 7 is inserted into the conveyance guide 11, held between the carry-out rollers 12, and discharged to the outside.

In the above explanation, the receiving sheet 7 is transferred to the transfer drum 4.
This is a case where the front end holding means 4a and the rear end holding means 4b attached thereto are used for holding, but the holding means are not limited thereto. The structure of other holding means will be explained based on FIGS. 4 to 6.

In FIG. 4, in the circumferential direction of the body 14c of the transfer drum 14 around which the receiving sheet 7 is wound, both side edge holding means 14 are provided which hold both side surfaces of the receiving sheet 7 in the conveyance direction.
a and 14b are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. The both side edge holding means 14a and 14b also hold and release the holding of the receiving sheet 7 under the control of the control means 10.

The receiving sheet 7 shown in FIG. 5 is held by end holding means 24a and 24b on both side surfaces of a pair of cylindrical members 24 and 24, respectively, provided in the circumferential direction.

Further, in FIG. 6, the receiving sheet 7 is a flat plate member 34.
It is held by a leading end holding means 34a and a rear end holding means 34b attached to it. In this case, the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the thermal head 3 are arranged on the receiving sheet 7. Note that the entire surface of the receiving sheet 7 may be held in close contact using a suction device or an electrostatic adsorption device provided in the flat plate member 34 without using the leading portion holding means or the like.

Each of the above-mentioned holding means moves under the control of the control means 10 to backfeed the receiving sheet 7, and performs accurate positioning so that the printed position is located on the thermal head 3 again.

Note that this positioning may be performed for the second and subsequent times by moving the thermal head 3, which is a heating printing means, instead of by moving the holding means.

Next, insoluble matter, aggregates,
The details of the transfer operation when impurities such as dust are included will be explained based on FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the structure of the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the receiving sheet 7 and the transfer operation.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7(a), a thermal transfer sheet 1 having at least a light-impermeable thermal transfer layer 21 and a light-transmissive receiving sheet 7 are stacked one on top of the other, and Thermal printing is performed using a thermal head 3, which is a heating printing means. The overlapping of the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the receiving sheet 7 includes a case where the thermal transfer sheet 1 and the receiving sheet 7 are always overlapped for thermal printing, or a state where they are temporarily overlapped when thermal printing is performed.

[0031] In the present invention, the definition of light opacity means that the transmittance of light from a light source in a system using a mask film is low. The light transmission density is related to the amount of light from the light source, and is not limited to one or the other, but is usually 1.
0, preferably 2.0 or more. Further, regarding the light transmittance of the receiving sheet 7, it similarly means that the transmittance to the light source light is high. The light transmittance is also related to the amount of light from the light source, and although it is not strictly limited, a transmittance of 80% or more, preferably 90% or more is usually preferred.

The layer structure of the thermal transfer sheet 1 consists of a support 20 and a thermal transfer layer 21 which is a light-opaque layer.
A release layer 21a may be provided between the support 20 and the thermal transfer layer 21. When this peeling layer 21a is provided, when peeling off the thermal transfer sheet 1 after heating printing, the thermal transfer layer 21a
1 is easily transferred to the receiving sheet 7. Also, the thermal transfer layer 21
An adhesive layer 21b, which is an overcoat layer, may be provided thereon. As an example of such a multilayer structure, the following layers may be laminated in order on the support 20. However, it is not limited to this. (1) Release layer, thermal transfer layer (2) Release layer, thermal transfer layer, adhesive layer (2) Thermal transfer layer, adhesive layer The support 20 of the thermal transfer sheet 1 preferably has good heat resistance strength and high dimensional stability. The materials include, for example, papers such as plain paper, capacitor paper, laminated paper, and coated paper; resin films such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyimide; composites of paper and resin films, and metal sheets such as aluminum foil. can be mentioned. The thickness of the support 20 is usually 3
It is 0 μm or less, preferably within the range of 2 to 30 μm. If the thickness of the support body 20 exceeds 30 μm, thermal conductivity may deteriorate, leading to deterioration in printing quality. Note that the configuration of the back side of the support body 20 is arbitrary; for example, AS
A back coat layer 20a such as a T layer may also be provided.

The thermal transfer layer 21, which is a light-impermeable layer, may be any layer as long as it is melted by heat and exhibits adhesive properties to the receiving sheet 7, but it generally contains colorants, waxes, thermoplastic resins, and additives. Configure by combining as appropriate.

Examples of the coloring material include known dyes and pigments, such as alkaline earth metal carbonates, titanium dioxide, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, alumina, silica, carbon black, nigrosine dye, and Sudan black SM. , Fast Yellow G, Benzidine Yellow, Pigment Yellow, Oil Yellow GG,
Zapon Fast Yellow CGG, Sumiplast Yellow GG, India First Orange, Sumiplast Orange G, Pigment Orange R, Zapon Fast Orange GG, Irgadisin Red, Paranitroaniline Red, Toluidine Red, Lysol Red 2G,
Lake Red O, Oil Scarlet, Zapon First Scarlet OG, Eisenspiron Red BEH,
Methyl violet B lake, phthalocyanine blue,
Pigment Blue, Fastgen Blue 5007, Victoria Blue F4R, Sudan Blue, Oil Peacock Blue, Brilliant Green B, Phthalocyanine Green, etc. can all be used.

Waxes include carnauba wax, montan wax, beeswax, rice wax, candelilla wax, lanolin wax, paraffin wax, microlistalin wax, polyethylene wax, Sasol wax, oxidized wax, amide wax, and silicone. Wax etc. are used.

Examples of thermoplastic resins include polyamide resins (nylon, etc.), polyester resins, poly(meth)acrylic acid ester resins (polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl acrylate, etc.), polyurethane resins, polyvinyl chloride resins, and polyvinyl chloride resins. Vinylidene chloride resin, polystyrene resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyvinyl chloride-vinyl acetate resin, polystyrene-acrylic resin, polyethylene-vinyl acetate resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polybutadiene resin, polyvinyl alcohol resin, phenol resin, cellulose resin (methyl cellulose,
ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, nitrocellulose, acetylcellulose, etc.), polyvinyl ether resin, polyvinylpyrrolidone resin, polyvinylaniline resin, polysulfone resin, polycarbonate resin, ionomer resin, polysiloxane resin, acetal resin (polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl formal) etc.), petroleum resin, rosin resin, chroman-indene resin, terpene resin, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, nitrile rubber, etc. are used.

Further, as additives, various surfactants, higher fatty acids (lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, fromenic acid, behenic acid, etc.), long chain alcohols (stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, etc.), Metal salts of long-chain fatty acids (calcium stearate, zinc valmitate, etc.), antioxidants, various plasticizers, silicone oil, etc. are used.

[0038] These coloring materials, waxes, thermoplastic resins,
The preferred composition ratio of each material such as additives completely differs depending on the layer structure of each layer laminated on the support 20 of the thermal transfer sheet 1.

[0039] The release layer 21a may also be a layer that is made of a combination of waxes, thermoplastic resins, and additives used in the thermal transfer layer 21 and is capable of cohesive failure by melting or softening when heated. Resins that exhibit relatively low adhesion when used in combination with other resins, such as silicone resins, fluorine resins (Teflon, fluorine-containing acrylic resins, etc.), polysiloxane resins, and acetal resins (polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal) , polyvinyl formal, etc.). However, in the case of the latter layer structure made of a resin that does not easily exhibit adhesive strength, the material of the release layer 21a varies greatly depending on the composition of the layer adjacent thereto, so the above example is merely an example.

Further, as the adhesive layer 21b, for example, natural wax such as spermaceti wax, beeswax, lanolin, arunaba wax, candelilla wax, montan wax, paraffin wax, microcrine wax, oxidized wax, ester wax, low molecular weight polyethylene, etc. can be used. Synthetic waxes, higher fatty acids such as lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, fromenic acid, and behenic acid, higher alcohols such as stearyl aquol and behenyl alcohol, esters such as fatty acid esters of sorbitan, stearamide, and oleinamide. amides such as polyamide resins, polyester resins,
Epoxy resin, polyurethane resin, acrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, cellulose resin, polyvinyl resin, petroleum resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, phenolic resin, styrene resin, natural rubber, Elastomers such as styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, and chloroprene rubber, rosin and its derivatives, tackifier fillers such as terpene resins and hydrogenated petroleum resins, plasticizers, and antioxidants are used alone or in combination. . As in the case of conventional heat-sensitive transfer stickers, the heating means is short-time heating by the thermal head 3, so a material with a low melting point (usually about 70 to 100° C.) is required. The thickness of the adhesive layer 21b is appropriately selected and determined depending on the surface condition of the transfer target, etc., but is usually 1 to 1.
It is selected from a range of approximately 0 μm.

The receiving sheet 7 is made of a known material such as polyethylene, but it is preferably made of a material that has good heat resistance and high dimensional stability.

When impurities 22 such as dust are mixed in the thermal transfer layer 21 of the thermal transfer sheet 1 having the above-described structure, the impurities 22 will not be present even if the thermal head 3 prints a predetermined pattern by heating from the back side of the thermal transfer sheet 1. The thermal transfer layer 21 in the area including the area is not transferred to the receiving sheet 7 (FIG. 7(b))
. Therefore, this pattern on the receiving sheet 7 has white missing defect portions 23 . The receiving sheet 7 wound around the transfer drum 4 is rotated and separated from the thermal transfer sheet 1,
Thereafter, under the control of the control means, the pattern portion having the white missing defect portion 23 is positioned on the thermal head 3 again. During this time, the thermal transfer sheet 1 is wound up at a predetermined angle by the drive of the winding roller 6, so that an unused portion of the thermal transfer layer 21 is located on the thermal head 3 (FIG. 7(c)). Thereafter, the same pattern is again printed on the receiving sheet 7 from the back side of the thermal transfer sheet 1 (FIG. 7(d)). Since the probability that impurities will be included again in this unused portion of the thermal transfer layer 21 is very low, there will be almost no white missing defects in the pattern of the portion where overprinting has been completed (Fig. 7(e)
)).

Next, the invention according to claim 9 will be explained based on FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a thermal transfer system A that creates a roll-shaped mask film using a roll-shaped receptor. In this thermal transfer system A, a thermal transfer sheet 101 is wound around a source magazine 102, and a rolled receptor 1
07 is similarly wound in the original magazine 112. The thermal transfer sheet 101 and the roll-shaped receptor 107 are transferred to the take-up roller 10 via guide rollers 105 and 115, respectively.
6,116. The thermal transfer sheet 101 and the roll-shaped receptor 107 are overlaid and integrated at the thermal head 103 portion. A source magazine 112 for winding the rolled receptor 107 is connected to the drive motor 104 via a rotating shaft 112a. Moreover, this rotating shaft 112
A rotation angle detection means 109 is engaged with a, and the rotation angle signal is sent to the control means 110 of the thermal transfer system A. This control means 110 controls the operation of the drive motor 104, each take-up roller 106, 116, and the thermal head 103.

As in the case of the receiving sheet, in this thermal transfer system A, the thermal head 103 thermally prints predetermined characters, codes, etc. from the back side of the thermal transfer sheet 101 based on a print signal sent from the control means 110. This printing transfers the thermal transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet 101 to the rolled receptor 10.
7. After the printing operation at the predetermined position is completed, the control means 110 rotates the take-up rollers 106 and 116 by a predetermined angle to peel the thermal transfer sheet 101 from the rolled receptor 101. Thereafter, under the control of the control means 110, the drive motor 104 is reversely rotated by a predetermined angle to backfeed the rolled receptor 107, and accurate alignment is performed so that the printed position is located at the thermal head 103 again. The thermal transfer sheet 101 is placed again on the printed area of the roll-shaped receptor 107, and the same pattern is printed in an overlapping manner. After the overlapping printing is completed, the control means 11
0 rotates each take-up roller 106, 116 by a predetermined angle and starts printing at the next position. In this way, the roll-shaped receptor 107 is sent out while being fed back a necessary number of times, and a series of printing operations are sequentially performed. Rolled receptor 10
After all of the printing is completed, the rolled receptor 107 is cut to the required length. When considering alignment accuracy, it is more advantageous to use a rolled receptor than a receptor sheet.

[0045] In this way, the roll-shaped receptor 107 may be back-fed and aligned by the control means 110, or the thermal head 103, which is a heating printing means, may
The printing position may be adjusted for the second time or later by moving .

[0046]

[Operation] In this invention, a thermal transfer sheet having at least a light-impermeable layer and a receptor are superimposed, a pattern consisting of arbitrary characters and figures is thermally printed from the back side of the thermal transfer sheet, and then the thermal transfer sheet is peeled off. Thereafter, the thermal transfer sheets are superimposed again, the receptor and the heating printing means are aligned, and the same pattern is printed on the same location on the receptor twice or more in an overlapping manner to create an image forming mask material. In order to align and reprint at the same location on the receptor, the receptor after thermal transfer is held, and alignment is performed by moving this holding means or by moving the print head. The receptor in this invention may be in the form of a sheet or a roll.

[0047] Further, the light-opaque layer may be overlapped two or more times and printed within the plane area of the light-opaque layer forming the pattern on the receptor.

The holding means may include a cylindrical member that wraps the entire surface of the receiver around its circumference, a pair of cylindrical members that wrap both side edges of the receiver around their respective peripheries, or a cylindrical member that wraps the receiver around its entire surface, or a cylindrical member that wraps the receiver around its entire surface. A flat plate member is used.

[0049]

[Examples] The present invention will be explained below with reference to Examples. A commercially available PET base with a thickness of 100 μm was used as a mask material original plate serving as a receptor. In addition, the back side is heat-resistant treated with 4.5μmP.
Using an ET base as a support, a release layer having the following composition was applied to a thickness of 0.3 μm. Release layer formulation Carnauba wax (MEK20% dispersion)
48.5 parts ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (MIBIK 10% solution)
3.0 parts (Evaflex EV-40
Y:Mitsui DuPont Polychemical) MIBK

48.5 parts The solution having the above composition was thoroughly stirred and mixed to prepare a coating solution. Further, on this release layer, a thermal transfer layer having the following composition was applied to a thickness of 2.0 μm. Thermal transfer layer formulation Carbon black (IPA 22% dispersion)
35.3 parts rosin modified resin (30% IPA solution)
Part 40.7 (Harrier Star D
S-90: Harima Kasei) Microcrystalline wax (IPA 20% dispersion) 17.6 parts
IPA

6.4 parts The solution having the above composition was thoroughly stirred and mixed to prepare a coating solution.

The thermal transfer sheet prepared as described above was placed on a mask material original plate serving as a receptor, and thermal printing was performed from the back side of the heat-resistant thermal transfer sheet. The printing conditions at this time are as follows. Printing Conditions A mask pattern created on a computer was output using a thermal printer equipped with a line thermal head with a width of 260 mm, a printing energy of 25 mj/mm2, and a head pressure of 7 kg/head. As a printing method, a sheet-like receptor was used, and after the sheet-like receptor was wound around a transfer drum, first printing was performed, and after positioning, second printing was performed. After the second printing was completed, the sheet-like receptor was removed from the transfer drum and discharged from the printer.

The image forming mask material prepared in this manner had almost no image defects (white spots) in the transfer area, and had a remarkable effect compared to the case where printing was performed only once.

[0052]

Effects of the Invention As described above, the method for producing an image forming mask material according to claim 1 is such that after the thermal transfer layer is once transferred to the receptor, the same pattern is applied twice to the same location on the receptor.
By overlapping printing more than once, image defects such as white spots can be eliminated or greatly reduced, and a high-quality mask material for image formation can be provided.

[0053] Furthermore, in the method for producing an image forming mask material according to claim 2, after the thermal transfer layer is once transferred to the receptor, light is again applied to the flat area of the light-opaque layer that forms the pattern on the receptor. By overlapping the opaque layers and printing, it is possible to maintain the same effect on image defects such as white spots as when printing the same pattern, while providing a margin for accuracy in overlapping printing.

[0054] The method for producing an image forming mask material according to claims 3 to 8 includes a cylindrical member wrapped around the entire surface of the sheet-like receptor, or a pair of cylindrical members wrapped around both ends of the sheet-like receptor. By fixing and holding the sheet-like receptor using a holding means such as a cylindrical member or a flat plate member on which the sheet-like receptor is placed, and moving this holding means, or by moving the heating printing means, The accuracy of positioning for overlapping printing is improved.

Furthermore, by using a sheet-like receptor, the number of image-forming mask materials to be produced can be arbitrarily determined, and even a small quantity can be efficiently produced.

[0056] Furthermore, in the method for producing a mask material for image formation according to claim 9, by using a roll-shaped receptor, shaking of the receptor during rotation is suppressed, and positioning during overlapping printing is performed with higher precision. be able to.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a thermal transfer system for creating a mask material for image formation.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a transfer drum around which a receiving sheet is wound.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a method of printing by overlapping a light-opaque layer within a plane area of a pattern on a receptor sheet.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a transfer drum with additional winding means;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a holding member consisting of a pair of cylindrical members that wraps around the ends of both sides of the receiving sheet.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a holding means made of a flat plate member on which a receiving sheet is placed.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the structure and transfer operation of a thermal transfer sheet and a receiving sheet.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a thermal transfer system A using a roll-shaped receptor.

[Explanation of symbols]

A thermal transfer system 1 Thermal transfer sheet 3 Thermal head 4 Transfer drum 7 Receiving sheet 9 Rotation angle detection means 10 Control means 21 Thermal transfer layer

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A thermal transfer sheet having at least a light-opaque layer and a receptor are superimposed, a desired pattern is thermally printed from the back side of the thermal transfer sheet using a heating printing means, and then this thermal transfer sheet is peeled off. In the method for creating a mask material for image formation by thermally transferring the light-opaque layer to a receiver, the pattern is thermally printed on the receptor, the thermal transfer sheet is peeled off, and the light-opaque layer is transferred to the receiver. After thermal transfer to the receptor side, the thermal transfer sheets are superimposed again, the receptor and the heating printing means are aligned, and the same pattern is printed on the same location on the receptor twice or more overlappingly. A method for producing a mask material for image formation, characterized by the following. 2. A thermal transfer sheet having at least a light-opaque layer and a receptor are superimposed, a desired pattern is thermally printed from the back side of the thermal transfer sheet using a heating printing means, and then this thermal transfer sheet is peeled off. In the method for creating a mask material for image formation by thermally transferring the light-opaque layer to a receiver, the pattern is thermally printed on the receptor, the thermal transfer sheet is peeled off, and the light-opaque layer is transferred to the receiver. After being thermally transferred to the receptor side, the thermal transfer sheets are again superimposed, the receptor and the heating printing means are aligned, and the plane of the light-opaque layer is thermally transferred onto the receptor to form the pattern. within the area,
A method for producing a mask material for image formation, characterized in that printing is performed by overlapping the light-impermeable layer of the thermal transfer sheet two or more times. 3. The method for producing an image forming mask material according to claim 1, wherein the receptor is a sheet-like receptor. 4. The image forming mask material according to claim 3, wherein the receptor is held by a holding means, and the positioning of the receptor and the thermal printing means is performed by movement of the holding means. How to create. 5. The image forming mask according to claim 3, wherein the receptor is held by a holding means, and the receptor and the heating printing means are aligned by moving the heating printing means. Material. 6. The holding means is a cylindrical member that wraps around the entire surface of the receptor.
A method for producing an image forming mask material according to the description or claim 5. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the holding means is a pair of cylindrical members that wrap around the ends of both side surfaces of the receptor. How to make mask material. 8. The method for producing an image forming mask material according to claim 4, wherein the holding means is a flat plate member on which the receptor is placed. 9. The method for producing an image forming mask material according to claim 1, wherein the receptor is a roll-shaped receptor.