JPH06312584A - Sublimable thermal transfer recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To provide a method for forming a non-glossy image in sublimation type thermal transfer recording by a velocity difference mode method. [Structure] A sublimation type thermal transfer sheet and a receiving sheet are overlapped by a speed difference mode method between a thermal head and a platen roller, an image is recorded by applying a thermal head from the side of the thermal transfer sheet, and then formed in the above step. An image of a non-glossy image is formed by a sublimation type thermal transfer recording method or the like, which comprises heat-embossing the surface of the receiving sheet having the formed image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to controlling the gloss of an image surface obtained by sublimation type thermal transfer recording by a speed difference mode method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image portion formed on a receiving sheet by sublimation type thermal transfer, particularly an image portion of a high density portion, is not so glossy. However, the speed difference mode method, that is, the speed of the receiving sheet is set to n of the sublimation type thermal transfer sheet speed.
When printing is done with both sheets running with double (n> 1), and when the overlap between the used portion of the ink layer before and the used portion of the ink layer is shifted little by little, printing is performed. By doing so, the gloss of the image formed is increased by the friction between the ink layer of the thermal transfer sheet and the receiving layer of the receiving sheet. If the image is too glossy, its strong reflection makes it very difficult to read. Therefore, it is conceivable to emboss the receiving sheet in order to reduce the gloss, and in the case of the constant velocity mode method, if the receiving sheet that has been embossed from the beginning is used for printing, an image with low glossiness can be obtained without problems.

[0003]

However, according to the speed difference mode method, even if an embossed receiving sheet is used, the embossing effect is hardly obtained due to the friction between the ink layer and the receiving layer described above. An object of the present invention is to obtain a method for forming a non-glossy image in sublimation type thermal transfer recording by the speed difference mode method.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a sublimation type thermal transfer sheet and a receiving sheet are superposed between the thermal head and the platen roller by the speed difference mode method, and the thermal head is applied from the thermal transfer sheet side. There is provided a sublimation type thermal transfer recording method which comprises performing image recording and then heating embossing the surface of the receiving sheet having the image formed in the above-mentioned step. Further, an ink layer portion and an embossing treatment sequentially provided in three color planes are provided. Using a sublimation type thermal transfer sheet provided in a layer-sequential manner with the layer portion, the thermal transfer sheet and the receiving sheet are overlapped and passed between the thermal head and the platen roller by the speed difference mode method, and the thermal head is applied from the thermal transfer sheet side. Image recording is performed by the ink layer portion,
Then, the embossed layer portion of the thermal transfer sheet is overlaid on the image on the surface of the receiving sheet formed in the step between the thermal head and the platen roller by the constant velocity mode method, and the back surface of the embossed layer portion of the thermal transfer sheet is passed. Provides a sublimation type thermal transfer recording method in which a thermal head is applied and heated, and further, a sublimation type thermal transfer sheet and a receiving sheet containing an expander are passed between the thermal head and the platen roller by a speed difference mode method. , Image recording by applying a thermal head from the thermal transfer sheet side,
Next, there is provided a sublimation type thermal transfer recording method comprising heat-treating the surface of the receiving sheet having the image formed in the above step. That is, the first method of the present invention is to form an image on a receiving sheet by sublimation type thermal transfer recording by a velocity difference mode method, and then heat emboss the surface of the receiving sheet having the image formed in the above step. Characterize. The second method of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer sheet consisting of an ink layer portion provided in three-color frame sequence and an embossed layer portion provided in three-frame sequence, that is, an uncolored and fine powder coated portion. First, an image is formed on the receiving sheet by the ink layer portion by the speed difference mode method, and then switched to the constant velocity mode method to bring the embossed layer portion into close contact with the image surface on the receiving sheet. It is characterized by heating with a thermal head. In the third method of the present invention, the sublimation type thermal transfer sheet and the receiving sheet containing an expander are superposed between the thermal head and the platen roller by the speed difference mode method, and then formed in the above step. The surface of the receiving sheet having an image is heat-treated.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which sublimation type thermal transfer recording is performed by the speed difference mode method. In FIG. 4, 1 is a sublimation type thermal transfer sheet, 2 is a receiving sheet, 3 is a thermal head,
Reference numeral 4 indicates a platen roller. In the speed difference mode recording, the thermal transfer recording is performed by passing the thermal transfer sheet 1 having the feeding speed v and the receiving sheet 2 having the feeding speed nv between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4 so as to overlap each other. FIG. 1 shows an example of a heating embossing method. In FIG.
Reference numeral 30 is a heating embossing roll, and 40 is a cushion roll. The receiving sheet 20 on which the recorded image is formed is passed between these two rolls with the receiving layer facing the embossing roll 30. FIG. 2 is an example of another heating embossing method,
The concavo-convex film 6 and the receiving sheet 20 on which the recorded image is formed are passed between the pair of heating rollers 50 and 60 so that the receiving layer side faces the concavo-convex film.

The first method is to record an image on the receiving sheet by the speed difference mode method, and then to process the image surface by the heating embossing method shown in FIGS. In FIG. 4, three color ink layers 7 of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are applied in a face-sequential manner, and then fine pigment powder such as silica is dispersed in a resin. 1 shows a thermal transfer sheet 10 in which a liquid is applied so as to be surface-sequentially formed with an ink layer portion previously formed, and this is used as an embossed layer portion 8. A release agent such as silicone oil may be contained in the coating solution for the embossed layer portion, if necessary.

In the second method, using the thermal transfer sheet 10 as described above, first, by the speed difference mode method, Y,
The recording of M and C is performed by thermal transfer of the ink layer portion, and then the embossed layer portion 8 is superimposed on the image and printed by the constant velocity mode method to obtain an embossed image.

The third method uses a receiving sheet containing an expandable body in the receiving layer, forms an image by the velocity difference mode method on the receiving sheet, and then heat-treats it, though not particularly shown. For example, by passing the receiving sheet on a heating roll, the expandable body is heated, whereby unevenness is formed on the surface of the receiving layer and the image becomes non-glossy. This expansive body is a material for thermally expanding the surface of the receiving sheet by heating so as to make the surface of the receiving sheet uneven, and any material may be used as long as it achieves such an object. For example, microcapsules containing low-boiling point hydrocarbons. (Matsumoto Yushi Co., Ltd., Microsphere 80, etc.) can be used and may be contained in the substrate or the intermediate layer in addition to the receiving layer to form a receiving sheet.

In addition, similarly to the first method, an image is formed on the receiving layer by the speed difference mode method, and the receiving sheet on which the image is formed and the transparent embossed film are arranged so that the embossed film comes to the image side. The object can be achieved to some extent by a method of laminating the sheets by superposing them together and passing them between hot rolls as shown in FIG. In this case, the embossed film includes polyester with a roughened surface,
A highly transparent film such as polycarbonate or polyacrylate is preferable.

[0010]

In each of the methods of the present invention, first, an image is formed on the receiving sheet by the speed difference mode method, and thereafter the image surface is made uneven so that the image becomes non-glossy. That is, in the non-gloss treatment of the first method, the uneven surface is heated and pressed on the image surface to form an image with unevenness. In the second method, an ink-free fine powder layer, which is provided on the surface of the thermal transfer sheet in a surface sequential manner with the ink layer, is brought into close contact with the image, and the fine powder layer is heated and pressed by the thermal head to make the image surface uneven. In the third method, unevenness is formed on the surface of the receiving layer due to thermal expansion of the expansive body dispersed in the receiving layer.

[0011]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described more specifically below with reference to examples. In addition, "part" shown below means a weight part.

Example 1 <Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet> (Formulation of Dye Supply Layer) Polyvinyl butyral resin (BX-1 manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) 10 parts Sublimation dye (Kayaset Blue 714 manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) 20 parts Diisocyanate (Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd., Coronate L) 3 parts Toluene 95 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 95 parts (Formulation of dye transfer contributing layer) Polyvinyl butyral resin (Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., BX-1) 10 parts Sublimation dye (Japan Kayaku Co., Ltd., Kayaset Blue 714) 10 parts Diisocyanate (Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd., Coronate L) 3 parts Toluene 95 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 95 parts After dispersing the composition of the above formulation with a ball mill, 1 μm on the back surface
A 6 μm aromatic polyamide film having a thick silicone resin heat-resistant layer is coated on the surface with a wire bar so that the dye supply layer has a thickness of 4.5 μm, and a dye transfer contribution layer is further formed thereon. Apply to 1 μm,
A thermal transfer sheet was prepared by applying yellow, magenta, and cyan in this order in an area of 5 cm × 30 cm and thermally curing at 60 ° C. for 24 hours. (Preparation of Receiving Sheet) Vinyl Chloride / Vinyl Acetate / Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer (Union Carbide Co., VACH) 10 parts Isocyanate (Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd., Coronate L) 5 parts Amino-modified silicone (Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) Manufactured by SF8417) 0.5 part Epoxy modified silicone (manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Silicone, SF8411) 0.5 part Toluene 40 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 40 parts After dispersing the composition of the above formulation by a ball mill, a thickness of 150 μm
m synthetic paper (Yupo FPG150, manufactured by Oji Yuka Synthetic Paper Co., Ltd.)
Apply on top and dry for 1 minute at a drying temperature of 75 ° C to a thickness of about 5
After forming the dye receiving layer of μm, further,
It was stored for a time and cured to obtain a receiving sheet. <Thermal transfer recording> Using the thermal transfer sheet and the receiving sheet, speed difference mode recording was performed under the following recording conditions. Thermal head resolution 12 dots / mm Applied energy 0.64 mj / dot Applied power 0.16 w / dot Recording degree Ink sheet feeding speed 1.7 mm / S Recording receiving sheet feeding speed 8.5 mm / S <Heating embossing> Next When the receiving sheet on which the image was formed by the above thermal transfer recording was passed at a roll passing speed of 20 mm / S between the embossing roll heated to 100 ° C. and the cushion roll shown in FIG. 2, an image with unevenness was obtained. It was This image was clearly less glossy than the image before embossing.

Example 2 <Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet> Similar to Example 1, three color ink layers of yellow, magenta and cyan were applied face-sequentially, and then the following embossing layer coating liquid was applied to the previous ink layer. It was applied in a frame order. (Prescription of Embossed Layer) Acrylic resin (BR85) manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. 15 parts Silica (OX50 manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) 2 parts Toluene 40 parts Methylethylketone 40 parts <Receiving Sheet> It was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. <Thermal transfer recording> Using the thermal transfer sheet and the receiving sheet, first, under the same recording conditions as in Example 1, yellow,
Speed difference mode recording was performed using magenta and cyan ink layers. <Embossing> The same conditions as in the previous step except that the embossing layer of the thermal transfer sheet was overlaid on the image formed in the previous step in the constant speed mode and printing was performed at a thermal transfer sheet speed of 8.5 mm / S. When printed with, an uneven image was obtained. The gloss of this image was clearly lower than that of the image before embossing.

Example 3 <Preparation of thermal transfer sheet> The same procedure as in Example 1 was carried out. <Receiving Sheet> A receiving sheet was prepared by interposing an intermediate layer having the following formulation between the substrate and the receiving layer used in Example 1. <Intermediate Layer Formulation> Thermally expandable capsule (Matsumoto Yushi Co., Ltd., Matsumoto Microsphere F85) 50 parts Polyvinyl alcohol 50 parts Water 100 parts <Thermal transfer recording and embossing treatment> Thermal transfer recording was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 and thereafter. The imaged receiving sheet was passed over a hot roll. The temperature of the heat roll is 170
When heated to 0 ° C., an image surface was obtained in which the surface of the image receiving layer had irregularities and the gloss was reduced.

Reference Example A matted polyethylene terephthalate film (C-PET-W, manufactured by Panac Co.) was laminated on the image surface of a receiving sheet prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 by hot pressing. An image surface was obtained.

[0016]

As described above, according to the method of the present invention, a non-glossy image can be easily obtained in the sublimation type thermal transfer recording by the speed difference mode method. Moreover, according to the method of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a non-glossy image for each sheet by the user's selection using the same thermal transfer sheet and receiving sheet.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a heating embossing method used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the heating embossing method used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sublimation type thermal transfer sheet used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual cross-sectional view showing a state in which image recording is performed by the speed difference mode method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sublimation type thermal transfer sheet 2 Receiving sheet 3 Thermal head 4 Platen roller 6 Concavo-convex film 7 Ink layer part 8 Embossing layer part 10 Thermal transfer sheet on which 7 and 8 are provided in a frame order 20 Image receiving sheet on which a recorded image is formed 30 Heating Embossing roller 40 Cushion roller 50,60 Heating embossing roller

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sublimation type thermal transfer sheet and a receiving sheet are overlapped by a speed difference mode method between a thermal head and a platen roller, an image is recorded by applying a thermal head from the side of the thermal transfer sheet, and then, in the above step. A sublimation-type thermal transfer recording method comprising heating and embossing a surface of a receiving sheet having an image formed thereon. 2. A thermal transfer sheet between a thermal head and a platen roller by a speed difference mode method, using a sublimation type thermal transfer sheet provided with an ink layer portion and an embossing layer portion which are sequentially provided in a three-color plane. And the receiving sheet are overlapped with each other, a thermal head is applied from the side of the thermal transfer sheet to record an image by the ink layer portion, and then a constant velocity mode method is used to form between the thermal head and the platen roller in the step. A sublimation-type thermal transfer recording method in which an embossed layer portion of the thermal transfer sheet is superposed on an image on the surface of a receiving sheet, and a thermal head is applied from the back of the embossed layer portion of the thermal transfer sheet to heat the image. 3. A sublimation type thermal transfer sheet and a receiving sheet containing an expander are passed between the thermal head and the platen roller by a speed difference mode method, and the thermal head is applied from the side of the thermal transfer sheet to record an image. A sublimation-type thermal transfer recording method, which comprises performing heat treatment on the surface of the receiving sheet having the image formed in the above step.