JPH081966A - Thermal recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a thermal recording device capable of outputting a full-color image using a sublimable dye not only to special paper but also to plain paper. To do. Further, the dyeing layer is stably and satisfactorily formed on the intermediate transfer medium, and the dyeing layer formed on the intermediate transfer medium is not peeled off, and the sublimable dye image is stably recorded on the dyeing layer. The present invention provides a stable thermal recording device capable of performing a process. A dyeing layer 3b is formed on an intermediate transfer medium 2, a sublimation dye 19 is formed on the dyeing layer 3b, and then a dyeing layer 3b on which a sublimation dye image 19 is formed by a transfer roll 13 is formed. Is thermally transferred to the recording paper 16. In addition, the intermediate transfer medium 2
When the dyeing layer 3b is formed on the dyeing layer 3b or when the sublimable dye image 19 is formed on the dyeing layer 3b, the ink sheet 3 is rapidly peeled at the position of the peeling plate 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal recording method used for a copying machine, a fax machine, a printer, etc., for outputting a desired image or characters on a recording paper according to an electric signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a recording system used in printers and the like, a sublimation type thermal recording system using a thermal head and an ink sheet holding a sublimable dye, as disclosed in JP-A-1-275163, has been proposed. It has been put to practical use.

An example of a conventional thermal recording apparatus using this thermal recording system will be described below. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a conventional thermal recording device using a sublimable dye. In FIG.
Reference numeral 120 is a recording paper in which a dyeing layer is provided on a thick base material such as synthetic paper, and 104 is a thermal head having a large number of heating elements 105 arranged in a row in the width direction of the recording paper 120. . Reference numeral 103 is an ink sheet, and a dye layer 103c containing a sublimable dye is applied on a film-shaped substrate 103a. The thermal head 104 is the ink sheet 10
The surface of the dye layer 103c of No. 3 is pressed against the platen 121 together with the recording paper 120.

In this state, the platen 121 and the recording paper 12
0 and the ink sheet 103 are respectively moved in the directions of the arrows to heat the heating element 105 according to the recording signal, and the sublimable dye of the dye layer 103c in the portion facing the heating element 105 is heated to dye the dyeing layer of the recording paper 120. Move to. By this operation, the sublimable dye image 119 can be obtained on the recording paper 120. Further, by using the dye layer 103c containing sublimable dyes of three colors of Y, M, and C, a high-definition full-color image can be obtained.

[0005]

However, in the conventional recording apparatus using the sublimable dye, it is necessary to use the special paper as the recording paper, and it is impossible to output the desired recording paper. Further, since this special paper is expensive, it has a drawback of high running cost.

Further, an intermediate transfer medium, a dyeing layer sheet supporting a dyeing layer, a dye layer sheet supporting a dye layer, a thermal head, and a transfer means are used to temporarily dye the intermediate transfer medium. A dyeing layer is formed, a sublimation dye image is formed on this dyeing layer, and then the recording paper is pressed against an intermediate transfer medium to thermally transfer the dyeing layer on which the sublimation dye image is formed and output. The method of getting With this method, it is not necessary to use special paper, and a sublimable dye image can be obtained even on plain paper. However, when various materials of the intermediate transfer medium capable of favorably transferring the dyeing layer formed on the intermediate transfer medium to the recording paper were examined, it was found that the material had a small adhesive force with the dyeing layer. In that case, there is a problem that it is difficult to satisfactorily form the dyeing layer on the intermediate transfer medium, and when the sublimation dye image is recorded on the dyeing layer formed on the intermediate transfer medium, this dyeing layer is difficult to form. There is also the problem that it is difficult to record a sublimable dye image without the layers peeling from the intermediate transfer medium.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides not only a full-color image using a sublimable dye on special paper, but also
The present invention provides a thermal recording device capable of outputting even on plain paper. Further, the dyeing layer is stably and satisfactorily formed on the intermediate transfer medium, and the dyeing layer formed on the intermediate transfer medium is not peeled off, and the sublimable dye image is stably recorded on the dyeing layer. The present invention provides a stable thermal recording device capable of performing a process.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the thermal recording method of the present invention comprises a dyeing layer sheet having a dyeing layer on a film-shaped substrate, and an intermediate transfer medium by means of the dyeing layer forming means. After being heated in a state of being pressed to the intermediate transfer medium, the dyeing layer sheet is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium through the dyeing layer sheet, and the curvature of peeling the dyeing layer sheet from the intermediate transfer medium is 0.001 mm or more. First step of peeling to a size of 3 mm or less to form a dyeing layer on the intermediate transfer medium, and forming a dye layer sheet having a dye layer containing a sublimable dye on a film-shaped substrate on the intermediate transfer medium A second step of forming a sublimable dye image by bringing the dye layer into contact with the dyeing layer and selectively heating the dye layer in the portion in contact with the thermal image forming means,
Third, the dyeing layer formed on the intermediate transfer medium is thermally transferred to a recording paper together with the sublimable dye image formed on the dyeing layer.
And the process of.

Further, a dye layer sheet having a dye layer containing a sublimable dye on a film-shaped substrate is brought into contact with a dyeing layer formed on an intermediate transfer medium, and a portion of the dye layer contacted by a thermal image forming means. To form a sublimable dye image by selective heating, and then the curvature of peeling the dye layer sheet from the intermediate transfer medium at the position of the dye layer sheet peeling member pressed against the intermediate transfer medium through the dye layer sheet. Is 0.001 mm
It is peeled off so as to be 3 mm or less.

In the first step, the peeling angle of the dyeing layer sheet or the dye layer sheet from the intermediate transfer medium is
40 in the tangential direction at the peeling position of the intermediate transfer medium
The peeling is performed so that the angle is not less than 140 degrees and not more than 140 degrees.

Further, the dyeing layer sheet peeling member or the dye layer sheet peeling member can be brought into and out of contact with the intermediate transfer medium,
In addition, the pressing amount regulating member is used to regulate the pressing amount of the dyeing layer sheet peeling member or the dye layer sheet peeling member with respect to the intermediate transfer medium.

Further, the dyeing layer forming means and the dyeing layer sheet peeling member, or the thermal image forming means and the dye layer sheet peeling member can be brought into and out of contact with the intermediate transfer medium, and the dyeing layer forming means serves as the intermediate transfer medium. To press the dyeing layer sheet peeling member to the intermediate transfer medium, or to press the thermal image forming means to the intermediate transfer medium and then press the dye layer sheet peeling means to the intermediate transfer medium. .

Further, the dyeing layer sheet peeling member or the dye layer sheet peeling member can be brought into and out of contact with the intermediate transfer medium,
A device for separating the dyeing layer sheet peeling member from the intermediate transfer medium after the portion of the dyeing layer sheet heated by the dyeing layer forming means has finished passing the pressing position of the dyeing layer sheet peeling member against the intermediate transfer medium. Alternatively, the dye layer sheet separating member is separated from the intermediate transfer medium after the portion heated by the thermal image forming means of the dye layer sheet has finished passing the pressing position of the dye layer sheet separating member to the intermediate transfer medium. .

Preferably, the dyeing layer sheet and the dye layer sheet are those in which the dye layer and the dyeing layer are applied face-sequentially to the film-shaped substrate, and the thermal image forming means is dyed. It is also used as a layer forming means, and the dye layer sheet peeling means is also used as a dyeing layer sheet peeling means. The dyeing layer forming portion uses an intermediate transfer medium containing at least silicone rubber. Further, the dyeing layer formed on the intermediate transfer medium is thermally transferred onto the recording paper by pressing the heat-insulated pressure contact roll against the intermediate transfer medium via the recording paper.

[0015]

As described above, the present invention forms a dyeing layer on an intermediate transfer medium, records a sublimable dye image on the dyeing layer, and further forms a dyeing layer on which the sublimable dye image is recorded. Since it is a method of thermal transfer to recording paper, it is possible to output a high-definition full-color image not only on special paper but also on plain paper.

Further, the peeling curvature of the dyeing layer sheet from the intermediate transfer medium is 0.001 mm or more at the position of the dyeing layer sheet peeling member pressed against the intermediate transfer medium through the dyeing layer sheet.
Since it is a method of abruptly peeling so as to be less than or equal to mm, it is possible to reduce the adhesive force between the base material of the dyeing layer sheet and the dyeing layer at the time of peeling, and the dyeing layer on the intermediate transfer medium. It becomes easy to form.

After the sublimation dye image is formed on the dyeing layer formed on the intermediate transfer medium, the dye layer sheet is pressed at the position of the dye layer sheet peeling member pressed against the intermediate transfer medium via the dye layer sheet. The curvature of peeling from the intermediate transfer medium is 0.001mm
Since it is rapidly peeled off so that the distance becomes 3 mm or less, after the formation of the sublimable dye image on the dyeing layer, the heat during the formation causes an adhesive force between the dye layer sheet and the dyeing layer. At the time of peeling the dye layer sheet from the dyeing layer, the adhesive force between the dye layer sheet and the dyeing layer can be reduced, and the dyeing layer can be hardly peeled off from the intermediate transfer medium. This makes it possible to stabilize the process.

Also, the dyeing layer sheet or the dye layer sheet is peeled off at a deep angle so that the peeling angle from the intermediate transfer medium is 40 degrees or more and 140 degrees or less with respect to the tangential direction at the peeling position of the intermediate transfer medium. Therefore, at the time of peeling, the adhesive force between the base material of the dyeing layer sheet and the dyeing layer can be reduced, and the dyeing layer can be easily formed on the intermediate transfer medium. Further, the adhesion between the dye layer sheet and the dyeing layer can be reduced, and the dyeing layer can be made difficult to peel off from the intermediate transfer medium.

Further, when the pressing amount of the dyeing layer sheet peeling member or the dye layer sheet peeling member with respect to the intermediate transfer medium is large, the deformation amount of the intermediate transfer medium at the pressing position also becomes large.
Along with this, the actual peeling angle of the dyeing layer sheet or the dye layer sheet from the intermediate transfer medium at the pressing position becomes small, and the adhesive force between the base material of the dyeing layer sheet and the dyeing layer, or the dyeing layer And the adhesion between the dye layer sheet and the dye layer sheet increases. In the present invention, by controlling the pressing amount of the dyeing layer sheet peeling member or the dye layer sheet peeling member to the intermediate transfer medium by using the pressing amount regulating member, the dyeing layer sheet or the dye layer sheet is peeled from the intermediate transfer medium. The angle does not become shallow, the dyeing layer can be stably formed on the intermediate transfer medium, and the dyeing layer can be hardly peeled off from the intermediate transfer medium when the sublimable dye image is formed.

Further, in the present invention, two members of the dyeing layer forming means and the dyeing layer sheet peeling member are pressed against the intermediate transfer medium via the dyeing layer sheet. This means that the dyeing layer sheet is regulated at two places with respect to the intermediate transfer medium. At this time, if the positional accuracy of the dyeing layer forming means and the dyeing layer sheet peeling member with respect to the intermediate transfer medium is very good, there is no problem at all, but if the positional accuracy is not good,
When the dyeing layer forming means and the dyeing layer sheet peeling member are pressed against the intermediate transfer medium, the running of the dyeing layer sheet becomes unstable and wrinkles are easily generated in the dyeing layer sheet. Further, when wrinkles occur, those generated when passing through the dyeing layer forming means have a large influence on the final image, but those generated when passing through the dyeing layer sheet peeling member hardly affect the final image. Also,
When the dyeing layer sheet peeling member is pressed to the intermediate transfer medium and then the dyeing layer forming means is pressed to the intermediate transfer medium, the position of the dyeing layer sheet with respect to the intermediate transfer medium at the position of the dyeing layer sheet peeling member. Therefore, if the dyeing layer forming means is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium after that, wrinkles are likely to occur in the dyeing layer sheet when the dyeing layer sheet passes through the dyeing layer forming means. However, in the present invention, the dyeing layer forming means is pressed before the dyeing layer sheet peeling member is pressed, and the position of the dyeing layer sheet with respect to the intermediate transfer medium can be regulated at the position of the dyeing layer forming means. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles when passing through the dyeing layer forming means, and it is possible to suppress image deterioration due to the influence of wrinkles in the final image. Similarly, by pressing the thermal image forming unit against the intermediate transfer medium and then pressing the dye layer sheet peeling member against the intermediate transfer medium, it is possible to suppress image deterioration due to the influence of wrinkles on the final image.

By separating the dyeing layer sheet peeling member or the dye layer sheet peeling member from the intermediate transfer medium at a desired timing, the rear end portion of the dyeing layer can be reliably formed on the intermediate transfer medium. In addition, a good image can be formed without peeling the dyeing layer from the intermediate transfer medium up to the rear end portion of the sublimable dye image.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A thermal recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a metal first intermediate transfer drum, on the surface of which an intermediate transfer medium 2 made of silicone rubber having an appropriate releasing property is provided, and a driving means ( (Not shown) rotates at a desired speed. Silicone rubber having a hardness of 20 degrees to 70 degrees and a film thickness of 0.1 mm to 2 mm is preferably used, but in the present example, as a result of earnest study, a hardness of 50 degrees and a film thickness of 0.4.
mm (KE-1925T manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) is used.

In this embodiment, the intermediate transfer medium 2 is made of silicone rubber having a proper releasability, but it may be made of silicone rubber holding an adhesive material, and has a proper releasability. As long as it is held, for example, a fluorine-based polymer material, a silicone-based polymer material,
PET or polyimide resin may be used.

Reference numeral 3 is an ink sheet in which both a dyeing layer sheet and a dye layer sheet are combined. Details of the ink sheet 3 are shown in FIG. The ink sheet 3 has a film thickness of 3 to
The dyeing layer 3b and the dye layer 3c are coated on a base material 3a made of a PET film having a thickness of about 9 μm.
b and the dye layers 3c of Y, M, and C are formed in the frame order. The dye layer 3c is composed of at least a sublimable dye and a binder. As sublimable dyes, disperse dyes, oil-soluble dyes,
A basic dye or the like is used. Polyester for the binder,
Acrylic styrene resin or the like is used. Also, the dyeing layer 3
Polyvinyl butyral resin is used for b. In addition, the back surface of the base material 3a is subjected to a heat resistant slip treatment.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a thermal head, which serves both as a dyeing layer forming means and a thermal image forming means, and at the tip portion thereof, heating elements 5 which generate heat when energized are formed in rows. Reference numeral 6 denotes a thermal head separating / contacting lever, which supports the thermal head 4 so as to be capable of separating / contacting the intermediate transfer medium 2. Reference numeral 7 is a spring for pressing the thermal head 4 against the intermediate transfer medium 2.

A peeling plate 8 also serves as a dyeing layer sheet peeling member and a dye layer sheet peeling member, and is supported by a peeling plate supporting member 9 so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the intermediate transfer medium 2. Reference numeral 10 is a spring for pressing the peeling plate 8 against the intermediate transfer medium. 1
Reference numeral 1 is a pressing amount regulating member, which is an intermediate transfer medium 2 of the peeling plate 8.
It regulates the amount of pressing. Reference numeral 12 denotes an ink sheet guide roll, which is used to transfer the ink sheet 3 to the intermediate transfer medium 2
It is a guide roll for peeling from a sharp angle.

A transfer roll 13 is rotatably supported by a lever 14 and a spring 15 and can be pressed against the intermediate transfer medium 2 via the recording paper 16 at a desired pressure. 17 is a halogen lamp, which is a transfer roll 13
It is for heating and keeping heat. 18 is a transfer roll 13
Is a thermistor that detects the surface temperature of the halogen lamp 17, and is connected to a temperature control means (not shown). The halogen lamp 17 is turned on and off according to the temperature detected by the thermistor 18.
Then, the transfer roll 13 is controlled to a desired temperature.

Further, in FIG. 6, reference numeral 19 is a sublimation dye image formed on the dyeing layer 3b formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2.

Next, the operation of the thermal recording apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, in FIG. 1, when the power of the apparatus is turned on, the halogen lamp 17 emits light. After that, the halogen lamp 17 is repeatedly turned on and off according to the temperature detected by the thermistor 18, so that the transfer roll 1
3 can be heated and kept at the set temperature. The set temperature of the transfer roll 13 varies depending on the material of the intermediate transfer medium 2, the material of the dyeing layer 3b, the pressure contact force of the transfer roll 13 with respect to the intermediate transfer medium 2, etc., but is set to 150 ° C. in this embodiment.

Next, the thermal head 4 is attached to the ink sheet 3
The intermediate transfer drum 1 is pressed against the intermediate transfer drum 1 via the intermediate transfer drum 1 and is held at a position where the dyeing layer 3b of the ink sheet 3 contacts the intermediate transfer medium 2. In this state, the intermediate transfer drum 1 is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown, and the ink sheet 3 is run in the direction of the arrow shown so that the relative speed to the intermediate transfer medium 2 becomes zero. The peripheral speed of the intermediate transfer drum 1 is 10 mm / s
It is set to ec. At this time, a control unit (not shown) gives a drive signal to the thermal head 4 to heat the heating element 5 at the tip of the thermal head 4. FIG. 3 shows the temperature dependence of the adhesive force between the base material 3a and the dyeing layer 3b, the adhesive force between the intermediate transfer medium 2 and the dyeing layer 3b, and the adhesive force between the dye layer 3c and the dyeing layer 3b. Show. The adhesive force is applied by heating under pressure with each medium in contact with the dyeing layer 3b, and then the JI
The peel strength was evaluated according to SK 6854. When the peeling temperature is in the range of 10 ° C to 60 ° C, the adhesive force between the base material 3a and the dyeing layer 3b is almost unchanged, and the intermediate transfer medium 2
The adhesive force between the dye layer 3b and the dyeing layer 3b decreases as the temperature rises, and the adhesive force between the dye layer 3c and the dyeing layer 3b increases with the temperature. Therefore, the dyeing layer 3b is heated by the heat of the thermal head 4, and the adhesive force between the intermediate transfer medium 2 and the dyeing layer 3b may be made larger than the adhesive force between the dyeing layer 3b and the base material 3a. It will be possible.

Next, the continuation of the operation will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing a state where the ink sheet 3 is separated from the intermediate transfer medium 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the release plate 8 is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium 2 via the ink sheet 3,
In this state, the ink sheet 3 is peeled off along the ink sheet guide roller 12, and the dyeing layer 3b is formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2.
Can be formed. Dyeing layer 3 onto intermediate transfer medium 2
In order to form b, theoretically, the intermediate transfer medium 2 and the dyeing layer 3 are formed.
It suffices that the adhesive force with b is greater than the adhesive force between the dyeing layer 3b and the base material 3a. However, in order to actually form the dyeing layer 3b favorably on the intermediate transfer medium 2, the adhesive force between the intermediate transfer medium 2 and the dyeing layer 3b is better than the adhesive force between the dyeing layer 3b and the substrate 3a. Also had to be quite large. Therefore, in this embodiment, the ink sheet 3 is rapidly separated from the intermediate transfer medium 2. Specifically, the ink sheet 3 is separated from the intermediate transfer medium 2 by the tip portion of the peeling plate 8 having a small curvature. Ink sheet guide roll 12 that is peeled off
Therefore, the ink sheet 3 is peeled off from the intermediate transfer medium 2 at a deep angle. Here, by experiment,
The formation of the dyeing layer 3b on the intermediate transfer medium 2 was required to be easier when the ink sheet 3 was rapidly peeled from the intermediate transfer medium 2. And the theory about this phenomenon is
For example, it is described in Adhesion Handbook (2nd edition, edited by Japan Adhesion Association). Therefore, by rapidly peeling the ink sheet 3 from the intermediate transfer medium 2 as in this embodiment, the dyeing layer 3b can be stably formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2.

According to a more detailed experiment, the curvature of peeling the ink sheet 3 from the intermediate transfer medium 2 is 3 mm or less (the shape of the tip of the peeling plate 8 is 3 mm or less), and the intermediate transfer of the ink sheet 3 is performed. When the peeling angle from the medium 2 was 40 to 140 degrees with respect to the tangential direction of the intermediate transfer medium 2, the dyeing layer could be well formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2. It is considered that the peeling angle can be favorably formed even if it is deeper than 140 degrees, but it is difficult to peel at a deeper angle from the viewpoint of the apparatus configuration. Further, when the ink sheet 3 is peeled off from the intermediate transfer medium 2 at a shallow angle, of the tension applied to the ink sheet 3, the component force acting in the direction of peeling the base material 3a and the dyeing layer 3b becomes small. It becomes difficult to peel off the ink sheet 3 along the tip of the peeling plate 8, and it becomes difficult to form the dyeing layer 3 b on the intermediate transfer medium 2. In this case, if the tension of the ink sheet 3 is increased by a winding means (not shown), the ink sheet 3 can be peeled along the shape of the tip portion of the peeling plate 8, but the ink sheet 3 is not wrinkled. It is not preferable because it easily occurs. Therefore, the peeling angle of the ink sheet 3 needs to be deep.

Further, the ink sheet 3 is moved to a position where the peeling plate 8 is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium 2 and then peeled off to cool the dyeing layer 3b heated by the thermal head 4 before the intermediate transfer. It will be peeled from the medium 2. As a result, the ink sheet 3 can be peeled off in a state where the adhesion between the dyeing layer 3b and the intermediate transfer medium 2 is high, so that the dyeing layer 3b can be formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2 more easily. Further, a configuration in which the peeling plate 8 is provided with a cooling unit and the ink sheet 3 can be peeled at a lower temperature can be preferably used.

Further, in this embodiment, the method of pressing the peeling plate 8 to the intermediate transfer medium 2 is devised. That is, the pressing amount regulating member 11 is provided to regulate the pressing amount of the peeling plate 8 to the intermediate transfer medium 2. The pressing amount regulating member 1 is shown in FIG.
1 is a partially enlarged view of a peeling portion of the ink sheet 3 from the intermediate transfer medium 2 in the case where 1 is not provided. In FIG.
Since the pressing amount regulating member 11 is not provided, the pressing amount with respect to the intermediate transfer medium 2 depends on the force of the spring 10 that presses the peeling plate 8 against the intermediate transfer medium 2. That is, the intermediate transfer medium 2 is pressed by the peeling plate 8 to a position where the force of the spring 10 and the repulsive force due to the deformation of the intermediate transfer medium 2 are balanced. At this time, the actual peeling angle of the ink sheet 3 from the intermediate transfer medium 2 is θ, which is a shallow angle compared to the case where the pressing amount is small, and the ability of forming the dyeing layer 3b on the intermediate transfer medium 2 is deteriorated. I will end up. Therefore, it is preferable that the pressing amount of the peeling plate 8 against the intermediate transfer medium 2 is small. Here, in order to reduce the pressing amount to the intermediate transfer medium 2, the peeling plate 8
Although it is conceivable to reduce the pressing force of the intermediate transfer medium 2 on the above, there is a lower limit to this pressing force. That is, in order to make the ink sheet 3 travel stably, it is necessary to apply a certain tension or more, and it is necessary to apply a pressing force that does not change the pressing state of the peeling plate 8 against the intermediate transfer medium 2 due to this tension. is there. Therefore, the intermediate transfer medium 2
On the other hand, in order to press the peeling plate 8 with a desired pressing force and to reduce the pressing amount, as in this embodiment, the spring 1 is used.
It is effective that the peeling plate 8 is pressed to the intermediate transfer medium 2 with a sufficient amount of 0 and the pressing amount regulating member 11 regulates the pressing amount of the peeling plate 8 to the intermediate transfer medium 2.

Further, in this embodiment, two members of the thermal head 4 and the peeling plate 8 are pressed against the intermediate transfer medium 2 via the ink sheet 3. This restricts the ink sheet 3 with respect to the intermediate transfer medium 2 at two places. At this time, if the positional accuracy of the thermal head 4 and the peeling plate 8 with respect to the intermediate transfer medium 2 is very good, there is no problem at all, but if the positional accuracy is not good, the thermal head 4 and the peeling plate 8 are placed in an intermediate position. When pressed against the transfer medium 2,
The running of the ink sheet 3 becomes unstable, and wrinkles easily occur on the ink sheet 3. Further, when wrinkles are generated, those generated after passing the thermal head 4 have a great influence on the final image, but those generated when passing the peeling plate 8 hardly affect the final image. In addition, the release plate 8 is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium 2 and then the thermal head 4 is moved to the intermediate transfer medium 2.
When pressed on the ink sheet 3 at the position of the peeling plate 8.
Since the position of the ink sheet with respect to the intermediate transfer medium 2 is restricted, if the thermal head 4 is subsequently pressed against the intermediate transfer medium 2, wrinkles are likely to occur on the ink sheet 3 when the ink sheet passes through the thermal head 4. However, in the present invention, the release plate 8 is pressed after the thermal head 4 is pressed, and the position of the ink sheet 3 with respect to the intermediate transfer medium 2 can be regulated at the position of the thermal head 4.
It is possible to suppress the occurrence of wrinkles when the thermal head 4 passes, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of image deterioration due to the influence of wrinkles on the final image.

The peeling plate 8 is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium 2 before the portion of the ink sheet 3 heated by the thermal head 4 passes through the pressing portion of the peeling plate 8 against the intermediate transfer medium 2. Furthermore, it is preferable that the portion of the ink sheet 3 heated by the thermal head 4 is immediately before passing through the pressing portion of the peeling plate 8 against the intermediate transfer medium 2.

Further, in this embodiment, sufficient consideration is also given to the timing of separation of the peeling plate 8 from the intermediate transfer medium 2. In other words, it is provided with a structure in which the peeling plate 8 is separated from the intermediate transfer medium 2 after the portion of the ink sheet 3 heated by the thermal head 4 has finished passing through the peeling plate 8.
If the release plate 8 is separated at the same time as the separation of the thermal head 4 after the heating by the thermal head 4, the part where the formation of the dyeing layer 3b on the intermediate transfer medium 2 is not completed occurs, and the dyeing is performed. In some cases, defective formation of the rear end portion of the layer 3b on the intermediate transfer medium 2 may occur. However, with the configuration of this embodiment, the intermediate transfer medium 2 can be reliably formed up to the rear end portion of the dyeing layer 3b.

Next, the operation of forming the sublimable dye image 13 on the dyeing layer 3b formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an operation of forming the sublimable dye image 19 on the dyeing layer 3b.

The Y-colored portion of the dye layer 3c of the ink sheet 3 is placed at a position in contact with the dyeing layer 3b formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2, and the intermediate transfer medium 2 is formed in the same manner as when forming the dyeing layer 3b. And the ink sheet 3 are run. At this time, a control unit (not shown) gives a drive signal to the thermal head 4 to heat the heating element 5 at the tip of the thermal head 4 according to the image pattern. Thereby, the dye layer 3c
Is heated to form a dyeing layer 3b formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2.
The sublimable dye of the dye layer 3c is transferred by thermal diffusion. This time,
Dye layer 3c and dyeing layer 3b formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2
An adhesive force is generated in and by heat from the thermal head 4.

Next, the peeling plate 8 is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium 2 via the ink sheet 3, and in this state, the ink sheet 3 is peeled along the ink sheet guide roller 12. At this time, if the adhesive force between the intermediate transfer medium 2 and the dyeing layer 3b is larger than the adhesive force between the dyeing layer 3b and the dye layer 3c, the intermediate transfer medium 2 upper dyeing layer 3b is not peeled off and the ink sheet 3 is not peeled off. Can be peeled off from the intermediate transfer medium 2. Here, it is necessary to press the peeling plate 8 before the portion of the ink sheet 3 heated by the thermal head 4 passes through the pressing portion of the peeling plate 8 for the intermediate transfer medium 2. The effect of the peeling plate 8 at the time of forming the sublimable dye image 19 is that the intermediate transfer medium 2
The effect is the same as when the dyeing layer 3b is formed on the upper side.

That is, when the dyeing layer 3b is formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2, the adhesive force between the intermediate transfer medium 2 and the dyeing layer 3b is dyed when the ink sheet 3 is peeled from the intermediate transfer medium 2. When the adhesive force between the layer 3b and the base material 3a is overcome,
The dyeing layer 3b can be formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2. When the sublimable dye image 19 is formed on the dyeing layer 3b formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2, the intermediate transfer medium 2 and the dyeing layer 3b are separated from each other when the ink sheet 3 is peeled from the intermediate transfer medium 2. When the adhesive force overcomes the adhesive force between the dyeing layer 3b and the dye layer 3c, the sublimable dye image 19 is formed on the dyeing layer 3b without peeling off the dyeing layer 3b from the intermediate transfer medium 2. You can In this embodiment, a sublimation plate 8 is provided, and the sublimable dye image 1
Even at the time of forming 9, the ink sheet 3 is rapidly peeled off from the intermediate transfer medium 2 so that the dyeing layer 3b is not peeled off from the intermediate transfer medium 2 and the Y-color sublimable dye image is formed on the dyeing layer 3b. 19 will be obtained.

According to a detailed experiment, the curvature of peeling of the ink sheet 3 from the intermediate transfer medium 2 is 3 mm or less (the peeling plate 8
The shape of the tip of the ink sheet has a curvature of 3 mm or less), and the peeling angle of the ink sheet 3 from the intermediate transfer medium 2 is
40 ° to 140 ° with respect to the tangential direction of, the dyeing layer 3b formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2 is not peeled off,
The sublimable dye image 19 was successfully formed on the dyeing layer 3b.

Further, the same operation is performed by the dye layers 3 of M and C colors.
By performing the procedure for c, Y, M, and C are added to the dyeing layer 3b.
Sublimable dye image 19 of three colors can be obtained.

In this embodiment, even when the sublimable dye image 19 is formed on the dyeing layer 3b formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2, the intermediate transfer of the ink sheet 3 is performed by the tip portion of the peeling plate 8 having a small curvature. Operation of peeling from the medium 2, an operation of peeling the ink sheet 3 from the intermediate transfer medium 2 at a deep angle by the ink sheet guide roll 12, and a pressing amount of the peeling plate 8 to the intermediate transfer medium 2 by the pressing amount regulating member 11. The operation of regulating the thermal head 4, the operation of pressing the release plate 8 after pressing the thermal head 4, the intermediate portion of the release plate 8 after the portion of the ink sheet 3 heated by the thermal head 4 has finished passing through the release plate 8. The operation of separating from the transfer medium 2 is also performed. All of these operations are exactly the same as when the dyeing layer 3b is formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2, and the effect is that when the sublimable dye image 19 is formed, the dyeing layer 3 is removed from the intermediate transfer medium 2.
This is what makes b difficult to peel off.

Next, the operation of transferring the dyeing layer 3b on which the sublimable dye image 19 is formed onto the recording paper 16 will be described with reference to FIG. Dyeing layer 3 on which sublimable dye image 19 is formed
The operation of transferring b to the recording paper 16 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the recording paper 16 is conveyed by a paper feeding means (not shown). In this state, as shown in FIG. 7, the transfer roller 13 heated and kept in heat is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium 2 via the recording paper 16 so that the sublimation dye image 19 formed on the intermediate transfer medium 2 is dyed. The layer 3b can be thermally transferred to the recording paper 16. At this time, the pressing force of the transfer roll 13 to the intermediate transfer medium 2 is configured to be a linear pressure of 2 kgf / cm. With this pressure contact force, the intermediate transfer drum 1
When the peripheral speed is 10 mm / sec, the heating temperature of the transfer roll 13 is 150 ° C., the Bekk smoothness is 3 seconds and the thickness is 150 μm.
The dyeing layer 3b could be satisfactorily transferred onto the m recording paper 16. At this time, since the intermediate transfer medium 2 is made of flexible silicone rubber, the silicone rubber can be made to follow the irregularities on the surface of the recording paper 16. As a result, the dyeing layer 3b could be made to closely follow the irregularities of the recording paper 16, and an output with good fixability could be obtained.

In this way, a high-quality full-color image can be obtained even on recording papers other than the special paper which could not be obtained by the conventional thermal recording method using a sublimable dye, and the running cost can be reduced. It can be reduced.

Further, although the intermediate transfer drum 1 is used in this embodiment, it is also possible to preferably use the intermediate transfer medium 2 formed on the belt-shaped substrate.

Further, in this embodiment, the dyeing layer 3b and Y, M,
Ink sheet 3 on which C dye layer 3c is formed in a frame-sequential manner
However, the dyeing layer 3b and the dye layers 3c of Y, M, and C may be formed on different sheets, and the dye layers 3c of Y, M, and C may be different from each other. It may be formed on a sheet.

[0051]

As described above, the present invention forms a dyeing layer on an intermediate transfer medium, records a sublimable dye image on the dyeing layer, and further dyes the sublimable dye image. Since the layers are thermally transferred to the recording paper, it is possible to output a high-definition full-color image not only on special paper but also on plain paper.

Further, the peeling curvature of the dyeing layer sheet from the intermediate transfer medium is 0.001 mm or more at the position of the dyeing layer sheet peeling member pressed against the intermediate transfer medium through the dyeing layer sheet.
Since it is a method of peeling so as to be less than or equal to mm, it becomes easy to form the dyeing layer on the intermediate transfer medium.

After formation of the sublimable dye image on the dyeing layer formed on the intermediate transfer medium, the dye layer sheet is pressed at the position of the dye layer sheet peeling member pressed against the intermediate transfer medium through the dye layer sheet. The curvature of peeling from the intermediate transfer medium is 0.001mm
Since it is peeled off so as to have a thickness of 3 mm or less, it is possible to make it difficult for the dyeing layer to peel off from the intermediate transfer medium and to stabilize the process.

Further, the dyeing layer sheet or the dye layer sheet is peeled off at a deep angle so that the peeling angle from the intermediate transfer medium is 40 degrees or more and 140 degrees or less with respect to the tangential direction at the peeling position of the intermediate transfer medium. Therefore, the dyeing layer can be easily formed on the intermediate transfer medium, and the dyeing layer can be hardly peeled off from the intermediate transfer medium.

Further, by controlling the pressing amount of the dyeing layer sheet peeling member or the dye layer sheet peeling member with respect to the intermediate transfer medium by using the pressing amount regulating member, the formation of the dyeing layer on the intermediate transfer medium is stabilized. It is possible to prevent the dyeing layer from peeling off from the intermediate transfer medium when the sublimable dye image is formed.

Further, since the dyeing layer forming means is pressed and then the dyeing layer sheet peeling member is pressed, it is possible to suppress the generation of wrinkles when passing through the dyeing layer forming means, and the final image is formed. The occurrence of image deterioration due to the influence of wrinkles can be suppressed. Similarly, by pressing the thermal image forming means against the intermediate transfer medium and then pressing the dye layer sheet peeling member against the intermediate transfer medium, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of image deterioration due to the influence of wrinkles on the final image.

By separating the dyeing layer sheet peeling member or the dye layer sheet peeling member from the intermediate transfer medium at a desired timing, the rear end portion of the dyeing layer can be reliably formed on the intermediate transfer medium. In addition, a good image can be formed without peeling the dyeing layer from the intermediate transfer medium up to the rear end portion of the sublimable dye image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ink sheet in the example.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the temperature dependence of the adhesive force between the dyeing layer and various media in the example.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing a peeled state of an ink sheet from an intermediate transfer medium in the example.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view showing a state in which an ink sheet is peeled off from an intermediate transfer medium in the case where a pressing amount regulating member is not provided in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an operation of forming a sublimable dye image on a dyeing layer in the example.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a transfer operation of a dyeing layer on which a sublimable dye image is formed onto a recording paper in the example.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional thermal recording device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Intermediate transfer drum 2 Intermediate transfer medium 3 Ink sheet (combination of dyeing layer sheet and dye layer sheet) 4 Thermal head (combining dyeing layer forming means and thermal image forming means) 5 Heating element 6 Thermal head Separation lever 8 Peeling plate (also serving as a dyeing layer sheet peeling member and a dye layer sheet peeling member) 9 Peeling plate supporting member 10 Spring 11 Pressing amount regulating member 12 Ink sheet guide roll 13 Transfer roll 14 Lever 16 Recording paper 17 Halogen lamp 19 Sublimable dye image

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location 7267-2H B41M 5/26 101 J

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A dyeing layer sheet having a dyeing layer on a film-shaped base material is heated in a state of being pressed against an intermediate transfer medium by a dyeing layer forming means, and then the intermediate layer through the dyeing layer sheet. The dyeing layer sheet is peeled from the intermediate transfer medium at the position of the dyeing layer sheet peeling member pressed against the transfer medium so that the curvature of peeling is 0.001 mm or more and 3 mm or less, and dyed on the intermediate transfer medium. In the first step of forming a layer, a dye layer sheet having a dye layer containing a sublimable dye on a film-shaped substrate is brought into contact with the dyeing layer formed on the intermediate transfer medium, and a thermal image forming means is used. Second step of forming a sublimable dye image on the dyeing layer by selectively heating the dye layer in contact with the dyeing layer, and forming the dyeing layer formed on the intermediate transfer medium on the dyeing layer Heat transfer to recording paper together with the sublimable dye image A thermal recording method comprising a third step. 2. A dyeing layer sheet having a dyeing layer on a film-shaped substrate is heated in a state of being pressed against an intermediate transfer medium by a dyeing layer forming means, and then the dyeing layer sheet is heated to the intermediate transfer medium. A first step of forming a dyeing layer on the intermediate transfer medium by peeling the dye layer sheet from the film, and a dye layer sheet having a dye layer containing a sublimable dye on a film-shaped substrate was formed on the intermediate transfer medium. A sublimable dye image is formed on the dyeing layer by selectively heating the dye layer in contact with the dyeing layer by the thermal image forming means, and then forming the sublimation dye image on the intermediate layer through the dye layer sheet. A second step of peeling the dye layer sheet from the intermediate transfer medium at the position of the dye layer sheet peeling member pressed against the transfer medium so that the curvature of peeling is 0.001 mm or more and 3 mm or less; Dye formed on top A thermal recording method comprising the step of thermally transferring the layer onto a recording paper together with a sublimable dye image formed on the dyeing layer. 3. A dyeing layer sheet and a dyeing layer sheet each having a film-like base material on which a dyeing layer and a dyeing layer are applied face-sequentially, and a thermal image forming means is used as the dyeing layer. 3. The dye layer sheet peeling means is also used as the forming means, and is also used as the dyeing layer sheet peeling means.
Thermal recording method described. 4. The peeling angle of the dyeing layer sheet or the dye layer sheet from the intermediate transfer medium in the first step is 40 degrees or more and 140 degrees or less with respect to the tangential direction at the peeling position of the intermediate transfer medium. The thermal recording method according to claim 1, wherein the thermal recording method is performed as described above. 5. A dyeing layer sheet peeling member or a dye layer sheet peeling member that can be brought into contact with and separated from an intermediate transfer medium, and a pressing amount regulating member is used to peel the dyeing layer sheet peeling member or the dye layer sheet. The thermal recording method according to claim 1, wherein the pressing amount of the member with respect to the intermediate transfer medium is regulated. 6. A dyeing layer forming means and a dyeing layer sheet peeling member,
Alternatively, the thermal image forming means and the dye layer sheet peeling member can be brought into contact with and separated from the intermediate transfer medium, the dyeing layer forming means is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium, and then the dyeing layer sheet peeling member is transferred to the intermediate transfer medium. 3. A medium is pressed, or the thermal image forming unit is pressed to the intermediate transfer medium and then the dye layer sheet peeling unit is pressed to the intermediate transfer medium. The heat recording method described in. 7. A dyeing layer sheet peeling member or a dye layer sheet peeling member can be brought into and out of contact with an intermediate transfer medium, and the portion of the dyeing layer sheet heated by the dyeing layer forming means is the dyeing layer sheet. The dyeing layer sheet separating member is separated from the intermediate transfer medium after passing through the pressing position of the separating member to the intermediate transfer medium, or the portion heated by the thermal image forming means of the dye layer sheet is 3. The dye layer sheet peeling member is separated from the intermediate transfer medium after the dye layer sheet peeling member has passed through a pressing position of the dye layer sheet peeling member against the intermediate transfer medium. Thermal recording method. 8. The thermal recording method according to claim 1, wherein the dyeing layer forming portion uses an intermediate transfer medium containing at least silicone rubber. 9. In the third step, a dyeing layer formed on the intermediate transfer medium is thermally transferred onto the recording paper by pressing a heat-insulating pressure roll against the intermediate transfer medium via the recording paper. The thermal recording method according to claim 1, wherein: