JPH082124A - Thermal transfer recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a recording image of good quality regardless of the kind or surface state of an image receiving material by heating a dyeing layer transfer material in a region having a size larger than that of a dyeing layer and smaller than that of a release layer by a dyeing layer transfer means to form the dyeing layer on an intermediate medium. CONSTITUTION:A thermal head 1 is pressed to the surface layer 3 of a support drum 1 while a current is supplied to the thermal head 1 to heat the same and the support drum 2 is rotated to form a dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3 while a dyeing layer transfer material 10 is taken up by a taking-up roller 12. The dyeing layer transfer material is heated by the thermal head 1 so that the size of the heating area thereof is larger than that of the dyeing layer 9 and smaller than that of a release layer 25. By this constitution, a dyeing layer transfer substrate 7 and the surface layer 3 are not strongly bonded by the heat and pressure of the thermal head 1 and the dyeing layer transfer material 10 is stably and quietly taken up by the taking-up roller 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sublimation type thermal transfer recording method using dye sublimation or diffusion by heat, without using a dedicated image receptor to which a dyeing layer is previously applied. The present invention relates to a method for thermal transfer recording using an image receptor such as paper or bond paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Inkjet systems and thermal transfer systems have been developed as a method for simply and rapidly outputting a mono-color or full-color image in place of conventional general printing systems and printing methods. The sublimation thermal transfer recording method using a dedicated image receptor is the most excellent method for outputting a full-color image having excellent continuous gradation and comparable to a color photograph. However, as the sublimation type thermal transfer recording system spreads, it is not a dedicated image receptor that is pre-coated with a dyeing layer, but a dyeing layer such as official postcards, plain paper, bond paper, and dull art paper that is commonly used in homes and offices. There was a strong demand to output a full-color image on an image receptor that was not previously coated with. Therefore, the following recording methods are currently proposed.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a method currently in use. Reference numeral 31 is a transfer body. In the transfer body 31, a heat resistant slipping layer 32 is provided on one surface of a transfer substrate 33 made of a polyester film, and a dyeing layer 34 is provided on the other surface.
A yellow color material layer 35, a magenta color material layer 36, and a cyan color material layer 37 are provided in this order in a frame order. 38 is a thermal head, 39 is a platen roller, 4
Reference numeral 0 is an image receiving body such as a postcard or plain paper, and 41 is a carrying roller for carrying the image receiving body 40.

The principle of this method will be described with reference to the operation diagram of FIG. First, as shown in FIG. A, the transfer body 31 and the image receiving body 40 are sandwiched between the thermal head 38 and the platen roller 39 so that the dyeing layer 34 and the image receiving body 40 are in contact with each other. Next, the platen roller 39 is rotated to feed the transfer body 31 and the image receiving body 40 in the direction of the arrow, and the thermal head 38 is heated from the back surface of the heat resistant slipping layer 32 to melt the entire surface of the dyeing layer 34. . At this time, since the dyeing layer 34 is melt-bonded to the image receiving body 40 over the entire surface, the dyeing layer 34 is entirely transferred to the image receiving body 40. Next, the image receptor 40 to which the dyeing layer 34 has been transferred is returned to the rear, and the transfer body 31 and the image receptor 40 are placed so that the yellow color material layer 35 and the dyeing layer 34 are in contact with each other as shown in FIG. , And is tightly attached between the thermal head 38 and the platen roller 39. Next, the platen roller 39 is rotated to feed the transfer body 31 and the image receiving body 40 in the direction of the arrow, while the thermal head 38 is heated from the back surface of the heat resistant slipping layer 32 to remove the yellow color material layer 35 from the yellow color material layer 35. The dye is transferred to the dyeing layer 34 to record a yellow image. Further, the magenta color and the cyan color are recorded in the same manner as the yellow color, and finally, the full-color image is recorded on the dyeing layer 34 on the image receiving body 40.

[0005]

In the conventional sublimation thermal transfer recording system constructed as described above, recording is performed by the transfer of dye from the color material layer to the dyeing layer when the temperature of the color material layer rises.
Therefore, if the contact between the coloring material layer and the dyeing layer is not kept uniform, density unevenness and a portion where the dye does not transfer are formed and the recorded image becomes dirty. The surface of image receivers such as official postcards, plain paper, and bond paper is uneven due to the fibers of the paper. In the above-mentioned sublimation type thermal transfer recording system, since the dyeing layer is transferred to the image receptor having these irregularities on the surface, the shape of the dyeing layer transferred to the image receptor is also irregular. Therefore, there is a problem in that the color material layer and the dyeing layer are brought into uniform contact with each other, density unevenness and unrecordable portions are formed, and the recorded image is dirty.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a thermal transfer recording method and a transfer body capable of obtaining a recorded image with a good image regardless of the type and surface condition of the image receiver.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a dyeing layer transfer body having a release layer and a dyeing layer provided on at least the upper surface of a substrate, and at least the upper surface of the substrate. Using a color material layer transfer body having a color material layer provided on the intermediate medium and an intermediate medium, the dyeing layer on the dyeing layer transfer body is first transferred onto the intermediate medium by heat and pressure of a dyeing layer transfer means. The dyeing layer is formed, and then the dyeing layer and the coloring material layer formed on the intermediate medium are overlapped, and the coloring material is transferred from the coloring material layer to the intermediate medium by heat and pressure of a recording unit. In the thermal transfer recording method, the recording image is formed by moving to the upper dyeing layer, and further the dyeing layer on which the recording image is formed is transferred from the intermediate medium to an image receptor by heat and pressure of a transfer means, A dyeing layer transfer body in which the size of the release layer is larger than that of the dyeing layer When the dyeing layer is formed on the intermediate medium, the area heated by the dyeing layer transfer means is larger than the size of the dyeing layer and smaller than the size of the release layer to heat the dyeing layer to form the intermediate layer. It is a thermal transfer recording method characterized by being formed on a medium.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the dyeing layer is transferred from the dyeing layer transfer member to the surface layer of the intermediate medium by the heat and pressure of the dyeing layer transferring means such as a thermal head or a heat roller. The dyeing layer transfer body has a structure shown in FIG. The heating temperature is preferably as high as possible because it is necessary to soften the dyeing layer by heat so that the dyeing layer closely follows the surface layer. At this time, when the dyeing layer transfer body is heated from a position before the leading part of the release layer, the dyeing layer base body and the surface layer are firmly adhered by heat and pressure, and the dyeing layer transfer body is moved from the surface layer. It cannot be separated, or a large peeling noise is generated even if it can be separated. On the other hand, since the release layer has a weak adhesive force with the surface layer even when subjected to heat and pressure, the dyeing layer transfer body cannot be separated from the surface layer or a large peeling noise is not generated. Therefore, the heating region must be larger than the size of the dyeing layer and smaller than the size of the release layer, that is, the region shown by the hatched portion in FIG. 4B.

Further, since the surface layer is made of a rubber material, the pressure of the dyeing layer transfer means causes the dyeing layer transfer substrate to stick to the surface layer to some extent, and when the dyeing layer transfer body and the surface layer are separated, A peeling noise is produced. That is, a peeling noise is generated in the dyeing layer substrate portion outside the release layer. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4C, the width of the release layer is made the same as the width of the dyeing layer transfer body to eliminate the dyeing layer substrate portions on both sides, and further to the front of the end portion of the release layer. It is necessary to separate the dyeing layer transfer body and the surface layer at a position, that is, at a portion where the release layer and the surface layer are in contact with each other.

Further, the dyeing layer transfer means is not a heat roller but a dyeing layer transfer means such as a thermal head that produces a frictional force with the dyeing layer transfer body, and the dyeing layer transfer body is shown in FIG. And (C), the dyeing layer transfer body is used, and when the release layer is made of a rubber material having a high releasability such as silicone rubber, which is easily adhered to the surface layer, the dyeing layer is formed. When formed on the surface layer, wrinkles may occur on the dyeing layer transfer body, and wrinkles may also occur on the dyeing layer on the surface layer. This occurs because the portion having the dyeing layer is stretched by heat and frictional force, but the portion having the release layer sticks to the surface layer and does not stretch. Therefore, it is necessary to use a dyeing layer transfer body having the same width as the dyeing layer transfer body as shown in FIG. 4D.

Further, when the dyeing layer transfer body and the surface layer are separated, when the dyeing layer transfer body is separated from the surface layer at a temperature not lower than the flow softening point of the binder resin of the dyeing layer, Since the film strength is weak, the dye layer cannot be successfully transferred to the surface layer by being pulled from inside the dye layer. Therefore, when the dyeing layer transfer body is separated from the surface layer, the dyeing layer transfer body and the surface layer are separated after cooling the dyeing layer to a temperature lower than the flow softening point of the binder resin of the dyeing layer. There is a need. In particular,
The dyeing layer transfer body and the surface layer are not separated at a position immediately after the dyeing layer transfer means, but the dyeing layer transfer body and the surface layer are separated at a position apart from the dyeing layer transfer means.

By doing so, the dyeing layer can be stably formed on the surface layer without peeling noise and wrinkles, and the dyeing layer transfer body can also be stably run.

Next, the dyeing layer formed on the surface layer and the yellow color material layer on the color material layer transfer body are superposed and the color material layer is applied by heat and pressure of a recording means such as a thermal head. Then, a yellow dye is transferred to the dyeing layer to form a yellow recorded image. After transferring the yellow dye to the dyeing layer,
The color material layer and the dyeing layer on the surface layer are separated. At this time, since the color material layer and the dyeing layer are fused immediately after receiving heat,
In order to reduce fusion, cool the dyeing layer to a temperature lower than the flow softening point of the binder resin in the dyeing layer, and color it so that the temperature is lower than the flow softening point of the binder resin in the coloring material layer. After cooling the material layer, the coloring material layer and the dyeing layer are separated. The lower the temperature at the time of separating the color material layer and the dyeing layer, the better. Specifically, the color material layer and the dyeing layer are not separated immediately after the transfer of the dye by the color material layer transferring means, but the color material layer and the dyeing layer are separated from each other at a position away from the color material layer transferring means. To separate.

By doing so, the coloring material can be stably transferred from the coloring material layer to the dyeing layer on the surface layer. This process is similarly repeated for magenta and cyan colors to form a full-color recorded image on the dyeing layer on the surface layer.

Finally, the dyeing layer on which the full-color recorded image is formed on the surface layer and the image receiver (postcard, plain paper, etc.) are superposed, and the surface layer is heated and pressed by the transfer means such as a heat roller. The upper dyeing layer is transferred from the surface layer to the image receptor and fixed, and a full-color recorded image is formed on the image receptor. By doing so, it is possible to form a full-color recorded image on any image receiver, which could be recorded only on the special paper conventionally.

Here, the characteristics required for the surface layer on the intermediate medium can be summarized as follows.

1) Dyeing layer The adhesive must have such a property that the dyeing layer can be easily transferred from the transfer body to the surface layer. If there is no adhesiveness, transfer failure of the dyeing layer occurs, and the dyeing layer remains on the dyeing layer transfer body. Further, when a dye is transferred from the coloring material layer to the dyeing layer on the surface layer to form a recorded image, the dyeing layer and the coloring material layer are weakly adhered by the heat and pressure of the recording means. At this time, if the adhesive force between the surface layer and the dyeing layer is weak, the dyeing layer is peeled from the surface layer and transferred to the color material layer transfer body. Therefore, the adhesive force between the surface layer and the dyeing layer should be strong.

2) On the other hand, it must have releasability so that the dyeing layer can be easily transferred from the surface layer to the image receptor. If there is no releasability, the dyeing layer may remain on the surface layer.

3) When a dye is transferred from the coloring material layer to the dyeing layer on the surface layer to form a recorded image, the adhesion between the dyeing layer and the coloring material layer is important. If the surface layer is hard, the adhesion between the dyeing layer and the coloring material layer will be poor, and the recorded image will appear white. Therefore, the surface layer must have appropriate flexibility.

4) When the dye layer is transferred from the surface layer to the image receptor and fixed, when the image receptor is a postcard, plain paper, bond paper or the like having an uneven surface, the dye layer The surface layer of the intermediate medium must have flexibility, because the surface of the intermediate medium must be sufficiently imitated.

As described above, the surface layer of the intermediate medium has flexibility, has adhesiveness when transferring the dyeing layer to the surface layer and has adhesiveness when transferring the dye from the coloring material layer to the dyeing layer. When the dyeing layer on the layer is transferred to the image receptor, it must have releasability.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention. A schematic configuration diagram will be described. A supporting drum 2 made of a metal such as aluminum is installed at the center of the apparatus for realizing the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention. The support drum 2 rotates in the direction of the arrow. The intermediate medium 5 is wound around the support drum 2. Around the support drum 2, a thermal head 1 which is a dyeing layer transfer means, a thermal head 19 which is a recording means, a heat roll 22, and an image receiving member separating claw 23.
And are installed. A dyeing layer cooling roller 11 is attached to the dyeing layer transfer means 1 so as to contact the intermediate medium 5. Similarly, a color material layer cooling roller 20 is attached to the recording means 19 so as to contact the intermediate medium 5. The dyeing layer transfer body 10 is installed between the dyeing layer transfer means 1 and the intermediate medium 5, the dyeing layer transfer body 10 is sent out from the unwinding roller 6, and the winding roller 12 uses the dyeing layer transfer body. 10 is wound up. Similarly, between the recording means 19 and the intermediate medium 5,
A color material layer transfer body 18 is installed. The intermediate medium 5 is composed of at least the surface layer 3 and the intermediate medium substrate 4. In the dyeing layer transfer body 10, the heat resistant slipping layer 8 is formed on one surface of the dyeing layer substrate 7.
And a pattern-shaped release layer 25 on the other surface.
Is provided with a dyeing layer 9. A detailed view of the dyeing layer transfer body 10 is shown in FIG. In the color material layer transfer body 18, the heat resistant slipping layer 17 is provided on one surface of the color material layer base 16, and on the other surface thereof, a yellow color material layer 13 and a magenta color material layer having a pattern shape. 14 and cyan color material layer 15
Are provided. The image receptor 21 is sandwiched between the heat roll 22 and the intermediate medium 5 and moves in the direction of the arrow. If necessary for separating the image receiving body 21 and the intermediate medium 5, the image receiving body separating claw 23 is used.

The principle of the present invention will be described with reference to the operation diagram of FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the dyeing layer transfer body 10 is so arranged that the dyeing layer 9 is in contact with the surface layer 3 between the thermal head 1 which is the dyeing layer transfer means and the intermediate medium 5.
And the supporting drum 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow to energize and heat the thermal head 1 to soften a part or the whole surface of the dyeing layer 9 and a part or the whole surface of the dyeing layer 9. It is formed on the surface layer 3 from the transfer body 10. This process will be called a dyeing layer forming process. The dyeing layer forming step will be described in detail with reference to the operation diagram of FIG. First,
As shown in FIG. 3A, while the dyeing layer transfer body 10 is being wound by the winding roller 12, the alignment is performed so that the release layer 25 is located under the heating element of the thermal head 1. Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, the thermal head 1
Is pressed against the surface layer 3, the thermal head 1 is energized and heated, the support drum 2 is rotated, and the dyeing layer transfer body 10 is wound by the winding roller 12 and the dyeing layer 9 is placed on the surface layer 3. Form. The heating area by the thermal head 1 is heated so as to be larger than the size of the dyeing layer 9 and smaller than the size of the release layer 25, as indicated by 44 in FIG. 4B. By doing so, the dyeing layer transfer layer base body 7 and the surface layer 3 are not strongly adhered to each other by the heat and pressure of the thermal head 1, and the dyeing layer transfer body 10 is stable, silent and quietly wound up. Can be rolled up to 12.

At this time, since the surface layer 3 is made of a rubber material, the pressure of the thermal head 1 alone causes the dyeing layer substrate 7 to
It sticks to the surface layer 3 to some extent and sticks. That is, the dyeing layer transfer layer substrate 7 and the surface layer 3 on both sides of the dyeing layer 9 adhere to each other to some extent, and when the dyeing layer transfer layer substrate 7 is separated from the surface layer 3, a peeling noise is generated. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 (C), it is preferable to use a dyeing layer transfer body in which the release layer 25 has the same width as the dyeing layer transfer body 10 and the dyeing layer base material portions on both sides are eliminated. Good.

When the release layer 25 is made of a rubber material such as silicone rubber and easily sticks to the surface layer 3, wrinkles may be formed in the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3. . This occurs because the portion with the dyeing layer 9 is stretched by heat and frictional force, but the portion with the release layer 25 sticks to the surface layer 3 and does not stretch. Therefore, when a rubber material is used for the release layer 25, it is preferable to use a dyeing layer transfer body in which the width of the dyeing layer transfer body 10 is the same as the width of the dyeing layer 9 as shown in FIG. .

In the dyeing layer forming step, in order to sufficiently adhere the dyeing layer 9 to the surface of the surface layer 3, it is preferable that the amount of heat given from the thermal head 1 to the dyeing layer 9 is large. At this time, if the dyeing layer transfer body 10 is separated from the surface layer 3 at a temperature equal to or higher than the flow softening point of the binder resin of the dyeing layer 9, the film strength of the dyeing layer 9 is weak and the dyeing layer transfer body 10 is pulled from the inside of the dyeing layer. Therefore, the dyeing layer 9 cannot be successfully transferred to the surface layer 3. Therefore, instead of separating the dyeing layer transfer body 10 and the surface layer 3 immediately after the thermal head 1 by the dyeing layer cooling roller 11, the separation position is shifted to bind the dyeing layer 9 to the dyeing layer 9. The dyeing layer transfer body 10 and the surface layer 3 are separated by cooling for a while so that the temperature becomes lower than the flow softening point of the resin. Therefore, the thermal head 1 and the dyeing layer cooling roller 11
The distance between and should be as far as possible.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3C, the dyeing layer 9
The heating by the thermal head 1 is completed before the end portion of (1) passes through the heating element of the thermal head 1 and does not pass through the end portion of the release layer 25.

Finally, the thermal head 1 is separated and contacted at the portion where the release layer 25 and the surface layer 3 are in contact with each other. This completes the dyeing layer forming step.

By doing so, in the dyeing layer forming step, the dyeing layer 9 can be formed on the surface layer 3 quietly and stably.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, the surface layer 3
The coloring material layer transfer body 18 is sandwiched between the intermediate medium 5 and the thermal head 19 which is a recording means so that the upper dyeing layer 9 and the coloring material layer 13 of yellow color come into contact with each other, and the supporting drum While rotating 2 in the direction of the arrow, the thermal head 1 is energized and heated to transfer the dye from the color material layer 13 to the dyeing layer 9 to form a yellow recording image on the dyeing layer 9. After the yellow dye is transferred to the dyeing layer 9, the color material layer 13 and the surface layer 3
The upper dyeing layer 9 is separated. At this time, since the dyeing layer 9 and the coloring material layer 13 are fused immediately after receiving the heat of the thermal head 19, in order to reduce the fusion, the flow softening of the binder resin in the dyeing layer 9 is performed. Cooling the dyeing layer 9 to a temperature below the point,
Further, after cooling the color material layer 13 to a temperature lower than the flow softening point of the binder resin of the color material layer 13, the dyeing layer 9 and the color material layer 13 are separated. The lower the temperature at the time of separating the dyeing layer 9 and the color material layer 13, the better. Specifically, a coloring material layer cooling roller 20 is provided at a position distant from the thermal head 19, and the dyeing layer 9 and the coloring material layer 13 are separated after cooling to a predetermined temperature or lower. Therefore, the distance between the thermal head 19 and the color material layer cooling roller 20 should be as large as possible. By doing so, the dye can be stably transferred from the coloring material layer 13 to the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3.

The same steps as those for yellow are repeated for magenta and cyan to form a full-color recorded image on the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3.
When all the dyes have been transferred from the color material layer transfer body 18 to the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3, as shown in FIG.
The thermal head 19 and the color material layer transfer body 18 are separated from the surface layer 3.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 2C, the dyeing layer 9 on which the full-color recorded image is formed on the surface layer 3 is brought into contact with the image receptor 21 such as a postcard or plain paper, and the inside of the aluminum roll is rolled. A heater such as a halogen lamp is inserted in and the heat and pressure of a heat roller 22 provided with a heat resistant rubber layer such as silicone on the outside of the aluminum roll causes the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3 to be transferred from the surface layer 3 to the image receiving body 21. Then, the image is transferred and fixed on to form a full-color recorded image on the image receiving body 21.
If necessary, the image receiving member separating claw 23 is used to separate the surface layer 3 and the image receiving member 21. Since the adhesive force between the dyeing layer 9 and the surface layer 3 decreases as the temperature increases, the dyeing layer 9 is more likely to transfer from the surface layer 3 to the image receptor 21 in the higher temperature state. Therefore, it is better to separate the surface layer 3 and the image receptor 21 at a position as close as possible to the heat roll 22. However, if the transfer temperature is raised above the flow softening point of the binder resin of the dyeing layer 9, the film strength of the dyeing layer 9 will be significantly reduced and the dyeing layer 9 will be torn off inside the dyeing layer 9 and the surface of the dyeing layer 9 will be well covered. Layer 3 to image receptor 2
No. 1 can not be transferred to the surface layer 1. Therefore, the temperature applied to the dyeing layer 9 at the time of transfer is set lower than the flow softening point of the binder resin of the dyeing layer 9 or the image receiving member 21 is cooled by shifting the image receiving member separating position. Need to be separated from 3.

In this way, it is possible to form a full-color recorded image on any image receiver, which could be recorded only on the special paper in the past.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration diagram of one embodiment of the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention. 5 is different from FIG. 1 in that the dyeing layer transfer means and the recording means are first provided with the same thermal head 1 in the same function. Similarly, the dyeing layer cooling roller and the coloring material layer cooling roller are the same. In addition, the transfer substrate 24 in which the dyeing layer 9 and the color material layers 13 to 15 are the same
The point provided above is different from the embodiment of FIG.

The operation principle of the present invention will be described. First, the transfer member 26 is provided between the thermal head 1 and the intermediate medium 5.
The transfer body 26 is sandwiched so that the dyeing layer 9 comes into contact with the intermediate medium 5, and the thermal head 1 is energized and heated while rotating the supporting drum 2 in the direction of the arrow, and the portion of the dyeing layer 9 or The entire surface is softened, and the part or the entire surface of the dyeing layer 9 is transferred from the transfer body 26 onto the surface layer 3. This dyeing layer forming step is exactly the same as in the embodiment of FIG. Then, the thermal head 1 is once separated from the surface layer 3, and the take-up roller 12 and the support drum 2 are rotated so that the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3 and the yellow color material layer 13 come into contact with each other. To align. Next, the thermal head 1 is attached to the surface layer 3
The thermal head 1 is energized and heated while rotating the support drum 2 in the direction of the arrow to transfer the dye from the color material layer 13 to the dyeing layer 9 to form a yellow color recorded image on the dyeing layer 9 To form. After the yellow dye is transferred to the dyeing layer 9, the color material layer 13 and the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3 are separated. The process for yellow is repeated in the same manner for magenta and cyan to form a full-color recorded image on the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3. Transfer body 2
When all the dyes have been transferred from 6 to the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3, the thermal head 1 and the transfer body 26 are moved to the surface layer 3
Separate from. Finally, the dyeing layer 9 on which the full-color recorded image is formed on the surface layer 3 and the image receptor 2 such as a postcard or plain paper
1 and the heat and pressure of the heat roller 22
The dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3 is transferred from the intermediate medium 5 to the image receiver 21 and fixed, and a full-color recorded image is formed on the image receiver 21. If necessary, use the image receptor separation nail 23,
The intermediate medium 5 and the image receptor 21 are separated.

In this way, the number of constituent parts and materials can be considerably reduced as compared with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the size of the apparatus can be reduced.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention. 6 is different from FIG. 5 in that the intermediate medium 5 has an endless belt shape and the heat roll 22 is arranged inside the intermediate medium 5. In FIG. 6, 27 is a platen roller, 28 is an idler roller, and 29 is a roller. The operation of the present invention is the same as that of the embodiment of FIG. With such a configuration, when the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3 is transferred to the image receiving body 21, heating can be performed from the side of the intermediate medium 5 by the heat roller 22, so that the transfer temperature is high even if the image receiving body 21 is thick. It is advantageous because there is no need to raise it. It is possible that at least one of the rolls holding the intermediate medium 5 is a roll that prevents the intermediate medium from meandering. For example, it is possible to prevent the meandering by making the idler roller 28 a drum-shaped roll, or to move the shaft of the idler roller 28 to prevent the meandering.

In the embodiments described above, the thermal transfer head was used as the dyeing layer transfer means, but any means capable of heating the dyeing layer may be used, and a metal roll or the like may be used. Further, although a thermal head was used as the recording means, any means capable of transferring the dye in the color material layer to the dyeing layer may be used, and an energizing head, an optical head, or the like may be used.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the dyeing layer transfer body 10 used in the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention. The dyeing layer transfer body 10 includes at least the dyeing layer substrate 7, the release layer 25, and the dyeing layer 9. In FIG. 4A, the heat resistant slipping layer 8 is provided on the entire surface of one surface of the dyeing layer substrate 7, and the release layer 25 is provided on the other surface in a pattern shape. FIG. 6 is a view in which the adhesion layer 9 is provided smaller than the size of the release layer 25. Further, the marker 43 is provided in front of each release layer 25. FIG. 4C shows a dyeing layer transfer body in which the parts of the dyeing layer base 7 on both sides of the release layer 25 are completely eliminated.
Further, FIG. 4D is a dyeing layer transfer body in which the widths of the dyeing layer 9 and the dyeing layer transfer body 10 are the same. FIG. 4E shows an embodiment in which the polymer material layer 30 is laminated on the dyeing layer 9. The polymer material layer 30 is made of a material having a higher glass transition temperature (hereinafter, abbreviated as Tg) than the binder resin of the dyeing layer 9, and when forming a recorded image on the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3. Also, it is provided in order to prevent the dye from penetrating the dyeing layer 9 and transferring to the surface layer 3 when the dyeing layer 9 is transferred to the image receptor. Further, the dyeing layer transfer body 10 may be provided with an anchor layer on the entire surface or a part of the dyeing layer base material 7 in order to increase the adhesiveness between the release layer 25 and the marker 43.

The dyeing layer substrate 7 is not particularly limited, and any substrate can be used. For example, polyester,
Films obtained from polystyrene, polypropylene, polysulfone sun, aramid, polyimide, polyparabanic acid, polycarbonate, polyvinyl alcohol, cellophane, etc., and various paints such as conductive paints, primer paints, antistatic paints, heat resistant slip paints, etc. Are various coating films coated with. Particularly preferred is
It is a polyester film.

The dyeing layer 9 is not particularly limited, but various conventionally known thermoplastic resins and various thermosetting resins can be used. For example, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride such as vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl butyral, acetoacetalized polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetal such as propionacetalized polyvinyl acetal, styrene-
Examples thereof include acrylonitrile copolymer resin, vinyl chloride-acrylic copolymer resin, polyacrylamide resin, and polyester resin such as saturated polyester. In particular, the dyeing layer 9 preferably contains at least a polyvinyl acetal-based resin from the viewpoints of less fusion with the color material layer during recording and having an appropriate adhesive force with the intermediate medium. Polybutynyl acetal is a resin obtained by reacting polyvinyl alcohol with various aldehydes such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and propionaldehyde. The dyeing layer 9 has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the resin of the dyeing layer 9 in the range of 40 ° C. to 150 ° C., an average degree of polymerization of the resin in the range of 150 to 3000, or a flow softening point of 300 ° C. or less. Is especially desirable. When the dyeing layer 9 contains one or both of a fluorine-containing moisture-curable resin and a siloxysan moisture-curable resin, it is very excellent in preventing fusion with the coloring material layer during recording, which is preferable. . Furthermore, various well-known surfactants can be used to prevent fusion with the color material layer during recording.
For example, various anionic surfactants such as carboxylic acid salts, sulfonic acid salts, sulfuric acid ester salts and phosphoric acid ester salts, various aliphatic amine salts, aliphatic quaternary ammonium salts, aromatic quaternary ammonium salts, and heterocyclic 4 Various cationic surfactants such as primary ammonium salt, ether type such as polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether, etc., ether ester type such as polyoxyethylene glycerin fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyethylene glycol Ester type such as fatty acid ester, fatty acid monoglyceride, sorbitan fatty acid ester, propylene glycol fatty acid ester, sucrose fatty acid ester, fatty acid alkanolamide, polyoxyethylene fatty acid amide, polyoxyethylene alkyl Min, if nitrogen type various nonionic surfactants such as alkyl amine oxides, various betaine type, aminocarboxylic acid salt, various amphoteric surfactants such as imidazoline derivatives, fluoroalkyl (C ₂ ~C ₂₀₎
Carboxylic acid, monoperfluoroalkyl (C ₆ ~C ₁₆₎
Various fluorosurfactants such as ethyl phosphate, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid diethanolamide,
Various modified silicone oils such as polyether modified silicone oil, carboxyl modified silicone oil, alkyl aralkyl polyether modified silicone oil, epoxy / polyether modified silicone oil, and various silicones such as various copolymers of polyoxyalkylene glycol and silicone. There are surfactants. Furthermore, surfactants called polymer surfactants, organometallic surfactants, reactive surfactants, etc. can also be used. Further, the dyeing layer 9 may contain a developer such as an electron-accepting substance, if necessary (for example, when a leuco dye is used for the coloring material layer). Examples of the electron-accepting substance include phenol compounds such as bisphenol A, carboxylic acid compounds,
There are silica and activated clay.

The thickness of the dyeing layer 9 is 0.5 μm to 20 μm.
Is suitable, and a thickness of 1 μm to 5 μm is particularly preferable.

The material for the heat resistant slipping layer 8 is not particularly limited, and for example, various thermoplastic resins, curable resins of various curable resins by heat, light, electron beam or the like can be used. In particular, various curable resins are good in terms of adhesion to the substrate and heat resistance. For example, there are silicone resin, epoxy resin, unsaturated aldehyde resin, urea resin, unsaturated polyester resin, alkyd resin, furan resin, oligoacrylate and the like. Among them, a cured resin of oligoacrylate shows excellent characteristics. In addition, the resin cured by light and electron rays is easily cured in a short time, and there is almost no transfer of unreacted resin or curing agent to the color material layer. Show the characteristics. For example, a photocurable resin of an epoxy acrylate using a light of an oligoacrylate, an aromatic diazonium salt, an aromatic iodonium salt, or an aromatic sulfonium salt catalyst is excellent. Examples of oligoacrylates include polyol acrylates, polyester acrylates, epoxy acrylates, urethane acrylates, silicone acrylates, and polyacetal acrylates.
Examples of the epoxy resin include vinylcyclohexene dioxide and 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl-
There are cycloaliphatic epoxy resins such as 3,4-epoxycyclohexanecarboxylate. Also, a reactive diluent such as tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate or lauryl acrylate may be added to the resin for use. The film thickness of the heat resistant slipping layer is not particularly limited. In general, a film having a uniform thickness of 0.1 μm or more can be formed in terms of manufacturing.

The polymer material layer 30 is not particularly limited,
For example, various thermoplastic resins, various curable resins by heat, light, electron beam, etc. can be used. For example, various resins such as acrylic resin, urethane resin, amide resin, ester resin, cellulose resin, styrene resin, and olefin resin can be used. Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin,
Polystyrene, styrene-acrylic copolymer resin, chlorinated rubber, chlorinated polypropylene, vinyl chloride resin, chlorinated vinyl chloride resin, vinyl acetate resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, vinyl chloride-acrylic ester copolymer resin, saturated polyester It is preferable to use at least one polymer substance selected from polypropylene, polyester urethane, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose derivative, modified starch, starch derivative, and polycarbonate. Examples of the polyvinyl alcohol derivative include various polyvinyl acetals. As mentioned above for the dyeing layer,
Various polyvinyl acetals are particularly useful. Further, it is particularly useful to use a polymer having a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) than the dyeing layer 9 for the polymer substance layer 30.

The polymer material layer 30 has a thickness of 0.1 μm or more.
10 μm is suitable, and 0.5 μm to 5 μm is preferable.

The release layer 25 is not particularly limited. For example, the materials mentioned for the polymer layer can be used. Further, it may be formed of various releasing agents or various releasing agents and a polymer substance. As various release agents,
For example, silicone-based release agents such as dimethyl silicone oil, phenyl silicone oil, fluorine silicone oil, SiH modified, silanol modified, alcohol modified,
Various reactive or various modified silicone oils such as epoxy modified, amino modified, carboxy modified, alcohol modified, mercapto modified, vinyl modified, polyether modified, fluorine modified, higher fatty acid modified, carnauba modified, amide modified, alkylallyl modified, or There are the surfactants and the like mentioned in the section of the dyeing layer. Moreover, various resins modified with silicone or fluorine can be used. Particularly, a copolymer of silicone and acrylic is preferable. In addition, heat vulcanization type,
It is possible to use various silicone rubber powders such as room temperature curing type, liquid type, condensation reaction type, addition reaction type, peroxide curing type, ultraviolet curing type, various silicone rubbers and resins, various silicone emulsions, various silicone resin powders and the like. I can. Fluorine-based release agents include various fluororesins such as polytetrafluoroethylene and tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymers, various fluororubbers such as vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene rubber, and various fluorosurfactants. Agents, carbon fluoride, various fluororubber latex, fluororesins, etc. are useful. Further, in order to control the releasability of the releasable layer 25, various adhesives and various fine particles may be added.

The thickness of the release layer 25 is 0.1 μm to 5 μm.
Is suitable, and 0.1 μm to 3 μm is particularly preferable. Also,
The peeling force between the release layer 25 and the surface layer 3 is 5 at 25 ° C.
0 g / inch or less is preferable. Particularly, 20 g / inch or less is preferable. The method for measuring the peeling force is as follows. Using the dyeing layer transfer body 10 (thickness 6 μm) without the dyeing layer 9, the dyeing layer transfer body 1 is so arranged that the surface layer 3 and the release layer 25 are in contact with each other.
0 is stuck, the thermal head 1 is energized (the same conditions as the forming conditions of the following specific examples), and the surface layer 3 and the dyeing layer transfer body 10 are stuck. The dyeing layer transfer body 10 on the surface layer 3 is left with a width of 19 mm, and a commercially available cellophane tape having a thickness of 37 μm and a width of 18 mm is stuck thereon, and the cellophane tape is pulled in the direction of 180 degrees at a speed of 10 mm / sec. Measure the tension of.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of a color material layer transfer body used in the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention. Color material layer transfer body 18
Is composed of at least a color material layer substrate 16, a heat resistant slipping layer 17, a yellow color material layer 13, a magenta color material layer 14 and a cyan color material layer 15 as shown in FIG. . As shown in FIG. 7B, an anchor layer 42 is provided between the color material layers 13 to 15 and the color material layer base 16 to provide an adhesive force between the color material layers 13 to 15 and the color material layer base 16. May be increased. If necessary, a marker is provided at an appropriate position in front of each color material layer.

The color material layers 13 to 15 are composed of at least a dye and a binder. Disperse dyes, basic dyes, color formers, etc. are useful as the dyes. Particularly, disperse dyes such as indoaniline type, quinophthalone type, dicyanoimidazole type, dicyanomethine type and tricyanovinyl type are useful. Various polymer materials can be used as the binder. For example, various resins such as acrylic resin, urethane resin, amide resin, ester resin, cellulose resin, styrene resin, and olefin resin can be used. Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin, polystyrene, styrene-acrylic copolymer resin, chlorinated rubber, chlorinated polypropylene, vinyl chloride resin, chlorinated vinyl chloride resin, vinyl acetate resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, vinyl chloride-acrylic acid It is preferable to use at least one polymer substance selected from ester copolymer resin, saturated polyester, polypropylene, polyester urethane, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose derivative, modified oven, starch derivative, or polycarbonate. If necessary, a lubricant (fluorine-containing moisture-curable resin, siloxysan moisture-curable resin, the surfactant described in the dyeing layer, etc.), fine particles, and antistatic agent are used.

The thickness of the color material layers 13 to 15 is 0.1 μm or more.
10 μm is suitable, and 0.5 μm to 3 μm is particularly preferable.

The color material layer base 16 and the heat resistant slipping layer 17 are the same as the materials described for the dyeing layer, and therefore will be omitted here.

In FIG. 8A, the heat resistant slipping layer 8 is provided on one surface of the transfer substrate 24, and the anchor layer 42 is provided on the other surface.
Further, an example will be described in which a transfer body in which the release layer 25, the dyeing layer 9, and the color material layers 13 to 15 are provided on the same surface in a pattern shape on the anchor layer 42 is provided. Regarding the shape in the width direction, the width of the dyeing layer 9 and the width of the color material layers 13 to 15 are the same as the width of the transfer body. The shape of the dyeing layer 9 is shown in FIG.
And (C). In addition, the transfer substrate 24 and the release layer 25
And the dyeing layer 9, the color material layers 13 to 15, and the heat resistant slipping layer 8
Are the same materials as described in the dyeing layer of FIG. 4 and the color material layer of FIG. 7. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8B, a polymer material layer 30 may be laminated on the dyeing layer 9 to prevent the dye from migrating to the surface layer 3.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic block diagram of the intermediate medium 5. As shown in FIG. 9, the intermediate medium 5 includes at least the surface layer 3 and the intermediate medium substrate 4.

Various rubber materials can be used for the surface layer 3. For example, fluororubber, peroxide curing type, condensation reaction type, addition reaction type, ultraviolet curing type silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, urethane rubber, chloroprene rubber, isoprene rubber, butyl rubber, butadiene rubber-vinyl acetate rubber, ethylene-acrylic. Various synthetic rubbers such as rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber and polysulfide rubber, natural rubber and the like can be used. Further, these rubbers may be combined and mixed to adjust the adhesive force between the dyeing layer 9 and the surface layer 3 for use. Alternatively, a resin may be mixed to adjust the adhesive force between the dyeing layer 9 and the surface layer 3 before use. For example, various fluororesins such as polytetrafluoroethylene and tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer are useful. Also, various adhesives on the surface layer 3,
Various fine particles (ultrafine particles) and an antistatic agent can be contained. For example, carbon black such as MT carbon and FT carbon, white carbon, magnesium oxide,
Examples include synthetic amorphous silica, titanium oxide, talc, calcium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, calcium silicate, barium sulfate, clay, red iron oxide, and graphite powder.

As a result of carrying out the continuation test 10,000 times using the official postcard on the image receiving paper with the constitution of FIG. 6 (the conditions are the same as those of the concrete example 3), among the above rubber materials, fluororubber is particularly excellent. It was The fluororubber operated stably even after 10,000 continuous tests, the surface condition did not change, and the surface was not particularly roughened, and the printing durability was excellent. The surface condition was measured with a gloss meter and a surface roughness meter.

The fluororubber means a binary copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, a binary copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and pentafluoropropylene, and a binary copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and chlorotrifluoroethylene. Copolymer, terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene, terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, pentafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene, vinylidene fluoride and perfluoro Examples include terpolymers of methyl vinyl ether and tetrafluoroethylene. There are three methods for vulcanizing fluororubber, and there are polyamine, polyol, and peroxide vulcanization. Further, a fluorine-based thermoplastic elastomer can also be used for the surface layer 3. Further, other rubber may be mixed with fluororubber to adjust the adhesive force between the dyeing layer 9 and the surface layer 3 for use.

The dyeing layer cooling roller 11 and the color material layer cooling roller 20 when continuously operated in an operating environment of 5 to 40 ° C.
As a result of examining the temperature change of the surface layer 3 at the position of, the minimum is 5
The maximum was 60 ° C. Therefore, when the temperature of the surface layer 3 is in the range of 0 to 70 ° C. in view of the margin, the dyeing layer 9 is stably formed from the dyeing layer transfer body 10 to the surface layer 3, and the surface layer 3
The minimum required adhesive force between the surface layer 3 and the dyeing layer 9 for holding the dyeing layer 9 thereon for recording was 5 g / inch. Further, in order to easily separate the surface layer 3 and the dyeing layer transfer body 10 and the surface layer 3 and the color material layer transfer body 18 in this temperature range and to stably run, the surface layer 3 and the dyeing layer transfer body 18 are transferred. The adhesive force between the body 10 and the surface layer 3 and the color material layer transfer body 18 is 100 g.
It had to be less than / inch. Further, when the image receptor 21 is separated from the surface layer 3, the dyeing layer 9 is stably attached to the image receptor 2.
The adhesive force between the surface layer 3 and the dyeing layer 9 must be 50 g / inch or less in order to transfer the image onto the surface layer 3 and to stably separate the image receptor 21 from the surface layer 3 without separation noise. Therefore, the adhesive force between the surface layer 3 and the dyeing layer 9 is 0 to 70 at the surface layer temperature.
At 5 ° C., the adhesive force between the surface layer 3 and the dyeing layer transfer body 10 and between the surface layer 3 and the color material layer transfer body 18 is 5 g / inch or more, and the image receiving body 21 is transferred from the surface layer 3 to the image receiving body 21. The adhesive force between the surface layer 3 and the dyeing layer 9 when separating is 50 g /
Must be less than an inch.

The method for measuring the adhesive force between the surface layer 3 and the dyeing layer 9 is as follows. The thermal head 1 is previously energized to form the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3 with a width of 19 mm. (Same conditions as the forming conditions of the example), a commercially available cellophane tape having a thickness of 37 μm and a width of 18 mm is attached to the dyeing layer 9, the cellophane tape is pulled at a speed of 10 mm / sec in the direction of 180 °, and the tension at that time is measured. . Similarly, in the method of measuring the adhesive force of the adhesive force between the surface layer 3 and the dyeing layer transfer body 10 and between the surface layer 3 and the color material layer transfer body 18, the thermal head 1 is energized in advance and the surface layer 3 is applied. Dyeing layer transfer body 10 (thickness 6 μm)
Alternatively, the color material layer transfer body 18 (thickness 7 μm) is formed with a width of 19 mm (the same conditions as the formation conditions of the following specific examples), and the dyeing layer transfer body 10 or the color material layer transfer body 18 is set to 1
It is pulled in the direction of 80 degrees at a speed of 10 mm / sec, and the tension at that time is measured.

Further, the thickness of the surface layer 3 is required to be 10 μm or more because it is transferred by following the dyeing layer 9 onto an image receptor 21 (plain paper, official postcard, etc.) having irregularities on the surface. When the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3 is transferred to the image receptor 21 by using an endless belt as the intermediate medium 5 as shown in FIG. 6, the dyeing layer 9 is heated from the intermediate medium 5 side. Therefore, in consideration of heat transfer, it is preferable that the surface layer 3 is thin, and 10 to 200 μm is preferable. Particularly, 10 to 50 μm is preferable. Surface layer 3 to 2
To form a thin layer having a thickness of 00 μm or less, the surface layer material must be applied as a coating liquid and formed on the intermediate medium substrate 4. The fluororubber is insoluble in other solvents before vulcanization, but is soluble in the ketone solvent, and thus can be dissolved in the ketone solvent after kneading to form a coating solution. When the surface layer 3 is formed by using a fluororubber paint dissolved with 2-butanone,
Drying conditions (when high humidity is 60% RH or more and the amount of dry air is large)
As a result, the surface layer 3 may have irregularities and become cloudy in white, or severely have holes. This occurs due to the evaporation of the solvent. Therefore, a ketone-based solvent having a boiling point of 100 ° C. or higher is preferable. In particular, 4-methyl-2-pentanone (methyl isobutyl ketone) is inexpensive and good.

Further, when polyamine vulcanized fluororubber is dissolved in a ketone solvent and left at room temperature, it gels in 4 to 5 days. Among the fluororubbers, the coating solution of the polyol-vulcanized fluororubber does not gel at room temperature for more than 1 month, and is very good from the viewpoint of pot life.

Further, in order to follow the irregularities on the surface of the image receptor, the rubber hardness of the surface layer 3 is preferably low. The fluororubber used for the surface layer 3 is at least 0 to 90 parts by weight of carbon black (MT carbon black or the like), 5 to 30 parts by weight of magnesium oxide, 100% by weight of raw rubber of fluororubber, polyamine, polyol, and par. One to 20 parts by weight of a cross-linking agent such as oxide is added and kneaded. To reduce the hardness of the fluororubber, the contents of carbon black and magnesium oxide in the fluororubber may be lowered.

If unevenness is provided on the surface of the surface layer 3,
The surface of the dyeing layer 9 transferred to the image receptor is also the surface layer 3 of the intermediate medium.
The unevenness of is dyed and the gloss of the dyeing layer 9 can be reduced. Also, fluororubber has heat resistance, chemical resistance, weather resistance,
Since it has high strength, it is suitable for the surface layer 3 of the intermediate medium.

The intermediate medium substrate 4 is not particularly limited as long as it has heat resistance, and metals such as iron and aluminum and various heat resistant polymer films can be used.
Further, the shape is not particularly limited, and for example, a film, an endless film, a drum shape or the like can be used. As the heat-resistant polymer film, for example, the material of the dyeing layer substrate 7 can be used. In particular, a film made of polyimide or an endless film is preferable. Since a film made of polyimide or an endless film has a poor adhesive force with various rubber materials, an anchor is provided between the intermediate medium substrate 4 and the surface layer 3 in order to strengthen the adhesive force between the intermediate medium substrate 4 and the surface layer 3. Layers may be provided. The surface layer 3 made of fluororubber paint strongly adheres to the polyimide without providing an anchor layer, which is very good in terms of man-hours and cost.

The image-receiving body 21 is uncoated paper, coated paper, film, sheet, transparent film for OHP, bond paper with large surface roughness, plain paper, postcard, synthetic paper, etc. The paper quality and form are not limited.

Since the recorded image recorded on the dyeing layer 9 on the intermediate medium 5 is transferred and fixed on the image receiving body 21, it becomes an image (mirror image) which is laterally reversed from the recorded image on the image receiving body 21. .
Therefore, the recording on the dyeing layer 9 on the intermediate medium 5 by the recording means is performed in consideration of the lateral reversal of the image obtained on the image receptor 21.

After transferring the dyeing layer 9 to the image receptor 21,
Further, the dyeing layer 9 on the image receiving body 21 may be heated to further fix the dyeing layer 9 on the image receiving body 21.

The recording method of the present invention also includes a recording method in which the dyeing layer on the intermediate medium is transferred to another intermediate medium, and then transferred and fixed on the final image receptor.

Specific examples will be described below. Example 1 Preparation of Dyeing Layer Transfer Body A polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter abbreviated as PET) having a width of 200 mm and a thickness of 4.5 μm was used as a dyeing layer substrate, and a heat resistant slipping layer was formed on one surface of the dyeing layer substrate. 180 μm wide and 260 m long on the other side with a 0.3 μm thick release layer
A dyeing layer having a pattern of m and a thickness of 3 μm was provided, and a dyeing layer transfer body in which the structure of FIG. (Release layer paint) Silicone rubber 10 parts by weight (LTC350G, Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) Catalyst 0.1 part by weight (SRX212, Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) Toluene 30 parts by weight (Dyeing layer paint) ) Polyvinyl butyral resin 4 parts by weight (BL-S, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) Siloxane-containing acrylic silicone resin solution 0.08 parts by weight (F6A, active ingredient 54 wt%, Sanyo Kasei Co., Ltd.) G-n-butyl cast dilaurate 0 0.001 parts by weight Fluorine-based surfactant 0.06 parts by weight (F172, Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.) Toluene 10 parts by weight 2-Butanone 10 parts by weight-Preparation of color material layer transfer body PET having a width of 200 mm and a thickness of 4.5 μm Is used as a color material layer base, and a heat resistant slipping layer of 1 μm is provided on one surface of the color material layer base. An anchor layer having a thickness of 0.1 μm is provided on the surface of the color material, and a pattern color material layer having a width of 190 mm, a length of 280 mm and a thickness of 1 μm is provided on the anchor layer, and the color material layer transfer body in which the configuration of FIG. 7B is repeated. Was produced. A mark for alignment was provided in front of each color material layer. (Yellow color material layer paint) Dicyanomethine-based disperse dye 2.8 parts by weight Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin 4 parts by weight Amide-modified silicone oil 0.04 parts by weight Titanium oxide (T805, Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) 0.24 parts by weight Toluene 25 parts by weight 2-butanone 25 parts by weight (magenta color material layer paint) Azo disperse dye 3.1 parts by weight Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin 4 parts by weight Amide-modified silicone oil 0.04 parts by weight Titanium oxide (T805, Japan Aerosil Co., Ltd.) 0.24 parts by weight Toluene 25 parts by weight 2-butanone 25 parts by weight (cyan color material layer coating) Indoaniline disperse dye 3.5 parts by weight Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin 4 parts by weight Amide-modified silicone oil 0 .04 parts by weight Titanium oxide (T805, Japan Erosil Co., Ltd.) 0.24 parts by weight Toluene 25 parts by weight 2-Butanone 25 parts by weight ・ Preparation of intermediate medium A polyimide having a width of 250 mm, a length of 314 mm and a thickness of 50 μm is used as an intermediate medium base, and a fluororubber having a thickness of 400 μm is formed thereon. After being formed, it was cross-linked at 200 ° C. for 8 hours or more to produce the intermediate medium shown in FIG. Also, marks for alignment were provided on the fluororubber. (Surface layer) Fluorine rubber 7 parts by weight (E430, Showa Denko DuPont Co., Ltd.) Fluorine rubber 3 parts by weight (LM, Showa Denko DuPont Co., Ltd.) Magnesium oxide 1.5 parts by weight (Kyowamag 30, Kyowa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) The description will be made by adapting to the embodiment of FIG. The intermediate medium 5 is wound and fixed on the support drum 2 made of an aluminum drum. The dyeing layer transfer body 10 and the color material layer transfer body 18 produced above are incorporated into a cassette and mounted in the apparatus shown in FIG. First, the mark of the intermediate medium 5 is detected by a sensor, and the support drum 2 is rotated to a position where the dyeing layer 9 is formed on the intermediate medium 5. Next, the marker of the dyeing layer transfer body 10 is detected, and the dyeing layer transfer body 10 is sent to a position where the release layer 25 passes the thermal head 1. Next, the thermal head 1 is pressed against the intermediate medium 5 with 30 N, and the thermal head 1 is heated to form the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3. The heating area by the thermal head 1 is heated so as to be larger than the size of the dyeing layer 9 and smaller than the size of the release layer 25 as shown in FIG. The formation conditions are as follows.

Recording speed: 16.8 ms / line Recording pulse width: 8 ms Recording energy: 8.6 J / cm ^ 2 Next, the end portion of the dyeing layer 9 passes through the heating element of the thermal head 1 and the release layer. Before the end of 25 does not pass,
The heating by the thermal head 1 is completed. Next, the thermal head 1 is separated / contacted at the portion where the release layer 25 and the surface layer 3 are in contact with each other. Next, using the thermal head 19,
The dye is transferred from the yellow color material layer 13 of the color material layer transfer body 18 to the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3. The recording conditions at this time are as follows.

Recording image: 16 gradations Recording speed: 16.8 ms / line Recording pulse width: 0-8 ms Maximum recording energy: 8.6 J / cm ^ 2 Thermal head pressing force: 30 N Magenta color on the dyeing layer 9 of
A cyan image was recorded to obtain a recorded image.

Finally, the dyeing layer 9 on which the recorded image is formed on the surface layer 3 and the plain paper (copy paper) 21 are brought into contact with each other, a heater of a halogen lamp is inserted inside the aluminum roll, and the outside of the aluminum roll is placed. The heat (120 ° C.) and pressing force (30) of the heat roller 22 provided with the silicone rubber layer
0N), the dyeing layer 9 on the surface layer 3 is transferred and fixed onto the plain paper 21 from the intermediate medium 5 at a speed of 10 mm / s.
A recorded image was formed on No. 1. The recorded image obtained as described above is well formed on plain paper and has a maximum density of 1.5.
Had more than one. Also, the sound during operation is quiet.

(Example 2) Preparation of transfer member PET having a width of 200 mm and a thickness of 4.5 μm was used as a transfer substrate 24, a heat resistant slipping layer of 1 μm was provided on one surface of the transfer substrate 24, and a width was formed on the other surface. 200mm, length 280mm, thickness 0.3
A patterned release layer of μm is provided. A pattern-shaped dyeing layer 9 having a width of 180 mm, a length of 260 mm and a thickness of 2.5 μm is provided on the release layer, and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the binder resin of the dyeing layer 9 previously provided thereon is further provided. ) A patterned polymeric substance layer 30 having a thickness of 2.0 μm using a higher resin is provided, and the shape of the dyeing layer 9 in the width direction is shown in FIG. A transfer body 26 of was prepared. The anchor layer 42 and the color material layers 13 to 15 are the same as in the first embodiment. In addition, a mark for alignment was provided in front of each pattern. (Release layer paint) Silicone rubber 10 parts by weight (LTC350G, Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) Catalyst 0.1 part by weight (SRX212, Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) Toluene 30 parts by weight (Dyeing layer paint) ) Polyvinyl butyral resin 4 parts by weight (BL-S, Tg = 54 ° C., Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) Siloxane acrylic silicone resin solution 0.08 parts by weight (F6A, active ingredient 54 wt%, Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.) -Butyl cast dilaurate 0.001 part by weight Fluorine-based surfactant 0.06 part by weight (F172, Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.) Toluene 10 parts by weight 2-butanone 10 parts by weight (polymer material layer coating) acetoacetalized polyvinyl 4 parts by weight of alcohol (KS-0, Tg = 110 ° C, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. Co., Ltd.) Toluene 10 parts by weight 2-butanone 10 parts by weight This transfer body 26 was used for recording on plain paper 21 using the apparatus shown in FIG. The intermediate medium 5 and recording conditions are also the same as in the first embodiment. The transfer conditions are a temperature of 160 ° C and a pressing force of 300.
N, speed is 10 mm / s.

As a result, the recorded image was well formed on the plain paper, the maximum density was 1.5 or more, and the sound during operation was dim.

Example 3 Preparation of Intermediate Medium A polyimide endless belt having a width of 120 mm, a perimeter of 190 mm and a thickness of 50 μm was used as an intermediate medium substrate 4, and a fluororubber having a thickness of 30 μm was formed thereon at 200 ° C. for 8 hours. Crosslinking was performed as described above to produce the intermediate medium shown in FIG. Also, marks for alignment were provided on the fluororubber. (Surface layer paint) Fluoro rubber 10 parts by weight (Viton B, Showa Denko DuPont Co., Ltd.) FT carbon 2 parts by weight Magnesium oxide 1.5 parts by weight (Kyowamag 30, Kyowa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) Polyamine vulcanizing agent 0.3 parts by weight Part Methyl isobutyketone 20 parts by weight Preparation of transfer member PET having a width of 92 mm and a thickness of 4.5 μm was used as the transfer substrate 24, and a heat resistant slipping layer of 1 μm was provided on one surface of the transfer substrate 24.
A pattern-shaped release layer 25 having a width of 92 mm, a length of 120 mm and a thickness of 0.3 μm is provided on the other surface. A pattern-shaped dyeing layer 9 having a width of 80 mm, a length of 110 mm and a thickness of 2.5 μm is provided on the release layer 25, and the glass transition temperature of the binder resin of the dyeing layer 9 previously provided thereon ( Tg) a patterned polymeric material layer 30 having a thickness of 2.0 μm using a resin higher than Tg,
A transfer body 26 shown in FIG. 8A was produced. Color material layers 13 to 1
The materials of 5 and the anchor layer 42 are the same as those in the first embodiment. In addition, a mark for alignment was provided in front of each pattern.

The above-mentioned intermediate medium 5 was mounted on the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 and recorded on a postcard. The conditions for forming the dyeing layer on the intermediate medium are as follows: recording speed: 16.8 ms / line recording pulse width: 8 ms recording energy: 8.6 J / cm ^ 2 thermal head pressing force: 20 N recording condition: recorded image: 16th floor Adjustment recording speed: 16.8 ms / line Recording pulse width: 0-8 ms Maximum recording energy: 8.6 J / cm ^ 2 Thermal head pressing force: 20 N The transfer conditions for the dyeing layer 9 onto plain paper are a temperature of 160 ° C. Pressing force 1
50N, speed 10mm / s. As a result, the sound during operation was quiet, the recorded image was well formed on the official postcard, and the maximum density was 1.5 or more. In addition, as a result of performing the continuous test 10,000 times, it operated without problems.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, it has been possible to record a high-quality pictorial image only on an expensive special material to which a dyeing layer has been applied in advance. Even if an image receptor such as bond paper or OHP is used, a high-quality pictorial image can be stably obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording method in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation diagram of a thermal transfer recording method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a dyeing layer forming step in an example of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a dyeing layer transfer body.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording method in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording method in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a color material layer transfer body.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a transfer body.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of an intermediate medium.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional thermal transfer recording method.

FIG. 11 is an operation diagram of a conventional thermal transfer recording method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Dyeing Layer Transfer Means 2 Support Drum 3 Surface Layer 4 Intermediate Medium Substrate 5 Intermediate Medium 6 Unwinding Roller 7 Dyeing Layer Substrate 8 Heat Resistant Sliding Layer 9 Dyeing Layer 10 Dyeing Layer Transfer Body 11 Dyeing Layer Cooling Roller 12 Take-up roller 13 Yellow color material layer 14 Magenta color material layer 15 Cyan color material layer 16 Color material layer substrate 17 Heat resistant slipping layer 18 Color material layer transfer body 19 Recording means 20 Color material layer cooling roller 21 Image receptor 22 Thermal roll 23 Image receptor separation claw 24 Transfer substrate 25 Release layer 26 Transfer body 27 Platen roll 28 Idler roller 29 Roller 30 Polymer material layer 31 Transfer body 32 Heat resistant slip layer 33 Transfer substrate 34 Dyeing layer 35 Yellow Color material layer 36 Magenta color material layer 37 Cyan color material layer 38 Thermal head 39 Platen roller 40 Image receptor 41 Conveying roller 42 Anchor Layer 43 marker 44 heated region

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Nobuyoshi Taguchi 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A dyeing layer transfer body having a release layer and a dyeing layer provided on at least an upper surface of a base material, a color material layer transfer body having a color material layer provided on at least an upper surface of a base material, and an intermediate medium. First, the dyeing layer on the dyeing layer transfer body is formed on the intermediate medium by heat and pressure of a dyeing layer transfer means, and then formed on the intermediate medium. The dyeing layer and the coloring material layer are overlapped with each other, and a recording image is formed by transferring the coloring material from the coloring material layer to the dyeing layer on the intermediate medium by heat and pressure of a recording unit, Furthermore, in the thermal transfer recording method in which the dyeing layer on which the recorded image is formed is transferred from the intermediate medium to the image receptor by the heat and pressure of the transfer means, the size of the release layer is larger than the size of the dyeing layer. A transfer agent for a dyeing layer, which is used for transferring the dyeing layer when the dyeing layer is formed on the intermediate medium. In a thermal transfer recording method of the area of heating and forming said dyeing layer is heated in a small area than the size of the large and the release layer than the size of the dyeing layer on said intermediate medium. 2. A dyeing layer transfer body having a release layer and a dyeing layer provided on at least an upper surface of a base material, a color material layer transfer body having a color material layer provided on at least an upper surface of a base material, and at least fluorine. An intermediate medium made of rubber is used to first form the dyeing layer on the intermediate medium by heat and pressure of a dyeing layer transfer means, and then the dyeing layer on the dyeing layer transfer body is formed. The dyeing layer and the coloring material layer formed on the intermediate medium are overlapped with each other, and the coloring material is transferred from the coloring material layer to the dyeing layer on the intermediate medium by the heat and pressure of the recording means to record. Forming an image,
Furthermore, in the thermal transfer recording method in which the dyeing layer on which the recorded image is formed is transferred from the intermediate medium to the image receptor by the heat and pressure of the transfer means, the size of the release layer is larger than the size of the dyeing layer. In the dyeing layer transfer body, when the dyeing layer is formed on the intermediate medium, the area heated by the dyeing layer transferring means is heated in an area larger than the size of the dyeing layer and smaller than the size of the release layer. Forming the dyeing layer on the intermediate medium by a thermal transfer recording method. 3. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 2, wherein an intermediate medium prepared from a coating solution of fluororubber dissolved in a ketone solvent is used. 4. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 3, wherein an intermediate medium prepared from a coating solution of fluororubber dissolved in a ketone solvent having a boiling point of 100 ° C. or higher is used. 5. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 4, wherein an intermediate medium prepared from a coating solution of fluororubber dissolved with 4-methyl-2-pentanone is used. 6. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 5, wherein an intermediate medium prepared from a coating solution of a fluororubber of polyol vulcanization is used. 7. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate medium comprises at least a surface layer and an intermediate medium substrate, and the intermediate layer has a thickness of 10 μm or more. 8. The adhesive force between the surface layer and the dyeing layer is 5 g / inch or more when the temperature of the surface layer is 0 to 70 ° C., and the surface layer, the dyeing layer transfer body and the surface. The adhesion between the layer and the color material layer transfer body is 0 to 7 when the temperature of the surface layer is 0 to 7.
8. An intermediate medium is used, which has an adhesive strength of 100 g / inch or less at 0 ° C. and an adhesion between the surface layer and the dyeing layer of 50 g / inch or less when separating the image receptor from the surface layer. The thermal transfer recording method described. 9. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 8, wherein a transfer body having at least the dyeing layer, the release layer and the color material layer on the same substrate is used. 10. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 9, wherein the dyeing layer transfer means and the recording means are the same. 11. A dyeing layer transfer body in which the dyeing layer contains at least a polyvinyl acetal resin is used.
The thermal transfer recording method described. 12. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 11, wherein the intermediate medium is an endless belt-shaped intermediate medium. 13. When separating the dyeing layer transfer member or the transfer member from the surface layer from the surface layer, the dye is transferred from the surface layer to the part where the release layer and the surface layer are in contact with each other. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 12, wherein the layered transfer member or the transfer member is separated. 14. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 13, wherein the width of the dyeing layer transfer body and the width of the transfer body are the same as the width of the release layer. 15. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 13, wherein the width of the dyeing layer transfer body and the width of the transfer body are the same as the width of the dyeing layer.