JP2000015938A - Medium and method for sublimation transfer recording - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for sublimation transfer recording which improves the resistance to light, the resistance to a fingerprint, the resistance to a plasticizer and other resistances of a thermal transfer image formed by the sublimation transfer recording, attains clearness of the image and elimination of unevenness of luster of the surface and makes the image equal to or better than a silver salt photograph. SOLUTION: A resin layer not transferring is provided in a regional image- receiving body which enables execution of totally solid printing on an area equal to or larger than the effective printing sphere of a thermal transfer sheet. After transfer of dye, heat is applied by a thermal head to the whole of the area equal to or larger than the effective printing sphere in the part of a region A, so that the dye having shifted to an image receiving layer be made to move further into this layer, and, besides, the dye being present on the surface of the image receiving layer and having not shifted into this layer completely is absorbed, whereby an image being clear and having resistances is obtained. By shifting the face of the resin layer in the region A, moreover, the surface properties of the image receiving layer are made uniform.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sublimation transfer recording image receiver having a dye image receiving layer for receiving a dye transferred by heat transfer from a heat transfer sheet having a layer containing a heat sublimation and heat transfer dye. And a sublimation transfer recording method for creating an image therewith.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Sublimation transfer is one of thermal transfer methods, in which a colorant on a thermal transfer sheet is transferred to a sublimation transfer recording image receptor by heating and pressurizing with a thermal head or the like to form an image. is there. As the thermal transfer sheet, one using a sublimable or heat-migrating dye as a colorant is used. As the image receiving body for sublimation transfer recording, one side of paper, a plastic film, or a laminate of paper and a plastic film is provided with a dye-receiving material. In recent years, an image receiving body provided with a dye image-receiving layer having excellent properties has excellent characteristics in gradation expression, and has recently been particularly widespread. Images obtained by these methods are close to silver halide photographs in the smoothness and density of the gradation,
In addition, unlike silver halide photographs using an optical system, images can be processed digitally and output in a short time. Therefore, they are widely used as substitutes for identification photographs, computer graphic output images, print proof images, and the like.

[0003]

However, with the diversification of applications, social demands for the same level of resistance and image quality as silver halide photography, such as light resistance, fingerprint resistance, plasticizer resistance, etc. The lack of tolerance in daily life is a major problem. In addition, in images, lack of sharpness and unevenness of surface gloss are problems. For sublimation transfer recording,
One of the causes of impairing the sharpness of an image is a dye that is transferred in a halfway manner and remains on the surface of the image receiving layer. By removing this, the sharpness of the image can be improved. In addition, the gloss of the surface may be reduced in a portion heated by the thermal head, that is, in a portion where the dye has been transferred, particularly when the heating energy is large. Further, in the image durability, the dye cannot sufficiently enter the image receiving layer, and the inherent durability cannot be realized. In particular, the cyan dye that is usually printed last has lower resistance than other yellow and magenta dyes. The present invention is intended to solve such problems of the prior art, and improves the light resistance, fingerprint resistance, and plasticizer resistance of a thermal transfer image formed by sublimation transfer recording, and improves the image quality. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sublimation transfer recording method in which sharpness and gloss unevenness on the surface are eliminated and the sublimation transfer recording method is equal to or more than a silver halide photograph.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems A first invention of the present invention is:
After a layer having a sublimable or heat-migrating dye on at least one of the substrates and the dye transfer, the dye is transferred onto the image-receiving layer receiving the dye, and an area larger than the effective printing area can be entirely solid printed (hereinafter referred to as an area A). ) And a sublimation transfer recording image receiving member having the image receiving layer on at least one of the substrates, and a thermal head is used to transfer a dye to the image receiving layer with a thermal head according to image data. A resin layer that is not transferred to the image receiving member is provided in the instep area of the sheet, and after dye transfer, heat is applied to the entire indentation area by a thermal head over the entire area equal to or greater than the effective printing range, and the dye transferred to the image receiving layer is further added. The dye is moved into the image receiving layer and absorbs the dye on the surface of the image receiving layer that has not completely migrated into the image receiving layer, thereby obtaining a clear image and a durable image. By transferring A sublimation transfer recording medium characterized in that a uniform surface of the image receiving layer.

In a second aspect of the present invention, a layer having a sublimable or heat-migrating dye on at least one of the substrates and an image-receiving layer which receives the dye after the dye transfer are superimposed on the layer and have an area larger than the effective printing area. Area where all solid printing is possible (hereafter referred to as instep area)
And a thermal transfer sheet having a sublimation transfer recording image receiving layer having the image receiving layer on at least one of the substrates, and transferring the dye to the image receiving layer with a thermal head according to image data. A resin layer that is not transferred to the image receiving body is provided in the instep area, and after dye transfer, heat is applied by a thermal head to the entire area equal to or more than the effective printing area in the instep area to further receive the dye transferred to the image receiving layer. Transfer into the layer and absorb the dye that has not completely migrated into the image receiving layer on the image receiving layer surface to obtain a clear image and a durable image, and transfer the surface of the resin layer in the upper region. This is a sublimation transfer recording method characterized by making the surface properties of the image receiving layer uniform.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The sublimation transfer recording medium and the sublimation transfer recording method of the present invention will be described in detail below based on embodiments. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a thermal transfer sheet which is a sublimation transfer recording medium of the present invention (or used in a sublimation transfer recording method), and FIG. 2 is a sublimation transfer recording medium of the present invention (or sublimation transfer recording method). FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a sublimation transfer recording image receiver. 1 and 2
Is a thermal transfer sheet, 11 is a transfer sheet substrate, 12 is an easily adhesive layer, 13 is an ink layer, 131 is a yellow ink layer, 13
2 is a magenta ink layer, 133 is a cyan ink layer, 14
Is a resin layer, 15 is a back coat layer, 2 is an image receiving member for sublimation transfer recording, 21 is an image receiving substrate, and 22 is an image receiving layer.

The sublimation transfer recording medium in the present invention refers to either one of the thermal transfer sheet (1) and the sublimation transfer recording image receiving body (2), or a combination of both.

The structure of the thermal transfer sheet (1) used in the present invention is basically that shown in FIG. That is, the ink layer (13) may be a single color such as black,
Four colors, which are three colors plus ink, may be used.

As the transfer sheet substrate (11), paper such as a condenser paper or a polyester film, a polystyrene film, a polypropylene film, etc., from the viewpoint of easy formation and handling of the ink layer (13) and mechanical strength. Or cellophane, but particularly preferred are polyester films (eg, polyethylene terephthalate [PET] and polyethylene naphthalate [PE] because of their high heat resistance).
N] etc.). The thickness of the transfer sheet substrate (11) is preferably about 2 μm to 50 μm from the viewpoint of mechanical strength, ease of handling or availability, but in order to expect a higher effect of the present invention (thermal conductivity, 2 μm to 16 μm are even more preferred, as they also relate to thermal properties such as heat transfer coefficient, heat storage performance, etc.

The easy-adhesion layer (12) originally has an ink layer (1).
It is provided as needed to improve the adhesion between 3) and the transfer sheet base material (11), and is often processed at the time of forming the transfer sheet base material. Cellulose derivative, styrene resin, styrene copolymer resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, rosin ester resin, polyvinyl acetate resin,
One or more of polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, butyral resin, polyamide resin, petroleum resin, chlorinated rubber, chlorinated polyolefin resin Is used. This normal thickness is 1 μm or less.

The dye used in the ink layer (13) is, for example, Solvent Yellow 56, 16, or 3 as a yellow component of the yellow ink layer (131) ink.
0, 93, 33, Disperse Yellow 201, 23
1, 33, etc. The magenta component of the magenta ink layer (132) ink includes, for example, C.I. I. Disperse Red 60, C.I. I. Disperse Violet 2
6, C.I. I. Solvent Red 27 or C.I. I.
Solvent Red 19 and the like. Examples of the cyan component of the cyan ink layer (133) ink include C.I.
I. Disperse Blue 354, C.I. I. Solvent Blue 63, C.I. I. Solvent Blue 36 or C.I. I. Disperse Blue 24 and the like. As the black dye, the above-mentioned respective dyes are combined and toned. Examples of the binder resin for the ink layer (13) include ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxycellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose,
Cellulose resins such as methylcellulose and cellulose acetate, butyral resins, acetal resins, phenoxy resins, polycarbonate resins, polyester resins and the like can be mentioned.

The ratio of the dye and the binder resin in the ink layer (13) is as follows: dye / resin = 10/10/30
0/100 is preferred. This is because the dye / resin ratio is
If the ratio is less than 10/100, the amount of the dye is too small, the color sensitivity is insufficient, and a good thermal transfer image cannot be obtained. If the ratio exceeds 300/100, the solubility of the dye in the binder resin is extremely reduced. Therefore, when a thermal transfer sheet is formed, the storage stability of the ink layer deteriorates (because the dye is easily deposited). In order to expect a higher effect in the present invention, dye / resin = 40/100
~ 200/100 is even more preferred.

The ink layer (13) of the thermal transfer sheet (1) of the present invention is basically formed from the above-mentioned materials.
In order to prevent fusion between the thermal transfer sheet (1) and the sublimation transfer recording image receiver (2) during thermal transfer, the compatibility with the image receiving layer (22) of the sublimation transfer recording image receptor is examined and if necessary. It is preferable to add a release agent to the ink layer (13). The addition amount of the release agent is preferably about 0.01% to 10% based on the solid content of the ink layer (13). If the amount is less than 0.01%, the releasability cannot be sufficiently exhibited, and if it exceeds 10%, the resin layer (14) and the ink layer (13), which are the thermal transfer layers, are transferred to the transfer sheet by coating. Various problems such as difficulty in forming on the base material (11) and bleeding to the surface of the ink layer (13) due to excessive increase in the amount of bleeding of the transfer-receiving body occur. It is to come.

The ink layer (13) is preferably prepared by adding the above-mentioned dye, binder resin and other additives to an appropriate solvent and dissolving or dispersing the respective components to prepare an ink for a thermal transfer layer. It is formed by coating and drying on the sheet substrate (11) (coating). The ink layer thus formed (that is, the dye-carrying layer) has a thickness of 0.2 μm to
5 μm, more preferably 0.4 μm to
It is about 3 μm. Here, with respect to the thickness of the ink layer (13), if it is less than 0.2 μm, a sufficient color density cannot be obtained, and if it exceeds 5 μm, there will be a drawback that the color sensitivity deteriorates.

Next, the part of the instep area (the area where the area larger than the effective printing area can be entirely printed) will be described. The resin used is one of epoxy resin, melamine resin, acrylic resin, urethane resin and silicone resin. Or 2
A mixture of more than one species and cured, a cellulose derivative,
Styrene resin, styrene copolymer resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, rosin ester resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene
Vinyl acetate copolymer, polyester resin, polyurethane resin,
One or more of butyral resin, polyamide resin, petroleum resin, chlorinated rubber, and chlorinated polyolefin resin are used. Usually, the thickness is 0.1 μm to 10 μm. In particular, a cured resin is more suitable for problems such as sticking during printing.

In order to improve the heat resistance and the slipperiness of the thermal transfer sheet (1), a back coat layer (15) is provided on the surface of the transfer sheet substrate (11) on which the ink layer (13) is not provided. It can also be said that it is preferable. When the requirements for thermal transfer become strict (for example, a requirement for high-speed thermal transfer), a back coat layer made of a suitable material compatible with the material of the transfer sheet base material ( By combining 15), it becomes easier to respond to more stringent requirements.

Next, the sublimation transfer recording image receiver (2) will be described. The image receptor (2) for sublimation transfer recording used in the present invention is basically as shown in FIG. As the image receiving substrate (21), from the viewpoint of ease of formation and handling of the image receiving layer (22) or mechanical strength, paper such as high quality paper, coated paper, cast coated paper, or resin processed paper; Alternatively, various films such as a polyester film, a polyethylene naphthalate film, a polypropylene film, a polyethylene film, a vinyl chloride film and the like or a synthetic paper can be used. The thickness of the image receiving substrate (21) is not particularly limited, but is generally 25 μm to 300 μm, preferably 75 μm to 75 μm in consideration of the transportability of the printer.
It is 200 μm.

The image receiving layer (22) is made of a cellulose derivative, a styrene resin, a styrene copolymer resin, an acrylic resin, a methacryl resin, a rosin ester resin, a polyvinyl acetate resin, a polyvinyl chloride, a vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer, an ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer.
Vinyl acetate copolymer, polyester resin, polyurethane resin,
One or more of butyral resin, polyamide resin, petroleum resin, chlorinated rubber, and chlorinated polyolefin resin are used. Occasionally, an isocyanate is added and reacted. Usually, the thickness is generally 1 μm to 10 μm. There is no problem even if various fillers such as silicone oil, silicone powder and silica are appropriately added to the dye image receiving layer (22).

Furthermore, there is no problem even if there is an anchor layer or an image printing layer between the image receiving substrate (21) and the dye image receiving layer (22) to assist the adhesion of the dye image receiving layer to the substrate.

The image receptor (2) for sublimation transfer recording of the present invention can be produced by a conventional method.
It can be produced by applying the composition for forming a dye image receiving layer to one of the methods 1) by a coating method such as gravure, Meyer bar, roll coating and the like, followed by drying to form an image receiving layer (22).

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The sublimation transfer recording medium and the sublimation transfer recording method of the present invention will be described below with reference to specific examples.

<Example 1> Thermal transfer sheet: As a transfer sheet base material, the following ink layers (yellow, magenta) were applied to 5.5 μm of a polyester film having a thickness of 0.1 μm and easily adhered with a mixed resin of an acrylic resin and a polyester resin. , Cyan) and the instep area resin layer were pattern-coated with a gravure printing machine at a drying temperature of 90 ° C. to prepare a transfer sheet of this example. Here, each dry film thickness is 1 μm for the ink layer and 1 μm for the resin layer.
It is. (Yellow ink layer ink) C.I. I. Solvent Yellow 93 3.0 parts C.I. I. Solvent Yellow 16 1.0 part Phenoxy resin 5.0 parts Silicon modified resin 0.05 parts Tetrahydrofuran 60.0 parts Toluene 31.0 parts (magenta ink layer ink C.). I. Disperse Red 60 1.5 parts C.I. I. Disperse Violet 26 1.5 parts Phenoxy resin 5.0 parts Silicon-modified resin 0.05 parts Tetrahydrofuran 60.0 parts Toluene 31.0 parts (cyan ink layer) Ink) C.I. I. Solvent Blue 63 1.5 parts C.I. I. Solvent Blue 36 1.5 parts Phenoxy resin 5.0 parts Silicon modified resin 0.05 parts Tetrahydrofuran 60.0 parts Toluene 31.0 parts (Resin layer) Silicon Resin: 30.0 parts Organic sulfonic acid: 1.0 part Toluene: 35.0 parts Methyl ethyl ketone: 35.0 parts

Sublimation transfer recording image receiver: As an image receiver substrate, a milky white foamed polyethylene terephthalate film (W900E: manufactured by Diafoil Co., Ltd.) having a thickness of 150 μm is formed on one surface of an image receiving layer forming composition having the following composition. The product is coated with a Meyer bar coater and dried, and the dry thickness is 4 μm.
The image receiving layer for sublimation transfer recording of this example was produced by laminating the image receiving layer of Example 1 on a substrate. (Image-receiving layer forming composition) Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-vinyl alcohol copolymer 20 parts Silicone powder 0.5 parts Silicone oil 0.5 parts Isocyanate 3 parts Solvent ( (Toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate) 76 parts

<Comparative Example 1> Thermal transfer sheet: (Example 1 without resin layer) Sublimation transfer recording image receiving body: (Same as Example 1)

In Example 1, the obtained thermal transfer sheet and sublimation transfer recording image receiving body were subjected to gradation pattern printing using a commercially available sublimation transfer type printer, and finally, a solid pattern was formed. Print the instep area over the image,
An image transcript was obtained. In Comparative Example 1, printing was not performed in the instep area. In Example 1, Comparative Example 1
As a result, the sharpness of the image was improved, and the gloss of the high-density printed portion was reduced in Comparative Example 1, whereas the gloss was uniform in any region in Example 1.

The following evaluation was performed on these prints. (Plasticizer resistance) is the bleeding of the image after storing the soft PVC film on the image for 24 hours, (Light resistance) is the degree of discoloration after irradiation for 24 hours at 0.39 W / m ² with a fade meter, (Fingerprint property) was applied with a fingerprint, and the change of the image after one week was evaluated. Evaluation criteria were visually evaluated as the following five criteria. 1: Original image disappearance 2: Severe change 3: Change 4: Slight change 5: No change

[0027]

[Table 1]

[0028]

According to the present invention, after printing an image, the resin layer portion of the instep area is superimposed, printed in a solid pattern, and heated to remove the dye not fixed to the image receiving layer on the image receiving layer surface. By moving the fixed dye deeper into the image receiving layer, the clarity and durability of the printed matter could be improved. Further, conventionally, the phenomenon that the gloss of the surface is reduced by high density printing can be suppressed, and the uniform gloss of the surface can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a thermal transfer sheet which is a sublimation transfer recording medium of the present invention (or used in a sublimation transfer recording method).

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sublimation transfer recording image receiver that is a sublimation transfer recording medium (or used in a sublimation transfer recording method) of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Thermal transfer sheet 11 ... Transfer sheet base material 12 ... Easy adhesion layer 13 ... Ink layer 131 ... Yellow ink layer 132 ... Magenta ink layer 133 ... Cyan ink layer 14 ... Resin layer 15 ... Back coat layer 2 ... Sublimation transfer recording image receiving Body 21: Image-receiving substrate 22: Image-receiving layer

Claims (2)

[Claims] An area where at least one of the substrates has a dye having a sublimable or heat-migrating dye and a dye-migration, and is superimposed on an image-receiving layer receiving the dye, so that an area larger than the effective printing area can be entirely solid printed. A sublimation transfer recording image receiving member having the image receiving layer on at least one of the substrates, and the dye is transferred to the image receiving layer by a thermal head according to image data. In the printing method,
A resin layer that is not transferred to the image receiving body is provided in the instep area of the thermal transfer sheet, and after the dye transfer, heat is applied to the entire area in the instep area by a thermal head over an area equal to or greater than the effective printing range, and the dye transferred to the image receiving layer is removed. Further, the dye is moved into the image receiving layer and absorbs the dye which has not completely migrated into the image receiving layer on the surface of the image receiving layer to obtain a clear image and a durable image. Sublimation transfer recording medium characterized in that the surface properties of the image receiving layer are made uniform by transferring the image. 2. A layer in which at least one of the substrates has a dye having a sublimable or heat-migrating dye and, after the dye has been transferred, is overlaid on the image-receiving layer receiving the dye, so that an area larger than the effective printing area can be completely solid printed. A sublimation transfer recording image receiving member having the image receiving layer on at least one of the substrates, and the dye is transferred to the image receiving layer by a thermal head according to image data. In the printing method,
A resin layer that is not transferred to the image receiving body is provided in the instep area of the thermal transfer sheet, and after the dye transfer, heat is applied to the entire area in the instep area by a thermal head over an area equal to or greater than the effective printing range, and the dye transferred to the image receiving layer is removed. Further, the dye is moved into the image receiving layer and absorbs the dye which has not completely migrated into the image receiving layer on the surface of the image receiving layer to obtain a clear image and a durable image. Sublimation transfer recording method wherein the surface properties of the image receiving layer are made uniform by transferring the image.