JP3122831B2 - Method of manufacturing thermal transfer print sheet and thermal transfer print sheet - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for applying a desired original image recorded by thermal transfer to a cloth, wood, leather, plastic, metal or the like by a simple operation of pressing while heating using, for example, an iron. The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet that can be transferred to a material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a desired original image is thermally transferred to a material to be transferred, such as a shirt, the desired original image such as a handwritten manuscript or a printed matter is converted into a mirror image (an image obtained by projecting the original image on a mirror). The recorded gloss transfer paper is used in combination with an adhesive sheet formed by adhering a binder (fixing material) to one side of a release paper.

When an original image is thermally transferred to a material to be transferred, thermal transfer is performed in the following steps. That is,
In order to remove moisture, wrinkles, and the like at a predetermined location where the original image is to be thermally transferred, release paper is applied to a predetermined location of the material to be transferred and pressurized at a predetermined temperature and pressure for a predetermined time by a press.
On the other hand, the gloss transfer paper and the adhesive sheet are superimposed on each other, leaving only the original image, and cutting and removing the other portions. After the adhesive sheet is pressed according to the above-mentioned location of the material to be transferred, when the adhesive sheet cools, the release paper of the adhesive sheet is peeled off to form a binder layer at the above-mentioned predetermined location, and the binder layer is formed. The gloss transfer paper is pressed together, and when the gloss transfer paper cools, the release paper of the gloss transfer paper is peeled off.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional thermal transfer method, a mirror image of the original image must be recorded on gloss transfer paper. Therefore, when this recording is performed by printing means, a copy is formed. In particular, the number of original images is small, and the production cost is high for many types.

In such a conventional thermal transfer method,
Since two types of sheets, a gloss transfer paper and an adhesive sheet, are used as a set, the work is troublesome, and the cost is increased from this point, and nobody can easily carry out the method at home. . Moreover, since the original image of the gloss transfer paper is transferred onto the binder of the adhesive sheet previously transferred to the material to be transferred, the original image is attached to the binder in an exposed state, and the bond between the two is not so strong. However, the image transferred to the material to be transferred is hardly robust, so that the image is easily peeled off, and there are disadvantages such as image unevenness and image chipping.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to thermally transfer a single product to a material to be transferred by a simple operation, and to obtain a robust transfer image which is not easily peeled off. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet which is inexpensive and can obtain a high quality print image, and a thermal transfer print sheet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet which can be ironed from the upper surface even after transfer to a material to be transferred and has no release paper, and a thermal transfer print sheet.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a method for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet according to the present invention according to the first and second aspects of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing an original image by forming a resin layer having a relatively high melting point. After being recorded on the formed original recording sheet, the original recorded sheet is superimposed on an adhesive sheet formed with a resin layer that is melted by heat, and pressed while heating, so that the original recorded sheet becomes an adhesive sheet. It is characterized in that a thermal transfer print sheet is created by bonding.

Here, the original image is recorded on the original image recording sheet as a normal image (that is, not as a mirror image). Therefore, when the original image is recorded on the original recording sheet, the original image is read and scanned by an optical reading scanner, and the image data is recorded on the original recording sheet by electrophotography (Claim 1). Means for recording an image on an original image recording sheet by a printing means (claim 2) can be employed.

In any of these recording means, as the original recording sheet, a sheet in which a thin PET (polyethylene terephthalate) layer is formed as a binder on one side of release paper or a thick PET film can be used as it is. Since PET is relatively resistant to heat, copying and printing as described above do not cause any problem. Here, when the original image is read and scanned by the optical scanner, the original image recording sheet is used instead of the recording paper of the printer device, and when the image is read and scanned by the copier, the original image recording sheet is copied on the recording paper for copying. Can be used instead.

On the other hand, as the original recording sheet, a sheet formed by applying a butyral layer to one surface of a PET film can be used. The butyral layer has a low melting point and cannot be used for copying as described above, but the original image can be recorded by a printing method (claim 2). In the method for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet according to the invention proposed in claim 3, the resin layer of the original recording sheet uses a resin layer which has been colored in advance as a background color or a resin layer to which a paint or pigment has been applied as a background color.

In this case, it is preferable to select, as the paint or the pigment, a color different from the color of the original image so as to make the original image stand out clearly.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet according to the first aspect of the present invention, comprising:
3. A background sheet produced by a method similar to the production method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the background image is formed on the mirror image surface of the original image sheet when the original image is superimposed and heated while being heated. A thermal transfer print sheet is prepared by stacking and integrating the sheets. The method for producing a thermal transfer print sheet of the present invention proposed in claim 5 is to record an original image as a mirror image on an original image recording sheet on which a resin layer having a relatively high melting point is formed by electrophotography or printing, The original image-recorded sheet is superimposed on an adhesive sheet formed with a resin layer that is melted by heat, and by applying pressure while heating, a mirror image of the original image recorded on the original image-recorded sheet is thermally transferred to the adhesive sheet, Further, a thermal transfer print sheet is prepared by thermally bonding the PET film as a protective layer to the normal image side of the adhesive sheet.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the thermal transfer print sheet has a mirror image surface. Below, an auxiliary sheet integrated with the resin layer of the thermal transfer print sheet by thermal welding is formed. Here, as the auxiliary sheet, a material having good adhesiveness is selected according to the characteristics of the material to be transferred.

The thermal transfer print sheet of the present invention described in claim 7 is manufactured by any one of the manufacturing methods described in claims 1 to 6.

[0016]

In the method for producing a thermal transfer print sheet according to the present invention, the sheet on which the original image has been recorded and the adhesive sheet are superimposed on each other and pressurized while heating, so that the respective resin layers of the two can be formed. Fused and integrated with each other. Here, when the original-recorded sheet has a binder adhered to one side of the release paper, when the release paper is peeled off, the original image recorded as a normal image is mirror-imaged via the resin layer of the original-recorded sheet. Can be seen through. Therefore, an original image recorded sheet can be created by a simple operation using only a copying machine or an optical scanner, which not only simplifies the manufacturing method and reduces the manufacturing cost, but also produces the same image as the output image of the copying machine or the optical scanner. High quality print images can be obtained. Also, since the original image is protected by being sandwiched between the resin layers of the original image recorded sheet and the adhesive sheet,
It does not come off easily and becomes robust.

In the method for producing a thermal transfer print sheet according to the present invention, a background color of the original image can be obtained by applying a paint or a pigment. Because it is on the mirror side), the original image can be displayed clearly without turbidity. In the method for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet according to the present invention described in claim 4, the background color of the original image can be formed by using a pigment such as toner, and not only a simple color but also a pattern or the like can be used as the background of the original image. It is also possible to do.

In the method for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet according to the present invention, the original image is recorded on the original recording sheet as a mirror image, and the PET is formed above the normal image plane.
Since a resin film having a relatively high melting point such as a film is thermocompression-bonded as a protective layer, it can be ironed even after being transferred to the upper surface of the material to be transferred. In the method for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet according to the present invention, since the auxiliary sheet is further formed below the mirror image surface, the adhesiveness to the transfer surface can be selected by selecting the material of the auxiliary sheet. Can be increased.

The thermal transfer print sheet of the present invention described in claim 7 is different from a conventional one in which two types of sheets, a gloss transfer paper and an adhesive sheet, are combined as one set.
Since it is a single product, the original image can be printed on a desired material to be transferred by simple heating and pressing means using, for example, an iron or the like. In addition, since the toner for forming the original image and the like are sandwiched between the resin layers from both sides and incorporated therein, even when the image is transferred to the material to be transferred, image unevenness and image chipping do not occur.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an original recording sheet used in the manufacturing method proposed in the first and second aspects. In the original recording sheet 1A shown in FIG. 1A, a resin layer 3 composed of a thin PET layer of 0.5 to 2 μm is formed on one surface of a release paper 2 as a binder. As the original recording sheet 1B shown in FIG. 2B, a thick PET film having a thickness of 6 to 150 μm is used as it is without providing the release paper 2. Therefore, the film itself becomes the resin layer 3. Since the PET forming the resin layer 3 is relatively resistant to heat, the original recording sheets 1A and 1B can be used as a substitute for recording paper of a copying machine or a printer having a high heating temperature of 140 to 150 ° C. ( Along with claim 1), it can be used as a substitute for printing paper (claim 2). PET has a relatively high melting point, but has the advantage of being formed into a thin film.

The original recording sheet 1C shown in FIG.
Butyral is applied to one surface of a T film 4 and a resin layer 5 is formed by a butyral layer. Butyral has a low melting point, so that the original recording sheets 1A, 1
Although it cannot be used for copying like B, it can be printed (claim 2). This printing will be described later. In addition, as the resin layer forming the binder, in addition to polyvinyls such as butyral and PET described above, polyamide, polyurethane, polypropylene, and soft vinyls are used in consideration of adhesiveness with the material to be transferred. .

FIG. 2 shows an adhesive sheet 6 used in the manufacturing method proposed in the first and second aspects. The adhesive sheet 6 has a resin film adhered to one surface of the release paper 2 to form a resin layer 7 which is melted by heat by the resin film. As the resin film, for example, a resin film having a melting point of about 100 ° C. to 200 ° C. and melting by heat may be used, and polypropylene, PET, polyamide, polyvinyls, polyurethane, polyethylene, polystyrene, polybutylenes, butyral, and vinyl chloride may be used. , Vinylidene chloride, polyolefin and the like. In particular, polyolefins and polyurethanes are preferable because of their good thermal adhesion. The adhesive sheet 6 is formed according to the type, shape, or use of the print surface of the material to be transferred.
It is preferable to select the type of the resin layer 7 and increase or decrease the thickness.

FIG. 3 shows the original recording sheets 1A to 1C of FIG.
A process of manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet by the manufacturing method of claim 1 or 2 using the adhesive sheet 6 of FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, an original image 9 is recorded as a normal image on the resin layer 3 of the original image recording sheet 1 shown in FIG. 1A, and an original image recorded sheet 8 is formed. The recording of the original image 9 can be performed by reading a desired original image by an optical reading operation device in order to record it as a normal image. That is, the image image may be taken into a personal computer or word processor by an optical scanner and printed out by a printer, or the image image may be copied using a copying machine utilizing electrophotography. When an image is read by an optical scanner, the recording paper of the printer is replaced with the recording paper of FIG.
Or using the original image recording sheet 1A or 1B of (b),
When an image is read by a copying machine, the original recording sheet 1A or 1B may be used instead of the copy recording paper. In addition, if an optical handy scanner is used, an arbitrary image such as a printed matter can be easily captured as the original image 9.

After forming the original recorded sheet 8,
As shown in FIG. 3B, the original recording sheet 8 and the adhesive sheet 6 are overlapped with each other with the resin layers 3 and 7 facing each other, and a pair of thermal transfer rollers 10 and 11 are formed.
Pressure is applied while heating by passing through. As a result, the resin layers 3 and 7 are melted and integrated with each other, and the original image 9 formed by the toner and other pigments is incorporated so as to be sandwiched between the resin layers 3 and 7. In addition,
In this embodiment, a case where a paint 12 having a background color suitable for the original image 9 is applied in advance on the surface of the resin layer 7 of the adhesive sheet 6 is exemplified. However, the paint 12 serving as the background color may be applied before recording the original image 9 on the resin layer 3 of the original image recording sheets 1A to 1C (claim 3).

After the original recording sheet 8 and the adhesive sheet 6 are integrated, the release paper 2 on the original recording sheet 8 side is peeled off as shown in FIG. Is completed, and the original image 9 on the thermal transfer print sheet 13 can be seen through the resin layer 3 as a mirror image. Therefore, the original image 9 can be recorded as a normal image on the original image recording sheets 1A to 1C.

Since the thermal transfer print sheet 13 can record the original image 9 as a normal image, the original image recording sheets 1A to 1A can be simply operated by using a copying machine or an optical scanner.
1C can be recorded, and not only the manufacturing cost becomes extremely low, but also a print image of the same high quality as the output image of the copying machine or the optical scanner can be obtained. Moreover, since the toner and the like forming the original image 9 are sandwiched between the resin layers 3 and 7 that are melted and integrated with each other and are completely protected from the outside, they are held in a robust state that is not easily peeled off. Even when the image is transferred to the material to be transferred, image unevenness and image chipping do not occur for a long period of time. Also, when the original image 9 is recorded on the original image recording sheets 1A to 1C by a printing method, since it can be recorded as a normal image, the original image 9 can be printed as it is, and there is no need to make a block as in the related art. When the original image 9 is of a small number and a large variety, it is preferable to employ recording means for reading by an optical reading operation device without increasing the cost.

The thermal transfer print sheet 13 is a single product, unlike the conventional one, which is a combination of two types of sheets. Therefore, even when transferring to a material to be transferred, simple operations can be performed without going through many steps. Good. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a mirror image surface of the thermal transfer print sheet 13, that is, a surface of the resin layer 3 is applied to a print surface of a material to be transferred (not shown), and is pressed while being heated by an iron 14. Thus, the resin layer 3 of the recorded sheet 8 on which the original image 9 has been recorded can be thermally welded, and thereafter, the release paper 2 on the adhesive sheet 6 side only needs to be peeled off. Therefore, the thermal transfer print sheet 13 obtained by the present invention can be easily printed even in ordinary households.

The print surface of such a thermal transfer sheet may be a surface on which the resin layer 3 can be thermally welded, and may be a curved surface. In addition, as the material to be transferred, any material such as cloth, wood, leather, plastic, and metal can be used. In addition, in the case where the printing surface has irregularities, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
What is necessary is just to integrate by heat welding below the 1C resin layer 3, that is, the surface which becomes the mirror image surface of the original image. In this case, irregularities may be formed on the auxiliary sheet 16 according to the printing surface. In the drawing, reference numeral 15 denotes a base, which is not related to the print sheet of the present invention.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the case where the background color of the original image 9 is applied by the paint 12 has been described. However, the background color can be applied by the toner. That is, FIG.
Thermal transfer print sheet 13 formed through step (d)
Is the original sheet. Apart from this, FIG.
After the step (d), a background sheet having a background color with toner is formed. When the original sheet and the background sheet are overlapped with each other and pressurized while heating, the background sheet is overlapped and integrated with the mirror surface of the original sheet as a protective film.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the manufacturing process of the manufacturing method proposed in claim 5. That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, the resin layer 3 of the original recording sheet 1A is formed.
And an original image 9 using a copying machine or a copy for mirror image copying.
Is recorded as a mirror image, and an original image recorded sheet 8 is created. Then, on the resin layer 3 of the original image 9, that is, on the mirror image surface,
After the resin layer 7 of the adhesive sheet 6 is melted and integrated as shown by the arrow, the release paper 2 on the normal image side is peeled off as shown by the two-dot chain line. Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, a PET film 4 having a relatively high thermal melting point is thermally bonded as a protective layer 4A to the normal image surface from which the release paper 2 has been peeled off. Peel off. In this state, since the PET film 4 serving as the protective layer 4A of the thermal transfer print sheet 13 can be pressurized while being heated, the release paper 2 of the adhesive sheet 6 becomes unnecessary. According to the print sheet manufactured by such a manufacturing method, the PET film 4 having a relatively high thermal melting point is heat-bonded as a protective layer above the normal image surface of the original recording sheet 1A. After transferring to the transfer material, ironing can be done from the top.

[0031]

According to the method for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, an original image can be recorded as a normal image on an original image recording sheet to produce an original image-recorded sheet. The original-image-recorded sheet can be created by a simple operation using only the optical scanner. For this reason, not only the manufacturing method is simple and the manufacturing cost is low, but also a print image of the same high quality as the output image of the copying machine or the optical scanner can be obtained. Also, the original image is
Since the sheet is sandwiched between the resin layers of the original image-recorded sheet and the adhesive sheet and protected, the sheet is not easily peeled off, and is robust.

In the method for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet according to the third aspect, the background color of the original image can be given by coloring the resin layer of the original image recording sheet in advance or applying a paint or pigment. In addition, since this background color layer exists below the original image, the image can be clearly displayed without turbidity. In the method for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet according to claim 4, the background color of the original image can be formed using a pigment such as toner, and not only a simple color but also a pattern can be used as the background of the original image. It becomes possible.

In the method of manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet according to the fifth aspect, a mirror image of the original image is recorded on the original image recording sheet, but a resin film having a relatively high melting point is used as a protective layer on the normal image surface of the original image. Because it is glued, it can be ironed from the top, which was previously impossible. In the method for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet according to the sixth aspect, an auxiliary sheet is further formed on the mirror image surface of the print sheet formed by the manufacturing method according to the first to fourth or fifth aspects. If the material of the sheet is selected, thermal bonding to the material to be transferred becomes easy.

According to the thermal transfer print sheet according to the seventh aspect, unlike a conventional combination of two types of sheets, a gloss transfer paper and an adhesive sheet, as a single product, it becomes a single product. The original image can be printed on a desired material to be transferred by a simple heating and pressurizing means. For this reason, printing can be easily performed even in ordinary households. In addition, since the toner and the like forming the original image are sandwiched between the resin layers from both sides and incorporated therein, even when transferred to the material to be transferred, there is a feature that image unevenness and image chipping do not occur.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A to 1C are perspective views showing an original recording sheet used in a method of manufacturing a thermal transfer print according to the present invention (claims 1 and 2).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an adhesive sheet used in the method for producing a thermal transfer print of the present invention (claims 1 and 2).

FIGS. 3A to 3D are manufacturing process diagrams showing a method (claims 1 and 2) for manufacturing a thermal transfer print according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which an original image is printed using a thermal transfer print sheet obtained according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a thermal transfer print sheet (provided with an auxiliary sheet) obtained by the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are manufacturing process diagrams showing a method (claim 5) for manufacturing a thermal transfer print (provided with a protective layer) of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1A to 1C Original recording sheet 3, 5 Resin layer of original recording sheet 6 Adhesive sheet 7 Resin layer of adhesive sheet 8 Original recorded sheet 9 Original image 10, 11 Thermal transfer roller 12 Paint of background color 16 Auxiliary sheet 4A protective layer

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] An original image read and scanned by an optical reading scanner is recorded as a normal image on an original recording sheet on which a resin layer having a relatively high melting point is formed by electrophotography. Is superimposed on an adhesive sheet formed with a resin layer that is melted by heat on one side of the release paper, and is pressurized while being heated, so that the original-recorded sheet is bonded to the adhesive sheet to form a thermal transfer print sheet. A method for producing a thermal transfer print sheet, characterized by being produced. 2. An original image is recorded as a normal image on an original recording sheet on which a resin layer having a relatively high melting point is formed by a printing method, and the original recorded sheet is heated by heat on one surface of a release paper. Manufacturing the thermal transfer print sheet by superimposing on the adhesive sheet having the resin layer to be melted and applying pressure while heating, thereby bonding the original recorded sheet to the adhesive sheet to form a thermal transfer print sheet. Method. 3. The resin layer of the original recording sheet is provided with a background color in advance.
3. The method for producing a thermal transfer print sheet according to item 1. 4. An original image sheet on which an original image produced by the production method according to claim 1 or 2 is recorded, and a method similar to the production method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the original image is used as a background color. Thermal transfer printing, characterized in that the manufactured background sheet is superimposed on each other and pressurized while being heated, thereby creating a thermal transfer print sheet in which the background sheet is superimposed and integrated on the mirror image surface of the original image sheet. Sheet manufacturing method. 5. An original image which is a mirror image is recorded on an original recording sheet having a resin layer having a relatively high melting point formed thereon by electrophotography or printing, and the original recorded sheet is melted by heat. The mirror image of the original image recorded on the original image-recorded sheet is thermally transferred to the adhesive sheet by superimposing on the adhesive sheet on which the layer is formed and pressurizing while heating. PE above
A method for manufacturing a thermal transfer print sheet, wherein a thermal transfer print sheet is prepared by thermally bonding a resin film having a relatively high melting point such as a T film as a protective layer. 6. A heat transfer print sheet produced by the method of claim 1, wherein a resin layer of the heat transfer print sheet and a heat layer are provided below a surface to be a mirror image surface of the heat transfer print sheet. A method for producing a thermal transfer print sheet, wherein an integrated auxiliary sheet is formed by welding. 7. A thermal transfer print sheet produced by the method for producing a thermal transfer print sheet according to claim 1.