JP3813262B2 - Method and apparatus for producing thermal transfer image receiving sheet - Google Patents

Description

【００５０】
【発明の効果】
以上の通り、本発明の熱転写受像シートの作成方法は、少なくとも離型シートと、その離型面に形成した粘着剤層と、該粘着剤層とともに剥離可能な支持体と、該支持体の上に形成された染料受容層とからなる熱転写受像シートを用いて、該染料受容層に画像を形成した後、前記離型シート側もしくは染料受容層側に検知マークを有する熱転写受像シートにより、該検知マークによりハーフカット位置を特定して、該熱転写受像シートにハーフカット処理を施している。したがって、ハーフカット処理が、昇華転写画像を形成した後に行われるため、ハーフカット領域が熱転写プリンター内で搬送中にめくれて、剥がれることを防止する。さらに、ハーフカット領域が熱転写プリンター内で搬送中にめくれて、剥がれることがないため、粘着剤層の粘着強度を高くする必要がなく、画像形成後のハーフカット領域を剥がす際に、剥離困難になったり、剥離時にハーフカット領域の一部が破裂することもない。
【００５１】
また、本発明ではハーフカット処理をレーザー加工手段で行うことが好ましく、レーザー光照射時間等の条件を変えるだけで、簡単にハーフカットラインの深さ調製を行うことができ、精度が高く、再現性のよい、ハーフカット加工ができる。
レーザー光を照射された部分は、局所的に加熱され、その部分の融点を越えた状態の液相時に、その部分を吹き飛ばすことにより切断し、ハーフカット加工を行う。すなわち、熱転写受像シートに非接触でハーフカット加工ができ、カッター刃に粘着剤が付着して、熱転写受像シートの表面にその粘着剤が転移付着するようなことがなく、加工部分に応力がかからず、バリや歪みが生じ難い。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の熱転写受像シートの形成装置の一つの実施形態を示す概略図である。
【図２】本発明の熱転写受像シートの平面を図解的に説明する図である。
【図３】図２のＸ−Ｘ拡大断面図である。
【図４】別の例の図２のＸ−Ｘ拡大断面図である。
【図５】ハーフカットラインのパターンの例を図解的に説明する図である。
【図６】従来技術のハーフカットされた熱転写受像シートを、図解的に説明する図である。
【図７】図６のＸ−Ｘ拡大断面図である。
【図８】剥離した印字物を他物品に貼着した状態を説明する図である。
【図９】レーザー加工装置の構成の概略図である。
【符号の説明】
１ 巻芯
２ 画像
３ 深いハーフカットライン
３’ 浅いハーフカットライン
４ 粘着剤層
５ 離型シート
６ 支持体
７ 染料受容層
８ 未発泡樹脂フィルム
９ 発泡樹脂フィルム
１０ 接着剤層
１１ 物品
１２ 検知マーク
２０ レーザー発振器
２１ レーザーヘッド
２２ 加工光学系
２３ レーザー電源
２４ ＸＹテーブル
２５ Ｚテーブル
２６ メインコントローラ
３０ 熱転写受像シート
３１ 巻き出し部
３２ 画像形成部
３３ ハーフカット部
３４ シートカット部
３５ サーマルヘッド
３６ プラテンローラー
３７ レーザー加工部
３８ ロータリーカッター
３９ 搬送機構部
４０ 熱転写シート[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention uses a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet comprising at least a release sheet / adhesive layer / support / dye-receiving layer on which an image is formed by sublimation-type thermal transfer. After image formation on a dye-receiving layer, the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet The present invention relates to a method for producing a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet that is subjected to half-cut processing, and an apparatus for producing the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, various thermal transfer methods are known. Among them, in recent years, a thermal transfer sheet in which a dye layer containing a sublimable dye is formed on a support is heated by a heating medium such as a thermal head or a laser. Accordingly, a sublimation transfer recording method for forming an image on a thermal transfer image receiving sheet has attracted attention, and is used as an information recording means in various fields.
According to this sublimation transfer recording method, a full-color image can be formed in an extremely short time, and a high-quality image comparable to a full-color silver salt photographic image with excellent reproducibility and gradation of intermediate colors can be obtained. Can do.
With the development of various hardware and software related to multimedia, this thermal transfer method has become a full-color hard copy system for analog images such as digital images and video such as still images by computer graphics, satellite communications, and CDROM and others. That market is expanding.
[0003]
The specific application of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet by this thermal transfer method is diverse. Typical examples include printing proofs, image output, CAD / CAM design and design output, various medical analytical instruments such as CT scans and endoscopic cameras, measuring instrument output applications and instant As an alternative to photos, output of ID cards, ID cards, credit cards, other face photos on cards, etc., as well as composite photos and amusement photos at amusement facilities such as amusement parks, game centers, museums, and aquariums Etc.
Furthermore, with the diversification of applications as described above, it can be affixed to an arbitrary object. For example, a dye receiving layer and a support on which an image is formed are separated from a release sheet via an adhesive layer. A heat transfer image receiving sheet having a peelable structure is used. This is what is called a label or seal type. This thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is used for forming a desired image on a dye-receiving layer and then peeling the dye-receiving layer and sticking it to an arbitrary object.
[0004]
6 and 7 show an example of a conventional thermal transfer image-receiving sheet used for the above-mentioned applications, and FIG. 7 is an XX enlarged sectional view of FIG. The thermal transfer image receiving sheet shown in FIG. 6 is a long type having a predetermined width, and both ends thereof are wound around the core 1 and attached to the thermal transfer printer to advance in the direction of the arrow or in the opposite direction. The mold thermal transfer sheet is overlaid on the surface, and the thermal transfer sheet is heated in an image form from the back by a thermal head or the like to transfer the dye of the thermal transfer sheet to the dye receiving layer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, and on the surface of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet. An arbitrary image 2 is formed.
[0005]
The above-mentioned thermal transfer image receiving sheet is half-cut into an arbitrary shape as shown in FIG. 6, and the details of the cross section are shown in FIG. The half-cut forming method may be a method in which a thermal transfer image receiving sheet is inserted between an upper die attached with a cutter blade and a pedestal to move the upper die up and down, or a cylinder type rotary cutter method.
An image 2 formed in an area defined by the half-cut line 3, for example, a face photograph image, is peeled from the release sheet 5 along with the adhesive layer 4 along the half-cut line 3 as shown in FIG. 7. The peeled image-forming dye-receiving layer portion A is attached to an arbitrary article 11, for example, a notebook, a notebook, a bag, or other articles as shown in FIG. In addition, the code | symbol 12 in FIG. 6 shows a detection mark.
[0006]
As described above, the conventional half-cut thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is, for example, a foamed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film that is a support 6 for the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 4 and the dye-receiving layer 7 on the release surface of the release sheet 5, This is a structure in which a synthetic paper known by the name of YUPO and a dye-dyeable resin layer 7 (dye-receiving layer) formed on the support 6 are laminated.
Further, the applicant of the present application has proposed a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet as described above in which an image color density is improved by using a laminate of an unfoamed resin film and a foamed resin film as the support. Yes.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the case of forming an image using the thermal transfer image receiving sheet as in the above prior art, both ends of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet as shown in FIG. 6 are wound around the winding core 1, and in the thermal transfer printer for image formation, a platen roll is used. First, the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is conveyed through several rollers, and the image forming portion is partially heated by a thermal head or the like to form a desired image. When the image is formed, if the thermal transfer image receiving sheet has been subjected to half-cut processing in advance as shown in FIG. Turn over, the half-cut area peels off from the edge, and the adhesive layer is formed on the back of the peeled area, so that the adhesive layer adheres to the inside of the thermal transfer printer or the surface of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet. There is a problem of poor conveyance of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet in the thermal transfer printer, and there is often a problem that image formation is interrupted.
[0008]
The above problems can be solved by improving the adhesive strength of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer. However, if the adhesive strength of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is improved, the half-cut region after image formation is peeled off. There arises a problem that it becomes difficult or a part of the half-cut region bursts during peeling.
Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention is formed on at least a release sheet, an adhesive layer formed on the release surface, a support that can be peeled off together with the adhesive layer, and the support. Using a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet made of a dye-receiving layer, the half-cut area is not turned over while being transported in the thermal transfer printer, and when the half-cut area is peeled off, the area is not ruptured. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing such a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet and a production apparatus therefor.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for producing a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet having a sublimation transfer image, and at least a release sheet, an adhesive layer formed on the release surface, and peelable together with the adhesive layer After forming an image on the dye-receiving layer using a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet comprising a support and a dye-receiving layer formed on the support,By the thermal transfer image receiving sheet having a detection mark on the release sheet side or the dye receiving layer side, the half-cut position is specified by the detection mark,The thermal transfer image receiving sheet is subjected to a half cut process, and the half cut process is performed by a laser processing means.
[0010]
  Further, in the thermal transfer image receiving sheet producing apparatus of the present invention, at least a thermal head and a platen roller, and a dye layer side of the thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer on the base film therebetween, at least a release sheet, The dye-receiving layer side of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on the release surface, a support that can be peeled off together with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and a dye-receiving layer formed on the support is opposed. An image forming unit that forms a sublimation transfer image on the dye-receiving layer by heating in accordance with an image signal from the base film side of the thermal transfer sheet by a thermal head, and is attached to the image forming unit. Half-cut section, and a conveyance mechanism section for transferring the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet to the image forming section and the half-cut section.In addition, a detection mark is provided on the release sheet side or the dye receiving layer side of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, and the half-cut position is specified by the detection mark.It is characterized by that.
[0011]
  Further, a sheet cut portion for cutting the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is provided. Further, the half-cut portion uses a laser processing means. Further, the sheet cut portion uses a laser processing means. Further, a detection mark is provided on the release sheet side or the dye receiving layer side of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, and the detection markSheet cutIt is characterized by specifying a position.
[0012]
[Action]
  A method and an apparatus for producing a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention include at least a release sheet, an adhesive layer formed on the release surface, a support that can be peeled off together with the adhesive layer, and a support on the support. After forming a sublimation transfer image using a thermal transfer image receiving sheet composed of the formed dye receiving layer,By the thermal transfer image receiving sheet having a detection mark on the release sheet side or the dye receiving layer side, the half-cut position is specified by the detection mark,A half-cut process is performed to an arbitrary shape and depth on the other laminated portion excluding the release sheet by laser processing means or the like. According to the present invention, since the half-cut process is performed after the sublimation transfer image is formed, the half-cut region is prevented from being turned and peeled off during conveyance in the thermal transfer printer. In addition, since the half-cut area does not turn over during transportation in the thermal transfer printer and does not peel off, there is no need to increase the adhesive strength of the adhesive layer, making it difficult to peel off when peeling off the half-cut area after image formation And part of the half-cut region does not rupture during peeling.
[0013]
Also, if the half-cut process is performed during the manufacture of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, not only the half-cut area may be turned over during conveyance with the thermal transfer printer, but also the half-cut area during winding, unwinding or slitting during manufacturing. In contrast, the present invention solves these problems.
Further, in the present invention, it is preferable to perform the half-cut process with a laser processing means, and the depth of the half-cut line can be easily adjusted simply by changing the conditions such as the laser beam irradiation time, and the accuracy is high. Good half-cut processing.
The portion irradiated with the laser light is locally heated and cut by blowing off the portion in the liquid phase in a state exceeding the melting point of the portion, and half-cut processing is performed. That is, half-cut processing can be performed in a non-contact manner on the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. Therefore, no stress is applied to the processed portion, and burrs and distortion are hardly generated.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing one embodiment of a thermal transfer image receiving sheet forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1 is broadly divided into four parts:
1. Thermal transfer image receiving sheet unwinding section 31
2. Sublimation transfer image forming unit 32
3. Half cut part 33
4). Sheet cut part 34
First, a roll-shaped thermal transfer image receiving sheet 30 is supplied from the unwinding portion 31 so that the dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet 40 and the dye receiving layer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet 30 are in contact between the thermal head 35 and the platen roller 36. Then, the thermal transfer sheet 40 is heated in the form of an image from the back surface of the thermal transfer sheet 40, and the dye of the thermal transfer sheet 40 is transferred to the dye receiving layer to form an image on the surface of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet 30. Next, the image-formed thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is transported to the half-cut section 32 by the transport mechanism section 39, subjected to half-cut processing by the laser processing section 37, and then transported to the sheet-cut section 34, where the rotary cutter The sheets are cut one by one.
[0015]
FIG. 2 shows a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet that has been subjected to a half-cut process after forming a sublimation transfer image from the winding roll state, and FIG. 3 is an XX enlarged sectional view of FIG. It is a figure explaining one form of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet obtained by the preparation method of this invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet.
2 to 4 show a part of the half cut as a shallow half cut line 3 '. This prevents the release sheet from the half-cut part and the support from being peeled off when the half-cut process is performed and then conveyed in a curved manner by a roll or the like during conveyance, or inadvertent handling of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet after sheet cutting. can do.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing an example of the shape of the half cut lines 3 and 3 ′ in the half cut processing of the present invention.
As shown in the drawing, the deep half-cut line 3 reaches the bottom of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 4, but the shallow half-cut line 3 ′ does not reach the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 4 in the case of FIG. Moreover, in the case of FIG. 4, it reaches even part of the film 8 which comprises a support body, and has not reached to the adhesive layer 4. FIG. By changing the depth of the half-cut line in this way, the half-cut portion can be conveyed at the shallow half-cut line 3 'by a roll or the like or when the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet after sheet cutting is carelessly handled. The release sheet and the support can be prevented from peeling off.
[0016]
The examples shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are merely examples, and the cut depth of the shallow half-cut line 3 ′ is not limited to the illustrated example, does not reach the release sheet 5, and supports the dye receiving layer 7 and the support. Any depth can be used as long as it reaches at least a part of the body 6. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, when the support body is bonded together, it is preferable to cut a part of the film 8 below.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing an example of the shape of the half-cut lines 3, 3 'in the present invention. As shown in the figure, the shape of the shallow half-cut line 3 ′ and the deep half-cut line 3 can be the shape shown in FIGS. 5a to 5d in addition to the shape shown in FIG. 2, and may be other shapes. . When the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is curved after processing by the sheet cut portion after half-cut processing, the processing start side that is the leading portion in the conveyance direction of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is easy to peel off. It is preferable to make the shape into a deep half-cut line 3 so that the processing end side can be easily peeled off after processing.
[0017]
3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 2. The layer structure of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet obtained by the forming method of the present invention is as shown in FIG. 3 on the release sheet 5 and its release surface. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 4 is formed, a support 6 that can be peeled off together with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 4, and a dye receiving layer 7 formed on the support 6.
An example of a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention is an unfoamed structure in which the support (8 + 10 + 9 in the figure) is in contact with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 4 as shown in the enlarged sectional view of FIG. By forming a laminate of the resin film 8 and the foamed resin film 9 in contact with the dye receiving layer 7, it is possible to improve the dye colorability of the formed image, particularly the dye colorability of the high density portion of the image. The unfoamed resin film 8 and the foamed resin film 9 are attached by an adhesive layer 10. Further, when there is no problem even if the shallow half-cut portion is not provided, the half-cut process may be performed only by a normal deep half-cut.
[0018]
(Release sheet)
The release sheet 5 used in the present invention is a conventionally known plastic film or a material obtained by subjecting the surface of polylamination paper to a release treatment with a known release agent such as silicone. For example, Lumirror made by Toray Industries, Inc. It can be obtained and used as T-60 (thickness 50 μm) or W-400 (thickness 38 μm) manufactured by Diafoil Co., Ltd. These release sheets preferably have a thickness of 20 μm to 100 μm, and if the release sheet is too thin, the so-called stiffness of the obtained thermal transfer image-receiving sheet disappears, and it cannot be conveyed by a thermal transfer printer, or wrinkles occur in the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. Or On the other hand, if the release sheet is too thick, the resulting thermal transfer image-receiving sheet becomes too thick, and the force to drive and drive the thermal transfer printer becomes too large, causing the printer to fail or not be transported normally.
[0019]
Moreover, the release sheet used in the present invention is a surface-untreated polyolefin resin film, such as a polyethylene film or a polypropylene film, and a stretched or unstretched polypropylene resin film is particularly preferable. According to the knowledge of the present inventor, the type of pressure-sensitive adhesive is selected when a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is prepared on the surface of a stretched or non-stretched polypropylene resin film without performing a release treatment as in the prior art. By doing so, the peel strength of the release sheet and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer at 180 ° according to JISZ0237 can be easily adjusted to a range of about 100 to 1,700 g, preferably about 700 to 1,400 g. There is no peeling of the half-cut area at the time of formation, and after the image formation, the half-cut area can be easily peeled off without rupturing. The thickness of the release sheet is about 20 to 100 μm, preferably 35 to 75 μm. Such a stretched or non-stretched polypropylene resin film can be obtained from the market as, for example, Pyrene manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd. or Treffan manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.
[0020]
(Adhesive layer)
The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 4 used in the present invention can be formed using any conventionally known solvent-based and water-based pressure-sensitive adhesives. Examples of the adhesive include vinyl acetate resin, acrylic resin, vinyl acetate-acrylic copolymer, vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyurethane resin, natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, and nitrile rubber. Etc.
The coating amount of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is about 8 to 30 g / m.² (Solid content) is common, and it is applied onto a release sheet by a conventionally known method, that is, a method such as gravure coating, gravure reverse coating or roll coating, and dried to form an adhesive layer.
The adhesive strength of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is desirably in the range of 100 to 1,700 g, preferably in the range of 700 to 1,400 g, in the peeling method at 180 ° in accordance with JIS Z0237.
The pressure-sensitive adhesive as described above is preferably selected and used so that the peel strength is within the above range when the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed on the release sheet.
[0021]
(Support)
The support 6 in the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention may be a conventionally known one. For example, expanded polypropylene such as Toyopearl SS P4255 (thickness 35 μm) manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd., MW247 (thickness 35 μm) manufactured by Mobil Plastic Europe. Foamed polyethylene terephthalate films such as films, W-900 (50 μm) manufactured by Diafoil Co., Ltd., and E-60 (50 μm) manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc. are preferably used.
An example of a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4 as an enlarged cross-sectional view, in which the support (8 + 10 + 9 in the figure) is not in contact with the adhesive layer 4. It consists of a laminate of a foamed resin film 8 and a foamed resin film 9 in contact with the dye receiving layer 7. By doing so, it is possible to improve the formed image, particularly the color density of the high density portion, and form a high quality image.
[0022]
In the above, useful unfoamed resin films are unfoamed films such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, and polypropylene, and any conventionally known unfoamed resin film can be used in the present invention, and the thickness thereof is about 10 to 50 μm. The range of is preferable. If the film thickness is too thin, there is no so-called stiffness, and the resulting thermal transfer image-receiving sheet curls due to thermal shrinkage when forming an image with a thermal head or the like. Is likely to occur. As a preferable example, Lumirror S-10 (thickness: 12 μm) manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc. is exemplified.
Moreover, as a useful foamed resin film, a conventionally known foamed resin film such as a foamed polypropylene film or a foamed polyethylene terephthalate film can be used. In particular, the foamed polypropylene film has excellent cushioning properties and heat insulation properties. In order to transfer the dye to the receiving layer uniformly and efficiently by pressure contact, it is preferable. The thickness of these films is preferably about 30 to 60 μm. Preferred examples include Toyopearl P4255 (thickness 35 μm) and Toyopearl P4256 (thickness 60 μm) manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.
[0023]
As a method for laminating the unfoamed resin film and the foamed resin film, for example, known laminating methods such as dry lamination, non-solvent (hot melt) lamination, EC lamination method and the like can be used, but the preferred method is dry lamination. And a non-solvent lamination method. An example of an adhesive suitable for the non-solvent lamination method is Takenate A-720L manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and an example of an adhesive suitable for dry lamination is Takelac A969 manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. / Takenate A-5 (3/1). The amount of these adhesives used is about 1 to 8 g / m in solid content.² , Preferably 2-6 g / m² Range.
[0024]
(Dye-receiving layer)
In the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet obtained by the forming method of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the dye-receiving layer 7 may be formed in advance on the support 6, or the support 6 and the release sheet. 5 may be provided on the surface of the support.
Further, in the thermal transfer image receiving sheet of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the dye receiving layer 7 may be formed on the foamed resin film 9 before the foamed resin film 9 and the unfoamed resin film 8 are laminated. The foamed resin film 9 and the unfoamed resin film 8 may be provided on the surface of the foamed resin film 9 of the support, or the support (8 + 10 + 9 in the figure) and the release sheet. 5 may be provided on the surface of the foamed resin film 9 of the support.
[0025]
Examples of the material for forming the dye receiving layer include polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymers, halogenated polymers such as polyvinylidene chloride, and polyvinyl acetate. Polyester resins such as polyacrylic esters, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, copolymers of olefins such as ethylene and propylene and other vinyl monomers, cellulose resins such as ionomers and cellulose diacetates, polycarbonate resins Among them, polyester resins, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymers, and mixtures thereof are particularly preferable.
[0026]
At the time of image formation, a release agent is mixed with the resin for the dye receiving layer for the purpose of preventing fusion between the sublimation type thermal transfer sheet having the dye layer and the dye receiving layer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet or a decrease in printing sensitivity. be able to. Preferable release agents used in combination include silicone oil, phosphate ester surfactants, fluorine surfactants, and the like, among which silicone oil is desirable. As the silicone oil, modified silicone oils such as epoxy modification, vinyl modification, alkyl modification, amino modification, carboxyl modification, alcohol modification, fluorine modification, alkylaralkyl polyether modification, epoxy / polyether modification, and polyether modification are desirable.
[0027]
One or more release agents are used. The amount of the release agent added is preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the dye-receiving layer forming resin. When the range of the addition amount is not satisfied, problems such as fusion between the sublimation type thermal transfer sheet and the dye-receiving layer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet or a decrease in printing sensitivity may occur. By adding such a release agent to the dye receiving layer, the release agent bleeds out on the surface of the dye receiving layer after the transfer to form a release layer. These releasing agents may be separately applied on the dye receiving layer without being added to the dye receiving layer forming resin.
[0028]
The dye-receiving layer is a dispersion obtained by dissolving a resin obtained by adding a necessary additive such as a release agent to the surface of a foamed resin film in an appropriate organic solvent, or dispersing it in an organic solvent or water. Is formed by coating and drying by an appropriate coating method.
In forming the dye-receiving layer, a white pigment, a fluorescent whitening agent, or the like can be added for the purpose of improving the whiteness of the dye-receiving layer and further enhancing the sharpness of the transferred image. The dye-receiving layer formed as described above may have any thickness, but is generally 1 to 50 μm in a dry state.
[0029]
Such a dye-receiving layer is preferably a continuous coating, but may be formed as a discontinuous coating using a resin emulsion, a water-soluble resin, or a resin dispersion. Further, an antistatic agent may be coated on the dye-receiving layer in order to stabilize the conveyance of the thermal transfer printer.
Furthermore, an appropriate slip layer (not shown) can be provided on the surface of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet opposite to the dye-receiving layer in order to prevent double feed during feeding of the thermal transfer printer. As the slip layer, a known resin such as butyral resin, polyacrylic ester, polymethacrylic ester, polyvinylidene chloride, polyester, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyvinyl acetate, or a mixture of various fine particles, silicone, etc. What added the lubricant can be used.
[0030]
(Creation method and creation device)
  The method for producing the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention is formed on at least a release sheet, an adhesive layer formed on the release surface, a support that can be peeled off together with the adhesive layer, and the support. After forming an image on the dye-receiving layer using a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet comprising a dye-receiving layer,By the thermal transfer image receiving sheet having a detection mark on the release sheet side or the dye receiving layer side, the half-cut position is specified by the detection mark,The thermal transfer image receiving sheet is subjected to a half cut process. Furthermore, the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet producing apparatus of the present invention includes at least a thermal head and a platen roller, and a dye layer side of the thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer on the base film therebetween, at least a release sheet, The dye-receiving layer side of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on the release surface, a support that can be peeled off together with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and a dye-receiving layer formed on the support is opposed. An image forming unit that forms a sublimation transfer image on the dye-receiving layer by heating in accordance with an image signal from the base film side of the thermal transfer sheet by a thermal head, and is attached to the image forming unit. Half-cut section, and a conveyance mechanism section for transferring the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet to the image forming section and the half-cut section.In addition, a detection mark is provided on the release sheet side or the dye receiving layer side of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, and the half-cut position is specified by the detection mark.Is. Moreover, said preparation apparatus can provide the sheet cut part which cuts a thermal transfer image receiving sheet simultaneously with the said half cut or after that as needed.
[0031]
The half-cut and sheet-cut forming methods include a method of inserting a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet between the upper die attached with a cutter blade and a base and moving the upper die up and down, a cylinder type rotary cutter method, etc. There is no particular limitation as long as it is a method that can be performed, but in the half cut that cuts other laminated portions excluding the release sheet of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, a heat treatment is performed by a laser processing means, so that a half shape can be formed to an arbitrary shape and depth. This is preferable because a cut can be formed.
Therefore, forming a half cut by the laser processing means will be described below.
The laser processing means of the present invention uses a YAG laser, a carbon dioxide gas laser, a ruby laser, or the like as the laser beam. Particularly, the YAG laser has a short wavelength and can be focused on a minute spot, so that finer processing is possible. Yes, preferably used.
[0032]
An example of the laser processing means of the present invention will be described. First, laser light is condensed by a lens and irradiated onto the surface of the dye receiving layer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet. At that time, the depth of the half-cut line can be adjusted by changing the laser light irradiation time or the laser output value. That is, when the laser beam irradiation time is short, the half cut line becomes shallow, and the laser beam irradiation time can be slightly increased to deepen the half cut line. In addition, when the laser output value is small, the half cut line becomes shallow, and the laser output value can be slightly increased to deepen the half cut line. In this way, half-cut processing can be easily performed with high accuracy, good reproducibility, and non-contact with the processed portion. Therefore, compared to half-cut processing with a conventional cutter blade, the adhesive is attached to the cutter blade, the adhesive does not transfer and adhere to the surface of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, and further, no stress is applied to the processed part, No burr or distortion occurs.
The adhesive does not transfer and adhere to the surface of such a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, and further, no stress is applied to the processed part, and no burr or distortion occurs. Exerts a positive effect.
[0033]
The laser processing means of the present invention preferably uses a laser beam in an infrared region of about 0.9 to 11 μm, and the portion irradiated with the laser beam is heated. The portion irradiated with the laser light is locally heated and cut by blowing off the portion in the liquid phase in the state exceeding the melting point of the portion, and half-cut processing is performed.
The laser processing means of the present invention forms a half cut on the thermal transfer image receiving sheet by a laser processing apparatus described below.
As shown in FIG. 9, the laser processing apparatus includes a laser oscillator 20 including a laser head 21, a processing optical system (lens) 22, and a laser power source 23, and a thermal transfer image receiving sheet 30 that is a workpiece. XY table 24 mounted and movable in a horizontal plane (XY plane), Z table 25 for moving laser head 21 and processing optical system (lens) 22 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), in the horizontal plane of XY table 24 A main controller 26 that automatically or manually controls the movement operation of the Z table 25, the movement operation of the Z table 25 in the vertical direction, and the oscillation operation of the laser oscillator 20.
By the control of the main controller of such a laser processing apparatus, an imposition half cut as shown in FIG. 2 can be performed. Needless to say, the detection mark shown in FIG. 2 can be used as a start detection signal for half-cut processing.
[0034]
These half-cut devices (parts) may be built in the thermal transfer printer or separately as in-line or offline as the half-cut device, but the built-in device is more compact and easier to use. From the point of view, it is preferable. On the other hand, the sheet cut is not necessary for the sheet transfer type in which the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is cut in advance, but if the sheet transfer is finally required in the roll type thermal transfer image receiving sheet, the sheet cutting device (part) It is necessary to provide.
Any method can be used as the sheet cut forming method as in the case of the half cut forming method. However, in the case of the sheet cut, the processing operation is relatively simple compared to the half cut. It is not used and processing with a normal cutter blade or the like is sufficient.
In the case where the half-cut device (part) is built in the thermal transfer printer or connected in-line, the sheet-cut device (part) is preferably connected in-line to the thermal transfer printer and the half-cut device (part). In addition, when the half-cut device (part) exists offline and independently from the thermal transfer printer, it is preferable to connect the sheet-cut device (part) to the half-cut device (part).
[0035]
(Detection mark)
The thermal transfer image receiving sheet of the present invention can be provided with a detection mark 12 as shown in FIG. This detection mark 12 is formed at the same time as or immediately after the thermal transfer image formation, and indicates the start position when half-cutting and sheet-cutting processing as necessary thereafter. Further, the detection mark 12 may be formed in advance before the thermal transfer image formation, and at this time, it serves to indicate both the start position of the thermal transfer image formation and the start position of the half cut and, if necessary, the sheet cut.
For example, in FIG. 2, the detection mark 12 is read and detected, and the 12 sections are half cut. Next, the next detection mark in the progressing direction of the processing is read and detected, and half-cut processing is similarly performed, and the operation can be repeated. Similarly, after the half-cut processing, the detection mark 12 is read and detected, and the sheet is cut to obtain one image output sheet on which 12 images are formed and subjected to the half-cut process.
[0036]
The shape and color of the detection mark 12 need only be detectable by the detector and are not limited. The position of the detection mark may be formed on either the release sheet side or the dye receiving layer side of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet.
The shape of the detection mark may be, for example, an ellipse as shown in FIG. 2 or a quadrangle, and may be a round shape, a barcode, or the like. In the case of a line shape, it may be formed over the entire width of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet.
The color of the detection mark only needs to be detectable by a detector. For example, in the case of a light transmission type detector, silver or black having high concealment properties may be used. Further, in the case of a light reflection type detector, a highly glossy metallic luster color tone and the like can be given.
[0037]
The detection mark may be formed by penetrating holes from the front surface to the back surface of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, or by gravure printing or offset printing. Moreover, a vapor deposition film can be provided with a transfer foil by hot stamping, or a vapor deposition film with an adhesive can be attached to the back surface, and is not particularly limited.
Further, the detection mark is formed at the head of each unit, with half cuts of 12 sections as one unit as shown in FIG. Further, it may be formed only at the beginning of one unit of the first half cut. The first half-cut formation position is detected by reading the detection mark with a detector, and by controlling the feed amount of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet in the laser processing device, the next half-cut formation position is accurately aligned. be able to.
The detection means for the detection mark is not particularly limited as long as the detection mark can be read. In the case of a through hole as a detection mark, it can be read by a light transmission type detector, and therefore, it is preferable because there are fewer malfunctions than a light reflection type detector.
Further, when a metallic glossy silver detection mark is provided by printing or when a vapor deposition film detection mark is used, it can be read by a light reflection type detector.
[0038]
A method for forming an image on the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention formed as described above may be a conventionally known sublimation type thermal transfer system, for example, a thermal transfer sheet having three, three-color dye layers of yellow, cyan, and magenta in the surface order. Then, a desired full-color image is formed on the dye-receiving layer of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet by a known thermal head type thermal transfer printer. Next, the layer containing the imaged dye-receiving layer is subjected to half-cut treatment according to the image size, peeled off from the release sheet together with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and the layer containing the peeled dye-receiving layer is applied to any article Can be attached.
[0039]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples. In the text, “%” or “%” is based on weight.
(Example 1)
First, a coating solution for a dye-receiving layer having the following composition on one surface of a foamed polyethylene terephthalate film (trade name W-900, manufactured by Diafoil Co., Ltd., thickness 50 μm), which is a support, is 4.0 g / m² The dye receiving layer was formed by coating and drying at a ratio of
[0040]
Coating solution composition for dye receiving layer
40 parts of vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer
(Electrochemical Industry Co., Ltd., # 1000A)
Polyester resin (Toyobo Co., Ltd., Byron 600) 40 parts
20 parts of vinyl chloride / styrene / acrylic copolymer
(Denka Lac # 400A, manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.)
10 parts of vinyl-modified silicone
(X-62-1212 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)
Catalyst (CAT-PLR-5 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 5 parts
Catalyst (CAT-PL-50T manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 6 parts
400 parts of methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (1/1)
[0041]
Next, on the surface of the foamed polyethylene terephthalate film on which the dye-receiving layer is not formed, an adhesive having the following composition is applied in a solid content of 15 g / m.² The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer was formed by heating and drying at a temperature of 70 ° C. for 1 minute.
Coating liquid composition for adhesive layer
Acrylic copolymer 48 parts
(SK Dyne 1310L, manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.)
Epoxy resin (Soken Chemical Co., Ltd. hardener E-AX) 0.36 parts
51.64 parts ethyl acetate
[0042]
Separately, it was laminated on one surface of a surface-untreated biaxially stretched polypropylene film (trade name: Pyrene P2156, manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd., thickness: 30 μm), which is a release sheet, with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer surface of the above laminate facing each other. . Finally, a quaternary ammonium salt compound (manufactured by Matsumoto Yushi Seiyaku Co., Ltd., 1/1000 dilution of TB-34) is applied as an antistatic agent to the surface of the dye-receiving layer, and a roll-shaped thermal transfer image receiving sheet is wound up. Formed.
A thermal transfer sheet (manufactured by Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.) having a dye layer of three colors of yellow, cyan, and magenta and a black heat-melt transfer layer and a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet as described above, and a dye layer and a dye-receiving layer. And recording with a thermal transfer printer using a thermal head under the conditions of a head applied voltage of 12.0 V, a pulse width of 16 msec, a printing cycle of 33.3 msec, and a dot density of 6 dots / line from the back side of the thermal transfer sheet. A full-color face photo image was formed on the dye-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet. The black hot-melt transfer layer is printed in the same manner as the above printing conditions, with the detection mark shown in FIG.
Formed.
[0043]
Next, laser processing means (laser output 1000 W, irradiation time 0.1 to 0.2 ms) using the YAG laser in the shape shown in FIG. Thus, a half cut process was performed. The size of one screen is 105 mm × 105 mm, and 12 small sections of 20 mm × 15 mm are formed in this one screen as shown in FIG. The conditions are such that the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is transferred by the transport mechanism unit to the image forming unit and the half cut unit.
Next, the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet was cut in-line with a cylinder-type rotary cutter.
As described above, the thermal transfer image receiving sheet was obtained by the forming method of Example 1.
[0044]
(Example 2)
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the detection mark was previously formed with a through hole as shown in FIG. 2 before image formation by thermal transfer.
(Example 3)
A thermal transfer image receiving sheet having the same structure as that of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet of Example 1 and having a size of 105 mm × 105 mm was prepared instead of winding.
Next, under the same printing conditions as in Example 1, a full-color face photo image and a black detection mark were formed, and then half-cut processing was performed in the same manner as in Example 1.
As described above, the thermal transfer image receiving sheet was obtained by the forming method of Example 3.
[0045]
(Comparative Example 1)
The thermal transfer image receiving sheet has the same configuration as that of Example 1, and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is inserted between the upper mold with the cutter blade attached and the pedestal, and the upper mold is moved up and down to perform half-cut processing in advance. Oita.
Next, a full-color face image and a black detection mark were formed in the same manner as in the printing conditions of Example 1, and then sheet cutting was performed in the same manner as in the sheet cutting conditions of Example 1.
As described above, the thermal transfer image receiving sheet was obtained by the forming method of Comparative Example 1.
[0046]
In the thermal transfer image receiving sheet forming method described above, the transportability of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet was evaluated. The evaluation method is as follows.
[0047]
<Evaluation method>
(Transportability)
The presence or absence of turning or peeling during transportation in the thermal transfer printer in the half-cut region when 100 screens of each thermal transfer image-receiving sheet are continuously formed is examined visually.
Judgment criteria are as follows.
○: No turning and peeling.
X: There are 10 or more turns or peeling. Also, the thermal transfer image receiving sheet transport stop
There are more than 5 stops.
[0048]
The evaluation results are shown in Table 1 below.
(The following margin)
[0049]
[Table 1]

[0050]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, the method for producing the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention includes at least a release sheet, an adhesive layer formed on the release surface, a support that can be peeled off together with the adhesive layer, and an upper surface of the support. After forming an image on the dye-receiving layer using a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet comprising a dye-receiving layer formed onBy the thermal transfer image receiving sheet having a detection mark on the release sheet side or the dye receiving layer side, the half-cut position is specified by the detection mark,The thermal transfer image receiving sheet is half cut. Therefore, since the half-cut process is performed after the sublimation transfer image is formed, the half-cut region is prevented from being turned and peeled off during conveyance in the thermal transfer printer. In addition, since the half-cut area does not turn over during transportation in the thermal transfer printer and does not peel off, there is no need to increase the adhesive strength of the adhesive layer, making it difficult to peel off when peeling off the half-cut area after image formation And part of the half-cut region does not rupture during peeling.
[0051]
Further, in the present invention, it is preferable to perform the half-cut process with a laser processing means, and the depth of the half-cut line can be easily adjusted simply by changing the conditions such as the laser beam irradiation time, and the accuracy is high. Good half-cut processing.
The portion irradiated with the laser light is locally heated and cut by blowing off the portion in the liquid phase in a state exceeding the melting point of the portion, and half-cut processing is performed. That is, half-cut processing can be performed in a non-contact manner on the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, and the adhesive does not adhere to the cutter blade, and the adhesive does not transfer and adhere to the surface of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. It is difficult to cause burrs and distortion.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing one embodiment of a thermal transfer image receiving sheet forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the plane of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet of the present invention.
3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG.
4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 2 in another example.
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a half cut line pattern.
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a conventional half-cut thermal transfer image receiving sheet.
7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a peeled printed matter is attached to another article.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a laser processing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 core
2 images
3 Deep half-cut line
3 ’shallow half-cut line
4 Adhesive layer
5 Release sheet
6 Support
7 Dye-receiving layer
8 Unfoamed resin film
9 Foamed resin film
10 Adhesive layer
11 Goods
12 Detection mark
20 Laser oscillator
21 Laser head
22 Processing optics
23 Laser power supply
24 XY table
25 Z table
26 Main controller
30 Thermal transfer image receiving sheet
31 Unwinding part
32 Image forming unit
33 Half-cut section
34 Sheet cutting part
35 Thermal head
36 Platen roller
37 Laser processing part
38 Rotary cutter
39 Conveyance mechanism
40 Thermal transfer sheet

Claims (7)

Using a thermal transfer image receiving sheet comprising at least a release sheet, an adhesive layer formed on the release surface, a support peelable together with the adhesive layer, and a dye receiving layer formed on the support Then, after forming an image on the dye receiving layer, the thermal transfer image receiving sheet having a detection mark on the release sheet side or the dye receiving layer side specifies a half-cut position by the detection mark, and the thermal transfer image receiving sheet A method for producing a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet having a sublimation transfer image, wherein a half-cut treatment is performed.   The method for producing a thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to claim 1, wherein the half-cut process is performed by a laser processing means. A thermal transfer sheet having at least a thermal head and a platen roller and having a dye layer on the substrate film therebetween, at least a release sheet, an adhesive layer formed on the release surface, and the adhesive A thermal transfer sheet substrate comprising a support that can be peeled off together with the agent layer, and a dye receiving layer side of a thermal transfer image receiving sheet formed on the support so as to face each other. An image forming unit that forms a sublimation transfer image on the dye-receiving layer by heating according to the image signal from the film side with a thermal head, a half-cut unit provided along with the image forming unit, the image forming unit and the half a transport mechanism for transporting the receiving sheet to the cutting unit, and a detection mark is provided on the release sheet side or dye-receiving layer side of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, c by the detection mark The thermal transfer image-receiving sheet producing apparatus and identifies the Fukatto position. 4. The thermal transfer image receiving sheet producing apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a sheet cutting portion for cutting the thermal transfer image receiving sheet. 4. The thermal transfer image receiving sheet producing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the half-cut portion uses laser processing means. 5. The thermal transfer image receiving sheet producing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the sheet cutting unit uses a laser processing means. 5. The thermal transfer image receiving sheet producing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a detection mark is provided on the release sheet side or the dye receiving layer side of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, and a sheet cutting position is specified by the detection mark. .

Images