JP4470244B2 - ink ribbon - Google Patents

Description

【００５４】
表１から明らかなように、センサーマーク部の９５０ｎｍ波長４５°反射率が３０％以下とされたインクリボンは、プリンタのセンサーによる読み飛ばしを皆無とすることができることがわかった。
【００５５】
【発明の効果】
本発明のインクリボンは、表面反射率が低く抑えられているので、読み取り誤差のない、優れたインクリボンを実現することができる。さらに、本発明のインクリボンは、保存安定性にも優れたものとなる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本実施の形態に係るインクリボンの一構成例を示す断面図である。
【図２】本実施の形態に係るインクリボンの一構成例を示す平面図である。
【図３】本実施の形態に係るインクリボンの他の構成例を示す平面図である。
【図４】透過型センサーによってセンサーマーク部の位置を検出している状態を示す模式図である。
【図５】透過型センサーによってセンサーマーク部の位置を検出している状態を示す模式図である。
【図６】透過反射型センサーによってセンサーマーク部の位置を検出している状態を示す模式図である。
【図７】透過反射型センサーによってセンサーマーク部の位置を検出している状態を示す模式図である。
【図８】透過反射型センサーにおいて、センサマーク部の表面で光が反射した状態を示す模式図である。
【符号の説明】
１ インクリボン、 ２ 基材、 ３Ｙ イエローインク層、 ３Ｍ マゼンタインク層、 ３Ｃ シアンインク層、 ４ センサーマーク部 ５ バックコート層[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thermal transfer ink ribbon having a sensor mark portion, and more particularly to an ink ribbon excellent in reading reliability of a sensor mark portion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a method for developing image information input to a video apparatus or a digital camera on a thermal transfer sheet such as photographic paper, a thermal transfer method using a sublimation dye or a heat-melting dye is known. In this thermal transfer method, an ink ribbon having an ink layer made of a sublimable or heat-meltable dye and a photographic paper having a dye-receiving layer are superimposed, and the ink layer is heated according to image information by a thermal head or the like. A sublimation type thermal transfer recording method is known in which an image is formed by transferring a dye from an ink layer to a dye receiving layer of photographic paper. According to this sublimation type thermal transfer recording method, a full-color image having continuous gradation can be formed, and thus it has been attracting attention as a method for hard-copying a video image.
[0003]
A sensor mark portion for positioning the ink ribbon is usually formed on the ink ribbon used in the sublimation thermal transfer recording system. Since the transmission density of light differs between the sensor mark portion and the ink layer, the printer detects and positions the sensor mark portion based on a change in the transmission density. As a characteristic of the sensor mark part, it is required that the sensor of the printer reads the sensor mark part surely.
[0004]
Examples of printer sensors include a transmissive type and a transmissive reflective type.
[0005]
In the transmissive sensor, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the light emitting unit 12 is disposed so as to face the surface of the ink ribbon 10 on which the sensor mark unit 11 is formed. A light receiving unit 13 is disposed at a position facing the light emitting unit 12 so that the ink ribbon 10 is sandwiched between the light emitting unit 12 and the light emitting unit 12.
[0006]
In this transmissive sensor, light is emitted from the light emitting unit 12, and the light is received by the light receiving unit 13. As shown in FIG. 4, light passes through the ink ribbon 10 at portions other than the sensor mark portion 11, and the light receiving portion 13 can receive light from the light emitting portion 12. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, in the sensor mark portion 11, light is blocked by the sensor mark portion 11, and the light receiving portion 13 cannot receive light from the light emitting portion 12. In the transmission type sensor, the position of the sensor mark portion 11 is detected in this way.
[0007]
In the transflective sensor, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a reflecting plate 14 is disposed so as to face the surface of the ink ribbon 10 opposite to the surface where the sensor mark portion 11 is formed. In addition, the light emitting unit 12 and the light receiving unit 13 are arranged at positions conjugate to the reflecting plate 14 so that the ink ribbon 10 is sandwiched between the reflecting plate 14 and the reflecting plate 14.
[0008]
In this transmissive sensor, light is emitted from the light emitting unit 12, and the light reflected by the reflecting plate 14 is received by the light receiving unit 13. As shown in FIG. 6, light passes through the ink ribbon 10 and is reflected by the reflecting plate 14 at portions other than the sensor mark portion 11, and the light receiving portion 13 can receive light from the light emitting portion 12. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, in the sensor mark portion 11, light is blocked by the sensor mark portion 11, and the light receiving portion 13 cannot receive light from the light emitting portion 12. In the transmission / reflection sensor, the position of the sensor mark portion 11 is detected in this manner.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When attempting to increase the detection accuracy of the sensor mark unit 11 with respect to the transmission type sensor described above, the problem can be solved by increasing the thickness of the sensor mark unit 11.
[0010]
Further, in the transflective sensor, when the surface reflectance of the sensor mark unit 11 is large, the light receiving unit 13 receives light reflected from the surface of the sensor mark unit 11 instead of the reflecting plate 14 as shown in FIG. However, it may be recognized as a part other than the sensor mark part 11 and the position of the sensor mark part 11 may not be detected correctly. If the position of the sensor mark portion 11 is not correctly detected, a malfunction of the printer such as a displacement of the ink ribbon 10 is induced.
[0011]
In order to satisfy the optimization of the transmission density of the sensor mark portion 11 and the optimization of the surface reflectance as described above, there are methods such as optimization of the thickness of the sensor mark portion 11 and optimization of the dispersion method. Has been taken.
[0012]
However, even with these methods, the transmission / reflection type optical sensor cannot recognize the sensor mark portion, and the printing position of the ink ribbon cannot be appropriately controlled, thereby causing troubles such as being unable to print the specified number of sheets.
[0013]
The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described conventional situation, and an object thereof is to provide a thermal transfer ink ribbon with improved reading reliability of a sensor mark portion.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The ink ribbon of the present invention is formed on the same surface as the ribbon-shaped substrate, the ink layer containing the dye formed on one surface of the substrate, and the surface of the substrate on which the ink layer is formed. The sensor mark portion includes a first carbon black having an average particle diameter of 23 nm or more and 30 nm or less, and a second carbon black having an average particle diameter of 270 nm or more and 350 nm or less. And a composition ratio of the first carbon black and the second carbon black is 30 parts by weight: 70 parts by weight to 50 parts by weight: 50 parts by weight. Is 45 μm, and the 45 ° reflectance of light having a wavelength of 950 nm is 14% or more and 30% or less.
[0015]
In the ink ribbon according to the present invention as described above, since the surface reflectance of the sensor mark portion is sufficiently low, the sensor can almost certainly detect the sensor mark portion in the printer apparatus.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
[0017]
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a configuration example of the ink ribbon according to the present embodiment.
[0018]
The ink ribbon 1 includes a ribbon-shaped substrate 2, a yellow ink layer 3 Y, a magenta ink layer 3 M, a cyan ink layer 3 C formed on one surface of the substrate 2, and one surface of the substrate 2. The sensor mark portion 4 is formed between the yellow ink layer 3Y, the magenta ink layer 3M, or the cyan ink layer 3C, and the back coat layer 5 is formed on the other surface of the substrate 2. The
[0019]
A known sheet-like material that has been conventionally used as a substrate for this type of ink ribbon can be used for the substrate 2. Specific examples of the material for the substrate 2 include polyester film, polystyrene film, polypropylene film, polysulfone film, polycarbonate film, polyimide film, and aramid film. The thickness of the substrate 2 is preferably 1 μm to 3 μm, and more preferably 2 μm to 10 μm.
[0020]
The yellow ink layer 3Y, the magenta ink layer 3M, and the cyan ink layer 3C contain a dye and a binder.
[0021]
Examples of the yellow dye contained in the yellow ink layer 3Y include known yellow dyes such as azo, disazo, methine, styryl, and pyridone / azo.
[0022]
Examples of the magenta dye contained in the magenta ink layer 3M include known magenta dyes such as azo, anthraquinone, styryl, and heterocyclic azo dyes.
[0023]
Examples of the cyan dye contained in the cyan ink layer 3C include known cyan dyes such as anthraquinone, naphthoquinone, heterocyclic azo dyes, and indoaniline.
[0024]
As the binder, a known resin or the like conventionally used as a binder for the ink layer in this type of ink ribbon can be used. Specific examples of the binder for the ink layer include cellulose resins such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxy cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and cellulose acetate, and vinyl resins such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetoacetal, polyvinyl acetate, and polystyrene. Resin, various urethane, etc. are mentioned The sensor mark part 4 contains carbon black and the binder which disperse | distributes the said carbon black.
[0025]
As such carbon black, known carbon black can be used. Specifically, for example, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation # 980B, MCF88B, # 44B, Cabot Corporation BP-800, BP-L, REGAL-660, REGAL-330, Colombian Carbon Corporation Raven-1255, Raven -1250, RAVEN-1020, RAVEN-780, RAVEN-760, Denexa's Printex-55, Printex-75, Printex-45, SB-550 and the like.
[0026]
Examples of the binder for dispersing the carbon black include modified or non-modified vinyl chloride resin, polyurethane resin, phenoxy resin, or polyester resin, and cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate butyrate. In addition to the above-described resins, thermoplastic resins, thermosetting resins, reactive resins, electron beam irradiation curable resins, and the like can be used.
[0027]
In addition, a curing agent can be added to the sensor mark portion 4 as necessary in order to further improve the durability. As the curing agent to be added to the sensor mark portion 4, polyfunctional isocyanate can be used, and in particular, tolylene diisocyanate (TDI) system is suitable. The addition amount of the curing agent is preferably 20 to 100 parts by weight when the total resin amount to be used is 100 parts by weight. In addition to the curing agent described above, an organic pigment, an inorganic pigment, a lubricant, or the like may be added to the sensor mark portion 4 as necessary.
[0028]
In the ink ribbon 1 according to the present invention, the 45 ° reflectance of the 950 nm wavelength light of the sensor mark portion 4 is 30% or less. The sensor mark portion 4 having a 45 ° reflectivity of 950 nm wavelength light of 30% or less has a sufficiently low surface reflectivity, so that the sensor can almost reliably detect the sensor mark portion in the printer apparatus. Can be detected. And the ink ribbon 1 provided with such a sensor mark part 4 can eliminate a reading error, and is excellent.
[0029]
In order to make the 45 ° reflectivity of the 950 nm wavelength light of the sensor mark portion 4 30% or less, it is possible to define the particle size and composition ratio of the carbon black contained in the sensor mark portion 4. Specifically, for example, as the carbon black contained in the sensor mark portion 4, a mixture of a first carbon black having an average particle diameter of 30 nm or less and a second carbon black having an average particle diameter of 270 nm or more. Is used.
[0030]
The back coat layer 5 contains a resin. By forming the backcoat layer 5 on the other surface of the substrate 2, the frictional sliding between the ink ribbon 1 and the printing head can be kept constant, and the ink ribbon 1 can be run stably.
[0031]
In addition, a lubricant, a curing agent, or the like may be added to the back coat layer 5. By adding a lubricant to the backcoat layer 5, the friction between the ink ribbon 1 and the printing head can be reduced, and the running property of the ink ribbon 1 can be improved. Examples of such a lubricant include calcium carbonate and phosphate. Moreover, the running durability of the ink ribbon 1 can be improved by adding a curing agent to the backcoat layer 5. Examples of such a curing agent include polyisocyanate.
[0032]
The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the configuration of the ink ribbon according to the present invention is not limited to this, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the arrangement of the ink layer and the sensor mark portion varies depending on the printer model used. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the sensor mark portion 4 has been described by taking the ink ribbon 1 formed over the entire width of the base material 2 as an example, but the ink ribbon 1 according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor mark portion 4 may be formed in a part of the width direction of the substrate 2. The present invention is also applicable to such a case.
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment, the ink ribbon 1 provided with the yellow ink layer 3Y, the magenta ink layer 3M, and the cyan ink layer 3C as an ink layer has been described as an example. However, the ink ribbon according to the present invention includes: A black ink layer may be provided, or it may be composed of only a black ink layer.
[0034]
In the ink ribbon according to the present invention, a laminate layer may be formed on the substrate 2. This laminate layer serves as a protective layer for protecting an image formed on the photographic paper by being transferred onto the photographic paper by a thermal head.
[0035]
The printing method using the ink ribbon according to the present embodiment, the detection method of the sensor mark portion by the sensor of the printer, and the like can be performed in the same manner as in the case of the conventional ink ribbon.
[0036]
【Example】
Hereinafter, in order to investigate the effect of the present invention, an example in which an ink ribbon having the above-described configuration was produced and its characteristics were evaluated will be described.
[0037]
<Example 1>
First, a sensor mark coating material, a backcoat layer coating material, a yellow ink layer coating material, a magenta ink layer coating material, and a cyan ink layer coating material were prepared as follows.
[0038]
-Paint for sensor mark part The raw material shown by the following composition was mix | blended, and after disperse | distributing for arbitrary time with a ball mill, the filter for sensor mark part was adjusted through the filter of a 5 micrometer aperture.
[0039]
[Carbon black]
First carbon black: 30 parts by weight (manufactured by Colombian Carbon, RAVEN-1255: average particle size 23 μm)
Second carbon black: 70 parts by weight (Columbian Carbon Co., Sevacarb MT: average particle size 350 μm)
[resin]
Polyester polyurethane (with polar group SO ₃ Na): 100 parts by weight (manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd., UR-8300)
[solvent]
Methyl ethyl ketone: 500 parts by weight Toluene: 500 parts by weight Paint for back coat layer The raw materials shown below were blended, stirred for 2 hours with a dissolver, and then passed through a 50 μm aperture filter to prepare a back coat layer paint. The curing agent was blended one hour before the backcoat layer was applied.
[0040]
[resin]
Polyvinyl butyral: 100 parts by weight (manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., ESREC BX-55z)
[lubricant]
Calcium carbonate: 10 parts by weight (manufactured by Shiroishi Kogyo, white glossy DD)
Phosphate ester: 10 parts by weight (manufactured by Toho Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Phosphanol RD-720)
Phosphate ester: 20 parts by weight (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd., Prisurf A208S)
[solvent]
Methyl ethyl ketone: 800 parts by weight Toluene: 800 parts by weight [curing agent]
Polyisocyanate: 50 parts by weight (manufactured by Nippon Polyurethane Industry Co., Ltd., Coronate L-50E)
-Yellow ink layer coating material Raw materials represented by the following composition were blended, stirred for 2 hours with a dissolver, and then passed through a filter having a diameter of 50 m to prepare a yellow ink layer coating material.
[0041]
[dye]
Yellow dye: 100 parts by weight (Sumitomo Chemical Co., ESC-155)
[resin]
Polyvinyl butyral: 100 parts by weight (manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd., 3000K)
[solvent]
Methyl ethyl ketone: 900 parts by weight Toluene: 900 parts by weight- Paint for magenta ink layer After blending the raw materials shown in the following composition, stirring for 2 hours with a dissolver, and passing through a filter with a 50 [mu] m diameter, the paint for magenta ink layer Adjusted.
[0042]
[dye]
Magenta dye: 50 parts by weight (manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., ESC-451)
[resin]
Polyvinyl butyral: 50 parts by weight (manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd., 3000K)
[solvent]
Methyl ethyl ketone: 900 parts by weight Toluene: 900 parts by weight Cyan ink layer paint The raw materials shown in the following composition were blended, stirred for 2 hours with a dissolver, passed through a 50 μm aperture filter, and then a cyan ink layer paint. Adjusted.
[0043]
[dye]
Cyan dye: 100 parts by weight (manufactured by Sand, Foron Blue SR-PI)
[resin]
Polyvinyl butyral: 100 parts by weight (manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd., 3000K)
[solvent]
Methyl ethyl ketone: 900 parts by weight Toluene: 900 parts by weight Next, the coating material for the back coat layer obtained as described above is dried on one surface of a polyester film having a thickness of 6 μm (manufactured by Toray Industries Inc., Lumirror). Was applied so as to be 1 μm and cured at 60 ° C. for 48 hours to form a backcoat layer.
[0044]
Next, on the other surface of the ribbon-shaped substrate, the sensor mark coating material is 1.5 μm thick, the yellow ink layer coating material, the magenta ink layer coating material, and the cyan ink layer coating material are each 1.0 μm in dry thickness. By applying and drying as described above, a sensor mark portion, a yellow ink layer, a magenta ink layer, and a cyan ink layer were formed to produce an ink ribbon.
[0045]
<Example 2>
In adjusting the coating material for the sensor mark portion, the ink ribbon was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amount of the first carbon black was 50 parts by weight and the amount of the second carbon black was 50 parts by weight. Produced.
[0046]
<Comparative example 1>
When adjusting the coating for the sensor mark part, the ink ribbon was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amount of the first carbon black was 60 parts by weight and the amount of the second carbon black was 40 parts by weight. Produced.
[0047]
<Comparative example 2>
In adjusting the coating material for the sensor mark portion, the ink ribbon was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amount of the first carbon black was 70 parts by weight and the amount of the second carbon black was 30 parts by weight. Produced.
[0048]
The ink ribbon produced as described above was evaluated for 950 nm wavelength 45 ° reflectance and reading accuracy.
[0049]
The evaluation was performed using an Olympus P-300 printer having a reflective sensor. Further, as the photographic paper, photographic paper included as a set in VPM-P50STB manufactured by Sony Corporation was used.
[0050]
First, as a 950 nm wavelength 45 ° reflectivity, using a spectrophotometer MCPD-2000 manufactured by Otsuka Electronics Co., Ltd., assuming a 45 ° reflectivity of 950 nm wavelength of a standard white plate defined in JIS-P-8148 as 100%, The reflectance of the sensor mark part was characterized.
[0051]
As for reading accuracy, 100 test images were printed continuously using an Olympus P-300 printer. At that time, the sensor could not detect the sensor mark, and the ink ribbon was fed excessively. The number of occurrences was counted. In the reading accuracy evaluation experiment, the mounting angle of the optical sensor of the printer is adjusted so that skipping is likely to occur.
[0052]
The evaluation results for the ink ribbons of Example 1 and Example 2, Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 are shown in Table 1 together with the composition of carbon black in the sensor mark portion.
[0053]
[Table 1]

[0054]
As is apparent from Table 1, it was found that the ink ribbon in which the 950 nm wavelength 45 ° reflectivity of the sensor mark portion is 30% or less can eliminate skipping by the printer sensor.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
Since the surface reflectance of the ink ribbon of the present invention is kept low, an excellent ink ribbon with no reading error can be realized. Furthermore, the ink ribbon of the present invention has excellent storage stability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of an ink ribbon according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration example of an ink ribbon according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another configuration example of the ink ribbon according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the position of a sensor mark portion is detected by a transmissive sensor.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the position of a sensor mark portion is detected by a transmissive sensor.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the position of a sensor mark portion is detected by a transmission / reflection sensor.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the position of a sensor mark portion is detected by a transmission / reflection type sensor.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which light is reflected on the surface of a sensor mark portion in a transmission / reflection sensor.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink ribbon, 2 base material, 3Y yellow ink layer, 3M magenta ink layer, 3C cyan ink layer, 4 sensor mark part 5 backcoat layer

Claims (2)

A ribbon-shaped substrate;
An ink layer formed on one side of the substrate and containing a dye;
A sensor mark portion formed on the same surface as the surface on which the ink layer of the substrate is formed,
The sensor mark portion includes a mixture of a first carbon black having an average particle diameter of 23 nm or more and 30 nm or less, a second carbon black having an average particle diameter of 270 nm or more and 350 nm or less, and polyester polyurethane. The composition ratio of the first carbon black and the second carbon black is 30 parts by weight: 70 parts by weight to 50 parts by weight: 50 parts by weight, the thickness is 1.5 μm, and 950 nm. An ink ribbon having a 45 ° reflectance of light having a wavelength of 14% or more and 30% or less.   The ink ribbon according to claim 1, further comprising a backcoat layer formed on the other surface of the substrate.

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