JPS6345958B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel thermal transfer printing method and a thermal transfer printing apparatus, and more particularly, to a novel thermal transfer printing method and a thermal transfer printing apparatus, and more particularly, to a printing method and a novel thermal transfer printing apparatus, which are easy to operate and change colors of printed matter, and which can copy a large number of sheets at high speed. Regarding equipment.

Conventionally, when making multiple copies, a so-called PPC copying machine using electrostatic copying method is used, or
Alternatively, rotary copying machines are widely used.

Although the PPC copying machine itself is easy to operate and can make multiple copies, the cost required for each copy is high, making it economically unfavorable for making multiple copies.

On the other hand, although rotary copying machines are highly economical, they have drawbacks such as the complexity of creating a master, the ink that stains hands, clothes, and the machine during copying, and the need for skill to operate them. has.

In addition, although offset printing produces a clear print finish and is highly economical, it takes time to etch the plate and maintain the machine after use, and requires skill to operate, making it easy for anyone to print. Moreover, the machine has the disadvantage of being expensive.

The present invention has been completed in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and its characteristics are that a master is made into a plate by either electrostatic copying, handwriting or type printing, and the formation of A heat-sensitive melt transfer ink layer (hereinafter simply referred to as a heat-sensitive transfer ink layer) is melt-transferred and adhered to the toner image or carbon image, and then the heat-sensitive transfer ink layer is melt-transferred to a copy sheet. The present invention makes it possible to copy a large number of sheets extremely easily and at high speed by repeatedly and continuously attaching a heat-sensitive transfer ink layer to the toner image or carbon image and transferring the heat-sensitive transfer ink layer to a copy sheet. This made it possible.

Hereinafter, the method and apparatus of the present invention will be explained using the drawings.

1A to 1C are schematic explanatory diagrams showing an embodiment of the method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. It is a line schematic cross-sectional view.

As shown in FIGS. 1a to 1c, the present invention provides a toner image or carbon image 2 of a reversed image on a base sheet or film (hereinafter simply referred to as a base sheet) 1 by electrostatic copying, handwriting or type printing. Using the master 3 made by forming the master 3 [FIG. 1a], the master 3
A heat-sensitive transfer type carbon paper 5 having a heat-sensitive transfer ink layer 4 on the lower surface is placed on the surface on which the toner image or carbon image 2 is formed, and is pressed under heat rays such as infrared rays to form the toner image or carbon image. an inking step [FIG. 1b] in which the thermal transfer ink layer 4 is melt-transferred and adhered onto the toner image or carbon image 2; and a transfer step in which the thermal transfer ink layer 4 adhered to the toner image or carbon image 2 is melt-transferred onto the copy sheet 6. Process [Figure 1c]
The present invention provides a thermal transfer printing method comprising:

The master 3 in the present invention can be prepared by transferring and fixing a predetermined toner image 2 onto the base sheet 1 by an ordinary electrostatic copying method, or by handwriting or type printing using ordinary carbon paper or the like. It is formed by transferring and fixing a carbon image 2 onto a sheet 1.

The base sheet 1 may be, for example, a plastic sheet or film made of polyester, nylon, or acetyl cellulose, or glassine paper, which has high transparency, excellent heat resistance, and excellent heat fixability of the transferred toner image or carbon image 2. Papers such as electrically insulating paper, parchment paper, Indian paper, wax paper base paper, etc. may be mentioned, and the base sheet 1 of these papers preferably has a thickness of about 3 to 60 μm.

The toner image or the carbon image 2 is formed as a reversed image. For example, in the case of the toner image 2, predetermined information is handwritten on transparent or translucent paper such as tracing paper. Alternatively, it is formed by copying a printed or type-printed original onto the base sheet 1 from the opposite side using an electrostatic copying machine, and in the case of the carbon image 2, ordinary carbon paper etc. The carbon image 2 of the reverse image can be formed on the lower surface of the base sheet 1 by placing it on the lower surface of the base sheet 1 with the carbon layer thereof facing up and by handwriting or type printing directly on the upper surface of the base sheet 1. can. The master 3 thus obtained has the advantage that it can be used as a printing original plate as it is without any post-processing.

The heat-sensitive transfer type carbon paper 5 used in the inking process is formed by uniformly applying a heat-sensitive transfer ink layer 4 to paper, plastic sheet, or the like.

The thermal transfer ink layer 4 contains a colorant, a binder agent,
Made of fabric softener, etc., thickness 3-10μ, melting point 50-50μ
This is an ink layer at 100℃. The heat-sensitive transfer ink layer 4 is configured to be melted and transferred (inked) quickly at the above-mentioned melting point, and to solidify quickly without flowing out from the toner image or carbon image 2 after being inked.

The binder agent forming the heat-sensitive transfer ink layer 4 includes waxes such as wood wax, beeswax, carnauba wax, ceresine wax, spermaceti wax, and heat-melting waxes such as low molecular weight polyethylene, oxidized wax, and ester wax. It is also preferable to use a material that has excellent solidification properties after melting and also has excellent heat-sensitive pressure properties during inking and transfer to the copy sheet 6.

In addition, as a softening agent, for example, polystyrene,
Examples include easily heat-meltable substances such as styrene-butadiene copolymers, cellulose esters, cellulose ethers, and acrylic resins, and lubricating oils such as spindle oil and motor oil. Further, as the colorant, various dyes or pigments that have been widely used in the field of copying paper can be used without any particular restrictions.

These binders, softeners, and colorants are preferably blended in proportions of 5 to 55 parts, 5 to 35 parts, and 2 to 25 parts, respectively, based on 100 parts (by weight, the same applies hereinafter) of the total amount of the thermal transfer ink layer. .

As a method of melt-transferring (inking) the thermal transfer ink layer 4 to the toner image or carbon image 2 on the master 3, for example, as shown in FIG.
are pressed by a press roll 7 and a cylinder 8 so that each toner image or carbon image 2 and the thermal transfer ink layer 4 overlap, and a heat ray source 9 such as an infrared lamp provided in the cylinder 8 is applied.
By irradiating heat rays from the back side of Master 3,
Examples include a method of melting and transferring (inking) the thermal transfer ink layer 4 onto the toner image 2. At this time, in order to transmit the heat rays applied from the back side of the master 3 to the heat-sensitive transfer ink layer 4, it is necessary to use a carbon-based substance with good heat absorption such as carbon black in the toner image or carbon image 2. is preferable in order to improve its thermal conductivity. Note that the term "heat ray" in the present invention includes not only infrared rays but also laser rays, flashes, and the like.

As the copy sheet 6 used in the transfer process, not only plain paper but also art paper with poor ink absorbency that cannot be printed with ordinary printing ink, ordinary plastic film, etc. can be suitably used. The thickness is not particularly limited.

Copy sheet 6 of thermal transfer ink layer 4 on toner image or carbon image 2 in such a transfer process
For example, as shown in FIG. 11 and heat roll 10 and heat roll 1
Examples of methods include melting and transferring the heat-sensitive transfer ink layer 4 to the copy sheet 6 using heat from zero. Note that the thermal transfer ink layer 4 attached on the toner image or carbon image 2 in the inking process
may be quickly transferred onto the copy sheet 6 by only pressing before the ink layer 4 is sufficiently solidified.

In the present invention, by sequentially and continuously repeating the above-described inking process and transfer process using one master 3, it is possible to print a large number of copies extremely easily and at high speed. It is economical, and because the ink used is a thermal transfer ink, it does not stain hands, clothes, or the machine, and its quick solidifying properties prevent bleed-through even if the copy sheet 6 is thin. Also, double-sided printing is possible and easy.

Next, a printing apparatus used in the method of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, 3 is a master, and the master 3 has a reverse toner image or carbon image 2 on its upper surface as described above.

The apparatus according to the present invention includes a pair of rotating rings 12 arranged in parallel to which the master 3 is attached at one end thereof, and sequentially provided along the rotating direction of the rotating rings 12, and the toner image or carbon image 2. A heat-sensitive transfer type carbon paper 5 having a heat-sensitive transfer ink layer 4 on the lower surface is placed on the surface on which the heat-sensitive transfer ink layer 4 is formed, and the heat-sensitive transfer ink layer 4 is pressed onto the toner image or the carbon image 2 under a heat beam to adhere it. It consists of a means A and a transfer means B for transferring the thermal transfer ink layer 4 deposited on the toner image or carbon image 2 onto the copy sheet 6.

The apparatus of the present invention is capable of continuously and repeatedly carrying out the inking steps and transfer steps shown in FIGS. 1b and 1c, and is characterized by the fact that The master 3 is installed between the rotating rings 12, and the inking means A and the transfer means B are sequentially provided along the rotating direction of the rotating rings 12.

The inking means A has a press roll 7 made of, for example, silicone rubber that is pressed against a master 3 and a heat-sensitive transfer type carbon paper 5, and inside thereof a heat ray source 9 such as an infrared lamp and a reflecting mirror 91. It consists of a cylinder 8.
Examples of the cylinder include cylinders made of heat-resistant glass (Pyrex). Note that the cylinder 8 sends cold air inside,
It is preferable to cool the reflecting mirror 91 in order to prevent the reflecting mirror from becoming out of focus at high temperatures.

The heat-sensitive transfer type carbon paper 5 is composed of a long strip and is wound up into a roll, passed through the above-mentioned inking means A by a feed roll 13 in contact with a press roll 7, and further by a winding device 14. Configuring the paper to be wound onto a winding roll 15 is extremely convenient for handling such as adjusting printing speed.

The master 3, on which the thermal transfer ink layer 4 has been deposited on the toner image or carbon image 2 by the inking means A, is then sent to the transfer means B by the rotation of the rotary ring 12.

The transfer means B is a toner image or a carbon image 2 on which a thermal transfer ink layer 4 is attached, for example.
The press roll 11 is made of silicone rubber or the like and is made of nitrile rubber, which is pressed into contact with the copy sheet 6 placed on the surface of the master 3 having the toner image or carbon image 2, and the master 3 has a heat source inside. 10a.

Thus, the master 3 attached to the rotary ring 12 passes repeatedly and continuously through the inking means A and the transfer means B by the rotation of the rotary ring 12, thereby transferring a thermal transfer ink layer to the toner image 2 on the master 3. 4 and the transfer of the ink 4 to the copy sheet 6 can be performed continuously, the operation is extremely simple, it can be suitably used as a printing device for making multiple copies, and the cost required for printing is also extremely low. (Approximately 1/4 compared to a normal PPC copier
(below), and by using an appropriate speed change means and appropriately adjusting the temperature of the heat beam in the inking means A, printing can be performed at a desired speed within the range of 6 to 150 sheets/min. , making high-speed printing possible.

Further, in the present invention, for example, a micro switch 16 is provided, and the lighting time of the thermal light source 9 can be changed depending on the length of the master 3.
It is also possible to control the feeding of the material.

Although a drive device and a drive means are not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, such a drive device and drive means can be adopted as appropriate. For example, the press rolls 7 and 11, the winding roll 15 and the drive The press rolls 7 and 11 are rotated in conjunction with each other, the rotary ring 12 in contact with the press rolls 7 and 10 directly or by the master 3 is rotated, and the The thermal transfer type carbon paper 5 can also be fed at the same time.

Furthermore, the master 3 may be attached to the rotating ring 12 by, for example, attaching only the tip of the master 3 with the clamp 17.

Next, the method of the present invention will be explained with reference to Examples.

Example Using a polyester film sheet (A4) with a thickness of 12μ as a base sheet, a document previously printed on tracing paper is copied onto the base sheet using a PPC copying machine, and a toner image of a reversed image is printed on the base sheet. was formed.

As thermal transfer type carbon paper, carnauba wax, sesilane wax, spindle oil and oil black were applied on a 12μ thick polyester film at 23% (wt%, same below), 37% and 21% respectively.
A thermal transfer ink (melting point: 61° C.) obtained by mixing % and 19% was uniformly applied to form a thermal transfer ink layer with a thickness of 7 μm. This thermal transfer type carbon paper had a length of 360 m and was pre-wound into a roll.

Place the master with the toner image facing up to a diameter of 150 mm.
Installed between a pair of rotating rings of mmφ.

Rotating the rotating ring at 50 rpm, the master was first placed on a silicone rubber press roll (diameter 50 mm).
φ) and a Virex cylinder (outer diameter 50 mmφ) with a built-in infrared lamp inside. In the inking process, the thermal transfer type carbon paper is placed on the master and pressed to form a toner image. A thermal transfer ink was applied on top. The surface temperature of the part where the master passes on the cylinder is 60 to 70.
It was kept at ℃.

The master is then sent to the transfer process as the rotary ring rotates, and is transferred to a silicone rubber press roll (having the same diameter as the press roll) and a heat roll (the press roll) whose surface temperature is heated to 60-80°C. The heat-sensitive transfer ink on the toner image was transferred to a copy sheet in a transfer process consisting of a roll (having the same diameter as the roll) to obtain a printed matter.

The rotary ring was continuously rotated at the above-mentioned speed, and the thermal transfer ink was sequentially attached to the toner image and the ink was transferred to the copy sheet, thereby printing a large number of copies [on high-quality paper (A4 size)]. ,
1,000 sheets (basis weight 36.5 kg) were printed at an average speed of 90 sheets/min.

The reproduced images of each of the printed materials obtained were clear.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1A to 1C are schematic explanatory diagrams showing an embodiment of the method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. It is a line schematic cross-sectional view. (Main symbols in the drawing), 1: Base sheet or film, 2: Toner image or carbon image, 3:
Master, 4: Thermal transfer ink layer, 5: Thermal transfer type carbon paper, 6: Copy sheet, 7, 11: Press roll, 8: Cylinder, 9: Thermal light source, 1
0: Heat roll, 12: Rotating ring, A: Inking means, B: Transfer means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. The toner image or carbon image of a master made by forming a toner image or carbon image of a reversed image on a base sheet or film by electrostatic copying, handwriting or type printing. A heat-sensitive transfer type carbon paper having a heat-sensitive melt transfer ink layer on the lower surface is placed on the surface on which the heat-sensitive melt transfer ink layer is formed, and the heat-sensitive melt transfer ink layer is melt-transferred and adhered onto the toner image or carbon image by pressing under heat rays. and a transfer step of melting and transferring the heat-sensitive melt transfer ink layer adhered to the toner image or carbon image onto the copy sheet. A thermal transfer printing method comprising repeating the steps by using the inking step in the inking step. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the base sheet or film is a highly transparent heat-resistant paper or plastic film. 3. The toner image and the carbon image according to claim 1, wherein both the toner image and the carbon image contain a carbon-based substance having good heat absorption properties and having a melting point higher than that of the heat-sensitive melt transfer ink layer. Method. 4 The heat-sensitive melt transfer ink layer is made of colorant, binder, softener, etc., has a thickness of 1 to 10μ, and has a melting point.
Claim 1 which is an ink layer at 50 to 100°C
The method described in section. 5 A pair of parallelly arranged masters attached at both ends thereof, made by forming a toner or carbon image of a reversed image by electrostatic copying or by hand or type printing on a base sheet or film. a rotating ring;
A heat-sensitive transfer type carbon paper having a heat-sensitive melt transfer ink layer on the lower surface is placed on the surface on which the toner image or carbon image is formed, and the heat-sensitive melt transfer ink layer is pressed onto the toner image or carbon image under a heat beam. and a transfer means that melts and transfers the heat-sensitive melt transfer ink layer adhered to the toner image or carbon image onto the copy sheet, and the inking means and the transfer means are connected to each other by the rotation. A thermal transfer printing device in which the rings are sequentially installed along the rotation method. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the inking means comprises a press roll that is pressed against each other via a master and a heat-sensitive transfer type carbon paper, and a cylinder having a thermal light source and a reflecting mirror inside. 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the heat ray source of the inked portion is an infrared lamp, and the cylinder is made of heat-resistant glass. 8. A patent in which thermal transfer type carbon paper is constituted in the shape of a long strip and is provided with a supply means for supplying the thermal transfer type carbon paper to inking means in conjunction with the rotation of a rotating ring to which a master is attached. The apparatus according to claim 5. 9. A press roll to which the transfer means is pressed via a master having a toner image or carbon image on which a heat-sensitive melt transfer ink layer is attached and a copy sheet placed on the surface of the master having the toner image or carbon image. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, comprising: and a hot roll.