JPH07227977A - Image transfer method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Objective] In an image transfer device, an image transfer method that is affected by environmental changes and types of image receivers is solved, and high-quality images can be formed on a desired image receiver with a simple structure. The purpose is stable transfer. A high-quality image is recorded on the dyeing layer 3 by providing a preheating means for heating the entire intermediate sheet 4 from the heat-resistant substrate 2 side before entering the transfer portion, and a desired image receptor is formed. A recorded image can be stably obtained on 16 with a simple structure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image transfer method and apparatus for temporarily recording an ink material containing at least a coloring material on a transfer sheet such as an intermediate sheet and transferring the recorded image to a desired image receiving body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In thermal transfer recording using a heat-melt transfer sheet using a pigment as a color material or a sublimation type heat transfer sheet using a heat-diffusible dye as a color material, a transfer sheet and an image receiver are usually superposed. The image is directly recorded on the image receptor by the recording head. Further, there is a method in which an image is once recorded on another intermediate sheet by any method including thermal transfer recording and then the image on the intermediate sheet is transferred onto the final image receptor to form an image on the image receptor. Known (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-32)
7981).

[0003]

However, in the conventional image transfer method and apparatus, the transferability between the image receptor and the dyeing layer, which is necessary for transferring the dyeing layer on the intermediate sheet onto the image receptor, is It is difficult to perform good transfer because it easily changes depending on the conditions and the type of image receptor. Further, the frictional force between the intermediate sheet and the heating means is large, which makes it difficult to carry the intermediate sheet and the image receiving body.

The present invention solves the problems in the above-mentioned conventional image transfer method and apparatus, and is capable of stably and satisfactorily transferring an image on an intermediate sheet onto a desired image receptor. An object of the present invention is to provide an image transfer method and apparatus capable of performing the image transfer.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the transportability of the intermediate sheet and the image receiver and to record a high quality image on the image receiver.

[0006]

To achieve this object, an image transfer method and apparatus of the present invention comprises an intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate. A means for selectively recording an image on the dyeing layer, a means for bringing the dyeing layer surface of the intermediate sheet on which an image is recorded into contact with an image receptor, and a heating and pressurizing means on the image receptor. An image transfer method comprising: a unit that transfers the dyeing layer, wherein the intermediate sheet is preheated before entering the heating and pressing unit.

Also, an intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate, a means for selectively recording an image on the dyeing layer, and an image are recorded. An image transfer method comprising: a means for bringing the dyeing layer surface of the intermediate sheet into contact with an image receptor; and a means for transferring the dyeing layer onto the image receptor by heating and pressing means, It is an image transfer method comprising preheating the pressurizing means before entering the heating and pressurizing means.

Furthermore, an intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate, a means for selectively recording an image on the dyeing layer, and an image being recorded. An image transfer method comprising: a means for bringing the dyeing layer surface of the intermediate sheet into contact with an image receptor; and a means for transferring the dyeing layer onto the image receptor by heating and pressing means, The heating means is an elongated planar heating element,
An image transfer method comprising having a belt rotatably wound around the heating element.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the heat and heat necessary for transferring the dyeing layer on the intermediate sheet onto the image receptor is obtained by the above-mentioned method and structure.
Since it can be stably applied to the intermediate sheet before transfer, good transfer can be performed regardless of environmental conditions and the type of image receiver, and a high-quality image can be obtained on a desired image receiver.

Further, according to the present invention, since the frictional force between the intermediate sheet and the heating or pressurizing means can be reduced, the transportability of the intermediate sheet and the image receptor is improved, and a high quality image is formed on the desired image receptor. You can also get

[0011]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) An image transfer apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an image transfer method and an image transfer apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the principle of image transfer. Of course, the configuration, arrangement and running system of each transfer body and image receiving body, the recording head, the position and quantity of each roller, etc. are shown in FIG. It does not limit the invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a platen, 4 is an intermediate sheet, 9 is an ink sheet, 10 is a thermal head, and 12
Is a preheating roller, 13 is a heating roller, 14 is a pressure roller, 15 is a timing roller, 16 is an image receptor,
Reference numeral 17 is a separating roller, 18 is a separating claw, 19 is a winding roller, 20 is a heating roller, and 21 is a pressure roller. The intermediate sheet 4 is configured by providing the dyeing layer 3 on the heat resistant base material 2. Further, the ink sheet 9 is also constructed by providing the ink material layer 8 on the heat resistant base material 7. The thermal head 10 serves as recording means, the preheating roller 12 serves as preheating means for the intermediate sheet 4, the heating roller 13 and the pressure roller 14 serve as heating and pressurizing means in the transfer section, and the separation roller 17 serves as separation means and the separation claw 1.
8. A heating roller 20 and a pressure roller 21 are provided as a conveying means and a fixing means for the image receiving body 16 after separation.

The operation of the image transfer device configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, the thermal head 10 is selectively heated by a signal from the recording signal source 11 with the intermediate sheet 4 and the ink sheet 9 pressed against each other between the platen 1 and the thermal head 10, and the intermediate sheet 4 is heated. At least a part of the color material of the ink material layer 8 is transferred to the surface of the dyeing layer 3 of No. 4 and the primary recording image 5 corresponding to the recording signal is recorded on the dyeing layer 3 of the intermediate sheet 4. The intermediate sheet 4 is the platen 1
Is rotated and the winding roller 19 rotates to be fed in the direction of the arrow, and at the same time, the ink sheet 9 is wound. During this recording operation, the preheating roller 12 and the heating roller 1
3 and the pressure roller 14 are in contact with and separated from the intermediate sheet 4, and since the intermediate sheet 4 is in contact only with the cylindrical rotatable separation roller 17, wrinkles do not occur on the intermediate sheet 4. It is conveyed by a small winding force of the winding roller 19 and a small rotating force of the platen 1.

The timing at which the image receiver 16 is fed by the timing roller 15 is detected, and the preheating roller 1 is detected.
2, the heating roller 13 and the pressure roller 14 move in a direction of contacting the intermediate sheet 4. The intermediate sheet 4 on which the primary recording image 5 is recorded is heated by the preheating roller 12 from the heat resistant base material 2 side, and the dyeing layer 3 is in a softened state. Next, in a state where the intermediate sheet 4 and the image receiving body 16 are overlapped with each other, the intermediate sheet 4 is sandwiched by the heating roller 13 and the pressure roller 14, and the entire surface of the heat-resistant substrate 2 of the intermediate sheet 4 is heated by the heating roller 13. Is further softened, and a part thereof penetrates into the surface of the image receptor 16. In that state, the intermediate sheet 4 is conveyed while being in close contact with the image receiving member 16, and when the dyeing layer 3 is cooled, the transferability between the dyeing layer 3 and the image receiving member 16 increases. Next, the intermediate sheet 4 is sufficiently cooled and is bent upward by the separation roller 17 arranged at a position where the transfer property between the dyeing layer 3 and the image receiving body 16 is sufficiently increased. At this time, the intermediate sheet 4 is
Since it is wound by the rotation of the winding roller 19,
It is in close contact with the separation roller 17. On the other hand, the image receptor 16 is
After passing through the separation roller 17, the rigidity of the image receiving member 16 itself tends to make a straight advance. Here, the image receptor 16 and the dyeing layer 3
The transferability between the two is strong, and the separation force due to the rigidity of the image receiving body 16 itself is greater than the sum of the shear strength of the dyeing layer 3 and the peeling property between the dyeing layer 3 and the base material 2. The shear strength at the tip portion of the body 16 is very small because a part of the dyeing layer 3 penetrates into the image receiving body 16 so that the dyeing layer 3 is very small at the tip portion of the image receiving body 16. Disconnected,
It is peeled from the heat resistant substrate 2 and transferred to the image receptor 16 side. As the image receptor 16 is conveyed together with the intermediate sheet 4, the dyeing layer 3 is sequentially transferred to the image receptor 16 side. The image receiving body 16 after transfer is sandwiched between the heating roller 20 and the pressure roller 21 which are conveying means. Here, the distance from the separating means to the conveying means is shorter than the length of the image receiving body 16 in the traveling direction, and the heating roller 20 and the pressure roller 21 are provided.
Is set to be slightly higher than the conveying speed of the intermediate sheet 4. Therefore, the image receiving body 16 has a heating roller 2
A weak tension is applied in the traveling direction from the time when it is nipped between 0 and the pressure roller 21. The tensile strength of the dyeing layer 3 at the rear end portion of the image receiving body 16 is such that a part of the dyeing layer 3 is the image receiving body 1.
6 and the tension applied to the image receiving body 16 is larger than the tensile strength, the dyeing layer 3 has a rear end of the image receiving body 16 at a separation position. When it comes to, it will be cut along the rear edge. As described above, the primary recording image 5 recorded on the intermediate sheet 4 becomes the image receiving member 16
Formed on the side. At that time, the separation claw 17 serves to assist the image receiver 16 in separating from the intermediate sheet 4. Further, the heating roller 20 and the pressure roller 21 also serve as a fixing device, and the dyeing layer 3 on which the primary recording image 5 is recorded by heat and pressure is sufficiently fixed in the image receiving body 16 and discharged. It

For color recording, for example, the ink material layer 8 of each of the three primary colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow of a dye, a pigment, or a mixture thereof, and further, four primary colors of black, is used as a heat-resistant substrate. Color can be obtained by using the ink sheet 9 arranged on the material 7 in a frame-sequential manner and superposing these on the intermediate sheet 4 in a frame-sequential manner and recording. Also, the recorded image can be made into a color by a method of reciprocating the intermediate sheet 4 and sequentially recording with an ink sheet for each color.

The construction and materials of the members used in FIG. 1 are shown below. The intermediate sheet used was a polyethylene terephthalate film (12 μm thick, manufactured by Lumirror Toray Co., Ltd.) as a heat resistant base material, and a polyvinyl butyral resin (BL-S average degree of polymerization: about 350) was used on the surface thereof.
, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., 4 parts by weight, siloxane-containing acrylic silicone resin solution (F-6A 54 wt% active ingredient)
%, 0.24 parts by weight of Sanyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., 0.001 parts by weight of di-n-butyltin dilaurate, toluene 18
A coating material consisting of 18 parts by weight of 2-butanone was applied to form a dyeing layer.

Various polymer films can be used as the heat-resistant base material of the intermediate sheet. Examples of various polymer films include polyolefin-based, polyamide-based, polyester-based, polyimide-based, polyether-based, cellulose-based, polyoxadiazole-based, polystyrene-based, and fluorine-based films. In particular, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, aramid, triacetyl cellulose, polyparabanic acid, polysulfone, polypropylene, cellophane, moisture-proof cellophane, or polyethylene film is useful.

The dyeing layer is formed of at least a polymer. Various polymers can be used as the polymer. For example, acrylic resin, styrene resin, urethane resin, polyester resin, polyvinyl acetal resin, vinyl acetate resin, amide resin, cellulose resin, chlorinated resin, etc. Especially acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin, polystyrene, styrene-acrylic copolymer resin, saturated polyester, polyester urethane, chlorinated rubber, chlorinated polypropylene, vinyl chloride resin, chlorinated vinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (further vinyl Alcohol, maleic acid, and other components may be copolymerized), vinyl chloride-acrylic acid ester copolymer resin (including multi-component copolymer resin using multiple acrylic acid esters), vinyl acetate resin, polycarbonate Alternatively, when at least one selected from cellulose resins is used, the sublimation dye transfer recording has high recording sensitivity and is good.

The glass transition point of the polymer is 40 ° C to 150 ° C.
Is particularly preferable, the average degree of polymerization of the polymer is in the range of 150 to 3000, or the flow softening point is 300 ° C. or lower. For the purpose of transferring the dyeing layer to the image receiving body or fixing the dyeing layer resin into the fibers of the paper when the image receiving body is porous such as paper, the average degree of polymerization is 2000 or less and the molecular weight is high. Numerator or flow softening point is 250
A polymer having a temperature of ℃ or less is particularly desirable. Since the dyeing layer on which an image is recorded is transferred onto the image receptor, the dyeing layer is preferably a polymer having high transparency. Polyvinyl acetal is particularly desirable as the polymer of the dyeing layer. As the polyvinyl acetal, various aldehydes such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propion acetal, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral and the like are particularly useful for polyvinyl alcohol.

Next, the ink sheet has a slip heat-resistant layer on the lower surface and an anchor coat layer on the upper surface of the polyethylene terephthalate film.
Color paints were applied to prepare an ink sheet having cyan, magenta, and yellow color material layers. (Cyan color material layer paint) Indoaniline-based disperse dye 3.5 parts by weight Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin 4 parts by weight Amide-modified silicone oil 0.04 parts by weight Titanium oxide 0.24 parts by weight Toluene 25 parts by weight 2-butanone 25 parts by weight Part (magenta color material layer coating) azo disperse dye 3 parts by weight acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin 4 parts by weight amide modified silicone oil 0.04 parts by weight titanium oxide 0.24 parts by weight toluene 25 parts by weight 2-butanone 25 parts by weight ( Yellow colorant layer paint) Dicyanomethine disperse dye 3 parts by weight Acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin 4 parts by weight Amide-modified silicone oil 0.04 parts by weight Titanium oxide 0.24 parts by weight Toluene 25 parts by weight 2-butanone 25 parts by weight or more Thermal head with sheet Press (about 3Kg) in Latin, were recorded by the recording under the following conditions.

Recording speed: 4 ms / line Recording pulse width: 0.2-3.8 ms Recording energy: 5 J / cm 2 Further, as the ink sheet, a thermal melting type recording sheet can be used. For this, an ink sheet having cyan, magenta, and yellow coloring material layers having a viscosity of 100,000 centipoise when melted was used. The recording conditions when these are used are shown below.

Recording speed: 1.6 ms / line Recording pulse width: 1.4 ms Recording energy: 2.4 J / cm 2 The recording means is not particularly limited as means for performing thermal transfer recording, and this embodiment is not limited thereto. In addition to the thermal head 10 described above, an energizing head, an optical head or the like may be used.

Next, details of the preheating unit will be described.
The preheating roller 12 has an outer diameter of 16 mm and an inner diameter of 15 m.
The aluminum pipe has a length of 250 mm and a total length of 250 mm.
It has a mechanism for separating and contacting the intermediate sheet except during the transfer operation. As a heat source, put a halogen lamp in an aluminum pipe and control the amount of electricity supplied to the halogen lamp.
Used at 0 ± 5 ° C. The control temperature is preferably a temperature above the glass transition point of the dyeing layer 3. The preheating roller 12 may be any one that gives heat, and is a roller having a heat generating portion inside or on the outer periphery thereof, and controls the amount of electricity supplied to the heat generating portion, and applies heat to the intermediate sheet 4 from the surface thereof. It may be one that can control the amount of heat. A light source such as a halogen lamp or a resistor may be used as the heat generating portion. Preheating roller 12
The material may be not only metal but also rubber (rubber coated) roll, resin roll, metal roll, or the like. Further, as the preheating means, not only the roller but also other means may be used to apply heat or both heat and pressure. For example, there is a surface heater. This is 5 on an elongated ceramic substrate.
It has a heating element surface coated with a long and narrow resistance coating having a width of about mm, and this surface is treated with Teflon. An alternating current is applied to the heating element, and the surface temperature of the heating element is controlled by a thermistor built in the heating element.

Here, in this embodiment, the preheating means is provided separately from the heating means, but after the intermediate sheet 4 is contacted with the heating roller 13 for an arbitrary time, it is superposed on the image receiving body 16 and is pressed by the pressure roller 14. The same effect can be obtained by sandwiching with.
For example, there is a method of advancing the intermediate sheet 4 after recording to the upper part of the heating roller 13 and advancing to the pressing portion with the pressure roller while bringing the heat resistant substrate 2 side of the intermediate sheet 4 into contact with the heating roller 13. As a result, downsizing and cost reduction of the device can be realized.

Next, details of the transfer portion will be described. The heating roller 13 has an outer diameter of 16 mm, an inner diameter of 14 mm, and an overall length of 2
The 40 mm aluminum pipe is configured to be rotatable so as not to be a load on the traveling of the intermediate sheet, and has a mechanism for separating and contacting the intermediate sheet except during the transfer operation. As a heat source, put a halogen lamp in an aluminum pipe,
The amount of electricity supplied to the halogen lamp was controlled and used at 160 ± 5 ° C. The control temperature is preferably the glass transition point of the dyeing layer 3 or higher and the temperature of the preheating roller or higher. The heating roller 13 may be any one that gives heat, and is a roller having a heat generating portion inside or on the outer periphery thereof, and controls the amount of electricity supplied to the heat generating portion, and the amount of heat given to the intermediate sheet 4 by heat conduction from the surface thereof. Can be controlled. A light source such as a halogen lamp or a resistor may be used as the heat generating portion. Further, the material of the heating roller 13 is not limited to metal, and may be, for example, a rubber (rubber coating) roll, a resin roll, a metal roll, or the like. Further, as the heating means, not only the roller but also other means may be used to apply heat or both heat and pressure. For example,
There is a surface heater. This has a heating element surface coated with an elongated resistance coating having a width of about 5 mm on an elongated ceramic substrate, and this surface is treated with Teflon. An alternating current is applied to the heating element, and the surface temperature of the heating element is controlled by a thermistor built in the heating element.
Furthermore, since the heating means has a convex shape at the center portion with respect to both end portions, more stable transfer can be performed.

The pressure roller 14 is a roller made of SUS having a diameter of 16 mm and a total length of 250 mm and coated with silicon rubber having a hardness of 70 degrees, and rotates at the same peripheral speed as the peripheral speed of the platen 1. Transfer pressure is 11Kg / 240m
m. The surface material of the pressure roller 14 may be any material as long as the peelability between the pressure roller 14 and the dyeing layer 3 is smaller than the peelability between the dyeing layer 3 and the heat resistant substrate 2 of the intermediate sheet 4. Similar effects can be obtained with rubber, urethane rubber, chloroprene rubber, and the like. The pressure roller 14 preferably has a hardness of 50 degrees or more. Furthermore, the pressure roller 14 may be configured to be heated if necessary.

Next, details of the separating unit will be described. The separation roller 17 is a cylindrical SUS roller having a diameter of 6 mm, and is configured to be rotatable so as not to impose a load on the traveling of the intermediate sheet. Here, the diameter should be small, 20m
It is preferably m or less. Further, the separating means may be a metal plate or a bent bar, and it is desirable that the central portion has a convex shape with respect to both end portions. Furthermore, it is desirable to have a mechanism for separating and contacting the intermediate sheet except during the separating operation.

Next, details of the fixing unit will be described. The heating roller 20 is a surface silicone rubber-coated metal roller (diameter 25 mm, rubber thickness 3 m) having a surface temperature of about 180 ° C.
m, rubber hardness 40 degrees, the inside of the roller is heated by a halogen lamp), and a pressure of 20 kg is applied between the pressure rollers 21 of the surface silicone rubber-coated roller (diameter 30 mm, rubber thickness 5 mm, rubber hardness 50 degrees) to heat. Roller 20
The image receptor is passed through so that the dyeing layer on the image receptor contacts the side. When the image receptor is plain paper, the glossiness before passing through the fixing part was about 65%, but after heat treatment it decreased to about 8% and the surface condition was modified to the extent that the presence of the dyeing layer was not visible. To be done. The fixed image on the plain paper obtained as described above had good writability with a pencil. On the other hand, when the gloss of the image is required, the image receptor may be passed through without heating the heating roller.

As described above, according to this embodiment, an intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate, and an image is selectively formed on the dyeing layer. A means for recording, a means for bringing the dyeing layer surface of the intermediate sheet on which an image is recorded into contact with the image receptor, and a means for transferring the dyeing layer onto the image receptor by heating and pressing means, An image transfer method provided, wherein by preheating the intermediate sheet before entering the heating and pressurizing means, recording is performed on all image receivers such that the dyeing layer has transferability. Images can be transferred. Further, it is possible to stably obtain a good recorded image even on an image receptor in a low temperature environment or in a cooled state. Furthermore, since the heating means also serves as a means for preheating the intermediate sheet, the size and cost of the device can be reduced.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a transfer portion of the image transfer device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

During the recording operation, the pressure roller 14
Is rotated while being separated from and in contact with the intermediate sheet 4 and in contact with the heating roller 22, and the surface temperature is controlled to be 100 ± 5 ° C. The image receiving body 16 is the timing roller 15.
When it is detected that the sheet is conveyed by the pressure roller 14, the pressure roller 14 moves away from the heating roller 22 and contacts the intermediate sheet 4. The intermediate sheet 4 on which the primary recording image 5 is recorded and the image receiving body 16 are sandwiched by a heating roller 13 and a pressure roller 14, and the heating roller 13 heats the entire surface of the heat-resistant substrate 2 of the intermediate sheet 4. Then, the dyeing layer 3 is softened, and a part thereof penetrates into the surface of the image receptor 16. At this time, since the image receiver 16 is in contact with the pressure roller 14 whose surface temperature has risen, even if the temperature of the image receiver 16 itself before being sandwiched between the heating roller 13 and the pressure roller 14 is lowered, The temperature drop at the contact interface between the dyeing layer 3 and the image receptor 16 is suppressed to a low level, and the dyeing layer 3 permeates the image receptor 16 stably. With the intermediate sheet 4 and the image receiver 16 superposed,
The intermediate sheet 4 is conveyed while being in close contact with the image receptor 16, and when the dyeing layer 3 is cooled, the transferability between the dyeing layer 3 and the image receptor 16 increases. Next, the intermediate sheet 4 is sufficiently cooled and is bent upward by the separation roller 17 arranged at a position where the transfer property between the dyeing layer 3 and the image receiving body 16 is sufficiently increased. At this time, since the intermediate sheet 4 is wound by the rotation of the winding roller 19, it is in close contact with the separation roller 17.
On the other hand, the image receiver 16 tries to go straight by the rigidity of the image receiver 16 itself after passing through the separation roller 17. Here, the transferability between the image receptor 16 and the dyeing layer 3 is strong, and the image receptor 1
6 the separation force due to the rigidity of itself is larger than the sum of the shear strength of the dyeing layer 3 and the releasability between the dyeing layer 3 and the heat resistant substrate 2, and the shearing strength at the tip of the image receptor 16. Is partly penetrated into the image receiving body 16 and is very small, so that the dyeing layer 3 is cut at the tip of the image receiving body 16 and the heat resistant substrate 2 The image is peeled off and transferred to the image receptor 16 side. Image receptor 16 together with intermediate sheet 4
As the sheet is conveyed, the dyeing layer 3 is sequentially transferred to the image receptor 16 side. The image receiving body 16 after transfer is sandwiched between the heating roller 20 and the pressure roller 21 which are conveying means. Here, the distance from the separating means to the conveying means is configured to be shorter than the length of the image receiving body 16 in the traveling direction, and the peripheral speeds of the heating roller 20 and the pressure roller 21 are slightly smaller than the conveying speed of the intermediate sheet 4. It is set large. Therefore, a weak tension is applied to the image receiver 16 in the traveling direction from the time when it is sandwiched between the heating roller 20 and the pressure roller 21.
The tensile strength of the dyeing layer 3 at the rear end portion of the image receiving member 16 was given to the image receiving member 16 such that a part of the dyeing layer 3 partially penetrated into the image receiving member 16 and became very small. Since the tension is higher than the tensile strength, the dyeing layer 3 is cut along the rear end of the image receptor 16 when the rear end reaches the separation position. As described above, the primary recording image 5 recorded on the intermediate sheet 4 is formed on the image receiving body 16 side. At that time, the peeling claw 17 functions to assist the image receiving body 16 from peeling from the intermediate sheet 4. The heating roller 20 and the pressure roller 21 also serve as a fixing device, and the dyeing layer 3 on which the primary recording image 5 is recorded by heat and pressure is
It is sufficiently fixed in the image receiving body 16 and discharged.

Next, details of the heating roller 22 will be described. The heating roller 22 has an outer diameter of 16 mm and an inner diameter of 14
mm aluminum pipe with a total length of 250 mm and a peripheral speed of 10
It rotates at mm / sec. A halogen lamp was put in an aluminum pipe as a heat source, and the amount of electricity supplied to the halogen lamp was controlled to use at 100 ± 5 ° C. The surface temperature is preferably equal to or higher than the glass transition temperature of the material used for the dyeing layer 3. The heating roller 22 may be any one as long as it gives heat, and it is a roller having a heat generating portion inside or on the outer periphery thereof, and controls the amount of electricity supplied to the heat generating portion.
It may be one that can control the amount of heat transferred to the intermediate sheet 4 by heat conduction from the surface. A light source such as a halogen lamp or a resistor can be used as the heat generating portion. The material of the heating roller 22 is not limited to metal, but rubber (rubber coated) roller, plastic roller, etc. are useful.

Further, the means for heating the pressure roller may not be the roller as in this embodiment, but may be a long and narrow sheet-like resistor which controls the amount of electricity supplied to the resistor to control the surface temperature. This is 5mm on an elongated alumina substrate
It has a heating element surface coated with a long and narrow surface-shaped resistance coating, and this surface is covered with Teflon or glass to which carbon powder is added. An alternating current is passed through this heating element, the temperature is detected by a thermistor in contact with the alumina substrate, and the amount of electricity is changed to control the surface temperature of the heating element.

Further, the means for heating the pressure roller is in a heated state for an arbitrary time before the recording operation or before the image receiving body 16 and the intermediate sheet 4 are sandwiched between the heating roller 13 and the pressure roller 14. A certain heating roller 13
It is also possible to make contact with the intermediate sheet 4 via the intermediate sheet 4.

As described above, according to this embodiment, an intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate and an image is selectively formed on the dyeing layer. A means for recording, a means for bringing the dyeing layer surface of the intermediate sheet on which an image is recorded into contact with the image receptor, and a means for transferring the dyeing layer onto the image receptor by heating and pressing means, An image transfer method and apparatus provided with the above-mentioned heating and pressurizing means, by preheating the pressurizing means so that the dyeing layer has transferability on all image receivers. The recorded image can be transferred stably regardless of environmental changes and the state of the image receiver. Further, since the heating means also serves as the preliminary heating means of the pressurizing means, the device can be downsized.

(Embodiment 3) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a transfer portion of an image transfer device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

During the recording operation, the heating means 29 and the pressing means 14 are in contact with and separated from the intermediate sheet 4, and the belt 3
No. 2 is not rotating because it is moved to the upper part while being in contact with the heating means 29 by the roller 33. The timing at which the image receiver 16 is fed by the timing roller 15 is detected, and the heating unit 29 and the pressure roller 1 are detected.
4 moves in the direction of contacting the intermediate sheet 4, and the roller 33 moves in the direction of separating from and contacting the belt 32. Primary recorded image 5
In the state where the intermediate sheet 4 on which is recorded and the image receiving body 16 are overlapped with each other, the heating means 29 and the pressure roller 1 via the belt 32.
When the heat-resistant base material 2 of the intermediate sheet 4 is entirely heated by the heating means 29 after sandwiching it between the four, the dyeing layer 3 is softened and the image receptor 1 is received.
Part of the surface penetrates. The belt 32 is the intermediate sheet 4
Is rotated by the progress of. Intermediate sheet 4 in that state
Is conveyed while being in close contact with the image receptor 16, and when the dyeing layer 3 is cooled, the transferability between the dyeing layer 3 and the image receptor 16 increases. Next, the intermediate sheet 4 is sufficiently cooled and is bent upward by the separation roller 17 arranged at a position where the transfer property between the dyeing layer 3 and the image receiving body 16 is sufficiently increased. At this time, since the intermediate sheet 4 is wound by the rotation of the winding roller 19, it is in close contact with the separation roller 17. On the other hand, the image receiver 16 tries to go straight by the rigidity of the image receiver 16 itself after passing through the separation roller 17. Here, the image receiver 16
The transferability between the dyeing layer 3 and the dyeing layer 3 is strong, and the separation force due to the rigidity of the image receiving member 16 itself causes the shearing strength of the dyeing layer 3 and the dyeing layer 3
And the shear strength at the tip of the image receptor 16 is very small because part of the dyeing layer 3 partially penetrates into the image receptor 16. Because of this, the dyeing layer 3 is cut at the tip of the image receptor 16, is peeled off from the heat-resistant substrate 2, and is transferred to the image receptor 16 side. As the image receptor 16 is conveyed together with the intermediate sheet 4, the dyeing layer 3 is sequentially transferred to the image receptor 16 side. The image receiving body 16 after transfer is sandwiched between the heating roller 20 and the pressure roller 21 which are conveying means. Here, the distance from the separating means to the conveying means is configured to be shorter than the length of the image receiving body 16 in the traveling direction, and the peripheral speeds of the heating roller 20 and the pressure roller 21 are slightly smaller than the conveying speed of the intermediate sheet 4. It is set large. Therefore, a weak tension is applied to the image receiver 16 in the traveling direction from the time when it is sandwiched between the heating roller 20 and the pressure roller 21. The tensile strength of the dyeing layer 3 at the rear end portion of the image receiving member 16 was given to the image receiving member 16 such that a part of the dyeing layer 3 partially penetrated into the image receiving member 16 and became very small. Since the tension is higher than the tensile strength, the dyeing layer 3 is cut along the rear end of the image receptor 16 when the rear end reaches the separation position. As described above, the primary recording image 5 recorded on the intermediate sheet 4 is formed on the image receiving body 16 side. At that time, the peeling claw 17 has a function of assisting the peeling of the image receiver 16 from the intermediate sheet 4. In addition, the heating roller 20 and the pressure roller 21
Also serves as a fixing device, and the dyeing layer 3 on which the primary recording image 5 is recorded by heat and pressure is sufficiently fixed in the image receiving body 16 and discharged.

Next, details of the heating means 29 will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 4, 23 is a base, 24 is a heat insulating material, 25 is an alumina substrate, 26 is a resistor, 27 is a wear resistant layer, and 28 is a thermistor. The base 23 is made of SUS so that it is not bent by the pressing force at the time of transfer. Insulation 2
No. 4 is made of a material in which glass powder is added to epoxy resin in order to prevent heat from the alumina substrate 25 from being transferred to the base 23 and to have heat resistance. Alumina substrate 25
Is made of alumina having a width of 7 mm, a length of 250 mm and a thickness of 2 mm. The resistor 26 has a thickness of 50 μm and a width of 5
The molybdenum has a length of mm and a length of 240 mm. Wear resistant layer 2
In No. 7, a Teflon layer added with carbon powder is provided with a thickness of 20 μm. The heating means 28 is an alumina substrate 25.
A resistor 26 is printed on top of which a wear-resistant layer 27 is baked, and the heat-resistant adhesive is used to adhere the heat-insulating material 24 to the base 23. The thermistor 28 is attached to the central portion so as to come into contact with the alumina substrate 25, and the alternating current flowing through the resistor 26 is controlled based on the signal from the thermistor 28 to be used at 160 ± 5 ° C. At this time, the time required to reach the set temperature was about 20 seconds.

Here, in the present embodiment, a planar heating means is used, but the central part has a convex shape with respect to both ends, the resistive element is divided and each can generate heat individually, Similar effects can be obtained even if the image receiving body is provided with linear projections in the surface direction or has a composite shape of these.

Next, details of the belt 32 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the belt 32, where 30 is a base material and 31 is a protective layer. The base material 30 is a heat-resistant polyimide film having a thickness of 10 μm because it contacts the heating means 29. The protective layer 31 is the heat-resistant base material 2 of the intermediate sheet 4.
In order to efficiently transfer the heat of the heating means 29 to the intermediate sheet 4, the Teflon mixed with carbon powder is provided with a thickness of 5 μm. The thickness of the base material 30 is preferably as thin as possible, but is preferably 50 μm or less in terms of durability and heat transferability. The thickness of the protective layer 31 is preferably 20 μm or less in terms of durability and heat transferability. Here, in the present embodiment, the belt 32 is driven and rotated by the movement of the intermediate sheet 4, but it may be driven from the outside.

As described above, according to this embodiment, an intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate and an image is selectively formed on the dyeing layer. A means for recording, a means for bringing the dyeing layer surface of the intermediate sheet on which an image is recorded into contact with the image receptor, and a means for transferring the dyeing layer onto the image receptor by heating and pressing means, In the image transfer device provided with the heating means, the heating means is a long and thin heating element, and a belt wound rotatably around the heating element is provided, thereby improving the transportability of the intermediate sheet. Since the temperature rise time of the heating means can be shortened, not only a high-quality image can be recorded on the dyeing layer, but also the warm-up time can be shortened.

[0043]

As described above, the present invention comprises an intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate, and means for selectively recording an image on the dyeing layer. An image transfer method comprising: a means for bringing the dyeing layer surface of the intermediate sheet on which an image is recorded into contact with an image receptor; and a means for transferring the dyeing layer to the image receptor by heating and pressing means, and An image transfer method and device for preheating the intermediate sheet or the pressurizing means before entering the heating and pressurizing means, thereby providing good performance regardless of environmental conditions and types and states of image receivers. Transfer is realized, and a high quality image can be obtained on a desired image receiver.

The present invention also provides an intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate, a means for selectively recording an image on the dyeing layer, and an image An image transfer method comprising means for bringing the dyeing layer surface of the recorded intermediate sheet into contact with an image receptor, and means for transferring to the image receptor by heating and pressing means, wherein the heating means is An image transfer method having a long and narrow planar heating element and a belt rotatably wound around the heating element significantly improves the transportability of the intermediate sheet, and provides a high-quality image on a desired image receiver. In addition, the warm-up time of the device can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image transfer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image transfer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image transfer device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed configuration diagram of the heating means in FIG. 3 of the present invention.

5 is a detailed configuration diagram of the belt in FIG. 3 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Platen 2 Heat Resistant Base Material 3 Dyeing Layer 4 Intermediate Sheet 5 Primary Recording Image 6 Roller 7 Heat Resistant Base Material 8 Ink Material Layer 9 Ink Sheet 10 Thermal Head 11 Recording Signal Source 12 Preheating Roller 13 Heating Roller 14 Pressure Roller 15 Timing Roller 16 Image Receptor 17 Separation Roller 18 Separation Claw 19 Winding Roller 20 Heating Roller 21 Pressure Roller 22 Heating Roller 23 Base 24 Heat Insulating Material 25 Alumina Substrate 26 Resistor 27 Wear-Resistant Layer 28 Thermistor 29 Heating Means 30 Base Material 31 protective layer 32 belt

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Reference number in the agency FI Technical indication location 9121-2H B41M 5/26 A (72) Inventor Yasaka Tamai 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Company (72) Inventor Koji Oi 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshitaka Kitaoka 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate, a means for selectively recording an image on the dyeing layer, and an image recorded thereon. An image transfer method comprising: a means for bringing the dyeing layer surface of the intermediate sheet into contact with an image receptor; and a means for transferring the dyeing layer onto the image receptor by heating and pressurizing means, the method comprising: And an image transfer method comprising preheating the intermediate sheet before entering the pressing means. 2. An intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate, a means for selectively recording an image on the dyeing layer, and an image recorded. A means for bringing the dyeing layer surface of the intermediate sheet into contact with an image receptor; a means for transferring the dyeing layer onto the image receptor by heating and pressing means; An image transfer device comprising means for preheating an intermediate sheet, wherein the means for preheating is configured to optionally transfer the intermediate sheet to the heating means before transferring the dyeing layer onto the image receptor. An image transfer device having a structure in which they are contacted for a certain period of time. 3. An intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate, a means for selectively recording an image on the dyeing layer, and an image recorded. An image transfer method comprising: a means for bringing the dyeing layer surface of the intermediate sheet into contact with an image receptor; and a means for transferring the dyeing layer onto the image receptor by heating and pressurizing means, the method comprising: And an image transfer method comprising preheating the pressurizing means before entering the pressurizing means. 4. An intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate, a means for selectively recording an image on the dyeing layer, and an image recorded. A means for bringing the dyeing layer surface of the intermediate sheet into contact with the image receptor, a means for transferring the dyeing layer onto the image receptor by heating and pressing means, and before entering the heating and pressure means,
An image transfer device comprising a means for preheating the pressurizing means, wherein the preheating means heats the pressurizing means before transferring the dyeing layer onto the image receptor. An image transfer apparatus having a structure in which a means is pressed for an arbitrary time. 5. An intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate, a means for selectively recording an image on the dyeing layer, and an image recorded. An image transfer apparatus comprising: a means for bringing the dyeing layer surface of the intermediate sheet into contact with an image receptor; and a means for transferring the dyeing layer onto the image receptor by heating and pressing means, An image transfer device, wherein the means is an elongated heating element and has a belt rotatably wound around the heating element.