JPH01208192A - Thermal transfer recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transfer a desired image on the other transfer medium, such as a cloth, from an electric signal, such as a TV image, without the need for a plate making process etc., by an image transfer method wherein a plasma treatment is applied to the image receiving surface of an accepting sheet on which an image has been recorded by a sublimating transfer method, and the image receiving surface of the accepting sheet is overlapped on the aforesaid other transfer medium and heated under pressure. CONSTITUTION:A transfer sheet A consists of a substrate film 1 and a transfer layer 2 formed thereon. An accepting sheet B consists of a base sheet 4, a dyeing resin layer 5 which can serve as a hot melt adhesive, and a silicone release layer 6. Practically, a printing is conducted by a thermal head with the transfer sheet A overlapped on the accepting sheet B, the obtained image receiving surface of the accepting sheet is plasma-treated, the image receiving surface is overlapped on the other transfer medium and heated under pressure by a heat roll, a hot press, or an iron, and the base sheet of the accepting sheet is peeled; in this manner, an image is transferred on the aforesaid other transfer medium.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording method, and more specifically, the present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording method, and more specifically, a receiving sheet on which an image is formed by a sublimation transfer method using a thermal head is used to record an image on another transfer target. The present invention relates to a method of forming an image by thermally transferring the image to the image.

[Conventional technology]

OA machines such as facsimiles, printers, and copying machines, which have become rapidly popular in recent years, are in demand for visually easy-to-read color recording, and there is also a desire to develop technology for recording television images in full color.

Currently, research and development of various non-impact recording methods are actively being carried out to achieve these objectives. Thermal transfer recording method is a typical non-impact recording method.
This is further divided into a melt transfer method and a sublimation transfer method. Since the sublimation transfer method can control the amount of sublimation transfer by adjusting the energy applied to the head, it is easy to express gradations and is particularly advantageous for full-color recording.

This sublimation transfer method usually uses sublimation or (
and) A transfer sheet on which a transfer layer containing a vaporizable dye (hereinafter simply referred to as sublimable dye) has been formed is superimposed on a receiving sheet, and a thermal head is used to transfer the dye in the transfer layer of the transfer sheet to the receiving sheet. Prints are made by sublimation transfer.

The receiving sheet used in this case is usually a base sheet provided with a dyed resin layer capable of being dyed with the above-mentioned dye.

As described in JP-A-51-15446, the receiving sheet used in this sublimation transfer method can be plain paper, as well as various synthetic papers and various plastics. Although it is possible to use film, it is not possible to obtain sufficient color density with plain paper, synthetic paper, plastic film, etc. alone, and the color fading over time is significant due to the poor fixability of sublimable dyes. Undesirable. For this reason, a dyeing resin layer made of a thermoplastic resin that can be effectively dyed with sublimable dyes such as saturated polyester resin, polyamide resin, acrylic resin, etc. is generally used as a base material such as plain paper, synthetic paper, and plastic film. It is used by being placed on a sheet. However, during printing heating, the temperature of the thermal head generally reaches 300'C, so both the binder in the transfer layer of the transfer sheet and the dyeing resin of the receiving sheet are softened by the heat, and the two are fused together. There were problems in that running was impossible and abnormal dye transfer occurred.

In order to prevent this fusion, a silicone resin having high heat resistance and strong releasability is provided on the dyed resin layer of the receiving sheet.

On the other hand, as a method for forming an image on a cloth or cloth-like material, there is a transfer method using a thermal transfer printing sheet. This is done by providing an ink layer on which an image is formed using ink that melts or softens with heat on a thin film base material, bringing this ink layer into close contact with the object to be printed, and peeling off the thin film base material after heating and pressure. This is a method of transferring onto a printed material. Currently, when printing a predetermined image on a thin film base material using the above ink, in other words, printing on transfer paper is performed by gravure printing, screen printing, or the like. However, in these methods such as gravure printing and screen printing, printing involves the process of plate making, so the cost is high when transferring a small number of sheets, and television images and the like cannot be easily printed on cloth.

[Problems to be solved by the present invention]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventor proposed that if the receiving sheet used in the above-mentioned sublimation type thermal transfer recording could be used as a so-called transfer paper used in the above-mentioned thermal transfer printing method, the problems caused by printing during the production of the above-mentioned transfer paper could be solved. can be resolved, and
We came up with a completely new idea that it might be possible to meet the above requirements by effectively utilizing the advantages of thermal transfer recording methods, and we continued to conduct intensive research to realize this idea. Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to newly develop technical means for realizing the above idea.

[Means for solving problems]

This problem is solved by applying plasma treatment to the image-receiving surface of a receiving sheet on which an image has been recorded using a sublimation transfer method, and then superimposing the image-receiving surface of the receiving sheet on another object to be transferred, and transferring the image by applying heat and pressure. This is solved by

In other words, by applying plasma treatment to the receiving surface of a receiving sheet on which an image has been recorded using the sublimation transfer method, a completely new technological means is adopted in which this sheet can be effectively used as a transfer paper for the conventional thermal transfer printing method. This solves the above problems.

[Action and configuration]

In the present invention, by subjecting the image-receiving surface of the receiving sheet to plasma treatment, it is possible to reduce the releasability of the silicone release layer provided on the dyed resin layer of the receiving sheet. By superimposing the receiving sheet on another object to be transferred and applying heat and pressure, a predetermined image printed on the receiving sheet can be transferred to the object to be transferred without any trouble.

As shown in Fig. 1, the transfer sheet (A) used in the present invention consists of a base film (1) and a transfer layer (2) provided thereon, and is conventionally used in this type of field. Normally use what has been used. This transcription sheet 1-
As the base film (1) of (A), various papers and synthetic resin films can be used, such as capacitors and polyester films.

Further, a backing layer (3) may be provided to improve the heat resistance of the base film (1). The transfer layer (2) corresponds to the ink layer and is usually a binder resin in which a sublimable dye is dispersed. Various synthetic or natural resins are used as the binder, especially polyamide resin, cellulose resin, and polyester. Resins and the like are preferably used. As the sublimable dye, one or more of various dyes having the property of sublimating or vaporizing can be used. As shown in FIG. 2, the receiving sheet (B) consists of a base sheet (4) and a dyed resin layer (4) provided thereon which can be dyed with a sublimable dye and which can be used as a hot melt adhesive.
5) and a silicone release layer (6) provided thereon.
Use something consisting of. As the base sheet (4) of this receiving sheet (B), various papers and synthetic resin sheets are used, and preferred examples include cellulose paper and polyester film. These base sheets (4) are provided with a release layer (7) separate from the silicone release layer (6) by performing appropriate release treatment, such as treatment with a silicone release agent, for the purpose of improving releasability as necessary. It's okay.

The dyeing resin layer (5) is formed of a resin that exhibits adhesive properties by melting or softening with heat and can be dyed with the above-mentioned dyes, and the resin in this case is usually ethylene-
Vinyl acetate copolymer (hereinafter referred to as EVA), polyamide resin, polyester resin, acrylic resin, polyurethane resin, etc. are used. The thickness of the nuclear layer (5) is usually 1 to 1
00 μm, preferably about 5 to 50 μm.

A cured silicone resin is preferably used as the silicone release layer (6) provided on the dyed resin layer (5), and the cured silicone resin can be roughly divided into two types. One type is a thermosetting type in which polyorganosiloxane, the main polymer of silicone resin, is subjected to an addition reaction by heating in the presence of a catalyst such as chloroplatinic acid to make it three-dimensional.The other type is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. It is an ultraviolet curing type that undergoes an addition reaction and becomes three-dimensional. Any of these can be used as the cured silicone resin of the present invention and good results can be obtained, but the latter completes the curing reaction instantly, making it possible to greatly increase the coating speed, and requiring no drying tower. This is desirable because curing can be performed in a small space since no curing is required, and the receiving sheet does not curl or shrink due to heating. Examples of such cured silicone resins include thermosetting silicone resins such as KNS-305 and KS-772 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), and curing catalysts such as PL-3 and PL-7 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.). For UV-curable type, χ-62
7223 (manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.). When forming the silicone release layer (6), after blending a curing catalyst with these silicone resins, diluting to an appropriate concentration with an appropriate organic solvent such as hexane or toluene, use a kiss coater, gravure coater, fountain coater, etc. Coat it on the dyed resin layer (5) using any coating machine, dry it, heat cure it at a temperature of 100°C to 150°C for about 1 to 5 minutes, or heat it with a high pressure or medium pressure mercury lamp. Normally 100m
It is formed by irradiating ultraviolet rays at a dose of approximately j/cffl.

The film thickness at this time is 0.03 to 0.03 by weight and dry coating amount.
30 g/r@, preferably 0.05-0.15g
/n(is.

In the present invention, the above-mentioned transfer sheet (A) and receiving sheet (B) are used to transfer the dyed resin layer (5) of the receiving sheet CB) onto the dyed resin layer (5) of the receiving sheet CB) using a conventional method. As explained above, in order to prevent the dyeing resin layer (5) from adhering to the transfer layer (2) of the transfer sheet (A), a silicone release layer (6) is used to transfer the dye. ) is formed.

However, because of this silicone-based release layer (6), if the image-receiving surface of the receiving sheet (B) on which an image is formed is superimposed on another transfer object and the image is transferred by pressure and heating, the adhesion will be strong. This results in problems such as uneven adhesion, poor adhesion, and even no image being transferred at all. Therefore, in the present invention, the image receiving surface of the receiving sheet 1-(B) on which an image is formed is subjected to plasma treatment to reduce the releasability of the silicone release layer (6).

As this plasma, plasma is generated and the peeling layer (6) is brought into contact with this plasma, and as long as plasma is generated and the peeling layer (6) is brought into contact with this plasma, various means can be adopted as appropriate. . Typical examples include glow discharge treatment and corona discharge treatment.

This glow discharge or corona discharge treatment may be carried out according to a conventional method. The degree of plasma treatment is such that the releasability of the silicone release layer (6) can be improved, that is, the releasability can be reduced to the extent that the above-mentioned transfer can be performed by applying pressure and heat to another transfer target using a receiving sheet. It is necessary to do so.

In carrying out the invention, a transfer sheet (A) and a receiving sheet (B) are superimposed and an image is printed using a thermal head according to a conventional method, and the image receiving surface of the obtained receiving sheet is subjected to plasma treatment. The base sheet of the receiving sheet is overlapped with the receiving sheet, and the base sheet of the receiving sheet is pressed and heated from the base sheet side of the receiving sheet, the opposite side of the receiving surface of the receiving sheet, or both sides using a hot roll, hot press, iron, etc. By peeling off the image, the image is transferred to another object.

<Example> The method of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to Examples below. However, the following parts refer to parts by weight.

Example 1 Disperse dye with sublimation property (Lurafix Blue)
10 parts of polyamide resin (Persalon 1175 manufactured by Henkel Hakusui Co., Ltd.), 10 parts of toluene 4'
A composition consisting of 0 parts and 40 parts of isopropyl alcohol was dispersed in a ball mill for 24 hours, and this was applied to a 6μ thick polyester film using a gravure coater so that the dry coating amount was 3g/rrf, and dried. A transfer sheet (A) was prepared.

On the other hand, a dyeing resin solution consisting of 20 parts of saturated linear polyester resin (Byron #200 manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) and 80 parts of methyl ethyl ketone was coated on a 120 μ thick polyester film using a roll coater so that the dry coating amount was 15 g/rrf. After coating and drying at
The dry coating amount of the solution on the above polyester resin is 0.2g.
/ After applying with a bar coater and drying,
A receiving sheet (B) was prepared by irradiating for 30 seconds with a high-pressure mercury lamp (800 W). However, the receptor sheet (B) obtained here has not yet been subjected to plasma treatment and has no release layer (7) formed thereon.

Using the thus obtained transfer sheet 1-(A) and receiving sheet (B), printing was performed with a color printer under thermal head recording conditions of 6 dots/II [Ill, applied power of 0.4 W/dot, and varying the pulse width. As a result, fusion occurred,
Abnormal transfer did not occur at all, the film ran smoothly, and the color density shown in FIG. 3 was obtained. However, the measurement method is as follows. In other words, the thermal head recording condition is 6 dots)/
A receiving sheet on which a gradation pattern was printed using a color printer by varying the applied pulse width with an applied voltage of 0.4 W/dot was fixed on a standard white plate (D=0.05), and the reflection density at each gradation was measured. was measured using a color reflection densitometer DM-400 (manufactured by Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co., Ltd.).

The image-receiving surface of the receptor sheet on which the image was formed in this way was subjected to corona discharge treatment, and the image-receiving surface and cotton fabric (100% cotton) were overlapped and heated under pressure from both sides with a heat roll at 160'C. When the base sheet (B) was peeled off, the image was completely transferred to the fabric.

The method of corona discharge treatment is as follows.

Using a pinhole tester (type with tester coil, manufactured by Tokyo High Frequency Electric Furnace ■), input power AC 100V, input current 0.1
~0.8A, output frequency 50~100KHz, spark length approximately 5011II11, distance between electrode and workpiece 30mm
The corona discharge treatment was performed under conditions of a treatment time of approximately 2 seconds/crfl.

Comparative Example 1 In Example 1, when the image-receiving sheet on which the image was formed was directly transferred to cloth without performing corona discharge treatment, the image was not transferred to the cloth at all.

<Effects> As explained above, by using the method of the present invention, it is possible to transfer a desired image in full color from an electrical signal such as a television image onto a transfer material such as cloth without going through a process such as plate making. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a transfer sheet, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a receiving sheet, and FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between pulse width and reflection density when printing using a thermal head. 1...Base film 2...Transfer layer 3...Backup layer 4...Base sheet 5...Dyeing resin layer 6 ...Silicone release layer 7 ...Release layer A ...Transfer sheet B ...Receptor sheet (and above) Patent applicant Nitto Electric Industry Co., Ltd. No. 1 Figure 2 ■ He'Iusu (1 employee 0) Procedure Neho (self-motivated) April 8, 1988 1988 Patent Application No. 32453 2, Name of invention Thermal transfer recording method 3, Amendment Relationship with the patent applicant's case Address of the patent applicant
1-1-2 Shimohozumi, Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture Name Nitto Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Representative Goro Kamai 4, Agent Address: 606 Yachiyo Building South Building, 1-1-25 Minamimorimachi, Kita-ku, Osaka 530 (314) 0248 Details Item 6 of Detailed Description of the Invention of the Book, Contents of Amendment ゛, Sixth Heart 7, List of Attached Documents (1) Contents of Amendment 1 Contents of Amendment 1. In the Description amend the description in accordance with the errata table below. (above)

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) (A) A transfer sheet used in the sublimation transfer method using a thermal head, a dyed resin layer on the base sheet that can be dyed with sublimation or vaporizable dye, and that can be used as a hot melt adhesive, and a silicone release layer. (b) transfer and print a predetermined image from the transfer sheet onto the receiving sheet by heating with a thermal head; (c) image receiving surface of the thus obtained printed receiving sheet; A thermal transfer recording method characterized in that (d) the image receiving surface of the receiving sheet is superimposed on another transfer object and the image is transferred to the transfer object under pressure and heat.