EP0158686B1 - Vielfach-Abstufungs-wärmeempfindliches Bildübertragungsmaterial - Google Patents

Vielfach-Abstufungs-wärmeempfindliches Bildübertragungsmaterial Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0158686B1
EP0158686B1 EP19840104297 EP84104297A EP0158686B1 EP 0158686 B1 EP0158686 B1 EP 0158686B1 EP 19840104297 EP19840104297 EP 19840104297 EP 84104297 A EP84104297 A EP 84104297A EP 0158686 B1 EP0158686 B1 EP 0158686B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink layers
color
ink
reflection density
transfer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19840104297
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0158686A1 (de
Inventor
Masaru Onishi
Masayuki Saito
Yoshikazu Shimazaki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fujicopian Co Ltd
Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Original Assignee
Fuji Kagakushi Kogyo Co Ltd
Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fuji Kagakushi Kogyo Co Ltd, Mitsubishi Electric Corp filed Critical Fuji Kagakushi Kogyo Co Ltd
Priority to EP19840104297 priority Critical patent/EP0158686B1/de
Priority to DE8484104297T priority patent/DE3479488D1/de
Publication of EP0158686A1 publication Critical patent/EP0158686A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0158686B1 publication Critical patent/EP0158686B1/de
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
    • B41M5/34—Multicolour thermography
    • B41M5/345—Multicolour thermography by thermal transfer of dyes or pigments

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a heat sensitive transfer medium for use in a multi-gradation printing process in which the density of a print image can be changed. More particularly, it relates to a multi-gradation heat sensitive transfer medium for use in a multi-gradation thermal transfer process for adjusting the density of a transfer image by superimposing ink layers on a recording medium a plurality of times by thermal transfer.
  • This 3L method is intended to obtain a multiplicity of gradations through combinations of dot number variations in a picture element with reflection density variations in thermally transferred ink layers.
  • This method has been very difficult to obtain a multiplicity of image gradations close to natural tones and yet having a high degree of resolution, because it has a limitation in the adjustment of reflection density of the ink layers and because the number of dots is subject to limitation relative to resolution.
  • FR-A-2 521 448 discloses a heat transfer medium comprising a substrate having a number of areas covered with heat transfer ink of different color.
  • the color zones are disposed side by side on the continuous substrate so that they cover the entire surface of said substrate.
  • the color zones are disposed successively in the longitudinal direction of the continuous substrate in form of respective motives.
  • Each motive comprises several areas covered with ink layers of different color wherein the areas covered with ink layers of different color of one repeated motive having in the longitudinal direction of the substrate a length substantially equal to the length or size of a copy sheet.
  • Each thermal sensitive transferable ink layer of the covered areas is a transparent ink layer containing a transparent color agent and a transparent thermofusible vehicle, and the ink layers of different colors are transferred to the copy sheet thus that the ink images of different colors are superimposed on the recording sheet and form a color image.
  • the examples of this document indicate that saturated colors are used, i.e. the ink layers contain color pigment of high transparency and high tinting strength in an amount to provide a maximum degree of reflection density.
  • GB-A-402 332 teaches to obtain a color print with a specific tone or color gradation by superimposing prints by means of a plurality of half-tone blocks having different sized dots. For the purpose of shading off the edge portions of a print, the size of dots in such portions is controlled, for instance, by varying the etching time in producing the half-tone block. The respective gradations are obtained using half-tone blocks having dots of different sizes and by superimposing the respective half-tone color prints.
  • DE-C-678 234 discloses in relief printing to partly superimpose completely transparent colors by using separate half-tone blocks for each color.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned difficulty and to enable to obtain by thermal transfer printing clear print images of a multiplicity of gradations.
  • the invention provides a heat sensitive transfer medium having improved thermal transfer ink layers each of which contains a color pigment having a high transparency and a high tinting strength in an amount smaller than sufficient to provide a maximal degree of reflection density, and has a light transmittance of not less than 65% in a region where the color pigment does not have any absorption band.
  • the amount of color medium of an ink layer defined below must be less than sufficient to give a maximal degree of reflection density to a print image, since if it exceeds the upper limit of reflection density for the image in the particular color, multi-gradation is not attainable.
  • the amount of color medium is defined as follows:
  • the maximal degree of reflection density of a print image is intended to mean the upper limit that reflection density never exceeds even if the amount of color medium is increased by any amount over the limit.
  • the visible light transmittance of each ink layer in a region where a color pigment used does not have any absorption band should be not less than about 65 %, preferably not less than 70 %. If it is lower than 65 %, the upper level of reflection density of the image produced can never be sufficient, and no clear print image can be obtained either.
  • the light transmittance is preferably as high as feasible.
  • Printing using the transfer medium of the present invention is carried out by melt-transferring the ink layer of the transfer medium in the form of dots on a recording medium by means of a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements.
  • the superimposing of ink layers is intended to mean that the dots of an ink layer subsequently transferred are substantially superimposed over the dots of an ink layer transferred previously on a recording medium.
  • a film base there were coated three partial ink layers Y1, Y2, Y3 in yellow Y; three partial ink layers C1, C2, C3 in cyan C; and three partial ink layers M1, M2, M3 in magenta M in a "Dandara" pattern as shown in Fig. 1 (Dandara: trademark of Fuji Kagakushi Kogyo Co., Ltd.).
  • the three partial ink layers for each color were different from each other in the amount of color medium.
  • a polyester film having a thickness of 9 p a polyester film having a thickness of 9 p.
  • a vehicle for the ink layers one having a high degree of transparency, the composition of which was as follows:
  • color mediums for the ink layers were used the following color pigments each having a high degree of transperency: cyanine blue for cyan, rhodamine lake Y for magenta, and benzidine yellow for yellow.
  • Table 1 shows the content of color pigment for each respective partial ink layer, and the reflection density (AOD) of a print image as thermally transferred one time by a thermal printer directly on a plain paper, and the light transmittance of each ink layer in the non-absorption band and the wavelength of the nonabsorption band.
  • AOD reflection density
  • the reflection density (AOD) of a print image is defined as follows:
  • Fig. 2 (as well as in Figs. 3 and 4), the print images obtained from Y1, C1 or M1 are signified by mark O, the print images obtained from Y2, C2 or M2 by mark 40, and the print images obtained from Y3, C3 or M3 by mark A.
  • Example 3 The same procedures as in Example 1 except that 0.5 part by weight of titanium oxide was employed together with 1 part by weight of each color pigment as used in Example 1 were repeated to produce a multi-gradation heat sensitive transfer medium. Printing was carried out by using the obtained transfer medium in the same manner as described in Example 1. The relationship between the reflection density (AOD) of the print image produced and the amount of color medium is graphically shown in Fig. 3.
  • AOD reflection density
  • the light transmittance in non-absortion band was about 70 % with a layer corresponding to the aforesaid ink layer Y1, about 76 % with a layer corresponding to aforesaid ink layer C1, and about 73 % with a layer coresponding to the aforesaid ink layer M1.
  • Example 2 The same procedures as in Example 1 except that 4 parts by weight of titanium oxide was employed together with 1 part by weight of each color pigment as used in Example 1 were repeated to produce a multi-gradation heat sensitive transfer medium.
  • the light transmittance in non-absorption band was about 45 % with a layer corresponding to the aforesaid ink layer Y1, about 49 % with a layer corresponding to the aforesaid ink layer C1, and about 47 % with a layer corresponding to the aforesaid ink layer M1.
  • Printing was carried out by using the obtained transfer medium in the same manner as described in Example 1.
  • the relationship between the reflection density (AOD) of the print image obtained and the amount of color medium is graphically shown in Fig. 4.
  • titanium oxide was used to lower the light transmittance in order to prove the effect of change in light transmittance, in view of the fact that the use of a different color pigment would be reflected in a difference in hue which would be inconvenient from the standpoint of comparison.
  • mark 0 indicates the reflection density (AOD) of a print image produced by using an ink layer which was formed by applying an ink having a color pigment content equal to that of one used in an ink layer marked A, in amount of coating of 2 g/m 2 .
  • reflection density ( ⁇ OD) varies depending upon the amount of color medium.
  • the thickness of an ink layer is preferably selected so that the total thickness of superimposed prints is about 35 um or less.
  • a color pigment in yellow was used one kind or a mixture of two or more kinds of pigments such as naphthol yellow S, Hansa yellow 5G, permanent yellow NCG, and quinoline yellow lake. Good results were obtained as in Example 1.
  • a color pigment in magenta was used one kind or a mixture of two or more kinds of pigments such as brilliant fast scarlet, brilliant carmine BS, permanent carmine FB, lithol red, permanent red F5R, brilliant carmine 6B, pigment scarlet 3B, rhodamine lake B, and alizarin lake. Again, good results were obtained as in Example 1.
  • a color pigment in cyan was used one kind or a mixture of two or more kinds of pigments such as Victoria blue lake, metal-free phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine blue, and fast sky blue. Again, good results were obtained as in Example 1.
  • Carbon black or the like was used as a color pigment in black, and in this case, the results were also satisfactory as in Example 1.
  • composition of a vehicle it is desirable to use solid wax having a penetration of 10 to 30 (at 25°C) as a binder in order to obtain an improved melt-transferability of ink layers.
  • waxes such as carnauba wax, microcrystalline wax, Japan wax, beeswax, ceresin wax and spermaceti are used.
  • any readily hot-meltable material such as low molecular weight polyethylene, oxidized wax or ester wax may be used in combination.
  • any readily hot-meltable material such as petroleum resin, polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, cellulose esters, cellulose ethers or acrylic resins, or lubricating oils.
  • thermosensitive ink layer it is possible to use a heat-conductive powdery material and/or an extender pigment in order to give good heat-conductivity and melt-transferability to such heat sensitive ink layer.
  • heat-conductive powdery material may be advantageously used aluminum, copper, or zinc, for example, which has a heat-conductivity of 6.0 x 10-4 to 25.0 x 10-4 cal/sec.cm °C.
  • extender pigments may be used colloidal silica, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, clay, kaolin, calcium silicate, highly dispersive silicic acid anhydride (commercially available under the name "Aerosil” made by Nippon Aerosil Kabushiki Kaisha), and white carbon, for example, which all have relatively high transparency.
  • Such heat-conductive material and extender pigment may be used in an amount of 0 to 30 parts by weight and 0 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the total dry weight of the ink composition for each color, respectively.
  • thin papers such as thin condenser paper, insulating condenser paper, one-time carbon base paper, perchment paper, glassine paper, India paper and wax paper; plastic films such as polyester film, polyimide film and polyvinyl chloride film; and cellophane.
  • the foundation may have a highly heat-resistant resin layer coated thereon in order to prevent sticking or a highly heat-conductive layer coated thereon in order to improve transferability.
  • ink layers relative to the foundation may not be limited to one such as shown in Fig. 1, but such layers may be arranged in any conventional pattern.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Thermal Transfer Or Thermal Recording In General (AREA)

Claims (4)

1. Wärmeempfindliches Multi-Abstufungs-Bildübertragungsmedium zur Verwendung bei thermischer Multi-Abstufungsübertragung zur Einstellung der Dichte eines Übertragungsdruckbildes durch Überlagern von Tinteschichten auf einem Aufnahmeträger viele Male durch thermische Übertragung, welches umfaßt ein Substrat und eine Vielzahl von Schmelz-Übertragungstinteschichten Seite an Seite darauf nacheinander und wiederholt angebracht, so um Einheiten der Tinteschichten in der longitudinalen Richtung des Substrates zu bilden, wobei die Tinteschichten von einer einzigen Farbe sind und sich voneinander in der Reflektionsdichte unterscheiden; wobei jede der Tinteschichten Farbpigment enthält, das eine hohe Transparenz hat und eine hohe Tönungsstärke in einer Menge geringer als ausreichend, um einen maximalen Reflektionsdichtegrad zur Verfügung zu stellen; und wobei jede der Tinteschichten eine Lichtdurchlässigkeit von nicht weniger als ungefähr 65 % in einem Wellenlängenbereich hat, in dem die Farbpigmente keine Absorptionsbandehaben, worin die Menge des Farbpigmentes in einer Tinteschicht unterschiedlich ist von der in den anderen Tinteschichten im Hinblick auf jede Einheit.
2. Übertragungsmedium nach Anspruch 1, worin die Farbe ausgewählt ist aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Gelb, Cyan und Fuchsin.
3. Wärmeempfindliches Multi-Abstufungs-Bildübertragungsmedium zur Verwendung bei thermischer Multi-Abstufungsübertragung zur Einstellung der Dichte eines Übertragungsdruckbildes durch Überlagern von Tinteschichten auf einem Aufnahmeträger viele Male durch thermische Übertragung, welches umfaßt ein Substrat und eine Vielzahl von Schmelz-übertragbaren Tinteschichten Seite an Seite darauf nacheinander und wiederholt angebracht, so um Einheiten der Tinteschichten in der longitudinalen Richtung des Substrates zu bilden, wobei die Tinteschichten eine Vielzahl von Gruppen von verschiedenen Farben umfassen; wobei die Tinteschichten, involviert in jeder Einheit innerhalb einer Farbgruppein der Reflektionsdichte unterschiedlich voneinander sind; wobei jede der Tinteschichten Farbpigment enthält, das eine hohe Transparenz und eine hohe Stärke hat, in einer Menge, geringer als ausreichend, um einen maximalen Reflektionsdichtegrad zur Verfügung zu stellen; und wobei jede der Tintenschichten Lichtdurchlässigkeit hat von nicht weniger als 65 % in einem Bereich von Wellenlängen, wo das Farbpigment keine Absorptionsbande hat, worin die Menge des Farbpigmentes in einer Tinteschicht unterschiedlich von denen in den anderen Tinteschichten im Hinblick auf jede Einheit, die einer anderen Farbgruppe angehört, ist.
4. Überragungsmedium nach Anspruch 3, worin die unterschiedlichen Farben Gelb, Cyan und Fuchsin sind.
EP19840104297 1984-04-16 1984-04-16 Vielfach-Abstufungs-wärmeempfindliches Bildübertragungsmaterial Expired EP0158686B1 (de)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19840104297 EP0158686B1 (de) 1984-04-16 1984-04-16 Vielfach-Abstufungs-wärmeempfindliches Bildübertragungsmaterial
DE8484104297T DE3479488D1 (en) 1984-04-16 1984-04-16 Multi-gradation heat sensitive transfer medium

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19840104297 EP0158686B1 (de) 1984-04-16 1984-04-16 Vielfach-Abstufungs-wärmeempfindliches Bildübertragungsmaterial

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0158686A1 EP0158686A1 (de) 1985-10-23
EP0158686B1 true EP0158686B1 (de) 1989-08-23

Family

ID=8191876

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19840104297 Expired EP0158686B1 (de) 1984-04-16 1984-04-16 Vielfach-Abstufungs-wärmeempfindliches Bildübertragungsmaterial

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0158686B1 (de)
DE (1) DE3479488D1 (de)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5198061A (en) * 1986-09-10 1993-03-30 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Multicolor thermosensitive image transfer sheet and recording method using the same
DE3730287A1 (de) * 1986-09-10 1988-03-24 Ricoh Kk Waermeempfindliches mehrfarben-bilduebertragungsmaterial und aufzeichnungsverfahren
FR2766412A1 (fr) * 1997-07-25 1999-01-29 Sagem Procede d'impression thermique couleur d'un support d'impression et ruban d'impression pour la mise en oeuvre du procede
GB9827168D0 (en) * 1998-12-11 1999-02-03 Grangefield Products Mail Orde Printing process and printing apparatus

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB402332A (en) * 1933-04-29 1933-11-30 Albert Nadin Improvements in or relating to colour printing
GB477385A (en) * 1936-03-26 1937-12-28 Matuschke Walter Improvements in processes for preparing photomechanical printing plates
JPS5698190A (en) * 1980-01-07 1981-08-07 Fuji Kagakushi Kogyo Co Ltd Ribbon for color thermotranscription
CA1198591A (en) * 1982-02-13 1985-12-31 Tadao Seto Heat-sensitive color transfer recording media

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0158686A1 (de) 1985-10-23
DE3479488D1 (en) 1989-09-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA1198591A (en) Heat-sensitive color transfer recording media
US4572684A (en) Heat-sensitive color transfer ribbon
US5110389A (en) Thermosensitive image transfer recording medium
EP0158686B1 (de) Vielfach-Abstufungs-wärmeempfindliches Bildübertragungsmaterial
US5843563A (en) Thermal transfer recording medium for color image formation
US4615932A (en) Multi-gradation heat sensitive transfer medium
JPS6317639B2 (de)
US5700584A (en) Thermal transfer recording medium
US6364985B2 (en) Thermal transfer recording medium
JPH038959B2 (de)
US5376432A (en) Thermal transfer sheet
CA1236300A (en) Multi-gradation heat sensitive transfer medium
JPH0433632B2 (de)
JPS58138685A (ja) カラ−熱転写用記録媒体
JPS6365029B2 (de)
US5593803A (en) Process for applying images to non-adhesive surfaces in thermal dye transfer imaging
US5612120A (en) Thermal transfer sheet
JP3114977B2 (ja) 熱転写シート
EP0882601A1 (de) Thermische Übertragungsaufzeichnungsmaterial mit einer Abziehschicht aus Wachs
JPH0377795B2 (de)
JP4090545B2 (ja) 熱転写画像形成方法
JPH01263081A (ja) 熱転写画像受容シート
JPH01271289A (ja) 溶融型熱転写インク画像受容シート
EP0372585A2 (de) Wärmeempfindliches Übertragungsaufzeichnungsmaterial
JPH0717142A (ja) カラー熱転写記録方法

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19850411

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI NL

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19861210

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI NL

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3479488

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19890928

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: STUDIO CONS. BREVETTUALE S.R.L.

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
ITTA It: last paid annual fee
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19970326

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19970425

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19970430

Year of fee payment: 14

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 19970430

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19970606

Year of fee payment: 14

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19980416

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19980430

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: THE PATENT HAS BEEN ANNULLED BY A DECISION OF A NATIONAL AUTHORITY

Effective date: 19980430

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19980430

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19981101

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19980416

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 19981101

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990202

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST