JP2000211257A - Variable information display medium by hologram printing and printing apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide variable information display mediums each having a different hologram image from another and an apparatus for preparing these mediums simply and to provide further variable information display mediums having high decorating properties impossible to present by a usual color image, by means of printing an image on a seal or a card. SOLUTION: A printing apparatus for a variable information display medium which is equipped at least with an input means 1 for inputting image information such as a pattern and a character, a control means 2 wherein image processing software for processing the image information is incorporated and which controls the whole of the apparatus, a register mark sensing means 6 for sensing a register mark of a hologram transfer leaf ribbon, a transfer printing control means 4 which controls the position for printing on the variable information display medium on the basis of a signal of sensing of the register mark and is equipped with a thermal head and a means 7 for carrying the medium to the position for printing, and the variable information display medium prepared by this apparatus, are obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a variable information display medium using a thermal transfer method for heating and printing by a thermal means such as a thermal head, for example, a credit card, securities, certificates, stamps, and postcards. The present invention relates to a technology such as a medium such as a sticker, a seal, and the like, which can print a desired image, character, or the like, when necessary, with a pattern formed by a hologram.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art By using light interference or a diffraction grating, a diffraction structure such as a fine concavo-convex pattern or a striped pattern having a different refractive index can be used to represent a three-dimensional image or a special decorative image. In the present specification, they are collectively referred to as a hologram. Since such a hologram requires advanced manufacturing technology and can be formed into a sheet shape,
As forgery prevention means, it is used by attaching it to a part of credit cards, securities, certificates and the like. It is also used to give books, compact discs, etc. special designs and decorative effects.

A hologram is generally formed of a relief type having a fine concavo-convex pattern by an optical photographing method, a volume type for recording interference fringes in a volume direction using a recording material such as a photosensitive resin, and a plurality of holograms in a minute area. There is a diffraction grating type such as a grating image or a pixel gram, in which various types of simple diffraction gratings are arranged as pixels to express an image.

In any case, a master hologram is prepared from these hologram images, a nickel press die is duplicated from the master by electroplating, and the same picture is heated and pressed to produce a large number of hologram images. And pasted it on a display medium. This method
It is suitable for mass copying and pasting the same image from the original, but it is not possible to paste different images such as a face photograph, an ID image, an autographed illustration, and a unique message.

[0005]

An object of the present invention is to provide a variable information display medium having a hologram image which is different one by one, an apparatus for easily manufacturing the same, and a conventional method by printing an image on a sticker or a card. An object of the present invention is to provide a variable information display medium having a high decorative property that cannot be expressed by a color image.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a variable information display medium characterized in that variable print information is printed on demand by using a hologram transfer foil ribbon. The variable information display medium is suitable for displaying different information (message) on a telegram, a postcard, a birthday celebration card, a marriage card, a Christmas card, or the like that transmits private information.

A device for producing a variable information display medium has input means for inputting image information such as pictures and characters, and control means (including image processing software for processing the image information) for controlling the entire device. Computer), register mark detecting means for detecting a register mark on a hologram transfer foil ribbon, transfer print control means including a thermal head for controlling a position to be printed on a variable information display medium based on a signal obtained by detecting the register mark, and variable And a transport unit that transports the information display medium to a position where printing is performed, and a device for printing on a variable information display medium.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 3A and 3B are views showing a hologram transfer foil ribbon used in the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a plan view of a transfer foil ribbon having a plurality of hologram image patterns, and FIG. 3B is a transfer having only one hologram image pattern. FIG. 3C is a plan view of the foil ribbon, and FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example.

The hologram transfer foil ribbon (3) shown in FIG.
0) has a configuration having a plurality of hologram image patterns (31), and has a hologram image pattern (31).
Any hologram image such as a plurality of simple diffraction gratings having different diffraction directions and spatial frequencies, a diffraction grating image, a rainbow hologram image, a 3D hologram image, or a combination thereof can be used. As the number of types of the hologram image pattern (31) increases, the number of colors (pattern) of the hologram image formed by the hologram image pattern (31) increases, and a hologram image with a high decorative effect can be obtained. Then, in reality, 3 to 12 colors (patterns) are appropriate. In addition,
Register marks (32) for controlling the medium feeding means of the hologram transfer foil sheet (30) and the printing position
Is provided.

In the case where only a function of preventing forgery is given by a combination of simple numbers and characters such as a lottery ticket,
One hologram image pattern as shown in FIG. 3B may be sufficient.

A release layer (42) is formed on a transfer foil substrate (40) as a support, and a hologram layer (45) is formed on the release layer (42). Further, a back coat layer (41) is formed on the back surface (the surface opposite to the surface on which the release layer (42) is formed) on the transfer foil substrate (40) as a support.

The hologram layer (45) comprises a release layer (42).
A relief forming layer (43) having a hologram relief pattern on the surface opposite to the above, and a reflective thin film layer (44) formed on the surface of the hologram relief pattern by vapor deposition or sputtering; 4
4) An adhesive layer (46) is formed thereon. The hologram relief pattern is formed by a well-known method such as heating and pressing a nickel mold having a hologram relief pattern composed of a fine uneven pattern onto the relief forming layer (43).

The transfer foil substrate (40) is a film serving as a support, and generally a transparent polyethylene terephthalate film is used. In addition, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, synthetic resins such as polystyrene, natural resins, paper, those selected alone from synthetic paper, or composites selected from the above and combined. Can be used. Any thickness may be used for the substrate, but a thickness of about 10 to 20 μm is desirable.

The release layer (42) is composed of the relief forming layer (4).
3) is provided in order to more effectively transfer to the object to be transferred, and is a thermoplastic acrylic resin, a chlorinated rubber resin, a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, a cellulose resin, a chlorinated polypropylene resin or Those obtained by adding oil silicon, fatty acid amide, zinc stearate, and other inorganic substances to these are used.

The relief forming layer (43) has good embossability, hardly causes press unevenness, provides a bright reproduced image, and has good adhesion to the release layer (42) and the reflective thin film layer (44). Resin, polycarbonate resin,
Thermoplastic resins such as polystyrene resin and polyvinyl chloride resin, unsaturated polyester resin, melamine resin, epoxy resin, urethane (meth) acrylate, polyester (meth) acrylate, epoxy (meth) acrylate, polyol (meth) acrylate, melamine ( Thermosetting resins such as meth) acrylate and triazine (meth) acrylate or mixtures thereof, and thermoformable materials having a radically polymerizable unsaturated group can be used.

The reflective thin film layer (44) is a layer that reflects light rays, and may be a material having metal reflectivity such as Al, Au, Ag, and Cu. Reflective thin film layer (44)
As a method for forming a film, a film forming means such as a vacuum evaporation method, a sputtering method, and an ion plating method can be applied, and the film thickness is preferably in the range of 10 to 1100 nm.

Further, as the reflective thin film layer (44), a high refractive index transparent material having both reflectivity and transmissivity can be used. That is, the relief forming layer 231
Sb ₂ S ₃ (n = 3.0), TiO ₂ , a material having a refractive index higher than (refractive index n = 1.3 to 1.5) and having transparency
(N = 2.6), ZnS (n = 2.3), Sb ₂ O
₃ (n = 2.0), SiO (n = 2.0), Si ₂ O ₃
(N = 2.5), In ₂ O ₃ (n = 2.0), ZnO
An inorganic material such as (n = 2.1) can be used.

The adhesive layer (46) is a reflective thin film layer (44).
As long as it does not alter or affect the quality of the adhesive, a commonly used adhesive may be used, and a polyvinyl chloride-based adhesive, an acrylic-based adhesive, a polyester-based adhesive, or the like is used.

The back coat layer (41) formed on the back surface (the surface opposite to the surface on which the release layer (42) is formed) on the transfer foil substrate (40) as a support is transferred by a thermal head. It is a layer to prevent sticking when performing, and to prevent the transfer sheet from sticking to the thermal head,
As long as the transfer sheet is configured to prevent the transfer sheet from sticking to the thermal head, any commonly used one may be used. Examples of the binder include a thermoplastic acrylic resin, a cellulose resin, a polyester resin, and a silicone EB-curable resin. Can be used. Various surfactants such as slip agents, polyethylene wax, silicone W
Those to which a lubricant such as AX and a filler such as talc are added as necessary can be used.

The hologram transfer foil ribbon (3
Using (0), a hologram image is transferred and printed by a thermal head on a variable information display medium which is a transfer object.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of an apparatus for manufacturing a variable information display medium according to the present invention. The variable information display medium producing device includes a keyboard for inputting characters or an input means for inputting a picture such as a handwritten manuscript with a scanner or a CCD camera (1).
Control means (computer) (2) having a function of image processing of input characters and pictures, a function of detecting a register mark and controlling a position and timing of printing, and a function of controlling the entire apparatus; Transport means (7) for transporting a medium (8) to a printing position; and a hologram image pattern of a hologram transfer foil ribbon transferred to a display medium based on data processed by the control means (computer) (2). The thermal head (5) is a main component.

The image processing software built in the control means (computer) has a function of arbitrarily selecting components constituting a read picture, a color separation file generating function of generating an image file of the selected part, and a color separation file. For example, a data conversion function for converting the data into printable data is required.

[0023]

Example 1 A postcard with lottery shown in FIG. 2A was produced by the following method.

(1) Production of hologram transfer foil ribbon having one hologram image pattern (a) First, a transfer foil substrate (4) made of a transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film having a thickness of 12 μm
In 0), a release layer paint described later is applied by a gravure method at a drying temperature of 110 ° C. and a coating thickness of 0.8 μm to form a release layer (4).
2) was formed. Using a gravure method, a relief forming layer paint is applied to the upper layer at a drying temperature of 110 ° C. and a coating thickness of 0.5 μm.
To obtain a relief forming raw material. (B) A diffraction grating by EB drawing was used as a hologram image pattern (31). That is, the hologram image pattern (31) has a 4
When illuminated from an angle of 5 degrees, the observed color is red (wavelength 6
Using a diffraction grating having a spatial frequency of 1140 line / mm which becomes 20 nm) as a master, a mold is formed by plating. This mold was heated to about 165 ° C. and pressed onto the relief forming layer (43) by a known roll embossing method to form a hologram relief pattern on the relief forming layer. (C) On the relief forming layer (43) on which the hologram relief pattern has been formed, a film thickness of 0.05 is formed by vacuum evaporation.
A reflective thin film layer (44) was formed by forming an Al layer having a thickness of μm. The adhesive layer paint described later was applied to the upper layer by a gravure method at a drying temperature of 110 ° C. and a coating thickness of 0.5 μm to provide an adhesive layer (46). (D) Finally, a back coat layer paint described later is applied to the back surface [the surface opposite to the surface on which the release layer (42) is formed] on the transfer foil substrate (40) as a support by a gravure method. The drying temperature is 110 ° C. and the coating thickness is 0.
It was applied at 7 μm, and a back coat layer (41) was provided to obtain a hologram transfer foil ribbon.

The coating materials used for producing the hologram transfer ribbon will be described below. (Release layer coating) Acrylic resin ... 30 parts Polyester resin ... 5 parts Toluene ... 40 parts Methyl ethyl ketone ... 40 parts Methyl isobutyl ketone ... 20 parts (Relief forming layer coating) Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer ... 25 parts Urethane resin ... 10 Part Methyl ethyl ketone ... 70 parts Toluene ... 30 parts (Coating for adhesive layer) Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer ... 30 parts Polyester resin ... 20 parts Methyl ethyl ketone ... 50 parts Toluene ... 50 parts (Paint for backcoat layer) Vinyl resin ... 50 parts Isocyanate curing agent 5 parts Silicone WAX 1 part Methyl ethyl ketone 50 parts Toluene 50 parts

(2) Preparation of postcard with lottery A lottery number having a hologram image pattern (31) is transferred and printed on a postcard on which a fixed wording is printed in advance.
Numbers, symbols, and characters to be printed are input to the computer from a keyboard or the like, and the hologram image pattern is transferred in the shape of numbers, symbols, and characters by the holo crumb transfer foil ribbon using the apparatus shown in FIG. In this way, a postcard with a lottery having a different lottery number is produced for each postcard.

In such a postcard with lottery, variable information such as a lottery number is often printed by a printer, and Sumi characters are generally used. In this case, falsification and forgery are easy, and it is necessary to take measures for the postcard (medium) in order to prevent falsification and forgery. However, in the case of the postcard with lottery according to the present invention, since the lottery number having the hologram image pattern is printed, the hologram image pattern is falsified,
It has a function of preventing forgery and does not need to take any special measures.

Example 2 A card (Christmas card) shown in FIG. 2B was manufactured by the following method.

(1) Preparation of hologram transfer foil ribbon having a plurality of hologram image patterns
It is created in the same manner as in the first embodiment, except that the different patterns are used.

That is, the hologram image R pattern (31a) shown in FIG. 3 (a) has an observing color of red (wavelength 620 nm) when illuminated from a 45-degree angle in a grid direction of −21 degrees downward and to the right. Spatial frequency of 1140 line
/ Mm diffraction grating, the hologram image Y pattern (31
b) shows a diffraction grating having a spatial frequency of 1240 line / mm in which the observation color becomes yellow (wavelength: 570 nm) when illuminated from a 45-degree angle in a grid direction of -7 degrees with a downward slope,
The hologram image G pattern (31c) has a rightward ascending +7.
The spatial frequency 139 at which the observation color becomes green (wavelength 510 nm) when illuminated from a 45-degree angle in the lattice direction of the degree
The hologram image B pattern (31d) has a diffraction grating of 0 line / mm,
When illuminated from an angle of 5 degrees, the observed color is blue (wavelength 4
A diffraction grating having a spatial frequency of 1540 line / mm, which is 60 nm), was used.

(2) Preparation of card An illustration manuscript is read by a scanner and Adode Photosh which is general image editing software is used as image processing software.
Input to the control means (computer) (2) that contains op (manufactured by Adobe Systems Incorporated). Next, the parts (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) of the illustration are selected, and the hologram image pattern to be filled in each part is designated. In this embodiment, the illustration A part (21a) has a hologram image R pattern, the illustration B part (21b) has a hologram image Y pattern,
A color file is created by designating the hologram image G pattern for the illustration C part (21c) and the hologram image B pattern for the illustration D part (21d). Based on the color file, the apparatus shown in FIG.
The card shown in FIG. The operation of this manufacturing is as follows. That is, first, the hologram transfer foil ribbon is sent out from the unwinding roller (3) of the card printer. Next, the R pattern register mark (32a) is detected by the register mark detecting means (6), and the hologram transfer foil ribbon (30) is stopped. Next, the data to be filled with the hologram image R pattern is called from the color file and sent to the transfer printing control means (4).
A transfer command is transmitted from the transfer / print control means (4) to the thermal head (5), and a feed control command is transmitted to the card transport means (7).

Next, the thermal head (5) receiving the command presses the leading end of the hologram image R pattern (31a) of the hologram transfer foil ribbon (30) against the display medium (card) (8), and the hologram image R data Transfer and print. As a result, the hologram image R pattern (31a) is transferred and printed on the illustration A part (21a) in the illustration document.

When the transfer and printing of the hologram image R pattern are completed, the thermal head (5) rises, the card transport means (7) returns the card (8) to the original position, and the hologram is transferred from the unwind roller (3). Send out the transfer foil ribbon (30). In the same manner, transfer and printing are performed based on the data of the hologram image Y pattern, the data of the hologram image G pattern, and the data of the hologram image B pattern recorded in the color file, as shown in FIG. Such a card is produced.

Although a hologram image pattern is not mentioned in a character portion to make a difference from the first embodiment, a hologram image pattern may be provided in a character or symbol portion as a matter of course.

A card having an arbitrary hologram image can be manufactured by changing the design of the illustration document using the above-described method. Conventionally, such a message card has a variety of designs and is rich in variety.However, since the variable information messages etc. are printed with Sumi characters by a printer, it is difficult to express individuality, and the impression is plain and gorgeous without gorgeousness It will be thin.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to manufacture a variable information display medium having a hologram image pattern on a desired character, illustration or the like when necessary. In addition, a different design can be produced for each sheet, and a high-quality character and a unique message can be produced, which is impressive.

In the case where a countermeasure for preventing tampering or forgery such as a postcard with a lottery or a lottery ticket is necessary, since the lottery number itself has a hologram, the medium (postcard or the like) must be provided with a countermeasure to prevent tampering or forgery. There is no need to provide it separately, and restrictions due to the medium are reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a transfer and printing device for a variable information display medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a variable information display medium according to the present invention, wherein (a) is a postcard with lottery, and (b) is a plan view of a message card.

3A and 3B show a hologram transfer foil ribbon according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a plan view showing a configuration in which a plurality of hologram image patterns are provided, and FIG. 3B is a view showing a configuration in which one hologram image pattern is provided. FIG. 3C is a configuration plan view, and FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image input means 2 ... Control means (computer) 3 ... Unwinding roller 4 ... Transfer printing control means 5 ... Thermal head 6 ... Register mark detecting means 7 ... Medium feeding means 8 ... Display medium 9 ... Winding roller 10 ... Variable Information display medium (lottery postcard) 11 Variable information (lottery number) 12 Fixed information printing unit 20 Variable information display medium (card) 21a Illustration parts A 21b Illustration parts B 21c Illustration parts C 21d Illustration parts D 22 ... Character part 30 ... Hologram transfer foil ribbon 31 ... Hologram image pattern 31a ... Hologram image R pattern 31b ... Hologram image Y pattern 31c ... Hologram image G pattern 31d ... Hologram image B pattern 32 ... Register mark 32a ... R pattern register mark 32b ... Y pattern register Mark 32c ... G pattern register mark 32d ... B pattern register mark 40 ... transfer foil base 41 ... back coat layer 42 ... peeling layer 43 ... relief-forming layer 44 ... reflective thin film layer 45 ... hologram layer 46 ... adhesive layer

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshio Sutani 1-5-1, Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo Inside Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kensuke Fujita 1-1-5-1 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo Letterpress Inside Printing Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Naohiko Ito 1-5-1, Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C005 HA06 HB12 HB20 JA18 KA37 KA48 LA30 LB08 LB44 2C068 AA02 AA06 AA15 AA22 BB01 BB08 BB18 BB22 BB27 BD04 BD23 BD35 BD49 2H111 AA26 AA33 BA03 BA04 BA08 BA53 BB05 BB06 DA08 2H113 AA06 BA23 BB02 BB22 CA00 CA37 CA39 FA06 FA28 2K008 AA13 DD13 FF11

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A variable information display medium characterized in that variable print information is printed using a hologram transfer foil ribbon when on demand. 2. The variable information display medium according to claim 1, wherein the variable information display medium is a message card or a telegram that describes private information. 3. The variable information display medium according to claim 1, wherein the variable information display medium is a postcard with lottery. 4. Input means for inputting image information such as pictures and characters, control means (computer) having built-in image processing software for processing the image information and controlling the entire apparatus, register marks on the hologram transfer foil ribbon Transfer mark control means having a thermal head for controlling the position of printing on the variable information display medium based on a signal detecting the register mark, and transferring the variable information display medium to the position for printing. A printing device for printing on a variable information display medium, comprising at least transport means.