JP2003025447A - Laminating member and laminating method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laminating member which contributes to simplifying a cleaning operation of a laminator conveying system and keeps the surface of a roll always clean, when a lamination layer is formed on the surface of an image sheet, and a laminating method using the laminating member. SOLUTION: This laminating member is formed of a laminating sheet of an almost rectangular shape having the lamination layer and a cleaning paper added to the end part of one side of the laminating sheet and imparts gloss and surface protecting properties to the image sheet. Also the laminating method using the laminating member is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laminating member and a laminating method, and more particularly to a laminating member and a laminating method used for the purpose of imparting glossiness to various recorded images and protecting the surface of the image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, surface protection or alteration of an image (hereinafter referred to as an image sheet) formed on a recording sheet using a paper or a plastic film or sheet (hereinafter referred to as a film or sheet simply as a "sheet") as a base material. A method of laminating a transparent resin layer (laminating layer) on the image surface of an image sheet is used for the purpose of preventing discoloration or making the image surface glossy.

As the above-mentioned laminating method, a transparent resin film is attached to the image side of the image sheet with an adhesive, or a laminate layer made of a transparent thermoplastic resin is formed in advance on a heat-resistant substrate sheet, and this is laminated on the image sheet. A method of using a transfer type laminate sheet in which only the laminate layer is transferred to the image surface by heating and pressurizing has been proposed (JP-A-59-85793, JP-A-60-2).
No. 04397, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-061156,
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 08-039947, Patent No. 276275
No. 1). Transfer-type laminate sheets include those in which only the transparent thermoplastic resin layer or the transparent thermoplastic resin layer and the transparent release layer are simultaneously transferred, but by using such a laminate sheet, the image surface can be improved. The glossiness of the image surface is increased when viewed directly or when viewed obliquely, and the water resistance, scratch resistance, light resistance of the image and the plasticizer resistance to the plasticizer contained in the vinyl chloride product are remarkably improved.

The transfer method as described above is usually performed using a heat roll type laminator having a heating roll and a backup roll. When such a laminator is used, a laminate sheet and an image sheet are used. Must be conveyed and charged into the laminator with the four sides accurately overlapped. At this time, if the laminated sheet and the image sheet are misaligned or the size of the laminated sheet is larger than the image sheet,
Part of the laminating layer softened or melted between a pair of rolls adheres to the roll surface and contaminates the rolls, and also spreads to other members of the laminator, contaminating the image sheet to be subsequently laminated. Further, there is a problem that the image sheet is wound around the roll and the image quality is significantly impaired.

[0005]

In order to solve these problems, a cleaning mechanism such as a web is provided inside the laminator to remove deposits on the roll surface.
A method is adopted in which a cleaning sheet is conveyed between rolls to clean the conveyance system of the laminator. In the former case, regular maintenance of the cleaner part is required, and the user's burden is heavy in maintaining the performance of the laminator. In addition, the installation of the cleaner on the laminator body not only enlarges the apparatus, but also increases the cost. In the latter case, if the laminator is frequently cleaned, the work time will increase, and especially if the cleaning sheet conveyance position shifts to the left or right, the deposits on the roll cannot be completely removed by a single cleaning operation. There is a problem of poor sex.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide a laminate layer (a transparent thermoplastic resin layer or a transparent thermoplastic resin layer and a transparent release layer) on the surface of an image sheet.
The object of the present invention is to provide a laminating member and a laminating method capable of simplifying the cleaning operation of the transport system of the laminator and laminating the roll surface in a clean state.

[0007]

The above object can be achieved by the present invention described below. That is, the present invention comprises a substantially rectangular laminating sheet having a laminating layer and a cleaning paper attached to the sheet, for laminating to give gloss and surface protection to an image sheet. A member and a laminating method using the member for laminating are provided.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following preferred embodiments. FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a laminating member 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1a shows a schematic plan view of the laminating member 100 of the present invention, and FIG. 1b shows A- of FIG. 1a. FIG. 1c shows a schematic sectional view taken along the line A ′, and FIG. 1c shows an enlarged sectional view of a part of FIG. 1b in a preferred embodiment. Further, FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a laminating member 110 which is another preferred embodiment, and FIG. 3a is a laminating member 110 of the present invention.
3b is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. 3a, and FIG. 3c is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 3b.

As shown in FIG. 1, the laminating member 100 of the present invention has a laminating layer 6 (or laminating layer 6).
And a substantially rectangular laminate sheet 1 having a release layer 5),
It is characterized by comprising a cleaning paper 2 attached to one end of the sheet. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, like the laminating member 100 shown in FIG. 1, the laminating sheet 1 and the cleaning paper 2 each have a substantially rectangular shape, and both are joined at one side thereof. In this connection, the laminating sheet 1 is located on the upper side and the cleaning paper 2 is located on the lower side, and they are bonded by any means such as an adhesive, an adhesive tape, a mending tape 8 or the like. However, the joining method is not limited to this, and for example, the cleaning paper 2 may be placed on the upper side and the laminating sheet 1 may be placed on the lower side, or both may be joined in a state of being arranged on the same surface.

Further, in a laminating member 110 which is another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the laminating sheet 1 and the cleaning paper 2 each have a substantially rectangular shape, and the laminating sheet 1 The laminating layer surface of the cleaning paper 2 faces the cleaning paper 2, and the laminating sheet 1 is arranged and bonded inside the edge of the cleaning paper 2. The position where the laminating sheet 1 and the cleaning paper 2 are combined is not particularly limited as long as the laminating sheet 1 and the cleaning paper 2 are connected to the cleaning paper 2 at one end of one side.

Further, in the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the width (W1) of the laminate sheet 1 and the width (W2) of the cleaning paper have a relationship of W2> W1. In addition, the cleaning paper 2 has the extending portions 3 and 3'extending outward from the extension lines X and X'of both edges of the laminating sheet 1 in the conveying direction. Width of the extension parts 3, 3 '(W3, W3')
May have the same width or different widths, and it is usually preferable that the width is about 1 to 10 mm. As will be described later, when laminating is performed, the laminating layer of the laminating sheet 1 is melted and softened, and the contaminants transferred from the ends to the roll are easily removed from the roll by the extending portions 3 and 3 ′. Therefore, the cleanliness of the roll can be maintained.

Further, in order to keep the rolls sufficiently clean, it is necessary that the entire surfaces of the pair of rotating rolls contact the front and back of the cleaning paper 2. Therefore, for example, the laminating member of the present invention is used. In 100, it is preferable that the length (PL) of the cleaning paper 2 in the transport direction and the outer peripheral length (RL) of the roll be PL ≧ RL, and in this case, PL-RL = 1 to 10 mm is preferable. . Further, in the laminating member 110, PL ≧ S with respect to the length (SL) of the laminating sheet 1 in the conveying direction.
L + RL and cleaning paper 2
It is preferable that the length (CPL) of continuous contact with a pair of upper and lower rolls satisfies the relation of CPL ≧ RL.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1c or 3c, the laminate sheet 1 comprises a heat-resistant substrate sheet 4 and a release layer 5 on one surface thereof.
It is formed from the transparent thermoplastic resin layer 6 (hereinafter referred to as a laminated layer) formed through the. In this laminate sheet 1, only the laminate layer 6 may be transferred by peeling between the laminate layer 6 and the release layer 5 when laminating or peeling between the base material sheet 4 and the release layer 5. Then, the laminate layer 6 and the release layer 5 may be transferred. In this case, the release layer 5 needs to be transparent. The release layer 5 is not essential when the surface of the heat-resistant substrate sheet 4 on which the laminate layer is formed is subjected to a release treatment in advance.

Examples of the heat-resistant base sheet 4 include heat-resistant resin sheets such as polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyimide and polycarbonate. The release layer 5 optionally formed on one surface of the heat resistant substrate sheet 4 is, for example, a phosphate ester surfactant, silicone oil, wax, fluororesin, silicone resin, acrylic resin, or the like. It is made of a material or resin having a good releasability and has a thickness of 0.
About 01 to 5.0 μm is sufficient.

The laminate layer 6 is made of a resin that exhibits adhesiveness when heated, that is, a resin having a heat-sealing property. Examples of the heat-sealable resin include polyester resin, polyethylene resin, acrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, polyurethane resin, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, and the like. The thermoplastic resin may contain a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin. The thickness of the laminate layer 6 varies depending on the durability required for the image sheet, but is usually preferably about 1.0 to 50 μm. Further, these laminate layers may be added with any additive such as an ultraviolet absorber, an antioxidant, a light stabilizer, an antistatic agent, a fluorescent whitening agent, a matting agent, and the like. The surface gloss of the image finally obtained can be adjusted by adding

Examples of the method for forming the release layer 5 and the laminate layer 6 include a method of applying and drying using a general coating apparatus such as a gravure coater, a roll coater, a die coater and a reverse coater. The laminate layer 6 and the heat resistant base material sheet 4 do not necessarily have to have the same area, and the area of the laminate layer 6 may be smaller than the area of the heat resistant base material sheet 4.

As the cleaning paper 2 constituting the laminating member 100 or 110 of the present invention, paper, cloth, or the like can be used as long as it has better adhesion to the laminating layer than the laminating roll used for laminating.
Although not particularly limited to a plastic film or the like, usually paper or paperboard without a special coating is used. These papers or paperboards have a basis weight of 20 to
1000 g / m ² is preferable and its thickness is 0.0
It is about 25 to 1 mm. Further, there is little difference in smoothness between the front and back surfaces, and the coefficient of friction between the front and back surfaces is 0.30 as a static friction coefficient according to the JIS-P-8147 test method (a test method according to a horizontal method, measured by combining longitudinal directions). It is preferable that 0.80 and the coefficient of dynamic friction fall within the range of 0.27 to 0.77 in terms of cleaning property with respect to rolls and transportability.

The size of the laminating sheet 1 of the laminating member 100 or 110 of the present invention having the above-mentioned constitution is not particularly limited, but since the size of the image sheet to be laminated is usually the A plate or the B plate, it will be described later. As described in the laminating method of the invention, it is preferable that these image sheets have the same size or a size slightly larger than that of the image sheets, for example, each side has a size of 1 to 10 mm.

Next, the laminating method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2a shows a laminator 200.
Carrier 201, which is a main part of the present invention, a heating roll 202, and the laminating member 1 of the present invention used for lamination.
00 and the image sheet 7 arranged on the laminating layer side of the laminating sheet 1, FIG. 4a is a laminator 200 similar to FIG. 2a, and the laminating member 1 of the present invention.
10 is a plan view of the image sheet 7 sandwiched between the laminating sheet 1 and the cleaning paper 2. FIG. Figure 2b
And FIG. 4b are schematic sectional views taken along the line BB ′ of FIGS. 2a and 4a, FIGS. 2c and 4c are partially enlarged sectional views of FIGS. 2b and 4b, and FIGS. 2d and 4d show the present invention. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of an image sheet laminated by the method of FIG.

In the laminating method of the present invention, as shown schematically in FIGS. 2 and 4, the laminating layer surface of the laminating member 100 or the laminating member 110 of the present invention is brought into contact with the image surface of the image sheet 7. Further, in the laminating member 110, the image sheet 7 is sandwiched between the laminating sheet 1 and the cleaning paper 2 and heated and pressed by using an appropriate means to obtain the image sheet 7
It is characterized in that a laminate layer (laminate layer 6 or laminate layer 6 and release layer 5) is transferred onto the image surface of (1). In the example shown in FIGS. 2a and 4a, the width W1 of the laminating sheet 1 (see FIGS. 1a and 3a) is formed wider than the width W4 of the image sheet.
The interval (W5, W5 ') between the edge along the conveyance direction (arrow) and the edge of the image sheet 7 is about 1 to 10 mm.

By making the size of the image sheet 7 different from the size of the laminating sheet 1 as described above, a laminating layer can be laminated on the entire surface of the image sheet 7 even if the image sheet 7 is slightly misaligned during lamination. Further, when the laminating member 100 is used, the melt-softened laminating layer adheres to the surface of the backup roll 203 and / or the heating roll 202, but the laminating member 100 is conveyed in the arrow direction, and eventually the pair of rolls 202, When 203 comes into contact with the cleaning paper 2, the melted and softened material of the laminate layer adhered to the rolls 202 and 203 and the paper powder and dust adhered thereto are transferred to the front and back of the cleaning paper 2 and completely removed from the roll surface. Therefore, the rolls 202 and 203
The surface of is always kept clean.

On the other hand, in the laminating member 110, since the laminating layer 6 is located within the surface of the cleaning paper 2, the laminating layer not in contact with the image sheet 7 is transferred to the cleaning paper 2 and rolls 202, 203.
Does not have to be contaminated. As described above, in order to transfer the laminating layer 6 to the surface of the cleaning paper 2, the surface properties of the cleaning paper, the peeling property of the laminating layer, and the like are involved.
It is also important to set the thermal conductivity of No. 1 to be lower than that of the heat resistant substrate sheet 4. That is, the heating roll 202
The laminated layer melted and softened by is cooled by the cleaning paper 2 having a large heat capacity, and starts solidifying and adhering according to the unevenness of the surface of the cleaning paper, so that it can be easily transferred and transferred to the cleaning paper.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the laminating member 110 is conveyed in the cleaning paper 2 direction.
Since the slab comes into contact with the rolls 202 and 203 first, it is possible to remove stains on the transport system inside the laminator before laminating. That is, more effective cleaning can be performed by properly using the laminating member 100 depending on the situation. It should be noted that the laminating member 110 does not necessarily have to be conveyed in the above-mentioned direction, but may be conveyed in a direction opposite to the conveying direction shown in FIG. 4a.

As described above, the state in which the laminating sheet 1 is laminated on the image side of the image sheet 7 is shown in FIGS.
It is shown in c. After the completion of the lamination, the lamination is completed by peeling the heat resistant base material sheet 4 from the image sheet 7, and as shown in the partially enlarged cross-sectional views of FIGS. 2d and 4d, the image sheet 7 has a laminate layer (laminate layer). 6 or the laminate layer 6 and the release layer 5) are transferred, and various durability such as excellent gloss, excellent water resistance and light resistance are imparted to the image.

The image sheet used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and for example, an image can be formed on any recording sheet such as plain paper, slabboard, resin-coated paper, plastic sheet, synthetic paper, and a laminate of these. Was formed,
As the image, an image formed by various methods such as various printing, silver salt photography, ink jet recording, sublimation type thermal transfer, and electrophotography can be applied.

[0026]

EXAMPLES Next, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples. Example 1 With reference to the method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2762751, a release layer (2 μm) made of an acrylic resin and a laminate layer (15 μm) made of a polyester resin and an epoxy resin were sequentially added to polyethylene terephthalate (PET). ) This was laminated on a film (thickness: 50 μm) to prepare a transfer type laminate sheet.

This was cut into a size of 310 × 215 mm, and 150 × 220 mm cleaning paper (basis weight 64 g / m ² , thickness 60 μm,
While aligning the center with a coefficient of static friction of 0.56 between the front and back sides and a coefficient of dynamic friction of 0.54),
1 mm of width was overlap | superposed by the method shown by FIG. 1a, and it stuck using the mending tape from the PET film side, and produced the member A for lamination of this invention.

Next, an ink jet printer (BJ87
0F, manufactured by Canon Inc., using coated paper (HR-10
(1, manufactured by Canon Inc.) to print a sample image as an image sheet. Fifty sheets of this image sheet laminated with the laminating layer of the laminating member A are prepared,
Laminator (M
S Pouch L-340, manufactured by Meiko Trading Company),
No wrapping of the image sheet on the roll occurred. Further, there was no evidence that the sticky substance adhered to any of the heating roll, backup roll, transport roll, and image sheet.

Example 2 A transfer type laminating film (310 × 215 mm) prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 was prepared by using a cleaning paper (450 × 220 mm) having a size different from that of Example 1 in the same manner.
Were laminated in the manner shown in FIG. 3a while aligning the centers, and were laminated from the PET film side using a mending tape to produce a laminating member B.

Next, between the laminating sheet and the cleaning paper, 50 sheets were prepared by inserting the same image sheet as in Example 1 in the direction in which the image surface faces the laminating layer, and as in Example 1. After passing through the laminator, there was no evidence of sticky substances on any of the heating roll, backup roll, transport roll, and image sheet.

Comparative Example 1 In Example 1, when a laminating sheet and an image sheet were superposed on each other without using a cleaning paper and passed through a laminator, transfer of the laminating layer to a heating roll was confirmed. Similarly, when the second laminated sheet / image sheet is passed through,
The laminate layer transferred to the roll at the first time was retransferred.

[0032]

As described above, by performing the lamination using the laminating member of the present invention, the laminator roll or other members are prevented from being contaminated, and at the same time, a large number of laminations are continuously performed. Even
The image sheet to be laminated is not contaminated,
Stable continuous lamination is possible without using an expensive and complicated cleaning device or cleaning sheet.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a laminating member of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a laminating method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a laminating member of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a laminating method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Laminated sheet 2: Cleaning paper 3, 3 ': extension part 4: Heat resistant base material sheet 5: Release layer 6: Laminate layer (transparent thermoplastic resin layer) 7: Image sheet 8: Mending tape 100, 110: Laminating member 200: Laminator 201: Carrier 202: heating roll 203: Backup roll

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Mitsunori Nakamura             6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo             Within the corporation F term (reference) 4F211 AD05 AD08 TA01 TC02 TD11                       TJ30 TJ31 TN09 TQ03

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An image sheet having glossiness and surface protection, comprising a substantially rectangular laminate sheet having a laminate layer and a cleaning paper attached to one end of the sheet. A member for laminating. 2. When the width of the laminate sheet in the transport direction is W1, the width of the cleaning paper in the transport direction is W2, and the length is PL, and the outer peripheral length of the roll to be cleaned is RL, W2> W1 And PL
≧ RL, and the cleaning paper is arranged so as to have an extending portion that extends outside the extension line of both end edges of the laminating sheet in the transport direction, and both of them are at one end of each side. The laminating member according to claim 1, which is bonded. 3. The width of the laminated sheet in the conveying direction is W1, the length is SL, the width of the cleaning paper in the conveying direction is W2, the length is PL, and the outer peripheral length of the roll to be cleaned is RL. When the distance at which the cleaning paper continuously contacts the pair of upper and lower rolls at the time of conveyance is CPL, W2> W1 and PL ≧ SL +
RL, the laminate layer surface of the laminate sheet faces the cleaning paper, and is arranged inside the edge of the cleaning paper so as to satisfy the relationship of CPL ≧ RL, and both are at one end of one side of the laminate film. A device attached to a cleaning paper.
The member for laminating according to. 4. The laminate sheet comprises a heat-resistant substrate sheet and a transparent thermoplastic resin layer formed on one surface of the sheet through a release layer which can be transferred if necessary.
The member for lamination according to any one of 3 above. 5. The cleaning paper has a basis weight of 20 to 1.
The laminating member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is a paper or paperboard having a weight of 000 g / m ² . 6. The cleaning paper has a small difference in smoothness between front and back, and the coefficient of friction between the front and back of the cleaning paper is 0.30 to 0.80 in terms of static friction coefficient according to JIS-P-8147 test method, and dynamic friction coefficient. 0.27 to 0.7
The member for lamination according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is in a range of 7. 7. The laminating layer surface of the laminating member according to claim 1, is brought into contact with an image surface of an image sheet having a size smaller than the laminating layer surface, and heat and pressure are applied in this state, A laminating method comprising transferring a laminating layer or a laminating layer and a release layer to the entire image surface. 8. A heating / pressurizing process is performed between a pair of rolls, and after the lamination is completed, the laminating member is conveyed so that the pair of rolls come into contact with the cleaning paper, and the laminating layer transferred or adhered to the roll surface is cleaned with the cleaning paper. The laminating method according to claim 7, wherein the re-transferring is performed on the sheet. 9. A method according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 6.
The image sheet having a size smaller than the laminating layer surface of the laminating sheet is inserted between the laminating sheet and the cleaning paper of the laminating member according to the item 1, and the laminating member is heated and pressed in this state to laminate the image sheet. In the method, the thermal conductivity of the cleaning paper is lower than that of the heat-resistant substrate sheet, so that the laminating layer can be easily transferred and transferred to the surface of the cleaning paper.