JP2003231363A - Ink ribbon, thermal transfer recording apparatus, and thermal transfer recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink ribbon, a thermal transfer recording apparatus, and a thermal transfer recording method which improve the heat resistance, mechanical strength, etc., of an image thermally transferred onto a recording medium to be recorded, eliminate defective printing when double printing is done on the recording medium, and can record the image high in quality. <P>SOLUTION: The ink ribbon, the thermal transfer recording apparatus, and the thermal transfer recording method use an ink ribbon 12 made of at least a thermosetting resin and a coloring agent, have the recording medium 3 which can record a desired image 14 by thermally recording an ink layer 12b and a mold release layer 12c by a thermal head 1 of a thermal recording means, and are provided with a heating means 8 for heat-curing an image 14 thermally transferred in a thermal transfer recording process by a thermal recording means by heating in a heating process. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink ribbon, a thermal transfer recording apparatus and a thermal transfer recording method, and in particular, an ink capable of thermally transferring an ink layer formed on the ink ribbon onto a recording medium to record a desired image. The present invention relates to a ribbon, a thermal transfer recording device, and a thermal transfer recording method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an output terminal device of an information processing device such as a word processor, a facsimile, and a computer,
Its quietness, low cost, adaptability to miniaturization, easy operability,
From the viewpoints of high reliability and the like, an ink ribbon, a thermal transfer recording apparatus, and a thermal transfer recording method capable of thermally transferring and recording a desired image on a recording medium such as plain paper are widely used. Such a conventional ink ribbon, thermal transfer recording apparatus, and thermal transfer recording method will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown, a conventional thermal transfer recording device T
Is provided with a thermal head 1 in which a plurality of heating elements (not shown) are arranged in line on the lower surface side in the drawing. An ink ribbon 2 is provided on the lower surface side of the thermal head 1 facing the heat generating elements in the drawing. This ink ribbon 2
Is a base material 2a made of a polymer resin film, and an ink layer 2b of a desired color is formed on one surface of the base material 2a. The substrate 2a is formed as a thin film having a thickness of 1 to 12 μm. In addition, the other surface of the ink ribbon 2 opposite to the surface on which the ink layer 2b is formed has a lubricant for the purpose of reducing wear of the thermal head 1 in sliding contact, stabilizing the running of the ink ribbon 2, and the like. A backside treatment layer (not shown) coated with the above is provided.

The ink material forming the ink layer 2b is mainly composed of a thermoplastic substance such as low melting point wax and a thermoplastic resin having good adhesion to the recording medium 3 described later, and various pigments as colorants. And a small amount of various plasticizers, dispersants, antioxidants and the like. Further, between the base material 2a and the ink layer 2b, a release layer 2c made of a low melting point wax such as carnauba wax or candelilla wax is mixed or formed. The release layer 2c has a lower melting point than the ink layer 2b, and when the thermal head 1 comes into contact with the back surface of the base material 2a during printing, the base material 2a is thin so that it is momentarily softened and melted. Therefore, even when the heat generation energy of the thermal head 1 at the time of printing is low, the release layer 2c can be momentarily softened and melted to quickly release the ink layer 2b from the ink ribbon 2. By using such a conventional ink ribbon 2, it is possible to perform high-speed printing and reduce the heat generation energy of the thermal head 1 to achieve low power consumption.

In the thermal transfer recording method by the thermal transfer recording apparatus T using the conventional ink ribbon 2 as described above, the recording medium 3 is arranged on the side of the ink ribbon 2 facing the ink layer 2b, and the back side of the substrate 2a. Then, the thermal head 1 is headed down and pressed. Then, a heating element (not shown) of the thermal head 1 is selectively caused to generate heat based on the recorded information, so that the part of the release layer 2c and the ink layer 2b facing the heating element that has generated heat are softened and melted by heat. do it,
A part of the ink layer 2b comes into close contact with the recording medium 3.

Thereafter, a part of the ink layer 2b which has been softened and melted during the winding of the ink ribbon 2 in the direction of arrow A and the conveyance of the recording medium 3 in the direction of arrow B is cooled and solidified. As a result, it adheres to the recording medium 3. Arrow A in this state
The ink ribbon 2 wound in the direction is separated from the recording medium 3 with the position of the separation roller 5 as a boundary, whereby a part of the ink layer 2b adhered to the recording medium 3 is transferred and the desired image 4 is obtained. Will be recorded. The release layer 2c is also transferred and attached to the surface of the image 4.

To record the color image 6 on the recording medium 3, a plurality of types of ink ribbons 2 having different colors of the ink layer 2b are used, and first, the ink layer 2 of cyan (C) is used.
Image 6C is recorded by thermally transferring b to the recording medium 3. The release layer 2c is transferred and attached to the surface of the image 6C.
Next, the ink layer 2b of magenta (M) color is thermally transferred onto the image 6C, and the image 6M is overprinted. This image 6
The release layer 2c is also attached to the surface of M. Next, image 6
The ink layer 2b of yellow (Y) is thermally transferred onto M and the image 6Y is overprinted. The release layer 2c is also attached to the surface of the image 6Y. In this way, cyan (C),
A color image 6 of a desired color can be thermally transferred and recorded on the recording medium 3 by sequentially superposing and printing images of magenta (M) and yellow (Y).

[0008]

However, the image 4 and the release layer 2b recorded on the recording medium 3 by the conventional ink ribbon, thermal transfer recording apparatus and thermal transfer recording method as described above are mainly composed of a thermoplastic resin. Therefore, it is weak in wear resistance and heat resistance, and when exposed to direct sunlight in summer, image 4
Might soften, deform, or disappear. Further, even when the color image 6 is recorded by superposing and printing the ink layer 2b of this color, the thermal head 1 is placed on the release layer 2c on the lower image previously recorded at the time of the superposing printing.
Is transferred, and the release layer 2c is thermally softened and melted.
Therefore, during the overprinting, the adhesion strength between the image 6C and the image 6M or the image 6M and the image 6Y may be reduced, and the overprinting may be difficult. There is a possibility that printing defects called so-called transfer defects or stacking defects may occur.

In order to prevent printing defects such as the above-mentioned defective printing, it is conceivable to use an ink ribbon (not shown) that does not form the release layer 2c. In the case of a non-ink ribbon, since the releasability of the ink layer 2b from the substrate 2a deteriorates during thermal transfer recording, the heat generation energy of the thermal head 1 must be increased, which causes problems in power consumption and life of the thermal head. It was Further, when the color image 6 is recorded using the ink ribbon having no release layer 2c, when the image 6M is overprinted on the first image 6C, the heat of the thermal head 1 is also transferred to the image 6C in the lower layer. As a result, the lower layer image 6C is melted and heat-welded to the upper layer image 6M. Therefore, when the image 6M is overprinted on the image 6C and the ink ribbon 2 after the recording of the image 6M is peeled off, the image 6 having poor releasability is released.
There is a possibility that a printing defect called a so-called collect defect may occur in M, in which the lower layer image 6C is pulled and peeled off from the recording medium 3.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and improves abrasion resistance, heat resistance, etc. of an image thermally transferred and recorded on a recording medium, and prints when overprinting on the recording medium. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink ribbon, a thermal transfer recording device, and a thermal transfer recording method capable of recording a high quality image without defects.

[0011]

As a first solving means for solving the above-mentioned problems, an ink ribbon of the present invention comprises a base material and an ink layer formed on one surface of the base material,
A release layer is formed between the ink layer and the base material, and the ink layer and / or the release layer is composed of at least a thermosetting resin and a colorant.

As a second means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the thermosetting resin contains at least an epoxy thermosetting resin.

Further, as a third means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the thermal transfer means of the present invention is a thermal recording means, and the ink recording layer is formed by the thermal recording means using the ink ribbon according to claim 1 or 2. And a recording medium capable of recording a desired image by thermally transferring the release layer, and a heating means for heating and thermally curing the image thermally transferred by the thermal recording means.

As a fourth means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the heating means has a light source capable of radiating a heat ray of a desired wavelength, and the heat ray radiated from this light source is displayed on the image. It was configured to irradiate.

Further, as a fifth means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the heating means is provided with a reflection plate capable of irradiating the heat rays emitted from the light source by condensing the heat rays on the image. It was configured.

As a sixth means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the temperature of the heat ray applied to the image from the light source is determined by the thermal recording means when the ink layer of the ink ribbon is thermally transferred and recorded. 50 ~ 8 from the exothermic temperature of
The configuration was raised by 0 ° C.

As a seventh means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the thermal recording means is composed of a thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements are aligned.

Further, as an eighth means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention uses the ink ribbon according to claim 1 or 2, and the thermal recording means uses the ink layer and the release layer. The method comprises a thermal transfer recording step of thermally transferring a layer to a recording medium to record an image, and a heating step of heating the image thermally transferred to the recording medium in the thermal transfer recording step.

As a ninth means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the ink ribbon is made of a plurality of types in which the colors of the ink layers are different, and the ink layers of the different colors are subjected to the thermal transfer recording step. A method in which a color image of a desired desired color is recorded on the recording medium by repeating printing repeated a plurality of times, and the color image is heated at least at the end of the plurality of thermal transfer recording steps. And

As a tenth means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the heating step is a method in which the temperature is raised by 50 to 80 ° C. with respect to the thermal recording temperature in the thermal transfer recording step.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of an ink ribbon, a thermal transfer recording apparatus and a thermal transfer recording method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 4 are schematic diagrams illustrating a color image recording method according to the present invention.

Ink ribbon 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention
As shown in FIG. 1, the base material 12a and the base material 12a
A release layer 12c is formed between the ink layer 12b formed on one surface and the base material 12a and the ink layer 12b.
Further, on the other surface which is the back surface side of the base material 12a, the abrasion of the thermal head 1 in sliding contact is prevented, the traveling of the ink ribbon 12 is stabilized, or the ink layer 1 at the time of winding.
A backside treatment layer (not shown) coated with a lubricant or the like is provided for the purpose of preventing fusion with 2b.

The base material 12a of the ink ribbon 12 as described above.
Is usually a polymer resin film having a thickness of 1 to 12 μm. Then, as the material of the base material 12, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyimide (PI),
General-purpose resins such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and aramid are used.

The ink material forming the ink layer 12b is mainly composed of a thermoplastic resin, and comprises an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, an ethylene-vinyl butyrate copolymer,
Ethylene copolymers such as ethylene-acrylic copolymer, poly (meth) acrylic acid esters such as polylauryl methacrylate and polyhexyl acrylate, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl alcohol copolymer Examples thereof include vinyl chloride copolymers such as polymers, and these resins are used alone or in a mixture. Then, if necessary, a colorant, and further various plasticizers, dispersants, antioxidants and the like are added.

Examples of the colorant include black pigments such as carbon black, acetylene black and oil black and white pigments such as titania and calcium carbonate, as well as known dyes such as yellow, magenta and cyan. The color tone and the like are adjusted to a desired state by appropriately changing the addition amount of the pigment or dye. Such an ink layer 12b is a color obtained by kneading EVA 220 (vinyl thermoplastic resin) manufactured by Mitsui DuPont Chemicals with polyamide resin manufactured by Kao at a weight ratio of 6: 4, and adding 30 parts by weight of each of cyan, magenta and yellow pigments. The ink paste was dissolved in ethylene glycol monomethyl ether at a solid content ratio of 1 part by weight to prepare a three-color or black-colored four-color thermoplastic color ink coating liquid. Such various materials are dissolved in various solvents such as toluene, xylene, and acetone to prepare an ink coating liquid.

The material of the release layer 12c is a resin whose main component is a thermosetting resin and which is further polymerized by the action of heat. Examples of the thermosetting resin used for the release layer 12c include novolac type phenol resin, resol type phenol resin, urea resin, melamine resin, unsaturated polyester resin, bisphenol A type epoxy resin, and alicyclic epoxy resin. It can be mentioned as a suitable one. Further, the release layer 12c is configured by adding a trace amount of a colorant, and further various kinds of plasticizers, dispersants, antioxidants, etc., if necessary. In addition, the release layer 1
The material of 2c further includes a cross-linking agent, a sensitizer, a leveling agent,
Additives such as a viscoelastic modifier are blended as necessary.

Such a release layer 12c is a thermosetting resin made of Nippon Gohsei Kako Co., Ltd. made of epoxy type thermosetting resin and polyethylene type low melting point wax in a weight ratio of 75: 2.
The mixture was kneaded in No. 5 and dissolved in a 1: 1 mixed solvent of MEK (methyl ethyl ketone) and xylene at a solid content ratio of 10 parts by weight to prepare a release coating liquid. Then, the release coating liquid is applied to one surface of the ink ribbon 12 by a coating method such as gravure coating or wire bar coating and then dried to form a release layer 12c.

Then, the above-mentioned ink coating liquid is put into a coating liquid pan, the ink coating liquid is gravure coated on the release layer 12c, and dried at 80 ° C. for 5 minutes to give a film thickness of about 2 μm.
A plurality of types of ink ribbons 12 in which the ink layer 12b of, for example, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and the like are manufactured. That is, the ink ribbon 1
2, the color of the ink layer 12b is, for example, black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), or the like.
Different types are prepared.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal transfer recording apparatus S of the present invention using the ink ribbon 12 having such a structure has a thermal head 1 as a thermal recording means and a special paper, plain paper, or OHP paper. A recording medium 3 including
The peeling roller 5 is provided. Since these have the same configurations as those described in the related art, the same numbers as in the related art will be given and described. A rotatable guide roller 7 is disposed on the right side of the peeling roller 5 in the drawing, and the ink ribbon 12 peeled from the recording medium 3 is wound by the guide roller 7 in the direction of arrow C above the drawing. There is. The recording medium 3 can be transported in the direction of arrow D by a transport mechanism (not shown).

Further, above the recording medium 3 on the right side in the drawing, which is the downstream side of the guide roller 7, above the recording medium 3 is provided a heating means 8 for thermosetting the release layer 12c of which the main component is a thermosetting resin. There is. The heating means 8 includes a light source 8a capable of emitting infrared rays or white rays having a desired wavelength, and the light source 8a.
It has a reflector 8b capable of reflecting the heat ray radiated from a and condensing it in a desired direction.

As the light source 8a, a light source for radiating heat rays of various wavelengths such as a near infrared halogen lamp, a far infrared halogen lamp, a xenon flash lamp, a xenon lamp can be used. Further, since the heating means 8 is arranged at the position facing the recording medium 3, the surface of the recording medium 3 can be efficiently irradiated with the heat rays emitted from the heating means 8.

The ink ribbon 12 of the present invention as described above.
The thermal transfer recording method using the thermal transfer recording device S will be described. First, the thermal head 1 is headed down from the back side of the ink ribbon 12 and pressed to contact the recording medium 3 with the black ink layer 12b of a single color. Is closely attached to the recording surface of. In this state, a plurality of heat generating elements (not shown) of the thermal head 1 are selectively caused to generate heat based on the recorded information, whereby the ink layer 12b and the mold release portion of the portion facing the heat generating elements via the base material 12a. The layer 12c is selectively softened by heat. The heat generation temperature of the thermal head 1 at this time is 50 to 50% higher than the temperature of the heat ray radiated from the heating means 8.
It is 80 degrees lower.

Then, the ink layer 1 of the heat-softened and melted portion
2b and the release layer 12c are transferred to the recording medium 3 by heat, and the ink ribbon 12 is conveyed in the conveying direction of the arrow D in a state of being in close contact with the recording medium 3. As a result, the ink ribbon 12 has the recording medium 3 with the position of the peeling roller 5 as a boundary.
It is peeled off from and is wound in the winding direction of arrow C. Also,
On the surface of the recording medium 3 conveyed in the conveying direction of arrow D,
The partially melted, for example, monochrome ink layer 12b and release layer 12c are transferred, and a high-density and clear monochrome image 14 is recorded on the recording medium 3. Image 1 at this time
The release layer 12c on 4 is in a state before being thermoset. Then, the recording medium 3 is conveyed in the direction of arrow D, and the image 14 before heat curing is conveyed to the heating means 8.

Then, the irradiation intensity 25 from the surface of the image 14
The entire surface was irradiated with a halogen light source of 0 mW / cm 2 at an irradiation distance of 2 cm and a recording medium 3 conveyance speed of 5 m / min. The heat generation temperature of the image 14 at this time is 50 to 80 ° C. higher than the heat generation temperature of the thermal head 1. Then, the release layer 12c on the image 14 reacts with the heat rays to be thermally polymerized and thermally cured, so that the cured film 15 is fixed on the image 14. As a result, the surface of the image 14 is covered with the cured film 15, and an image having excellent wear resistance, heat resistance, solvent resistance, etc. is formed on the recording medium 3.
Can be recorded in.

Further, by using a plurality of types of ink ribbons 12 having different ink layer colors, the above-mentioned thermal transfer recording step and heating step are repeated a plurality of times, that is, so-called overprinting is performed, whereby a color image 16 of a desired color is obtained. Obtainable. A method for recording such a color image 16 will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, using the ink ribbon 12 having the cyan (C) ink layer 12b, a cyan (C) color image 16C is formed on the recording medium 3 in the thermal transfer recording step as shown in FIG. Thermal transfer recording. Then, image 16C
The release layer 12c is also transferred and adhered on the top surface. After that, the recording medium 3 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow D, and the image 16C is generated in the heating process.
By irradiating the entire surface with a halogen light source having an irradiation intensity of 250 mW / cm 2 at an irradiation distance of 2 cm and a conveyance speed of the recording medium 3 of 5 m / min, the release layer 12c on the image 16C is thermally cured, and the surface is cured film 15 The cyan (C) color image 16C covered with is recorded on the recording medium 3.

Next, in order to print the image 16M of magenta (M) color on the image 16C of cyan (C) color, the same operation as the recording of the image 16C is performed, as shown in FIG. When the magenta (M) ink layer 12b is overprinted on the cured film 15 formed on the image 16C, the image 16C
An image 16M of magenta (M) color is recorded on the image, and the release layer 12c is also transferred and attached on the image 16M. After that, the recording medium 3 is conveyed in the direction of arrow D, and cyan (C)
Similar to the heating process of the image 16C, when the entire surface of the image 16M is irradiated with the heat rays of the heating means 8, the release layer 12c on the image 16M is thermally cured, and the image 16 of cyan (C) color is obtained.
An image 16M of magenta (M) color whose surface is covered with the cured film 15 can be recorded on C.

Subsequently, in order to record the image 16Y of yellow (Y) on the image 16M, the same operation as the overprinting of the image 16M is performed, and as shown in FIG.
When the yellow (Y) ink layer 12b is overprinted on the cured film 15 of M, an image 16Y of a color of yellow (Y) is recorded on the image 16M, and the release layer 12 is formed on the image 16Y.
c is also transferred and attached. Then, move the recording medium 3 to the arrow D
In the same manner as in the step of heating the image 16M of magenta (M), the release layer 12c on the image 16Y is thermally cured by irradiating the entire surface of the image 16Y with the heat rays of the heating means 8 as in the step of heating the image 16M of magenta (M). An image 16 of yellow (Y) whose surface is covered with the cured film 15 on the image 16M of color (M).
Y can be recorded.

As a result of a cross-cut adhesive tape peeling test performed on the image 14 covered with the cured film 15 and the color image 16 as described above, no peeling was observed on the image 14 and the color image 16, and the recording medium 3 It was confirmed that there was sufficient peel resistance. In addition, the recording medium 3 on which the image 14 covered with the cured film 15 and the color image 16 are recorded,
After standing at 40 ° C. for 48 hours, a rubbing test was repeated 10 times with a load of 300 g applied to the surfaces of the image 14 and the color image 16.

After observing the surfaces of the image 14 and the color image 16 after the rubbing test, the image 14
Moreover, no deformation or disappearance of the color image 16 was observed, and it was confirmed that the color image 16 had sufficient heat resistance and abrasion resistance.
In addition, a cotton cloth moistened with 99% ethanol was overlaid on the image 14 covered with the cured film 15 and the color image 16, and a rubbing test was repeated 10 times with a load of 300 g applied thereto. When the surfaces of the image 14 and the color image 16 after the rubbing test were observed, no deformation or disappearance of the image 14 and the color image 16 was observed, and it was confirmed that the solvent and the image had sufficient solvent resistance. .

In the ink ribbon 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the main component of the ink layer 12b is the thermoplastic resin and the main component of the release layer 12c is the thermosetting resin. It is also possible to use a thermosetting resin as the main component and a thermoplastic resin as the main component of the release layer 12c. Alternatively,
Both the ink layer 12b and the release layer 12c may contain a thermosetting resin as a main component. That is, the ink layer 12b and / or the release layer 12c of the ink ribbon 12 in the invention may be at least a thermosetting resin and a colorant. An image recorded using such an ink ribbon can also be heat-cured in the ink layer, and has the same abrasion resistance as that in which the release layer 12c is heat-cured to cover the image with the cured film 15. It is possible to improve heat resistance, body solvent resistance and the like.

As a method of recording the color image 16,
It is also possible to record the image 16Y by thermally curing the yellow (Y) color ink layer 12c recorded at the end of a plurality of thermal recording processes in which overprinting is repeated, in a heating process. That is, the color image 16 may be one in which the image 14 thermally transferred and recorded at least at the end of a plurality of thermal transfer recording steps is heated in the heating step. Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the thermal recording means has been described as a thermal head, but the thermal recording means is not limited to the thermal head, and a method such as laser heat irradiation can be used.

[0042]

As described above, the ink layer 12b and / or the release layer 12c of the ink ribbon according to the present invention.
Is composed of at least a thermosetting resin and a colorant,
The image heat transfer recorded on the recording medium, or the release layer on this image, or both can be heat cured. As a result, it is possible to record an image excellent in heat resistance, abrasion resistance, solvent resistance, etc. on a recording medium, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of collects because the undercoat does not heat-soften and melt even when overprinting. It is possible to prevent printing defects such as defective transfer.

Further, since the thermosetting resin contains at least an epoxy thermosetting resin, it is possible to record an image having a high curing rate of the thermosetting cured film and excellent mechanical strength. Further, a high-definition image can be thermally transferred and recorded.

Further, since the thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention is provided with the heating means for heating and thermally curing the image thermally transferred by the thermal recording means, the image thermally transferred onto the recording medium or the release layer is surely heated. Can be cured.

Further, the heating means has a light source capable of radiating a heat ray having a desired wavelength and can irradiate the image with the heat ray radiated from this light source, so that the image or the release layer can be reliably heated. It is possible to provide a thermal transfer recording device capable of irradiating the surface with the material and thermally curing it.

Further, since the heating means is provided with the reflection plate capable of focusing the heat ray emitted from the light source on the image and irradiating the heat ray, the heat ray can be reflected by the reflector without loss and applied to the image. Therefore, it is possible to provide a thermal transfer recording device with good irradiation efficiency.

Further, the temperature of the heat ray applied to the image from the light source is 50 to 80 ° C. higher than the heat generation temperature of the thermal recording means when the ink layer of the ink ribbon is thermally transferred and recorded. The curable resin is not thermoset, and the thermosetting resin can be surely thermoset by heating by the heating means. Therefore, even when performing overprinting using a plurality of ink ribbons, the upper layer can be reliably heat-welded to the lower layer, and printing defects can be prevented.

Further, since the thermal recording means is composed of a thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in an array, the ink layer of the ink ribbon can be surely and thermally recorded on the recording medium with high quality. Further, even when recording a color image by superposing and printing ink layers of different colors, it is possible to change various conditions at the time of thermal transfer recording for each color, so that printing defects such as collect and transfer defects are caused for each color. It is possible to prevent it independently

Further, the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention comprises a thermal transfer recording step of thermally transferring and recording the ink layer and the release layer on the recording medium by the thermal recording means, and heating for heating the image thermally transferred to the recording medium in the thermal transfer recording step. Since it has a process and
The image, the release layer, or both can be heat-cured, and an image having excellent heat resistance, abrasion resistance, solvent resistance, etc. can be recorded on the recording medium.

Further, since images of different colors are repeatedly overprinted on the recording medium to record a desired color image, and the image transferred by thermal transfer is heated at least at the end of a plurality of thermal transfer recording steps. The / and the release layer can be surely heat-cured, and printing defects such as correction and transfer failure can be independently prevented for each color.

Further, in the heating step, the temperature is raised by 50 to 80 ° C. with respect to the thermal recording temperature in the thermal transfer recording step. Therefore, the thermosetting resin is not thermally cured in the thermal recording step, and is surely thermally cured in the heating step. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a color image recording method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a color image recording method according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a color image recording method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional technique.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional color image.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 thermal head 3 recording media 8 heating means 8a light source 8b reflector 12 Ink ribbon 12a base material 12b ink layer 12c Release layer 14 images 15 cured film 16 color images

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A base material and an ink layer formed on one surface of the base material. A release layer is formed between the ink layer and the base material, and the ink layer and / or the ink layer is formed. An ink ribbon, wherein the release layer comprises at least a thermosetting resin and a colorant. 2. The ink ribbon according to claim 1, wherein the thermosetting resin contains at least an epoxy thermosetting resin. 3. A thermal recording means, and a recording medium capable of recording a desired image by thermally transferring the ink layer and the release layer by the thermal recording means by using the ink ribbon according to claim 1 or 2. A thermal transfer recording apparatus comprising: a heating unit that heats and thermally cures the image thermally transferred by the thermal recording unit. 4. The thermal transfer recording according to claim 3, wherein the heating means has a light source capable of radiating a heat ray having a desired wavelength, and irradiates the image with the heat ray emitted from the light source. apparatus. 5. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the heating unit is provided with a reflection plate capable of focusing and irradiating the heat ray emitted from the light source on the image. 6. The temperature of the heat ray applied to the image from the light source is 50 to 8 higher than the heat generation temperature of the thermal recording means when thermal recording is performed on the ink layer of the ink ribbon.
The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the temperature is raised by 0 ° C. 7. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the thermal recording means comprises a thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in an array. 8. A thermal transfer recording step of recording an image by thermally transferring the ink layer and the release layer onto a recording medium by a thermal recording means using the ink ribbon according to claim 1 or 2, and this thermal transfer recording step. And a heating step of heating the image thermally transferred to the recording medium. 9. The ink ribbon is made up of a plurality of types in which the colors of the ink layers are different, and the ink layers of different colors are printed in a desired color on the recording medium by repeating printing by repeating the thermal transfer recording step a plurality of times. Record a color image of
9. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 8, wherein the color image is formed by heating the image which is thermally transferred and recorded at least at the end of the thermal transfer recording steps of a plurality of times. 10. The thermal transfer recording method according to claim 8, wherein the heating step is performed at a temperature higher by 50 to 80 ° C. than the thermal recording temperature in the thermal transfer recording step.