JP2005119225A - Image receiving sheet and imaging method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image receiving sheet which meets requirements such as the improvement of transferability and the prevention of an image from becoming distorted to a variety of final transfer media, and an imaging method using the image receiving sheet. <P>SOLUTION: In this imaging method, the image receiving sheet with at least an image receiving layer formed on a support and an ink sheet with at least a photothermal conversion layer and an ink layer formed on a support, are used. That is, the ink layer of the ink sheet and the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet are lapped opposite to each other, then irradiated with a laser beam and thereby, an image is recorded by transferring the laser beam irradiation region of the ink layer to the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet. Further, the image receiving layer where the image is recorded, is thermally transferred to a final transfer medium. In the image receiving sheet, the frictional force between the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet and the final transfer medium at 110°C is 1 to 50 gf, when the frictional force is measured to an area of 4 × 10 cm at a load of 120 g and a tensile velocity of 1,500 mm/min. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image receiving sheet and an image forming method using the same, and more particularly to an image receiving sheet and an image forming method useful for color proofing.

  In recent years, with the spread of image forming technology from digital data, there is a growing need for digital direct color proof (DDCP), particularly in the field of printing.

  In such DDCP, color reproduction and stability reproduction of printed matter are required, and laser thermal transfer technology is adopted. Specifically, an ink sheet having a light-to-heat conversion layer and an ink layer, and an image receiving sheet having an image receiving layer for receiving the ink layer of the ink sheet, the ink layer surface of the ink sheet and the image receiving layer surface of the image receiving sheet face each other. In this technique, laser exposure is performed in the form of an image from the ink sheet side, photothermal conversion is performed to thermally transfer the ink layer to the image receiving layer side, and further, the image is transferred from the image receiving sheet carrying the image to the final image carrier.

  This type of DDCP is preferable because it can output a final image on the same paper as printing, and can be used as a final calibration sample in terms of halftone dot output, printing pigment use, and printing paper use.

  However, there are a wide variety of papers used for printing, and depending on the type, art paper, coated paper, matte paper, finely coated paper, non-coated paper, and the like can be mentioned. Recently, there is an increasing demand for using the DDCP as described above with a wider paper type and a larger size.

  In response to such a request, for example, an image receiving sheet laminated in the order of a lower layer and an image receiving layer on a support is loaded with 10 gf with a 1 mmφ needle, and the phase change of the needle tip changes at a heating rate of 5 ° C./min. High-size output that approximates printed matter with high definition by using an image-receiving sheet that has a change at 30 ° C of 5% or less and a change at 0 + 130 ° C of 50% or more with respect to the phase at 25 ° C. An image can be obtained without causing image defects and transferred to various kinds of practical paper (see Patent Document 1). Also, a surface having an image receiving layer (image receiving surface) and an opposite surface (back surface) ) And a multicolor image forming method (see Patent Document 2) that can easily obtain a high-definition image such as a color proof or a mask by using an image receiving sheet having a dynamic friction coefficient of 30 to 120 gf.

However, even in the above technique, transferability to thin coated paper or high-quality paper is insufficient. If the laminator's transfer pressure or transfer temperature is increased to ensure transferability, wrinkles or “offsets (so-called image flow)” will occur in the image area, especially in areas with a high image area ratio. It was.
JP 2001-138648 A JP 2003-205688 A

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide an image receiving sheet that satisfies both improved transferability and prevention of image flow for various final transfer media, and an image forming method using the image receiving sheet.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following configurations.
(Claim 1)
An image receiving sheet having at least an image receiving layer on a support and an ink sheet having at least a light-to-heat conversion layer and an ink layer on the support are used, and the ink layer of the ink sheet and the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet are stacked to face each other. In addition, in the image receiving sheet for irradiating the laser beam, transferring the laser light irradiation area of the ink layer onto the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet to record an image, and further thermally transferring the image receiving layer on which the image has been recorded to the final transfer medium, The friction force between the image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet and the final transfer medium at 110 ° C. is a load of 120 g and an area of 1,500 mm / min. 1 to 50 gf when measured at a pulling speed of 1, an image receiving sheet.
(Claim 2)
2. The image receiving sheet according to claim 1, wherein the frictional force is 5 to 40 gf.
(Claim 3)
An image receiving sheet having at least an image receiving layer on a support, and at least four types of ink sheets of yellow, magenta, cyan and black having at least a photothermal conversion layer and an ink layer on the support are used. Layer and the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet facing each other, irradiating laser light from the support side of the ink sheet, and transferring the laser light irradiation area of the ink layer onto the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet Further, in the image forming method for thermally transferring the image receiving layer on which the image has been recorded to a final transfer medium, the image receiving method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image receiving sheet is used.

  By carrying out the present invention, it is possible to provide an image receiving sheet satisfying both improvement in transferability and prevention of image flow for various final transfer media in a laser thermal transfer recording method, and an image forming method using the image receiving sheet.

  Hereinafter, an image receiving sheet, an ink sheet used together with the image receiving sheet, and an image forming method will be described in order.

<Image-receiving sheet>
The image-receiving sheet of the present invention has an image-receiving layer on a support, but in order to improve adhesion to the ink sheet, image receptivity from the ink layer, a heat softening layer and an intermediate layer are provided between the support and the support. It is preferable to provide it.

(Support)
The support of the image receiving sheet may be anything as long as it has rigidity, good dimensional stability, excellent smoothness, and can withstand the heat during image formation. Specifically, paper, coated paper, synthetic paper Various papers such as (polypropylene, polystyrene, or a composite material obtained by bonding them with paper), vinyl chloride resin sheet, ABS resin sheet, polyethylene terephthalate film, polybutylene terephthalate film, polyethylene naphthalate film, polyacrylate film Polycarbonate film, polyetherketone film, polysulfone film, polyethersulfone film, polyetherimide film, polyimide film, polyethylene film, polypropylene film, polystyrene film, syndiotactic polystyrene, Single layer of stretched nylon film, polyacetate film, polymethylmethacrylate film, etc., or various plastic films or sheets in which two or more layers are laminated, films or sheets formed of various metals, films formed of various ceramics Or a sheet | seat, Furthermore, metal plates, such as aluminum, stainless steel, chromium, nickel, and what laminated | stacked or vapor-deposited the metal thin film on the resin-coated paper are mentioned.

These supports can be subjected to various processes such as dimensional stabilization and antistatic. Examples of the antistatic agent include a cationic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a polymer antistatic agent, and conductive fine particles, as well as “11290 Chemical Products”, Chemical Industry Daily, 875- The compounds described on page 876 and the like are widely used.
Further, these supports may be subjected to a conventionally known surface modification treatment. Examples of these surface modification treatments include flame emission treatment, sulfuric acid treatment, corona discharge treatment, plasma treatment, glow discharge treatment and the like. In addition, an adhesive layer may be provided on the support in order to satisfactorily apply each layer described later on the support. A conventionally well-known thing can be especially used as a contact bonding layer without a restriction | limiting. Examples of the method for providing the adhesive layer include water-based resin coating, solvent-based resin coating, water-based latex coating, and hot melt coating. In general, it is advantageous to provide an adhesive layer at the time of preparing the support from the viewpoints of cost, stability, etc. From this point, for example, acrylic resin, polystyrene resin, polyester resin, urethane resin, polyethylene / vinyl acetate resin A method of applying a latex such as, but not limited to, is preferable. Such base films with an adhesive layer are available from various companies and can be suitably used in the present invention.

  In the present invention, the support of the image receiving sheet does not need to be transparent, and a transparent or opaque one is selected as necessary. In the present invention, a white support kneaded with a white pigment or the like is preferable. The size, shape, structure and the like of the support are not particularly limited as long as they do not impair the object of the present invention, and the size of the final support on which an image is finally held, such as the size and shape of the transfer material. The sheath and shape can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. The thickness of the support of the image receiving sheet is preferably thicker than that of the transfer material from the viewpoint of ease of superposition, generally about 25 to 200 μm, more preferably 50 to 150 μm.

(Back coat layer)
A back coat layer can be provided on the back surface of the support (the surface opposite to the surface on which the image receiving layer is provided) in order to provide functions such as running stability, heat resistance and antistatic properties. The back coat layer can be formed by applying a back coat layer coating solution in which a binder resin is dissolved in a solvent or a binder resin and a mat material having a particle size of 2 to 30 μm are dissolved or dispersed in a solvent to the back surface of the support. .

  Binders used in the back coat layer include gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, methyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, acetyl cellulose, aromatic polyamide resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, alkyd resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, fluorine resin, polyimide resin, urethane Resin, acrylic resin, urethane-modified silicone resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyester resin, Teflon (R) resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, vinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl acetate, polycarbonate, organic boron compound, aromatic esters, fluorination General-purpose polymers such as polyurethane and polyethersulfone can be used. Crosslinking using a crosslinkable water-soluble binder as the binder of the backcoat layer is effective in preventing the mat material from falling off and improving the scratch resistance of the backcoat. It is also very effective for blocking during storage. For this crosslinking means, any one or combination of heat, actinic light, pressure, etc. can be employed without particular limitation depending on the characteristics of the crosslinking agent used. In some cases, an optional adhesive layer may be provided on the side of the support on which the backcoat layer is provided in order to impart adhesion to the support.

  Further, the back coat layer preferably contains a mat material. As the mat material preferably added to the back coat layer, organic or inorganic fine particles can be used. Examples of the organic mat material include polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, fine particles of other radical polymerization polymer, fine particles of condensation polymer such as polyester and polycarbonate, fine particles of fluorine resin, silicone resin, and the like. . In order to increase the strength and solvent resistance of the particles, crosslinked organic fine particles are more preferable.

The back coat layer is preferably provided at a weight of about 0.5 to 5 g / m ² . If it is less than 0.5 g / m ² , the coating property is unstable, and problems such as powdering off of the mat material are likely to occur. In addition, if the coating is applied greatly exceeding 5 g / m ² , the particle size of a suitable mat material becomes very large, resulting in embossing of the ink layer surface by back coating during storage, especially in thermal transfer for transferring a thin ink layer. The recorded image is likely to be missing or uneven.

The mat material preferably has a number average particle size 1 to 20 μm larger than the film thickness of only the binder of the backcoat layer. Among the mat material, 2 [mu] m or more particles having a particle size of 5 mg / m ² or more is required, preferably 6~600mg / m ^2. This in particular improves foreign matter failures. Further, by using a narrow particle size distribution such that a value σ / rn (= coefficient of variation of the particle size distribution) obtained by dividing the standard deviation of the particle size distribution by the number average particle size is 0.3 or less, Defects generated by particles having an abnormally large particle size can be improved, and desired performance can be obtained with a smaller addition amount. The variation coefficient is more preferably 0.15 or less.

  An antistatic agent is preferably added to the backcoat layer in order to prevent adhesion of foreign matters due to frictional charging with the transport roll during sheet supply. Antistatic agents include cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, polymer antistatic agents, and conductive fine particles, as well as “11290 chemical products”, Chemical Industry Daily, 875- The compounds described on page 876 and the like are widely used. As the antistatic agent added to the backcoat layer, among the above-mentioned substances, metal oxides such as carbon black, zinc oxide, titanium oxide and tin oxide, and conductive fine particles such as organic semiconductors are preferably used. In particular, it is preferable to use conductive fine particles because the antistatic agent is not dissociated from the backcoat layer and a stable antistatic effect can be obtained regardless of the environment.

  In addition, various activators, mold release agents such as silicon oil, fluorine-based resins, and the like can be added to the back coat layer in order to impart coatability and mold release properties. The backcoat layer is particularly preferably used when the softening point measured by TMA (Thermochemical Analysis) of the cushion layer and the image receiving layer is 70 ° C. or less. The TMA softening point is obtained by heating the measurement object while applying a constant load at a constant heating rate and observing the phase of the measurement object. In the present invention, the TMA softening point is defined as the temperature at which the phase of the measurement object starts to change. The measurement of the softening point by TMA can be performed using an apparatus such as Thermoflex (manufactured by Rigaku Corporation). For example, when Thermoflex is used, the measurement temperature range is 25 to 200 ° C., the heating rate is 5 ° C./min, the TMA softening point is the temperature at which the phase starts to change when a 10 g load is applied to a 1 mmφ quartz glass pin. And

(Thermo-softening layer)
The image receiving sheet of the present invention needs to follow the unevenness of various final transfer media. For this reason, the heat softening layer requires high fluidity under heating or pressure.

In order to satisfy such characteristics, the heat softening layer is a layer having heat softening property or elasticity (hereinafter also referred to as cushioning property) and can be sufficiently softened and deformed by heating, or has a low elastic modulus. Or a material having rubber elasticity is used. In the present invention, the elastic modulus and the penetration can be used as a guide indicating cushioning properties. For example, a layer having an elastic modulus at 25 ° C. of about 9.8 × 10 ^{6 to} 24.5 × 10 ⁷ Pa, or a penetration defined by JIS K 2530-1976 is more preferably 15 to 500 (g). Has been confirmed that a layer of about 30 to 300 (g) exhibits suitable cushioning properties for the formation of color proof images in the printing field, but the required level depends on the intended use of the image. Because it changes, it chooses suitably.

  The material used for the heat softening layer is preferably a material that exhibits elasticity without fluidity at room temperature, and that exhibits remarkable fluidity in a high temperature region that exceeds the softening temperature. The thermal softening layer preferably has a TMA softening point of 40 ° C. or higher, more preferably 40 to 80 ° C.

  Preferred properties of the thermal softening layer are not necessarily specified only by the type of material, but preferred properties of the material itself include polyolefin resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, polybutadiene. Resin, styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBR), styrene-ethylene-butene-styrene copolymer (SEBS), acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer (NBR), polyisoprene resin (IR), styrene-isoprene copolymer ( SIS), acrylate copolymer, polyester resin, polyurethane resin, acrylic resin, butyl rubber, polynorbornene and the like. Among these, those having a relatively low molecular weight easily satisfy the requirements of the present invention, but are not necessarily limited in relation to the material. The heat softening layer can be provided by applying a solution in which the above-described material is dissolved in an organic solvent, but can also be formed by application in the form of an aqueous dispersion such as latex or emulsion. In addition, a water-soluble resin can also be used. These resins can be used alone or in combination as required. Moreover, even if it is a raw material other than the above, a favorable characteristic can be provided to the thermosoftening layer by adding various additives. Examples of such additives include low melting point substances such as wax, plasticizers, thermal solvents, and tackifiers.

  Specific examples of waxes include plant waxes such as carnauba wax, wood wax, aucuric wax, and espal wax; animal waxes such as beeswax, insect wax, shellac wax, and whale wax; paraffin wax, microcrystal wax, and polyethylene wax And petroleum waxes such as ester wax and acid wax; and waxes such as mineral wax such as montan wax, ozokerite and ceresin. Besides these waxes, palmitic acid, stearic acid, margaric acid Higher fatty acids such as behenic acid; higher alcohols such as palmityl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, marganyl alcohol, myricyl alcohol, eicosanol; higher fatty acids such as cetyl palmitate, myricyl palmitate, cetyl stearate, myricyl stearate S Le; acetamide, amides propionic acid, palmitic acid amide, stearic acid amides such as amide wax; and stearylamine, behenylamine, higher amines such as palmityl amine. Among these, those having a solid at room temperature are preferable, and those having a melting point of 40 to 130 ° C are more preferable, and those having a melting point of 70 to 110 ° C are particularly preferable. Specific examples of the plasticizer, thermal solvent, and tackifier include phthalic acid ester, adipic acid ester, glycol ester, fatty acid ester, phosphoric acid ester, and chlorinated paraffin. In addition, various additives described in, for example, “Practical Handbook for Additives for Plastics and Rubber”, Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (published in 1970) can be added.

  The amount of these additives to be added is not particularly limited as long as it is selected in an amount necessary for expressing preferable physical properties in combination with the base heat softening layer material. 10% by mass or less, more preferably 5% by mass or less. As a method for forming the thermal softening layer, there is a method in which the above-mentioned material dissolved in a solvent or dispersed in a latex form is applied by a blade coater, roll coater, bar coater, curtain coater, gravure coater, etc. A lamination method can also be applied. It is also possible to use a void-structure resin layer obtained by foaming a heat softening or thermoplastic resin as a special heat softening layer. The preferred film thickness of the heat softening layer is 5 μm or more, more preferably 10 μm or more. If the thickness of the heat softening layer is less than 5 μm, missing or chipping may occur during retransfer to the final transfer medium.

(Middle layer)
An intermediate layer may be provided between the heat softening layer and the image receiving layer. The intermediate layer has functions such as adjusting the peeling force of the image-receiving layer at the time of transfer to the final transfer medium, preventing peeling charging, and adjusting the glossiness of the image.

  Specific examples of the binder for forming the intermediate layer include polyolefin, silicone resin, polyester, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl butyral, polyparabenic acid, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxy Styrenes such as propyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, urethane resin, fluorine resin, polystyrene, acrylonitrile styrene and the like, and those obtained by crosslinking these resins, polyethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, polybutadiene resin, styrene- Butadiene copolymer (SBR), styrene-ethylene-butene-styrene copolymer (SEBS), acrylonitrile-butane En copolymer (NBR), polyisoprene resin (IR), styrene-isoprene copolymer (SIS), acrylate copolymer, acrylic resin, vinyl chloride copolymer, butyl rubber, polynorbornene and other amides, polyimide, Examples thereof include thermosetting resins such as polyetherimide, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, and aramid, and cured products of these resins. As the curing agent, general curing agents such as isocyanate and melamine can be used. Among these, resins having a Tg (glass transition temperature) of 65 ° C. or higher and cross-linked products of these resins are suitable. Preferred resins include polycarbonate, polyvinyl acetal, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, and hydroxymethyl cellulose. The intermediate layer of the present invention preferably has a binder Tg of 75 ° C. or lower, more preferably 70 ° C. or lower, particularly preferably 65 ° C. or lower. When Tg is higher than 75 ° C., transferability to paper with large irregularities tends to deteriorate.

  Further, the resin preferably used needs to have a tensile strength of 1 to 1000 MPa, more preferably 2 to 500 MPa. When the tensile strength is lower than 1 MPa, it is difficult to follow the softening of the heat softened layer and it is difficult to use in production. On the other hand, if it is greater than 1000 MPa, transfer to the final transfer medium is undesirably large. The elongation percentage of the resin is preferably 0.1 to 100%. If it is less than 0.1%, it cannot follow the softening of the heat-softening layer. It becomes large and is not preferable.

  By adding a mat material to the intermediate layer, the gloss of the image formed on the final transfer medium can be adjusted. This is because if the gloss is excessively high, the sense of discomfort with the final transfer medium increases, and it is considered that the image quality is impaired. As the mat material, organic or inorganic fine particles can be used. Examples of organic mat materials include polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), fine particles of other radical polymerization polymers, fine particles of condensation polymers such as polyester and polycarbonate, and fluorine resins. And fine particles of silicone resin. In order to increase the strength and solvent resistance of the particles, crosslinked organic fine particles are more preferable.

The addition amount of the mat material cannot be defined unconditionally due to the relationship between the particle size and the weight, but is preferably used in the range of 0.1 to 40% by mass, particularly preferably 0.5 to 30% by mass. It is. Preferably 0.3 to 10 / m ² as the amount of biasing, 0.3 to 5 g / m ² is more preferable. In addition, it is necessary to contain particles of 0.3 μm or more in an amount of 5 mg / m ² or more, and 6 to 600 mg / m ² is more preferable.

In order to prevent peeling electrification at the time of transfer, the intermediate layer may contain conductive fine particles. Examples of such conductive fine particles include ZnO, TiO ₂ , SnO ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ , In ₂ O ₃ , MgO, BaO, CoO, CuO, Cu ₂ O, CaO, SrO, BaO ₂ , PbO, and PbO. ₂ , MnO ₃ , MoO ₃ , SiO ₂ , ZrO ₂ , Ag ₂ O, Y ₂ O ₃ , Bi ₂ O ₃ , Ti ₂ O ₃ , Sb ₂ O ₃ , Sb ₂ O ₅ , K ₂ Ti ₆ O ₁₃ , Oxides such as NaCaP ₂ O ₁₈ and MgB ₂ O ₅ ; sulfides such as CuS and ZnS; carbides such as SiC, TiC, ZrC, VC, NbC, MoC and WC; Si ₃ N ₄ , TiN, ZrN, VN, Nitrides such as NbN and Cr ₂ N; borides such as TiB ₂ , ZrB ₂ , NbB ₂ , TaB ₂ , CrB, MoB, WB and LaB ₅ ; TiSi ₂ , ZrSi ₂ , NbSi ₂ , TaSi ₂ , CrSi ₂ , MoSi _2, WSi silicide such as _{2; aCO 3, CaCO 3, SrCO 3} , BaSO 4, CaSO 4 and the like metal salts; SiN ₄ · SiC, complexes such _{9Al 2 O 3 · 2B 2 O} 3 and the like, alone, or two or these one You may use the above together. Of these, SnO ₂ , ZnO, Al ₂ O ₃ , TiO ₂ , In ₂ O ₃ , MgO, BaO and MoO ₃ are preferred, SnO ₂ , ZnO, In ₂ O ₃ and TiO ₂ are more preferred, and SnO ₂ is preferred. Particularly preferred. Other conductive fine particles include zinc antimonate colloid, antimony oxide, and clay compounds such as bentonite, hectorite, and synthetic hectorite (product name: Laponite, manufactured by Nippon Silica). Clay minerals make it easy to form colloidal dispersions. These conductive fine particles may be doped (contained) with various metal ions. For example, Al, In, etc. for ZnO, Nb, Ta, etc. for TiO ₂ , and SnO ₂ for SnO ₂ . Sb, Nb, a halogen element or the like may be doped. Among them, SnO ₂ and synthetic hectite viscosity minerals (such as Laponite manufactured by Nippon Silica Co., Ltd.) are preferable because they have little change in conductivity over time and high stability, and SnO ₂ is a Sb-doped or colloidal dispersion sol. Etc. are particularly preferred.

  When using a conductive metal oxide as an antistatic agent, the particle size is preferably as small as possible in order to minimize light scattering, but the ratio of the refractive index of the particle and binder is used as a parameter. To be determined and can be determined using Mie's theory. Generally, the average particle diameter is in the range of 0.001 to 0.5 μm, and 0.001 to 0.2 μm is preferable. The average particle diameter referred to here is a value including not only the primary particle diameter of the conductive compound but also the particle diameter of the higher order structure.

  The intermediate layer of the present invention preferably contains metal particles, and the preferred amount added is 3 to 50% by volume, more preferably 5 to 45%, and particularly preferably 8 to 40%. When it contains more than 50 volume%, film | membrane intensity | strength will fall, and when less than 3 volume%, electroconductivity will not express. By containing the preferable addition amount, good results can be obtained in both film strength and transferability. In addition to these, a release agent, a conductive agent, a surfactant, an antioxidant, a UV absorber and the like may be added as necessary.

  The film thickness of the intermediate layer (the film thickness referred to here is a portion where no mat material is present) is preferably 0.1 to 10 μm, and more preferably 0.2 to 5 μm.

  The intermediate layer may be provided by solution coating using an organic solvent, or may be formed by coating in the state of an aqueous dispersion such as latex or emulsion. A water-soluble resin can also be used. These resins can be used alone or as a mixture as required.

  As a method for forming the intermediate layer, application by a blade coater, roll coater, bar coater, curtain coater, gravure coater, or the like, extrusion lamination by hot melt, or the like can be applied. Also, there is a method in which the temporary base is peeled off after bonding the material prepared by dissolving the material in a solvent or dispersed in a latex form onto the temporary base and the heat softening layer. .

(Image receiving layer)
The image receiving layer used in the image receiving sheet of the present invention is designed so that the frictional force with the final transfer medium at 110 ° C. is 1 to 50 gf (preferably 5 to 40 gf). As means for achieving this, the physical properties such as Tg and surface energy of the image-receiving layer bander are appropriately selected, the addition of mat materials, lubricants, antistatic agents, etc., the use of reticulation during coating and drying, and embossing treatment For example, the surface may be roughened. It is also effective to heat-treat the coated image-receiving sheet and bleed out a lubricant or an antistatic agent on the surface of the image-receiving layer. The means for measuring the frictional force according to the present invention will be described in Examples.

  The binder used for the image receiving layer preferably has a softening point of 40 ° C. or higher by TMA measurement, more preferably 40 to 80 ° C. Specific examples of the image-receiving layer binder include adhesives such as polyvinyl acetate emulsion, chloroprene, and epoxy resin adhesives; natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, butyl rubber, polyacrylate ester, nitrile rubber, polysulfide , Silicone rubber, petroleum resin, etc .; recycled rubber, vinyl chloride resin, SBR, polybutadiene resin, polyisoprene, polyvinyl butyral resin, polyvinyl ether, ionomer resin, SIS, SEBS, acrylic resin, ethylene copolymer Copolymer, ethylene-vinyl chloride copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate resin (EVA), vinyl chloride graft EVA resin, EVA graft vinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride resin, urethane resin, polyester resin, polystyrene, Styrene-Ak Le acid copolymer, styrene - styrene copolymer and maleic acid ester copolymer, polyolefin resin, various modified olefins, polyvinyl butyral.

  The above binders may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The elongation percentage of the binder suitably used in the image receiving layer is preferably from 1 to 1,000%, more preferably from 10 to 800%. If it is less than 1%, pinhole-like leakage may occur at the time of transfer to the final transfer medium. On the other hand, if it exceeds 1,000%, the peeling force increases, which is not preferable for peeling in a large size.

  The image receiving layer preferably contains a mat material. As the material for the mat material, those used in the above-mentioned intermediate layer can be suitably used as well. The number average particle diameter of the mat material is preferably 0.3 to 10.0 μm, and more preferably 0.3 to 8.0 μm larger than the average film thickness of the portion of the image receiving layer where the mat material does not exist. Of these, those larger by 1 to 5.5 μm are effective and particularly preferable. If the thickness is less than 0.3 μm, the effect of removing fog (ink layer transfer at an unexposed portion) and the gas generated during exposure is small. Conversely, if the thickness exceeds 10.0 μm, the transferability of the ink layer is deteriorated. In addition, it is preferable to have a distribution in which the particle mass that is twice or more the number average particle diameter is 20% or less, and more preferable to have a distribution that is 5% or less. Those having a distribution in which the particle mass that is twice or more the number average particle diameter is 20% or less is uniformly relieved of pressure, so that deterioration in storage stability such as blocking is prevented. Use of a material having a distribution of 5% or less is more preferable in terms of storage stability.

The number of mat members per unit area of the image receiving layer is preferably 10 to 2400 pieces / mm ² , and more preferably 200 to 1800 pieces / mm ² . If it is less than the above range, the transferability of the ink layer is lowered, and if it exceeds the above range, there is a concern about fogging and ink sheet adhesion failure due to poor gas removal during exposure. As the shape of the mat member, various shapes such as a spherical shape, an elliptical spherical shape, a rod shape, and a polygonal columnar shape can be used. Of these, a true spherical shape is preferable. The true spherical shape means that the difference between the major axis and the minor axis is 20% or less.

Examples of the lubricant include waxes. Examples of the waxes include mineral waxes, natural waxes, and synthetic waxes. Examples of the mineral wax include petroleum waxes such as paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, ester wax and oxide wax, montan wax, ozokerite, ceresin and the like. Of these, paraffin wax is preferred. The paraffin wax is separated from petroleum, and various types are commercially available depending on the melting point. Examples of the natural wax include plant waxes such as carnauba wax, wood wax, aucuric wax, and espal wax, and animal waxes such as beeswax, insect wax, shellac wax, and whale wax. The following are mentioned as an example of a synthetic wax.
1) Fatty acid type wax C8-30 linear saturated fatty acid, specifically stearic acid, behenic acid, palmitic acid, 12-hydroxystearic acid, azelaic acid and the like. Also included are metal salts such as the above fatty acids (K, Ca, Zn, Mg, etc.).
2) Fatty acid ester wax Specific examples of the fatty acid ester include ethyl stearate, lauryl stearate, ethyl behenate, hexyl behenate, behenyl myristate, and glycerin ester.
3) Fatty acid amide wax Specific examples of the fatty acid amide include stearic acid amide and lauric acid amide.
4) Aliphatic alcohol-based wax C7-29 linear saturated aliphatic alcohol, specifically lauryl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and the like.
5) Polymer wax Examples include polyethylene having a number average molecular weight of 200 to 10,000.

  Among the synthetic waxes 1) to 5), higher fatty acid amides such as behenic acid, mono-higher fatty acid esters of glycerin, stearic acid amide, and lauric acid amide are preferable.

  Other examples include silicone oil and modified silicone oil. Examples thereof include those having a molecular weight of 150 to 5,000, specifically, dimethyl silicone oil, alkyl / aralkyl modified silicone oil, alkyl modified silicone oil, methyl hydrogen silicone oil, methyl phenyl silicone oil, cyclic polydimethylsiloxane, Examples thereof include polyether-modified silicone oil, polyether-modified silicone oil, carbinol-modified silicone oil, amino-modified silicone oil, alkyl / polyether-modified silicone oil, epoxy-modified silicone oil, and fluorine-modified silicone oil.

  These lubricants can be used alone or in appropriate combination as desired. The lubricant is preferably contained in the range of 0.01 to 20% by mass, more preferably 0.1 to 10% by mass with respect to the total mass of the image receiving layer.

  In the image receiving layer, known additives such as surfactants, antioxidants, UV absorbers, preservatives, and antistatic agents can be used as necessary.

Preferably the amount with the image receiving layer is 0.6~10g / m ^2, more preferably 1 to 5 g / m ^2.

<Ink sheet>
Next, the ink sheet used with the image receiving sheet of the present invention will be described.

  The ink sheet is a sheet having a light-heat conversion function and an ink (coloring material) transfer function, and has at least one light-heat conversion layer and an ink layer having a light-heat conversion function on one surface of the support. Can be applied to the same layer. If necessary, a cushion layer or a release layer is provided between these layers and the support, an intermediate layer is provided between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the ink layer, and the surface of the support opposite to the ink layer (back surface). Can have a backcoat layer.

(Support)
The support for the ink sheet may be anything as long as it has rigidity, good dimensional stability, excellent smoothness, and can withstand the heat during image formation. Specifically, paper, coated paper, synthetic paper Various papers such as (polypropylene, polystyrene, or composite materials obtained by bonding them to paper), vinyl chloride resin sheet, ABS resin sheet, polyethylene terephthalate film, polybutylene terephthalate film, polyethylene naphthalate film, polyacrylate film , Polycarbonate film, polyetherketone film, polysulfone film, polyethersulfone film, polyetherimide film, polyimide film, polyethylene film, polypropylene film, polystyrene film, syndiotactic polystyrene, rolled Nylon film, polyacetate film, polymethyl methacrylate film, or other single layer or various plastic films or sheets in which two or more layers are laminated, films or sheets formed of various metals, films formed of various ceramics Or a sheet | seat, Furthermore, metal plates, such as aluminum, stainless steel, chromium, nickel, etc., and what laminated | stacked or vapor-deposited the metal thin film on the resin coated paper etc. are mentioned.

  These supports can be subjected to various processes such as dimensional stabilization and antistatic. Antistatic agents include cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, polymer antistatic agents, and conductive fine particles, as well as “11290 chemical products”, Chemical Industry Daily, 875- The compounds described on page 876 and the like are widely used.

  Further, these supports may be subjected to a conventionally known surface modification treatment. Examples of the surface modification treatment include flame emission treatment, sulfuric acid treatment, corona discharge treatment, plasma treatment, glow discharge treatment, and the like. In addition, an adhesive layer may be provided on the support in order to satisfactorily apply each layer described later on the support.

  When an image is formed by irradiating laser light from the ink sheet side, the support is preferably transparent. The thickness of the support of the ink sheet is preferably thinner than that of the image receiving sheet from the viewpoint of easy superimposition, generally about 30 to 150 μm, more preferably 50 to 130 μm.

(Photothermal conversion layer)
The photothermal conversion layer is a layer having a photothermal conversion function. If a photothermal conversion material can be added to the ink layer, a photothermal conversion layer is not particularly required, but if the photothermal conversion material is not substantially transparent, the photothermal conversion material is considered separately from the ink layer in consideration of the color reproducibility of the transferred image. It is desirable to provide a conversion layer.

  The photothermal conversion layer is preferably provided between the support and the ink layer, more preferably between the cushion layer and the ink layer.

  As a binder in the photothermal conversion layer, a resin having a high Tg and a high thermal conductivity such as polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyimide, polyetherimide, polysulfone, General heat-resistant resins such as polyethersulfone and aramid, and polymer compounds composed of polythiophenes, polyanilines, polyacetylenes, polyphenylenes, polyphenylene sulfides, polypyrroles, and derivatives or mixtures thereof Can be used. Moreover, a water-soluble polymer can also be used as a binder in a photothermal conversion layer.

  Further, by incorporating various release agents into the light-to-heat conversion layer, the peelability between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the ink layer can be increased, and the sensitivity can be improved. Examples of release agents include silicone release agents (polyoxyalkylene-modified silicone oil, alcohol-modified silicone oil, etc.), fluorine-based surfactants (perfluorophosphate ester-based surfactants), and various other surface activity. Agents are effective.

  When using a photothermal conversion substance, although it depends on the light source, a substance that absorbs light and efficiently converts it into heat is good.For example, when a semiconductor laser is used as a light source, a substance having an absorption band in the near infrared is preferable. Examples of near-infrared light absorbers include organic compounds such as carbon black, cyanine, polymethine, azurenium, squarylium, thiopyrylium, naphthoquinone, anthraquinone dyes, phthalocyanine, azo, and thioamide organic metals. Complexes and the like are preferably used, and specifically, JP-A-63-139191, JP-A-64-33547, JP-A-1-160683, JP-A-1-280750, JP-A-1-293342, and JP-A-2-2074. 3-26593, 3-30991, 3-34891, 3-36093, 3-36 94 items, the 3-36095 JP, same 3-42281 JP, same 3-97589 Patent, compounds described in the 3-103476 Patent and the like. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The film thickness of the photothermal conversion layer is preferably from 0.1 to 3 μm, more preferably from 0.2 to 1.0 μm. The content of the photothermal conversion substance in the photothermal conversion layer is usually determined such that the absorbance at the wavelength of the light source used for image recording is 0.3 to 3.0, more preferably 0.7 to 2.5. it can. When carbon black is used as the light-to-heat conversion layer, if the film thickness of the light-to-heat conversion layer exceeds 1 μm, the sensitivity tends to decrease instead of causing the ink layer to be overheated. Since it changes depending on the absorbance of the photothermal conversion layer, it may be selected as appropriate.

  In addition to this, a vapor deposition layer can also be used as the photothermal conversion layer. Carbon black, gold, silver, aluminum, chromium, nickel, antimony, tellurium, bismuth described in JP-A-52-20842, In addition to a metal black vapor deposition layer such as selenium, Ib, IIb, IIIa, IVb, Va, Vb, VIa, VIb, VIIb, and Group VIII metal elements of the periodic table, and alloys thereof, or these elements and Ia, Alloys with Group IIa and IIIb elements, or mixtures of these, include particularly preferred metals such as Al, Bi, Sn, In or Zn and their alloys, or these metals and Ia of the Periodic Table. , Alloys with Group IIa and IIIb elements, or mixtures thereof. Suitable metal oxides or sulfides include Al, Bi, Sn, In, Zn, Ti, Cr, Mo, W, Co, Ir, Ni, Pb, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zr or Te compounds. Or a mixture thereof. Furthermore, the vapor deposition layer of metal phthalocyanines, metal dithiolenes, and anthraquinones is also mentioned. The film thickness of the vapor deposition layer is preferably within 500 mm. The photothermal conversion substance may be the color material itself of the ink layer, and is not limited to the above, and various substances can be used. If the photothermal conversion layer is inferior in adhesion to the lower layer of the support, it may cause film peeling and color turbidity when peeling the transfer material from the image receiving sheet during light irradiation or after thermal transfer. It is also possible to provide an adhesive layer between the two.

(Ink layer)
The ink layer is mainly composed of a colorant and a binder. In the laser melt thermal transfer method, the ink layer is a layer that can be transferred layer by layer by melting or softening during heating and containing a colorant, a binder, and the like, and may not be transferred in a completely molten state.

  Examples of the colorant include inorganic pigments (titanium dioxide, carbon black, graphite, zinc oxide, Prussian blue, cadmium sulfide, iron oxide and lead, zinc, barium and calcium chromates) and organic pigments (azo-based, Pigments and dyes (acid dyes, direct dyes, disperse dyes, oil-soluble dyes) such as thioindigo, anthraquinone, anthanthrone, triphendioxazine pigments, vat dye pigments, phthalocyanine pigments and derivatives thereof, quinacridone pigments, Metal-containing oil-soluble dyes or sublimable dyes). For example, when a color proof material is used, yellow, magenta, and cyan are C.I. I. 21095 or C.I. I. 21090, C.I. I. 15850: 1, C.I. I. 74160 pigment is preferably used. The content of the colorant in the ink layer may be adjusted so as to obtain a desired concentration with a desired coating film thickness, and is not particularly limited, but is usually in the range of 5 to 70% by mass, preferably 10 to 10%. 60% by mass.

  Examples of the binder for the ink layer include a hot-melt material and a thermoplastic resin. The hot-melt material is usually a solid or semi-solid material having a melting point measured using Yanagimoto MJP-2 type in the range of 40 to 150 ° C. Specifically, plant waxes such as carnauba wax, wood wax, aucuric wax and espal wax; animal waxes such as beeswax, insect wax, shellac wax and whale wax; paraffin wax, microcrystal wax, polyethylene wax, ester wax, acid And waxes such as petroleum waxes such as wax; and mineral waxes such as montan wax, ozokerite, and ceresin. Other higher fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, margaric acid, and behenic acid; higher alcohols such as palmitic alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, marganyl alcohol, myricyl alcohol, eicosanol; cetyl palmitate, myricyl palmitate , Higher fatty acid esters such as cetyl stearate and myricyl stearate; amides such as acetamide, propionic acid amide, palmitic acid amide, stearic acid amide and amide wax; and higher amines such as stearylamine, behenylamine and palmitylamine Glycerin fatty acid monoester, polyglycerin (n = 2-6) fatty acid ester, erythritol fatty acid ester, and the like.

  Thermoplastic resins include ethylene copolymers, polyamide resins, polyester resins, polyurethane resins, polyolefin resins, styrene resins, styrene-acrylic resins, acrylic resins, vinyl chloride resins, and cellulose resins. Rosin resins, polyvinyl alcohol resins, polyvinyl acetal resins, polyvinyl butyral resins, ionomer resins, petroleum resins, and ink layer binder resins described in JP-A-6-312583. A resin having a TMA softening point of 70 to 150 ° C. is preferably used. In addition to the above thermoplastic resins, elastomers such as natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, chloroprene rubber and diene copolymer; rosin derivatives such as ester gum, rosin maleic resin, rosin phenol resin, hydrogenated rosin; In addition, a high molecular compound such as a phenol resin, a terpene resin, a cyclopentadiene resin, or an aromatic hydrocarbon resin can also be used. By appropriately selecting the heat-melting substance and the thermoplastic substance, it is possible to form an ink layer having a desired heat softening point or a heat-transfer point and having a heat transfer property.

  In the present invention, an image can be formed by ablation transfer by using a binder having high thermal decomposability. Such binders include polymeric materials that undergo rapid acid-catalyzed partial degradation, preferably at temperatures below 200 ° C. when measured under equilibrium conditions, such as nitrocelluloses, polycarbonates and J.A. M.M. J. et al. Frechet, F.A. Bouchard, J .; M.M. Houlihan, B.H. Kryczke and E.I. Eichler: J.M. Imaging Science, 30 (2), pages 59-64 (1986), including polymers, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyorthoesters, polyacetals, and copolymers thereof It is. Further, these polymers are shown in detail in the report of Holyhan et al.

  Although it is disclosed in JP-A-62-158092 that a high concentration can be obtained by making the particle diameters of pigments uniform, various dispersants are used in order to ensure the dispersibility of pigments and to obtain good color reproduction. It is effective to use

  Other additives include a plasticizer that increases the sensitivity by plasticizing the ink layer, a surfactant that improves the coatability of the ink layer, and submicron to micron order particles that prevent blocking of the ink layer. (Matting agent) can be added.

  A preferable thickness of the ink layer is 0.2 to 2 μm, and more preferably 0.3 to 1.5 μm. In particular, it has been confirmed that high sensitivity can be obtained when the thickness is 0.8 μm or less. However, since the thin film transferability of the ink layer differs depending on the type of binder and colorant used, the mixing ratio thereof, etc., an optimum film The thickness range is selected according to the balance between sensitivity and resolution and other desired image reproduction performance.

(Middle layer)
The intermediate layer preferably provided between the photothermal conversion layer and the ink layer is composed of a binder and, if necessary, a crosslinking agent, a sensitizer, a surfactant and the like.

  The intermediate layer is obtained after the photothermal conversion dye contained in the photothermal conversion layer (infrared absorbing dye when an infrared laser is used as a light source) is applied or dried to the intermediate layer or the ink layer and after being produced as an ink sheet. By preventing diffusion over time, it is considered that the sensitivity of the ink sheet is increased and the change with time in sensitivity is reduced. Furthermore, high sensitivity can be achieved by adding a sensitizer or a compound having a boiling point of 100 to 400 ° C. to the intermediate layer. Although the binder used for the intermediate layer depends on the configuration of the photothermal conversion layer, a resin soluble in a solvent having a solubility of the photothermal conversion dye used of 0.1% or less can be used.

<Image forming method>
Next, an image forming method will be described. The image formation of the present invention consists of two processes. That is,
1) a step of closely attaching an image receiving sheet and an ink sheet and transferring an image like an image from the ink sheet side by laser exposure;
2) After repeating the above steps a plurality of times to form a color image on the image receiving sheet, facing the color image and the final transfer medium, and applying heat and / or pressure to bond the image receiving sheet and the transfer medium The step of transferring the image to the final transfer medium together with the image receiving layer by peeling off the image receiving sheet. As an example, the image receiving sheet of the present invention and the ink sheet for image formation are sequentially wound around the exposure drum and held by pressure-reducing adhesion, and the ink sheet is rotated from the back surface (back coat layer coating surface side) while rotating the drum. By irradiating a laser beam corresponding to the image data, an image is thermally transferred from the ink sheet to the image receiving sheet. After the exposure, the ink sheet is peeled off, the image surface of the image-receiving image-formed sheet and the final transfer medium (for example, printing paper) are superimposed, laminated with a heated roll, and then peeled off from the image-receiving sheet on the final transfer medium. An image is formed, and an image recorded material that is very similar to a printed material can be obtained.

Examples of the light source of the image recording laser used include a semiconductor laser, a YAG laser, a carbon dioxide gas laser, and a helium neon laser. In semiconductor lasers, without significantly reducing optical efficiency. It is preferable to use a so-called single mode laser diode, as it is easy to narrow the 1 / e ² diameter to several to several tens of μm at the focal point.

  Examples of laser scanning methods include cylindrical outer surface scanning, cylindrical inner surface scanning, and planar scanning. In the cylindrical outer surface scanning, laser exposure is performed while rotating a drum around which the recording material is wound, the rotation of the drum is used as main scanning, and the movement of laser light is used as sub scanning. In cylindrical inner surface scanning, a recording material is fixed to the inner surface of the drum, a laser beam is irradiated from the inside, and a main scanning is performed in the circumferential direction by rotating a part or all of the optical system. Sub scanning is performed in the axial direction by linearly moving all of them in parallel with the drum axis. In plane scanning, a laser beam main scan is performed by combining a polygon mirror, a galvanometer mirror, and an fθ lens, and a sub-scan is performed by moving a transfer medium. Cylindrical outer surface scanning and cylindrical inner surface scanning are easier to increase the accuracy of the optical system and are suitable for high-density recording. In the case of so-called multi-channel exposure in which a plurality of light emitting elements are used simultaneously, cylindrical outer surface scanning is most suitable. Also, when using a YAG laser or the like having a large exposure output, it is difficult to significantly increase the drum rotation speed in the cylindrical outer surface scanning, so that the cylindrical inner surface scanning is suitable. Examples of light sources other than lasers include light emitting diodes (LEDs). LEDs and semiconductor lasers are easy to use as an array in which a plurality of light emitting elements are integrated.

  Examples of the method using the image forming method include large-sized DDCPs already on the market, such as Konica Corporation: Color Decision, Color Decision II, Fuji Photo Film Ltd .: Luxe FINALPROF 5600, and the like.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention, the embodiment of this invention is not limited to these. Unless otherwise specified, “part” in the examples represents “part by mass” and “%” represents “% by mass”.

Example 1
Comparative image receiving sheets 1 and 2 were prepared as follows.

<Preparation of image receiving sheet 1>
A back coat layer is applied to one side of a white PET film (U51L74: manufactured by Teijin Ltd.) with a thickness of 100 μm, and a heat softening layer, an intermediate layer and an image receiving layer are sequentially applied and dried with a wire bar on the opposite side of the same layer. An image receiving sheet 1 was obtained. The number of mat members on the image receiving layer of this image receiving sheet was 920 / mm ² .

Backcoat layer: 100 ° C., 1 minute, film thickness after drying 3 μm
Thermosoftening layer: 100 ° C., 5 minutes, dried film thickness 15 μm
Intermediate layer: 80 ° C., 1 minute, film thickness after drying 3 μm
Image-receiving layer: 1.3 μm after drying at 80 ° C. for 1 minute
The coating solution composition of each layer is as follows.
(Backcoat layer coating solution 1)
Polyester resin (Byron 200: manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) 11.5 parts Matt material (MX-1000: manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.4 parts Carbon black dispersion (MHI Black # 273: manufactured by Mikuni Dye Co., Ltd.) 6.6 parts Cyclohexanone 40 parts Toluene 20 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 25 parts (thermal softening layer coating solution 1)
Polyethylene latex (Hitech S-3127: manufactured by Toho Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 95 parts Pure water 5 parts (intermediate layer coating solution 1)
Ethylcellulose (STD10: manufactured by Dow Chemical Co.) 9.5 parts methanol-modified ethanol 90.5 parts (image-receiving layer coating solution 1)
Acrylic resin latex (Yodosol A5801 manufactured by NSC Japan) 22.0 parts Fluororesin (Unidyne TG810: manufactured by Daikin Industries) 4.4 parts Mat material (MX40S-2: manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2.1 parts Pure water 62 .8 parts i-propyl alcohol 8.7 parts <Preparation of image-receiving sheet 2>
On one side of a 130 μm thick white void PET film support (Lumirror # 130E58: manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.), a heat softening layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition is applied and dried to form a heat softening layer having a thickness of about 20 μm. Then, on the same layer, an image receiving layer coating solution 2 having the following composition was applied and dried to form an image receiving layer having a layer thickness of about 2 μm. Thus, an image receiving sheet 2 was obtained.
(Thermosoftening layer coating solution 2)
Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (MPR-TSL: manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 20.0 parts Plasticizer (Paraplex G-40: manufactured by CP.HALL.CO.) 10.0 parts Surfactant (Mega Fuck F-177: manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.) 0.5 parts Antistatic agent (SAT-5 Super (IC): manufactured by Nippon Pure Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.3 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 60 parts Toluene 10 parts N, N-dimethyl Formamide 3 parts (image-receiving layer coating solution 2)
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-1: manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) 17 parts Styrene / maleic acid half ester (Oxylac SH-128: manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.)
63 parts Antistatic agent (Chemistat 3033: Sanyo Chemical Industries) 16 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-176PF: Dainippon Ink & Chemicals) 1.2 parts Propyl alcohol 570 parts Methanol 1200 parts 1-Methoxy- 2-Propanol 520 parts Example 2
Image receiving sheets 3 to 7 of the present invention were produced as follows.

<Preparation of image receiving sheet 3>
An image receiving sheet 3 was prepared in the same manner as the image receiving sheet 1 except that the intermediate coating liquid 1 in the image receiving sheet 1 was replaced with the same coating liquid 2 and the image receiving layer coating liquid 1 was replaced with the same coating liquid 3. . The thickness of the intermediate layer after drying was 2 μm, the thickness of the image receiving layer after drying was 2 μm, and the number of mat members was 1020 pieces / mm ² .
(Intermediate layer coating solution 2)
Polyethylene latex (Hitech S-9058: manufactured by Toho Chemical Co., Ltd.) 10 parts Antimony-doped tin oxide sol (SN100D: manufactured by Ishihara Sangyo Co., Ltd.) 28 parts 20% aqueous solution of surfactant (Factent 251: manufactured by Neos) 0.1 Part i-propyl alcohol 17 parts water 70 parts (image-receiving layer coating solution 3)
Acrylic resin (Dianar BR-105: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.) 20 parts Antistatic agent (Preneact KR9SA: Ajinomoto Fine Techno Co., Ltd.) 1.0 part Mat material (Tospearl T-145: GE Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.) 1.0 Part Surfactant (Megafac F-178K: manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.) 0.1 part Additive (Sumilyzer GS: manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.1 part Methyl ethyl ketone 40 parts Butanol 40 parts <Image-receiving sheet 4 Production>
An image receiving sheet 4 was prepared in the same manner as the image receiving sheet 1 except that the intermediate layer coating liquid 1 in the image receiving sheet 1 was replaced with the same coating liquid 3. The thickness of the intermediate layer after drying was 1.5 μm, and the number of mat members was 980 / mm ² .
(Intermediate layer coating solution 3)
Polyethylene latex (Hitech S-6111: manufactured by Toho Chemical Co., Ltd.) 10 parts Matt material (MX-300: manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.6 parts Antimony-doped tin oxide sol (SN100D: supra) 28 parts Surfactant (Footer Gent 251: supra) 20% aqueous solution 0.1 part i-propyl alcohol 17 parts water 70 parts <Preparation of image receiving sheet 5>
An image receiving sheet 5 was prepared in the same manner as the image receiving sheet 1 except that the image receiving layer coating solution 1 in the image receiving sheet 1 was replaced with the coating solution 4. The thickness of the image receiving layer after drying was 2 μm, and the number of mat members was 1070 / mm ² .
(Image-receiving layer coating solution 4)
Acrylic resin (Dianar BR-102: manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.) 20 parts Antistatic agent (Plenact KR9SA: supra) 0.5 part Slip agent (Chemistat 1100: manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries) 0.4 part Mat material (Tospearl) T-145: GE Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.) 1.1 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-178K: supra) 0.1 part Additive (Sanol LS-770: Sankyo Lifetech Co., Ltd.) 0.1 part Methyl ethyl ketone 40 parts Butanol 40 parts <Preparation of image-receiving sheet 6>
An image receiving sheet 6 was prepared in the same manner as the image receiving sheet 1 except that the image receiving layer coating solution 1 in the image receiving sheet 1 was replaced with the coating solution 5. The film thickness after drying of the image receiving layer was 2 μm, and the number of mat members was 950 / mm ² .
(Image-receiving layer coating solution 5)
Acrylic resin (Dianar BR-85: manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.) 20 parts Antistatic agent (Plenact KR9SA: supra) 0.8 part Slip agent (Chemistat 1100: supra) 0.4 part Mat material (Tospearl T-145 : Supra) 1.2 parts Surfactant (F-178K: supra) 0.1 part additive (Sanol LS-770: supra) 0.1 part methyl ethyl ketone 40 parts butanol 40 parts <Preparation of image receiving sheet 7 >
An image receiving sheet 7 was prepared in the same manner as the image receiving sheet 2 except that the image receiving layer coating solution 2 in the image receiving sheet 2 was replaced with the coating solution 6. The film thickness after drying of the image receiving layer was 2 μm, and the number of mat members was 920 pieces / mm ² .
(Image-receiving layer coating solution 6)
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-1: supra) 17 parts Styrene / maleic acid half ester (Oxylac SH-128: supra) 63 parts Antistatic agent (Chemist 3033: supra) 16 parts Mat material (Tospearl T- 145: supra) 1.8 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-176PF: supra) 1.2 parts propyl alcohol 570 parts methanol 1200 parts 1-methoxy-2-propanol 520 parts Example 3
Four color ink sheets were prepared as follows.

<Preparation of Yellow Ink Sheet 1>
A transparent PET film (T100, # 38: manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Polyester Co., Ltd.) with a thickness of 38 μm is used as a support, and a release layer coating solution having the following composition is applied and dried on a reverse roll coater on the support. A release layer of 0.3 g / m ² was formed.
(Release layer coating solution)
Releasing layer binder liquid * 22.9 parts Crosslinking agent (Smileze Resin 613: manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.2 parts Pure water 69.2 parts i-Propyl alcohol 7.7 parts (* Releasing layer binder liquid)
9.5% aqueous solution of PVA aqueous solution (Gohsenol EG-30: manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.)
97.2 parts Crosslinking accelerator (Sumitex Accelerator ACX-P: manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1.3 parts Fluorosurfactant (Daikin Industries, Ltd .: Unidyne TG-810) 0.3 parts Pure water 1.2 parts On the release layer, a yellow ink layer coating liquid having the following composition was applied and dried by wire bar coating to form an ink layer having a dry weight of 0.65 g / m ² .
(Yellow ink layer coating solution 1)
Yellow pigment dispersion (10 parts of Seika First Yellow H-7055 dispersed in MEK 88 parts with 2 parts of dispersant) 18.2 parts Styrene resin (Himmer ST-95: manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.) 5.0 parts Acrylic resin (Dianal BR-102: supra) 0.4 part Styrene / butadiene block copolymer (Kraton D-1101CU: manufactured by Clayton Polymer Japan) 0.2 part Surfactant (Megafac F-178K: 0.1 part Methyl ethyl ketone 11.5 parts Cyclohexanone 64.5 parts On the yellow ink layer, the photothermal conversion layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition is applied and dried by wire bar coating, and the dry weight is applied. A 0.73 g / m ² photothermal conversion layer was formed.
(Photothermal conversion layer coating solution 1)
Polyvinyl alcohol (GOHSENOL EG-30: Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 4.0 parts Carbon black dispersion (CAB-O-JET300: CABOT Co., Ltd.) 13.5 parts Boric acid 0.2 parts Fluorosurfactant (FT -251: Neos) 0.1 part Pure water 63.4 parts i-Propyl alcohol 18.8 parts On the other hand, 75 μm thick transparent PET (T100, # 75: manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Polyester) was used as a support. A backcoat layer coating solution 1 having the following composition was applied and dried by wire bar coating to form a backcoat layer having a weight of 0.65 g / m ² .
(Backcoat layer coating solution 1)
Polyvinyl alcohol (GOHSENOL EG-05: manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 4.7 parts Antistatic agent (Efcol 214: manufactured by Matsumoto Yushi Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) 1.5 parts Matt material (PMMA particles having a volume average particle size of 5.6 μm) 57 parts aqueous solution) 0.6 parts Fluororesin aqueous solution (Smile Resin FP-150: manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2.0 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-142D: manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.) 0. 1 part pure water 81.3 parts i-propyl alcohol 9.4 parts Intermediate layer coating solution 1 having the following composition is applied to the back surface of the back coat layer by wire bar coating, and the amount of the dry layer is 7 g / m ² . Formed.
(Intermediate layer coating solution 1)
Styrenic block copolymer (Kraton G1657: manufactured by Kraton Polymer Japan) 10.0 parts Rosin ester (Superester A-100: manufactured by Arakawa Chemical Industries) 4.3 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 17.1 parts Toluene 68.6 parts Next, after the light-to-heat conversion layer of each sheet provided with the yellow ink layer and the light-to-heat conversion layer is combined with the intermediate layer by roll touch, the film with the release layer is peeled off, and the yellow ink Sheet 1 was obtained.

<Preparation of magenta ink sheet 1>
A magenta ink sheet 1 was obtained in the same manner as the yellow ink sheet 1 except that the yellow ink layer coating liquid 1 was changed to a magenta ink layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition. The drying amount of the magenta ink layer coating liquid 1 was 0.67 g / m ² .
(Magenta ink layer coating solution 1)
Magenta pigment dispersion (15 parts of Brilliant Carmine 6B with 4.5 parts of dispersant MEK
13.9 parts Styrene resin (Heimer ST-95: supra) 4.6 parts Acrylic resin (Dianal BR-102: supra) 0.4 part Styrenic block copolymer (Kraton D-1101CU: supra) 0.2 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-178K: supra) 0.1 part Methyl ethyl ketone 16.7 parts Cyclohexanone 64.0 parts <Preparation of cyan ink sheet 1>
A cyan ink sheet 1 was obtained in the same manner as the yellow ink sheet 1 except that the yellow ink layer coating liquid 1 was changed to the cyan ink layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition. The dry weight of the cyan ink layer coating liquid 1 was 0.70 g / m ² .
(Cyan ink layer coating solution 1)
Cyan pigment dispersion (30 parts of phthalocyanine blue PB15: 3 dispersed in 65 parts of MEK with 5 parts of dispersant) 5.2 parts Styrene resin (Himmer ST-95: supra) 5.7 parts Acrylic resin (diamond Narr BR-102: supra) 0.4 part styrene-butadiene block copolymer (Kraton D-1101CU: supra)
0.3 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-178K: supra) 0.1 part Methyl ethyl ketone 24.1 parts Cyclohexanone 64.1 parts <Preparation of black ink sheet 1>
Except for changing the yellow ink layer coating liquid 1 to a black ink layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition and changing the photothermal conversion layer coating liquid 1 to a photothermal conversion layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition, the yellow ink sheet 1 A black ink sheet 1 was obtained in the same manner as in the production. The dry weight of the black ink layer coating liquid 1 was 0.87 g / m ² , and the dry weight of the conversion layer coating liquid 2 was 0.73 g / m ² .
(Black ink layer coating solution 1)
Black pigment dispersion (25 parts of carbon black dispersed in 70 parts of MEK with 5 parts of dispersant) 8.0 parts Cyan pigment dispersion (supra) 1.1 parts Violet pigment dispersion (10 parts of dioxazine violet) MEK with 5 parts of dispersant
1.5 parts Styrene resin (Heimer ST-95: supra) 6.2 parts Acrylic resin (Dianal BR-85 :) 1.1 parts Styrenic block copolymer (Kraton D-) 1117P: manufactured by Kraton Polymer Japan Co., Ltd.) 0.2 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-178K: supra) 0.1 part Methyl ethyl ketone 19.2 parts Cyclohexanone 62.6 parts (Photothermal conversion layer coating solution 2)
Polyvinyl alcohol (GOHSENOL EG-30: supra) 3.7 parts Carbon black dispersion (CAB-O-JET300: supra) 14.3 parts Boric acid 0.2 part Surfactant (FT-251: supra) 0 .1 part Pure water 62.9 parts i-Propyl alcohol 18.8 parts <Preparation of black ink sheet 2>
Corona treatment is applied to one side of the above 75 μm PET film as a support, and a back coat first layer coating solution having the following composition is applied and dried to a dry layer thickness of 0.03 μm. Formed.
(Back coat first layer coating solution)
Aqueous dispersion of acrylic resin (Julimer ET410: manufactured by Nippon Pure Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2.0 parts Antistatic agent (aqueous dispersion of tin oxide-antimony oxide, average particle size: 0.1 μm, 17% by mass) 7.0 parts Polyoxyethylene phenyl ether 0.1 part Melamine compound (Sumitic Resin M-3: manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.3 part Pure water Amount of total 100 parts On the back coat first layer, the following composition The backcoat second layer coating solution was applied and dried to a dry layer thickness of 0.03 μm to form a backcoat second layer.
(Back coat second layer coating solution)
Polyolefin (Chemipearl S-120: Mitsui Petrochemical Co., Ltd.) 3.0 parts Antistatic agent (supra) 2.0 parts Colloidal silica (Snowtex C: Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd.) 2.0 parts Epoxy compound (Dinacol) EX-614B: manufactured by Nagase Kasei Co., Ltd.) 0.3 parts Pure water Amount that totals 100 parts On the support opposite to the surface on which the backcoat layer is provided, the coating solution for the photothermal conversion layer having the following composition 3 was applied and dried using a wire bar to form a photothermal conversion layer having an average film thickness of 0.3 μm.

(Coating liquid 3 for photothermal conversion layer)
Infrared absorbing dye (NK-2014: manufactured by Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories Co., Ltd.) 7.6 parts Polyimide resin (Rika Coat SN-20F: manufactured by Shin Nippon Chemical Co., Ltd.) 29.3 parts Exxon naphtha 5.8 parts Surfactant (Mega Fuck) F-176PF: manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.) 0.5 parts N-methylpyrrolidone 1500 parts methyl ethyl ketone 360 parts In order to prepare a black ink layer coating solution, the following components were put in a kneader mill and a small amount of solvent. A shearing force was applied while adding and a dispersion pretreatment was performed. A solvent was further added to the dispersion to prepare a composition having the following composition, and sand mill dispersion was performed for 2 hours to obtain a pigment dispersion mother liquor.
(Black pigment dispersion mother liquor)
[Composition 1]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) 12.6 parts Carbon black (Mitsubishi Carbon Black # 5: manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) 4.5 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: manufactured by ICI) 0.8 part propyl alcohol 79.4 parts [Composition 2]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 12.6 parts Carbon black (Mitsubishi Carbon Black MA100: manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) 10.5 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.8 parts Propyl Alcohol 79.4 parts On the surface of the light-to-heat conversion layer, the following black ink coating liquid was applied and dried with a wire bar to form a black ink layer having an average film thickness of 0.60 μm. The black ink sheet 2 was obtained by the above process.
(Black ink layer coating solution 2)
Black pigment dispersion mother liquor (Composition 1: Composition 2 = 70 parts: 30 parts) 185.7 parts Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 11.9 parts Stearic acid amide (Neutron 2: Nippon Seika Co., Ltd.) 1.7 parts behenamide (diamond BM: manufactured by Nippon Kasei Co., Ltd.) 1.7 parts lauric acid amide (diamond Y: manufactured by Nippon Kasei Co., Ltd.) 1.7 parts palmitic acid amide (diamond KP: Nippon Kasei) 1.7 parts erucamide (Diamid L-200: manufactured by Nippon Kasei Co., Ltd.) 1.7 parts oleic acid amide (Diamid O-200: manufactured by Nippon Kasei Co., Ltd.) 1.7 parts Rosin ester (KE-) 311: Arakawa Chemical Industries Ltd.) 11.4 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-176PF: supra) 2.1 parts Inorganic pigment (MEK-ST: Nissan Chemical Industries Ltd.) 7.1 parts Russia pill alcohol 1050 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 295 parts <Preparation of yellow ink sheet 2>
In the production of the black ink sheet 2, a yellow ink sheet was prepared in the same manner as in the production of the black ink sheet 2 except that the yellow ink layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition was used instead of the black ink layer coating liquid 2. 2 was produced. The film thickness of the ink layer of the obtained yellow ink sheet 2 was 0.42 μm.
(Yellow pigment dispersion mother liquor)
[Composition 1]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 7.1 parts Yellow pigment (Novoperm Yellow P-HG: manufactured by Clariant Japan) 12.9 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.6 parts Propyl alcohol 79.4 parts [Composition 2]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 7.1 parts Yellow pigment (Novoperm Yellow M2R 70: manufactured by Clariant Japan) 12.9 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.6 parts 79.4 parts of propyl alcohol (yellow ink layer coating solution 2)
Yellow pigment-dispersed mother liquor (Composition 1: Composition 2 = 95 parts: 5 parts) 126 parts Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 4.6 parts stearamide (neutron 2: supra) 0.7 Part behenamide (diamond BM: supra) 0.7 part lauric acid amide (diamond Y: supra) 0.7 part palmitic acid amide (diamit KP: supra) 0.7 part erucamide (Diamid L-200: supra) 0.7 part Oleic acid amide (Diamid O-200: supra) 0.7 part Surfactant (Chemist 1100: manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries) 0.4 part Rosin ester ( KE-311: supra) 2.4 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-176PF: supra) 0.8 part propyl alcohol 793 parts methyl ethyl ketone 198 parts Preparation of the ink sheet 2>
In the production of the black ink sheet 2, a magenta ink sheet was prepared in the same manner as the production of the black ink sheet 2 except that the magenta ink layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition was used instead of the black ink layer coating liquid 2. 2 was produced. The layer thickness of the ink layer of this magenta ink sheet 2 was 0.38 μm.
(Magenta pigment dispersion mother liquor)
[Composition 1]
Polyvinyl butyral (Denka Butyral # 2000-L: manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.)
12.6 parts Magenta Pigment (Symular Brilliant Carmine 6B-22)
9: manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.) 15.0 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.6 parts propyl alcohol 80.4 parts [Composition 2]
Polyvinyl butyral (Denka butyral # 2000-L: supra) 12.6 parts Magenta pigment (Lionol Red 6B-4290G: manufactured by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.)
15.0 parts Dispersing aid (Solsperse S-20000: supra) 0.6 parts Propyl alcohol 79.4 parts (Magenta ink layer coating solution 2)
Magenta pigment dispersion mother liquor (Composition 1: Composition 2 = 95 parts: 5 parts) 163 parts Polyvinyl butyral (Denkabutyral # 2000-L: supra) 4.0 parts Stearic acid amide (neutron 2: supra) 0 parts behenamide (diamond BM: supra) 1.0 part lauric acid amide ("diamond Y: supra") 1.0 part palmitic acid amide (diamond KP: supra) 1.0 part Elca Acid amide (Diamindo L-200: supra) 1.0 part Oleic acid amide (Diamid O-200: supra) 1.0 part Surfactant (Chemistat 1100: supra) 0.7 part Rosin ester (KE) -311: supra) 4.6 parts pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (NK ester A-TMMT: manufactured by Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2.5 parts surfactant (megapha Click F-176PF: supra) 1.3 parts propyl alcohol 848 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 246 parts <Preparation of Cyan Ink Sheet 2>
In the production of the black ink sheet 2, a cyan ink sheet was produced in the same manner as the production of the black ink sheet 2 except that the cyan ink layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition was used instead of the black ink layer coating liquid 2. 2 was produced. The ink layer thickness of the cyan ink sheet 2 was 0.45 μm.
(Cyan pigment dispersion mother liquor)
[Composition 1]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 12.6 parts Cyanine pigment (Cyanine Blue 700-10FG: manufactured by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.)
15.0 parts Dispersing aid (PW-36: Enomoto Kasei Co., Ltd.) 0.8 parts propyl alcohol 110 parts [Composition 2]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 12.6 parts Cyan pigment (Lionol Blue 7027: manufactured by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) 15.0 parts Dispersing aid (PW-36: supra) 0.8 parts Propyl alcohol 110 parts (Cyan ink layer coating solution 2)
Cyan pigment-dispersed mother liquor (Composition 1: Composition 2 = 90 parts: 10 parts) 118 parts Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 5.2 parts Inorganic pigment (MEK-ST: supra) 1.3 parts Stearic acid amide (Neutron 2: supra) 1.0 part Behenamide (diamond BM: supra) 1.0 part Lauric acid amide (diamond Y: supra) 1.0 part Palmitic acid amide (diamond) KP: supra) 1.0 part erucic acid amide (Diamid L-200: supra) 1.0 part oleic acid amide (Diamid O-200: supra) 1.0 part Rosin ester (KE-311: Supra) 2.8 parts pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (NK ester A-TMMT: supra)
1.7 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-176PF: supra) 1.7 parts Propyl alcohol 890 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 247 parts <Image formation>
Using each of the image receiving sheets and the four color ink sheets, an image formed on the image receiving sheet was transferred onto the following paper using the following exposure machine and laminator. The temperature and humidity environment during exposure and lamination was 23 ° C. and 50% RH (relative humidity), and the exposure rotation amount (rpm) was as follows for each color ink sheet.

Exposure machine: Color Decision II EV-Laser Proofer II (manufactured by Konica) B2 size specification Exposure rotation amount (rpm): Y (600), M (550), C (600), K (580)
Laminator: Color Decision II EV-Laminator II (manufactured by Konica)
Set temperature: upper roll 100 ° C, lower roll 120 ° C
Speed: 7mm / sec
Transfer pressure: As shown in Table 1, the following three types of final transfer media were used.

Paper 1: OK coat L (Oji Paper Co., Ltd.) 64.0 g / m ²
Paper 2: ND Excel (manufactured by Daio Paper Corporation) 38.0 g / m ²
Paper 3: New NPI fine quality (Nippon Paper Industries) 104.7 g / m ²
<Evaluation>
The transferability of the obtained transfer product was evaluated. Further, the frictional force of the image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet and the final transfer medium at 110 ° C. as defined in claim 1 of the present invention was measured.

  The results are shown in Table 1.

<Transferability>
It is visually checked whether there is an image flow such as “wrinkles” or “offset” in the image portion (particularly where the four colors overlap) of the final transfer, and the “cover-up tape 652” manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited is displayed on the image portion. ”Was affixed and peeled, and the presence or absence of film peeling was examined. These were evaluated in the following three stages.

◯: No image flow is observed, no film peeling Δ: Image flow is observed, but no film peeling ×: Image flow is observed, film peeling occurs << Measurement of frictional force >>
As shown in FIG. 1, the image receiving sheet 1 was fixed on a smooth glass plate 4 with the image receiving layer side facing up. A 120 g load w is applied to the final transfer medium 2 cut into a 4 cm × 10 cm strip shape, and one end of a 100 μm thick PET film 3 cut into a strip shape is attached thereto. With the temperature of the measurement location maintained at 110 ° C. (the heating device is omitted), the other end of the PET film is connected to the tribometer M (Sympo: Force Gauge FGX-05R) and 1,500 mm / min. The peak value indicated by the measurement mode “gf” was read. The average value was obtained by measuring three times. A larger value indicates a greater frictional force between the image-receiving layer surface and the final transfer medium.

  By using an image-receiving sheet that satisfies the constitution of the present invention, in a laser thermal transfer recording method, an image faithful to a printed matter can be stably obtained on various final transfer media without image flow or film peeling.

FIG. 4 is a side view (a) and a front view (b) of an apparatus for measuring the frictional force between the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet and the final transfer medium.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image receiving sheet 2 Final transfer medium 3 PET film 4 Smooth glass plate M Tribometer w Load

Claims (3)

An image receiving sheet having at least an image receiving layer on a support and an ink sheet having at least a light-to-heat conversion layer and an ink layer on the support are used, and the ink layer of the ink sheet and the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet are stacked to face each other. In addition, in the image receiving sheet for irradiating the laser beam, transferring the laser light irradiation area of the ink layer onto the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet to record an image, and further thermally transferring the image receiving layer on which the image has been recorded to the final transfer medium, The friction force between the image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet and the final transfer medium at 110 ° C. is a load of 120 g and an area of 1,500 mm / min. 1 to 50 gf when measured at a pulling speed of 1, an image receiving sheet. 2. The image receiving sheet according to claim 1, wherein the frictional force is 5 to 40 gf. An image receiving sheet having at least an image receiving layer on a support, and at least four types of ink sheets of yellow, magenta, cyan and black having at least a photothermal conversion layer and an ink layer on the support are used. Layer and the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet facing each other, irradiating laser light from the support side of the ink sheet, and transferring the laser light irradiation area of the ink layer onto the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet Further, in the image forming method for thermally transferring the image receiving layer on which the image has been recorded to a final transfer medium, the image receiving method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image receiving sheet is used.

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