JP2005219367A - Image receiving sheet and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high quality proof having a large-sized sheet larger than a B2 size and having glossiness close to that of a printed matter. <P>SOLUTION: In the image receiving sheet for laser thermal transfer having at least a cushioning layer and an image receiving layer on a support, the image receiving layer contains at least two or more resins different in a refractive index. In the image forming method, wherein the image receiving sheet having at least the image receiving layer on a support and the heat transfer ink sheet having at least a heat transfer layer, and an ink layer on a support are used to arrange the ink layer of the ink sheet and the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet to be faced with each other and are overlapped, and the laser beam irradiation area of the ink layer is transferred on the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet with the irradiation of the laser beam, the image receiving sheet wherein an image is recorded and a final recording medium are overlapped and laminated with a heat roll, and then the image receiving sheet is released, roughening the image receiving layer surface on the final recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image receiving sheet and an image forming method, and more particularly to a thermal transfer image forming method and an image receiving sheet that form a high-resolution image using a laser beam using a thermal transfer ink sheet and an image receiving sheet. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image receiving sheet and an image forming method useful for producing a color proof (DDCP: direct digital color proof) in a printing field or a mask image by laser recording from a digital image signal.

  In recent years, with the spread of image forming technology from digital data, the need for digital color proof (DDCP: direct digital color proof) is increasing, 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 employed. Specifically, a thermal transfer ink sheet having a photothermal conversion layer and an ink layer, and a thermal transfer 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 are used. Are exposed to the image from the ink sheet side, and photothermal conversion is performed to thermally transfer the ink layer to the image receiving layer side. Further, thermal transfer from the image receiving sheet carrying the image to the final recording medium (printing paper) ( (Secondary transfer). In this method, the entire image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet on which the image is recorded is secondarily transferred to the final recording medium. However, a paper having a smooth surface such as art paper (particularly in the non-image area) is compared with an actual printed matter. Due to the high glossiness, there was a feeling of glare, which was a problem for the quality of so-called proofs for school use.

  As a means for solving this problem, a technique for reducing the glossiness of an image by incorporating a fine mat material in an image receiving layer or an intermediate layer adjacent to the support side is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1). , See Patent Document 2).

  However, in the method in which the mat material is included in the image receiving layer, when the thermal transfer ink sheet and the image receiving sheet are overlapped and laser thermal transfer recording is performed (particularly in a large area of B2 size or more), the mat material portion becomes a transfer defect and density unevenness. When the mat material is included in the intermediate layer, the wettability of the mat material portion is lowered when the image receiving layer is applied on the intermediate layer, and there is a defect that a coating defect is likely to occur. . In addition, the image receiving layer and intermediate layer coating solutions containing these mat materials need to be strictly managed in order to prevent the mat materials from being settled in the coating solution, and stable production is difficult.

Conventionally, as a method for reducing the glossiness of an image without using a mat material, an image receiving layer provided with a plurality of layers having different glossinesses is known, but the number of layers increases, leading to an increase in cost. In addition to this, there is known a method in which a mat sheet having a roughened surface is laminated on the final recording medium after the secondary transfer and then laminated again, but this is troublesome and causes a jam or the like. In other words, it was necessary to redo the image recording, which was very inconvenient.
JP 2003-72247 A JP-A-9-52458

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a high-quality proof having a glossiness close to that of a printed matter in a large size of B2 size or larger.

  The above-described problems of the present invention have been solved by the following configurations.

(Claim 1)
An image receiving sheet having at least a cushion layer and an image receiving layer on a support, wherein the image receiving layer contains at least two resins having different refractive indexes.

(Claim 2)
2. The image receiving sheet according to claim 1, wherein a difference in refractive index between the resins is 0.05 to 0.4.

(Claim 3)
A thermal transfer ink sheet having at least a photothermal conversion layer and an ink layer on a support and the image receiving sheet according to claim 1, and irradiating a laser beam to define a laser light irradiation area of the ink layer of the image receiving sheet. An image forming method comprising transferring an image onto an image receiving layer and recording an image.

(Claim 4)
An image receiving sheet having at least an image receiving layer on a support and a thermal transfer ink sheet having at least a photothermal 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 opposed to each other. In the image forming method in which the laser beam irradiation region of the ink layer is transferred onto the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet by superimposing and irradiating the laser beam, the image receiving sheet on which the image has been recorded and the final recording medium are superimposed and heated An image forming method comprising: laminating an image receiving sheet after laminating, and roughening a surface of an image receiving layer on a final recording medium.

(Claim 5)
5. The image forming method according to claim 4, wherein the ten-point average roughness Rz of the surface of the image receiving layer on the final recording medium is 0.1 to 10 [mu] m.

(Claim 6)
6. The image formation according to claim 3, wherein the image recording area is 515 mm × 728 mm or more, and the resolution of the transferred image is 2400 dpi or more (dpi is the number of dots per inch, that is, 2.54 cm) or more. Method.

(Claim 7)
5. The image forming method according to claim 4, wherein the image receiving sheet according to claim 1 is used.

  By the image receiving sheet and the image forming method of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a high quality proof having a gloss level close to that of a printed matter while maintaining the transparency of the image receiving layer.

  Hereinafter, the image receiving sheet of the present invention, the thermal transfer ink sheet used in combination with the image receiving sheet, and the image forming method of the present invention will be sequentially described in detail.

<Image-receiving sheet>
In the image-receiving sheet of the present invention, at least an image-receiving layer is provided on a support, and a cushion layer, an intermediate layer, and the like can be provided as necessary. Further, a back coat layer may be provided on the surface of the support opposite to the image receiving layer.

(Support)
The support used for the ink sheet described later can be similarly used. Further, the support may have minute voids. Such a support is formed by mixing a melt obtained by mixing a thermoplastic resin and an inorganic pigment or a filler composed of a polymer incompatible with the thermoplastic resin into a single-layer or multilayer film by a melt extruder. Further, it can be produced by stretching in 1 to 2 axes. In this case, the porosity is determined by the selection of resin and filler, mixing ratio, stretching conditions, and the like.

  As the thermoplastic resin, a polyolefin resin such as polypropylene and a polyethylene terephthalate resin are preferable because they have good crystallinity and stretchability and can easily form voids. It is preferable to use the polyolefin resin or polyethylene terephthalate resin as a main component and to use a small amount of other thermoplastic resin in combination with it as appropriate. As the inorganic pigment used as the filler, those having an average particle diameter of 1 to 20 μm are preferable, and calcium carbonate, clay, diatomaceous earth, titanium oxide, aluminum hydroxide, silica and the like can be used. In addition, as the incompatible resin used as the filler, when polypropylene is used as the thermoplastic resin, it is preferable to combine polyethylene terephthalate as the filler. Details of the support having fine voids are described in JP-A-2001-105752. The content of the filler such as an inorganic pigment in the support is generally about 2 to 30% by volume.

  The thickness of the support is preferably thicker than that of the ink sheet from the viewpoint of ease of superposition, generally about 25 to 200 μm, more preferably 50 to 150 μm.

(Image receiving layer)
The image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet of the present invention is formed using at least two kinds of resins having different refractive indexes as binders, and the resins are preferably thermoplastic. In addition, it is preferable to use a polymer that is the same as or similar to the binder polymer of the ink layer from the viewpoint of improving the adhesion with the ink layer during laser recording and improving the sensitivity and image strength. The refractive index difference between the resins is preferably 0.05 to 0.4. When this difference is less than 0.05, the gloss reduction effect is lost, and when it exceeds 0.4, the transparency of the layer is lost. However, since the refractive index of a general resin is almost in the range of 1.3 to 1.7, it is unlikely that the refractive index difference between the resins will exceed 0.4.

Specific examples of the resin used in the present invention include polyvinyl acetate emulsion adhesives, chloroprene adhesives, epoxy resin adhesives, natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, butyl rubber, polyacrylate ester , Adhesives such as nitrile rubber, polysulfide, silicon rubber, petroleum resin, recycled rubber, SBR, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polyvinyl ether, ionomer resin, SIS, SEBS, acrylic resin, ethylene copolymer, ethylene- Vinyl chloride copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate resin (EVA), PVC graft EVA resin, EVA graft vinyl chloride resin, urethane resin, polyester resin, polyolefin resin, various modified olefins, polyvinyl butyral, ethylene -Biacetate Copolymer, ethylene copolymer such as ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, vinyl chloride copolymer such as polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinylidene chloride, vinylidene chloride copolymer, polystyrene Styrene copolymers such as styrene-acrylic acid copolymer and styrene-maleic acid ester copolymer, and polyvinyl acetate. In addition, a fluorine-containing resin, a fluorine-containing polysiloxane, a compound formed from a silicate oligomer, a compound formed from a SiO ₂ sol and a reactive organic silicon compound, or the like is used. Specific examples include JP-A-7-126552, JP-A-7-188582, JP-A-8-48935, JP-A-8-100136, JP-A-9-220169, JP-A-9-272169, JP-A-2001-91705, and the like. The compounds described.

  A mixture of at least two of the above binders is used. The elongation percentage of the binder suitably used in the image receiving layer is preferably from 1 to 1000%, more preferably from 10 to 800%. If the elongation is less than 1%, pinhole-like missing may occur at the time of transfer to the final recording medium. On the other hand, if it exceeds 1000%, the peeling force increases, which is not preferable for peeling in a large size.

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

  The film thickness of the image receiving layer in the invention is preferably from 0.2 to 55 μm, more preferably from 0.5 to 11 μm. Further, when an intermediate layer is provided under the image receiving layer, it is preferably 2 to 10 times the intermediate layer. The average roughness Ra of the image receiving layer surface is preferably 0.4 μm or less. If it exceeds 0.4 μm, the thermal transferability of the ink layer is deteriorated. The Ra value can be measured based on JIS B0601 using a surface roughness measuring machine (Surfcom: manufactured by Tokyo Seiki Co., Ltd.) or the like.

Further, it is preferable that the charged potential of the image receiving layer is -100 to 100 V after 1 second after the image receiving sheet is grounded after the image receiving sheet is charged according to US federal government test standard 4046. It is preferable that the surface resistivity of the image receiving layer is not more than ⁹ Omega 10 at 23 ℃ · 55% RH (relative humidity). The coefficient of static friction on the surface of the image receiving layer is preferably 0.2 or less.

(Cushion layer)
In the image receiving sheet of the present invention, a cushion layer can be provided between the support and the image receiving layer. When a cushion layer is provided, even if foreign matter is mixed between the ink sheet and the image receiving sheet, the gap between the image receiving layer and the image forming layer is reduced due to the deformation action of the cushion layer, resulting in image defects such as white spots. There is an effect to make it smaller. In addition, there is an effect of increasing secondary transferability by heating lamination to various final image recording media. For this reason, the cushion layer requires high fluidity under heating or pressure. In order to satisfy such characteristics, the cushion layer is a layer having cushioning properties or elasticity (hereinafter also referred to as cushioning properties), and can be sufficiently softened and deformed by heating, or has a low elastic modulus. A material 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. Therefore, it can be selected as appropriate.

  The material used for the cushion layer is preferably a material that exhibits elasticity without fluidity at room temperature, and exhibits remarkable fluidity in a high temperature region exceeding the softening temperature. The cushion layer preferably has a TMA softening point of 40 ° C or higher, more preferably 40 to 80 ° C. The TMA softening point is measured by TMA (Thermal Mechanical Analysis). That is, the temperature of the measurement object is increased while applying a constant load at a constant temperature increase rate, and the phase of the measurement object is observed. 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., and the heating rate is 5 ° C./min, the temperature starts to change when a 10 g load is applied to a 1 mmφ quartz glass pin (needle). TMA softening point.

  The preferred properties of the cushion layer are not necessarily specified only by the type of the material, but preferred properties of the material itself include polyolefin resins, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers, polybutadiene resins. , 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 cushion 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 preferable characteristic can be provided to the cushion 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 preferred, those having a melting point of 40 to 130 ° C. are particularly preferred, and those having a melting point of 70 to 110 ° C. are more preferred.

  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 additive amount and the like of these additives may be selected in an amount necessary for expressing preferable physical properties in combination with the base cushion layer material, and is not particularly limited. It is preferably at most 5 mass%.

  As a method of forming the cushion layer, there is a method in which the above-mentioned material dissolved in a solvent or dispersed in a latex is applied by a blade coater, roll coater, bar coater, curtain coater, gravure coater, etc., extrusion lamination by hot melt Laws can also be applied. It is also possible to use a void-structure resin layer obtained by foaming a cushioning or thermoplastic resin as a special cushion layer.

  The film thickness of the cushion layer is preferably 5 μm or more, more preferably 10 μm or more. If the thickness of the cushion layer is less than 5 μm, image loss may occur during retransfer to the final recording medium.

(Middle layer)
In the image-receiving sheet of the present invention, an intermediate layer having a thickness of about 0.1 to 2 μm can be provided in order to improve the peelability when the image-receiving layer is secondarily transferred to the final recording medium. If the layer thickness is too large, the performance of the cushion layer becomes difficult to appear, and therefore it is necessary to adjust depending on the type of the intermediate layer. The binder resin constituting the intermediate layer needs to have a tensile strength of 1 to 1000 MPa, more preferably 2 to 500 MPa. If the tensile strength is lower than 1 MPa, it cannot follow the softening of the cushion layer and is difficult to use in production. On the other hand, when the pressure is higher than 1000 MPa, transfer to the final recording medium is largely unfavorable. The elongation percentage of the resin is preferably 0.1 to 100%, and if it is less than 0.1%, it cannot follow the softening of the cushion layer, and if it is more than 100%, the peeling force when transferred to paper with large unevenness is large. It is not preferable. However, preferable resin properties are finally properties as an intermediate layer, and may be realized by mixing with various additives. Specific examples include polyolefin, polyester, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl formal, polyparabanic acid, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, silicone resin, urethane. Resin, fluorine-based resin, polystyrene, styrene such as acrylonitrile styrene, and those obtained by crosslinking these resins, polyamide, polyimide, polyetherimide, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, aramid, etc. having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 65 ° C. or higher Examples thereof include thermosetting resins and cured products of these resins. As the curing agent, general curing agents such as isocyanate and melamine can be used.

  Further, a wax or a fusible compound such as a binder or a thermoplastic resin may be contained as an effect of extremely reducing the adhesion to the image receiving layer during cooling. Examples of the hot-melt compound include substances described in JP-A-63-193886. In particular, microcrystalline wax, paraffin wax, carnauba wax and the like are preferably used. As the thermoplastic resin, an ethylene copolymer such as an ethylene-vinyl acetate resin, a cellulose resin, or the like is preferably used. Furthermore, higher fatty acids, higher alcohols, higher fatty acid esters, amides, higher amines and the like can be added as necessary as additives.

  Another structure of the intermediate layer is a layer having releasability due to cohesive failure by melting or softening when heated. Such a release layer preferably contains a supercooling substance. Examples of the supercooled substance include poly-ε-caprolactone, polyoxyethylene, benzotriazole, tribenzylamine, and vanillin.

  In addition to this, it is preferable to add a release agent, a conductive agent, a surfactant, an antioxidant, a UV absorber, and the like as necessary. The release agent is preferably one having little transferability to the image receiving layer when the image receiving layer is provided. Thereby, the fluctuation | variation of the ink layer transfer property with respect to an image receiving layer can be suppressed.

  The intermediate layer may be provided by solvent coating, but can also be formed by coating 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 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. In addition, there is a method in which the material is dissolved in a solvent or dispersed in a latex form on a temporary base, and the temporary base is peeled off after bonding the material applied by the above method and the cushion layer.

(Back coat layer)
A backcoat layer can be provided on 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 matting agent having a particle size of 2 to 30 μm are dissolved or dispersed in a solvent on 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 compounds, aromatic esters, fluorination General-purpose polymers such as polyurethane and polyethersulfone can be used. Crosslinking using a crosslinkable water-soluble binder as the binder for the backcoat layer is effective in preventing the matting agent 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.

  The back coat layer preferably contains a matting agent. The matting agent preferably added to the backcoat layer is preferably organic or inorganic fine particles. Examples of the organic matting agent include polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, fine particles of other radical polymerization polymers, fine particles of condensation polymers 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 matting agent are likely to occur. In addition, when the coating is applied greatly exceeding 5 g / m ² , the particle size of a suitable matting agent becomes very large, and the ink layer surface is embossed by the back coat during storage, particularly in thermal transfer for transferring a thin ink layer. The recorded image is likely to be missing or uneven.

The matting agent preferably has a number average particle diameter that is 1 to 20 μm larger than the film thickness of only the binder of the backcoat layer. Among the matting agent, 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. As an antistatic agent, various surfactants and conductive agents are used so that the surface resistance of the layer is 10 ¹² Ω or less, more preferably 10 ⁹ Ω or less under the conditions of 23 ° C. and 50% RH (relative humidity). Can be appropriately selected and used. Specifically, in addition to cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, polymer antistatic agents, conductive fine particles, “11290 chemical products”, Chemical Industry Daily, 875-876. The compounds described on pages etc. 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. As the conductive fine particles, those described in the backcoat layer of the ink sheet described later can be used as they are. In addition, various activators, mold release agents such as silicon oil and fluorine-based resins, and the like can be added in order to impart applicability and releasability.

  The backcoat layer is particularly preferably used when the softening point measured by TMA of the cushion layer and the image receiving layer is 70 ° C. or less.

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

The ink sheet is a sheet having a photothermal conversion function and an ink (coloring material) layer transfer function, and includes at least one photothermal conversion layer and an ink layer having a photothermal conversion function on one surface of the support. It is also possible to give the function to the same layer. If necessary, these layers can have a quark 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 (PET) film, polybutylene terephthalate film, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) ) Film, Polyacrylate film, Polycarbonate (PC) film, Polyetherketone film, Polysulfone film, Polyethersulfone film, Polyetherimide film, Polyimide film, Polyethylene (PE) film, Polypropylene (PP) film, Polystyrene (PS) film, syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) film, stretched nylon (Ny) film, polyacetate film, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) film, etc., or various plastic films or sheets in which two or more layers are laminated A film or sheet formed of various metals, a film or sheet formed of various ceramics, a metal plate of aluminum, stainless steel, chromium, nickel, etc., or a metal thin film laminated on resin-coated paper or For example, vapor-deposited materials.

The Young's modulus in the longitudinal direction of the support is preferably 19.6 × 10 ^{8 to} 11.8 × 10 ⁹ Pa, and the Young's modulus in the width direction is 24.5 × 10 ^{8 to} 15.7 × 10 ⁹ Pa. preferable. The F-5 value in the longitudinal direction of the support is preferably 4.9 × 10 ^{7 to} 4.9 × 10 ⁸ Pa, and the F-5 value in the width direction of the support is preferably 29.4 × 10 ^{6 to} 29. 4 × 10 ⁷ Pa, and the F-5 value in the longitudinal direction of the support is generally higher than the F-5 value in the width direction of the support, but particularly when the strength in the width direction needs to be increased. Is not the case. Further, the heat shrinkage rate at 100 ° C. for 30 minutes in the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the support is preferably 3% or less, more preferably 1.5% or less, and the heat shrinkage rate at 80 ° C. for 30 minutes is preferably 1% or less, more preferably 0.5% or less. The breaking strength is preferably 4.9 × 10 ^{7 to} 9.8 × 10 ⁸ Pa in both directions, and the elastic modulus is preferably 9.8 × 10 ^{8 to} 19.6 × 10 ⁹ Pa.

  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 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 latex such as is preferable, but not particularly limited thereto. Such base films with an adhesive layer are available from various companies and can be suitably used.

  When an image is formed by irradiating laser light from the ink sheet side, the support is preferably transparent. In view of ease of superposition, the thickness of the ink sheet support is preferably thinner than the thickness of the image receiving sheet, generally about 30 to 150 μm, more preferably 50 to 100 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 the binder contained in the photothermal conversion layer, a resin having at least strength capable of forming a layer on a support and having high thermal conductivity is preferable. Furthermore, if the resin has heat resistance and is not decomposed by heat generated from the light-to-heat conversion substance during image recording, the smoothness of the surface of the light-to-heat conversion layer after light irradiation can be maintained even when high-energy light irradiation is performed. Therefore, it is preferable. Specifically, a resin having a thermal decomposition temperature (temperature at which the temperature is reduced by 5 mass% in an air stream at a rate of temperature increase of 10 ° C./min by the TGA method) is preferably 400 ° C. or higher, and more preferably a resin having 500 ° C. or higher. . Moreover, what has Tg of 200-400 degreeC is preferable, and what has Tg of 250-350 degreeC is more preferable. If the Tg is lower than 200 ° C., fog may occur in the formed image. If the Tg is higher than 400 ° C., the solubility of the resin may decrease and the production efficiency may decrease.

  Specific examples include polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyimide (preferably those described in JP-A-2002-347361), polyetherimide, polysulfone, and polyethersulfone. , Using general heat-resistant resins such as aramid and polythiophenes, polyanilines, polyacetylenes, polyphenylenes, polyphenylene sulfides, polypyrroles, and derivatives thereof, or polymer compounds composed of mixtures thereof Can do.

  Moreover, a water-soluble polymer can also be used as a binder in a photothermal conversion layer. A water-soluble polymer is preferable in that it has good releasability from the ink layer, good heat resistance during laser irradiation, and little scattering even when excessively heated. When a water-soluble polymer is used, it is desirable that the photothermal conversion substance is modified to be water-soluble (for example, by introduction of a sulfo group) or dispersed in water.

  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 surfactants (perfluorophosphate ester surfactants, etc.), and other various surfactants. Etc. 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 using a semiconductor laser as a light source, a substance having an absorption band in the near infrared is preferable. Near-infrared light absorbers include, for example, carbon black, cyanine-based, polymethine-based, azulenium-based, squalium-based, thiopyrylium-based, naphthoquinone-based, anthraquinone-based organic compounds, phthalocyanine-based, azo-based, and thioamide-based 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 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, metal elements of groups 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16 of the periodic rule, and alloys thereof, or these An alloy of an element and an element of group 1, 2 and 3 or a mixture of these elements may be mentioned, and particularly desirable metals include Al, Bi, Sn, In or Zn, and alloys thereof, or the period of these metals and their period. Alloys with the elements of Groups 1, 2 and 3 or mixtures thereof are included. 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 thickness of the deposited layer is preferably within 500 angstroms. 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.

The photothermal conversion layer may contain a matting agent as necessary. Examples of the matting agent contained in the photothermal conversion layer include inorganic fine particles and organic fine particles. Examples of the inorganic fine particles include silica, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, barium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, boron nitride and other metal salts, kaolin, clay, talc, zinc white, Lead white, sieglite, quartz, diatomaceous earth, barlite, bentonite, mica, synthetic mica and the like can be mentioned. Examples of the organic fine particles include resin particles such as fluorine resin particles, guanamine resin particles, acrylic resin particles, styrene-acrylic copolymer resin particles, silicone resin particles, melamine resin particles, and epoxy resin particles. The particle size of the matting agent is usually 0.3 to 30 μm, preferably 0.5 to 20 μm, and the addition amount is preferably 0.1 to 100 mg / m ² .

  Examples of the organic solvent for dissolving the binder resin include hexane, cyclohexane, diglyme, xylene, toluene, ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, cyclohexanone, 1,4-dioxane, 1,3-dioxane, dimethyl acetate, N -Methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, γ-butyrolactone, ethanol, methanol, i-propanol, water and the like. The application / drying can be performed using a normal application / drying method.

  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.

  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. As the adhesive layer, it is necessary to select a material so that the adhesive strength between the photothermal conversion layer and the adhesive layer and the support lower layer at the time of ink transfer is greater than the ink peel strength at the time of ink transfer. Generally, conventionally known adhesives such as polyester, urethane, and gelatin can be used. In order to obtain the same effect, a tackifier and an adhesive can be added to the lower layer of the support instead of providing the adhesive layer. When the adhesive layer is poor in heat softening property or thermoplasticity, the effect of heat softening property is reduced. Therefore, the adhesive layer is preferably as thin as possible. The preferred film thickness is 0.5 μm or less, but not limited to this as long as the adhesive layer can fulfill the purpose of the thermal softening layer.

(Ink layer)
The ink layer mainly comprises a colorant and a binder, but may have additives such as a lubricant as necessary. In the laser melting thermal transfer method, the ink layer is a layer that is melted or softened when heated and can be transferred together with the layer, 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, thioindigo). Pigments, dyes (acidic dyes, direct dyes, disperse dyes, oil-soluble dyes, etc.) such as pigments, anthraquinone, anthanthrone, triphendioxazine pigments, vat dye pigments, phthalocyanine pigments and derivatives thereof, quinacridone pigments, etc. Metal oil-soluble dyes or sublimable dyes). For example, yellow is C.I. I. 21090, C.I. I. 21095, C.I. I. 21100, C.I. I. 21105, C.I. I. 21290, C.I. I. 56298 pigment, magenta is C.I. I. 15850: 1, C.I. I. 15855: 1, C.I. I. 15865: 1, C.I. I. 15865: 2, C.I. I. 15865: 3, C.I. I. 73915, C.I. I. 65300 pigment, cyan is C.I. I. 74160, C.I. I. 69800 pigment, black is C.I. I. 77266 pigment is preferably used. The content of the colorant in the ink layer is not particularly limited as long as it is adjusted so that a desired concentration can be obtained with a desired coating film thickness, but is usually in the range of 5 to 70% by mass of the total solid content of the ink layer. Yes, preferably 10 to 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 Examples thereof include petroleum waxes such as waxes; and waxes such as mineral waxes such as montan wax, ozokerite, and ceresin. 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, and hydrogenated rosin And high molecular compounds such as phenol resin, terpene resin, cyclopentadiene resin, and 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. et al. Imaging Science, 30 (2), pages 59-64 (1986), including polymers of the type, and polyurethanes, polyesters, polyorthoesters, and polyacetals, and copolymers thereof. .

  Although it is disclosed in JP-A-62-158092 that a high concentration can be obtained by making the particle diameters of the pigments uniform, various dispersants can be used in order to ensure the dispersibility of the pigment and obtain a good color reproduction. It is effective to use. Examples of other additives include the addition of a plasticizer that increases the sensitivity by plasticizing the ink layer, and the addition of a surfactant that improves the coatability of the ink layer.

  Examples of the lubricant include the following synthetic waxes.

1) Fatty acid-based wax C8-30 saturated fatty acid: Specific examples include stearic acid, behenic acid, palmitic acid, 12-hydroxystearic acid, azelaic acid and the like. Moreover, metal salts (K, Ca, Zn, Mg, etc.), such as the said fatty acid, are mentioned.

2) Fatty acid ester wax Examples of fatty acid esters include ethyl stearate, lauryl stearate, ethyl behenate, hexyl behenate, behenyl myristate, glycerin ester and the like.

3) Fatty acid amide wax Specific examples of fatty acid amides include stearic acid amide and lauric acid amide.

4) Aliphatic alcohol-based wax Linear saturated aliphatic alcohol having 7 to 29 carbon atoms: Specific examples include lauryl alcohol and stearyl alcohol.

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.

  In addition to the above components, surfactants, inorganic or organic fine particles (metal powder, silica gel, etc.), oils (linseed oil, mineral oil, etc.), thickeners, antistatic agents, etc. may be contained.

  Solvents used for preparing the ink layer coating liquid include water, methanol, ethanol, i-propyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether Etc. The application / drying can be performed using a normal application / drying method.

  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 depending on the balance between sensitivity and resolution, and other desired image reproduction performance.

(Back coat layer)
A back coat layer can be provided on the surface opposite to the ink layer for the purpose of providing the ink sheet with stable transportability and preventing blocking of the ink layer. 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 ester, fluoride General-purpose polymers such as polyurethane and polyethersulfone can be used. Using a crosslinkable water-soluble binder as the binder for the backcoat layer is effective for preventing the matting agent from falling off and improving the scratch resistance of the backcoat. It is also very effective in preventing blocking during storage. As the crosslinking means, any one or combination of heat, actinic rays, pressure, and the like can be adopted without particular limitation depending on the characteristics of the crosslinking agent to be 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.

The back coat layer preferably contains a matting agent. As the matting agent preferably added to the backcoat layer, organic or inorganic fine particles can be used. Examples of the organic matting agent include polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, fine particles of other radical polymerization polymers, and fine particles of condensation polymers such as polyester and polycarbonate. 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 matting agent are likely to occur. In addition, when the coating is applied greatly exceeding 5 g / m ² , the particle size of a suitable matting agent becomes very large, and the ink layer surface is embossed by the back coat during storage, particularly in thermal transfer for transferring a thin ink layer. The recorded image is likely to be missing or uneven. The matting agent preferably has a number average particle diameter that is 1 to 20 μm larger than the film thickness of only the binder of the backcoat layer. Among the matting agents, particles having a particle diameter of 2 μm or more are required to be 1 mg / m ² or more, preferably ² to 600 mg / 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. Examples of the antistatic agent include a cationic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a polymer antistatic agent, conductive fine particles, “11290 Chemical Products”, Chemical Industry Daily, 875-876. The compounds described on pages etc. are widely used. As the antistatic agent that can be used in combination with the backcoat layer, among the above 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. Specific examples 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, 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 , NaCaP ₂ O ₁₈ , Oxides such as MgB ₂ O ₅ ; sulfides such as CuS and ZnS; carbides such as SiC, TiC, ZrC, VC, NbC, MoC, WC; Si ₃ N ₄ , TiN, ZrN, VN, NbN, Cr ₂ N Nitrides such as TiB ₂ , ZrB ₂ , NbB ₂ , TaB ₂ , CrB, MoB, WB, LaB _5, etc .; TiSi ₂ , ZrSi ₂ , NbSi ₂ , TaSi ₂ , CrSi ₂ , MoSi ₂ , WSi ₂ silicide etc.; BaCO _3, CaCO ₃ SrCO _3, BaSO _4, CaSO ₄ and the like metal _{salts; SiN 4 -SiC, 9Al 2 O} 3 -2B 2 O 3 composite of the like, even if alone or in combination of two or more of these one Good. 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.

  In addition, various activators, release agents such as silicone oil, fluorine-based resins, and the like can be added to the backcoat layer in order to impart applicability and releasability. The back coat layer is particularly preferable when the softening point measured by TMA of the cushion layer and the image receiving layer is 70 ° C. or less.

  The back coat layer may be composed of two layers. In this case, the ratio B / A between the mass A of the antistatic agent contained in the lower back layer and the mass B of the antistatic agent contained in the upper backcoat layer is preferably less than 0.3. When B / A is 0.3 or more, there is a tendency that slipperiness and powder fall off of the back coat layer are deteriorated. The ratio of the layer thickness of the upper layer and the lower layer is preferably 1: 2 to 5: 1.

(Cushion layer)
The cushion layer is provided for the purpose of increasing the adhesion between the ink sheet and the image receiving sheet. This cushion layer is a layer having cushioning properties or elasticity, and a material that can be sufficiently softened and deformed by heating, a material having a low elastic modulus, or a material having rubber elasticity may be used.

The cushion layer is a layer having a cushioning property, and an elastic modulus and a penetration can be used as a guideline representing the cushioning property here. For example, a layer having an elastic modulus at 25 ° C. of about 9.8 to 24.5 × 10 ² MPa or a penetration of 15 to 500, more preferably about 30 to 300, as defined in JIS K2530-1976, Although it has been confirmed that a cushioning property suitable for the formation of a color proof image for color calibration is shown, the required level varies depending on the intended use of the image, and can be selected as appropriate. The cushion layer preferably has a TMA softening point of 70 ° C or lower, more preferably 60 ° C or lower.

  The preferred properties of the cushion layer are not necessarily specified only by the type of the material, but preferred properties of the material itself include polyolefin resins, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers, polybutadiene resins. , 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 are likely to satisfy the preferable requirements, but are not necessarily limited in relation to the material. The cushion layer can be provided by solvent application, 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 as a mixture as required. Moreover, even if it is a raw material other than the above, a preferable characteristic can be provided to the cushion layer by adding various additives. Examples of such additives include low melting point substances such as wax, plasticizers, and the like. Specific examples include phthalic acid esters, adipic acid esters, glycol esters, fatty acid esters, phosphoric acid esters, chlorinated paraffins, and the like. 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 additive amount and the like of these additives may be selected in an amount necessary for expressing preferable physical properties in combination with the base cushion layer material, and is not particularly limited. It is preferably at most 5 mass%.

  As a method for forming the cushion layer, a solution obtained by dissolving the material in a solvent or dispersed in a latex form, a coating method such as a blade coater, a roll coater, a bar coater, a curtain coater, or a gravure coater, an extrusion lamination method using hot melt, etc. Applicable. It is also possible to use a void-structure resin layer obtained by foaming a heat softening or thermoplastic resin as a special cushion layer. The film thickness of the cushion layer is preferably 0.5 to 10 μm, more preferably 1 to 7 μm.

<Image forming method>
Next, the image forming method of the present invention 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) Repeating the above steps a plurality of times to form a color image on the image receiving sheet. This is a step of facing the final recording medium, applying heat and / or pressure to bond the image receiving sheet and the recording medium, and then peeling the image receiving sheet to transfer the image together with the image receiving layer to the final recording medium.

  As an example, an image receiving sheet and an image forming ink sheet are wound around an exposure drum in order and held by pressure-reducing adhesion, and the image data is transferred from the back surface of the ink sheet (back coat layer application surface side) while rotating the drum. By irradiating a corresponding laser beam, 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 recording 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 in the present invention include a semiconductor laser, a YAG laser, a carbon dioxide gas laser, and a helium neon laser. Among semiconductor lasers, 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 without significantly reducing the optical efficiency.

  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 recording 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. The laser beam is preferably irradiated under conditions such that the beam diameter on the photothermal conversion layer is in the range of 5 to 50 μm (especially 6 to 30 μm), and the scanning speed is 1 m / second or more (particularly 3 m / second or more). ) Is preferable.

  The exposure apparatus used in the present invention preferably includes a plurality of multichannel exposure heads. The multi-channel arrangement is preferably two-dimensional. The two-dimensional array uses a plurality of laser beams when recording by laser irradiation, and the spot array of these laser beams is composed of a plurality of columns along the main scanning direction and a plurality of rows along the sub-scanning direction. Is a planar arrangement.

<Roughening of the image-receiving layer surface transferred onto the final recording medium>
In the present invention, the surface of the image receiving layer on the final recording medium after the image receiving sheet on which the image is recorded from the ink layer of the ink sheet and the final recording medium are overlaid and laminated by a heating roll, and the image receiving sheet is peeled off. Is roughened. As a roughening method, known mat rolls, embossing rolls and various hard roughening rolls can be used. The roll is preferably kept at a temperature higher than the Tg of the binder of the image receiving layer, but must be kept below the melting point. The ten-point average roughness Rz of the image-receiving layer surface after roughening is preferably from 0.1 to 10 μm. When in this range, the glossiness is adjusted moderately, and a proof with a finish close to that of an actual printed matter can be obtained.

  The degree of roughening can be adjusted over a wide range depending on the shape of the roughening roll, the temperature during lamination, and the conveyance speed, but it is not enough to change the conveyance speed during primary transfer significantly. There are many restrictions due to reasons such as undesirable.

  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
Each ink sheet was prepared as follows.

<Preparation of black ink sheet>
Apply a corona treatment to one side of a 75-μm thick biaxially stretched transparent PET film, and apply and dry a backcoat first layer coating solution having the following composition to a dry film thickness of 0.03 μm. Formed.
(Backcoat first layer coating solution)
20 parts aqueous dispersion of acrylic resin (Julimer ET410: manufactured by Nippon Pure Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2.0 parts Antistatic agent (17% aqueous dispersion of tin oxide-antimony oxide, average particle size 0.1 μm)
7.0 parts Polyoxyethylene phenyl ether 0.1 part Melamine compound (Sumitex Resin M-3: manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.3 part Pure water Amount of total 100 parts Above the first layer of the back coat Then, a backcoat second layer coating solution having the following composition was applied and dried to a dry film thickness of 0.03 μm to form a backcoat second layer.
(Backcoat 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 A total amount of 100 parts On the support opposite to the surface on which the backcoat layer is provided, a coating solution for the photothermal conversion layer having the following composition is applied. -It dried and formed the photothermal conversion layer with an average film thickness of 0.3 micrometer.
(Coating solution 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 Matte material dispersion 14.1 parts True spherical silica fine particles (Seahoster KE-P150: manufactured by Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.) , Average particle size 1.5μ
m) 10 parts Dispersant polymer (John Crill 611: styrene acrylic resin manufactured by Johnson Polymer Co., Ltd.) 2 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 16 parts N methyl pyrrolidone 64 parts Next, in order to prepare a black ink layer coating solution, the following components were kneaded. The sample was placed in a mill, and a shearing force was applied while adding a small amount of solvent to carry out a dispersion pretreatment. A solvent was further added to the dispersion to prepare a final composition having the following composition, and sand mill dispersion was performed for 2 hours to obtain a black 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 solution was applied and dried with a wire bar to form a black ink layer having an average film thickness of 0.60 μm. Through the above steps, a black ink sheet was obtained.
(Black ink layer coating solution)
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>
In the preparation of the black ink sheet, a black ink was used except that a yellow pigment dispersion mother liquid having the following composition was used instead of the black pigment dispersion mother liquid, and a yellow ink layer coating liquid having the following composition was used instead of the black ink layer coating liquid. A yellow ink sheet was produced in the same manner as the production of the sheet. The film thickness of the ink layer of the obtained yellow ink sheet 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 Co.) 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 propyl alcohol (yellow ink layer coating solution)
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 (Chemistat 1100: Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.) 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 <Maze Preparation of data ink sheet>
In the preparation of the black ink sheet, a black ink sheet was used except that a magenta pigment dispersion mother liquid having the following composition was used instead of the black pigment dispersion mother liquid, and a magenta ink layer coating liquid having the following composition was used instead of the black ink layer coating liquid. A magenta ink sheet was produced in the same manner as in the above. The layer thickness of the ink layer of the obtained magenta ink sheet 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)
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 Erucamide (Diamond 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) : Ibid.) 4.6 parts Pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (NK ester A-TMMT: Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2.5 parts Surfactant (Megafac -176PF: supra) 1.3 parts propyl alcohol 848 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 246 parts <Preparation of Cyan Ink Sheet>
In the preparation of the black ink sheet, a black ink sheet was used except that a cyan pigment dispersion mother liquid having the following composition was used instead of the black pigment dispersion mother liquid, and a cyan ink layer coating liquid having the following composition was used instead of the black ink layer coating liquid. A cyan ink sheet was prepared in the same manner as described above. The thickness of the ink layer of the obtained cyan ink sheet was 0.45 μm.
(Cyan pigment dispersion mother liquor)
[Composition 1]
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 12.6 parts Cyan pigment (Cyanine Blue 700-10FG: manufactured by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) 15.0 parts Dispersing aid (PW-36: manufactured by 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)
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 Part Stearamide (Neutron 2: supra) 1.0 part Behenamide (Diamond BM: supra) 1.0 part Lauramide (Diamond Y: supra) 1.0 part Palmitic acid amide ( Diamin KP: supra) 1.0 part Erucamide (Diamid L-200: supra) 1.0 part Oleamide (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 <Preparation of image-receiving sheet 1>
After coating and drying the following cushion layer coating solution 1 on one side of a 130 μm thick white void PET film support (Lumirror # 130E58: manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.), a cushion layer having a layer thickness of about 20 μm was formed. On the same layer, the following image-receiving layer coating solution 1 was applied and dried to form an image-receiving layer having a layer thickness of about 2 μm to obtain an image-receiving sheet 1. The refractive index of the image-receiving layer binder is measured with an appe refractometer after producing a single resin film. Table 1 shows the results.
(Cushion layer coating solution 1)
20.0 parts of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (MPR-TSL: manufactured by Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) Plasticizer (Paraplex G-40: manufactured by CP.HALL.COMPANY)
10.0 parts Surfactant (Megafac F-177: manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.) 0.5 part Antistatic agent (SAT-5 Super (IC): manufactured by Nippon Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) 0.3 part Methyl ethyl ketone 60 Part Toluene 10 parts N, N-dimethylformamide 3 parts (Image-receiving layer coating solution 1)
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 5 parts Fluororesin * 3 parts Antistatic agent (Sunstat 2012A: Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.) 0.7 part Surfactant (Megafuck F-177: supra) 0.1 part 1,3-bis (trifluoromethyl) benzene 40 parts methyl-i-butylketone 10 parts dimethylformamide 20 parts 1-methoxy-2-propanol 20 parts * Synthesis method of fluororesin 40 g of vinylidene fluoride, fluorine 25 g of atom-containing acrylic monomer (Biscoat 17F: Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.), 15 g of tetrafluoroethylene, 15 g of glycidyl methacrylate are dissolved in 0.5 liter of methyl-i-butyl ketone (MIBK), 2 g of benzoyl peroxide is added, and 80 The reaction was carried out at 2 ° C. for 2 hours. Purification by reprecipitation was performed twice with 1 liter of methanol to obtain a polymer. The polymer yield was 93 g, and the number average molecular weight was 15,600 (polystyrene conversion by GPC).

<Preparation of image receiving sheet 2>
An image receiving sheet 2 was prepared in the same manner as the image receiving sheet 1 except that the image receiving layer coating liquid 1 was replaced with the image receiving layer coating liquid 2 described below.
(Image-receiving layer coating solution 2)
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 6 parts Fluorine-modified polysiloxane (number average molecular weight: about 8,000) 2 parts Antistatic agent (Sunstat 2012A: supra) 0.7 part Surfactant (mega Fuck F-177: supra) 0.1 part 1,3-bis (trifluoromethyl) benzene 30 parts cyclohexanone 20 parts dimethylformamide 20 parts 1-methoxy-2-propanol 20 parts <Preparation of image-receiving sheet 3>
An image receiving sheet 4 was prepared in the same manner as the image receiving sheet 1 except that the image receiving layer coating liquid 1 was replaced with the following image receiving layer coating liquid 4.
(Image-receiving layer coating solution 3)
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 4 parts Polymethyl methacrylate (number average molecular weight: 1,5000) 4 parts Antistatic agent (Sunstat 2012A: supra) 0.7 part Surfactant (Megafac F) -177: supra) 0.1 part propyl alcohol 20 parts methanol 20 parts 1-methoxy-2-propanol 50 parts <Preparation of image-receiving sheet 4>
An image receiving sheet 4 was prepared in the same manner as the image receiving sheet 1 except that the image receiving layer coating liquid 1 was replaced with the following image receiving layer coating liquid 4.
(Image-receiving layer coating solution 4)
Polyvinyl butyral (ESREC B BL-SH: supra) 8 parts Antistatic agent (Sunstat 2012A: supra) 0.7 part Surfactant (Megafac F-177: supra) 0.1 part Propyl alcohol 20 parts Methanol 20 parts 1-methoxy-2-propanol 50 parts <Preparation of image-receiving sheet 5>
A back coat layer of the following composition is applied to one side of a 100 μm thick white PET film (U51L74: manufactured by Teijin Ltd.), and each coating solution for the thermal softening layer, the intermediate layer and the image receiving layer is sequentially applied to the surface opposite to the same layer. The image receiving sheet 5 was obtained by applying and drying with a bar.

Back coat layer: 100 ° C., 1 minute, film thickness after drying 3 μm
Thermal softening layer: 100 ° C., 5 minutes, film thickness after drying 15 μm
Intermediate layer: 80 ° C., 1 minute, film thickness after drying 3 μm
Image receiving layer: 80 ° C., 1 minute, film thickness after drying 1.3 μm
(Backcoat layer coating solution)
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)
Polyethylene latex (Hitech S-3127: manufactured by Toho Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 95 parts Pure water 5 parts (intermediate layer coating solution)
Ethylcellulose (STD10: manufactured by Dow Chemical Co.) 9.5 parts Methanol-modified ethanol 90.5 parts (Image-receiving layer coating solution 5)
Acrylic resin latex (Iodosol A5801 manufactured by NSC Japan) 22.0 parts Matt material (MX40S-2: manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2.1 parts Pure water 62.8 parts i-Propyl alcohol 8.7 parts Transfer to final recording medium>
Image recording was performed using the four color ink sheets and the image receiving sheet. The conditions below the exposure apparatus are summarized below. A monochrome full-color image was output for cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), and a half-surface solid image was output for black (K).

Exposure apparatus: Color Decision II EV-laser proofer II (manufactured by Konica Minolta MG)
Output resolution: 2400 dpi
Image recording area: 548 mm x 820 mm
Temperature and humidity environment: 23 ° C, 50% RH
The image-receiving sheet surface of the image-recording sheet on which the image has been recorded is faced upward, and a final recording medium (Tokuhishi double-sided art N 127.9 g / m ² : manufactured by Mitsubishi Paper Industries Co., Ltd.) is overlaid thereon, and Color Decision ^II EV-laminator II (Konica Minolta MG) After image lamination, the image receiving sheet was peeled off to obtain a final image output product. In addition, the heating roll setting temperature of the laminator: the upper side was 100 ° C., the lower side was 120 ° C., and the conveyance speed was 7 mm / sec.

<Performance evaluation>
The final image output product was evaluated for glossiness and solid density unevenness.

《Glossiness》
According to JIS Z-8741, 60 degree specular glossiness was measured by HORIBA GLOSS CHCEKER 1G-310. The results are shown in Table 1. The smaller the number, the lower the gloss. Measurements were made on the image portion (paper + solid portion of black ink + image receiving layer), the non-image portion (paper + image receiving layer), and art paper as the final recording medium, and the difference in glossiness between the paper and the non-image portion. The smaller the gloss difference between the image portion and the non-image portion, the higher the quality as a proof.

<Solid density unevenness>
With respect to C, M, and Y, the density of a monochrome solid image was measured at 141 points at intervals of about 5 cm, and the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value was defined as density unevenness. The colorimeter used was a densitometer D-196 manufactured by GRETAG.

  The image receiving sheet of the present invention is superior to the comparative image receiving sheet in any evaluation.

Example 2
In the same manner as in Example 1, the image-receiving sheet on which an image was recorded from the black ink sheet onto the image-receiving layer was superposed on the final recording medium (special double-sided art N: the same as in Example 1) as in Example 1. FIG. After laminating with a laminator shown in FIG. 2, the image receiving sheet was peeled off and the surface of the image receiving layer was roughened to obtain a final image output product.

Conveyance speed: 7mm / sec
Heating roll: the same as in Example 1, the set temperature is 110 ° C. on both the top and bottom
Roughening roll: Hard silicon rubber, surface hardness of 80 degrees, diameter of 100 mm, surface temperature of 50 ° C. and surface roughness of Ra = 1.5 μm formed Laminating linear pressure: 29.4 N / cm
<Performance evaluation>
The image receiving layer surface ten-point average roughness (Rz) of the final image output product was measured using a surface roughness measuring machine (Surfcom: manufactured by Tokyo Seiki Co., Ltd.) according to the method of JIS B0601. In addition, the glossiness was measured in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 2.

  The image-receiving sheet 1 of the present invention is preferable in comparison with the comparative image-receiving sheet 4 because the difference in gloss between the paper and the non-image portion and the image portion and the non-image portion is small. However, the image receiving sheet 4 can greatly improve the difference in glossiness by roughening the surface of the image layer retransferred to the final recording medium.

The process cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows one preferable form of the image forming method of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image receiving sheet to which image was transferred 2, 3 Heating roll 4 Roughening roll 5 Roll 6 Final recording medium (paper)
11 Support (PET)
12 Cushion layer 13 Image receiving layer 14 Transfer image

Claims (7)

An image receiving sheet having at least a cushion layer and an image receiving layer on a support, wherein the image receiving layer contains at least two resins having different refractive indexes. 2. The image receiving sheet according to claim 1, wherein a difference in refractive index between the resins is 0.05 to 0.4. A thermal transfer ink sheet having at least a photothermal conversion layer and an ink layer on a support and the image receiving sheet according to claim 1 or 2, and irradiating a laser beam so that a laser beam irradiation area of the ink layer is formed on the image receiving sheet. An image forming method comprising transferring an image onto an image receiving layer and recording an image. An image receiving sheet having at least an image receiving layer on a support and a thermal transfer ink sheet having at least a photothermal 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 opposed to each other. In the image forming method in which the laser beam irradiation region of the ink layer is transferred onto the image receiving layer of the image receiving sheet by superimposing and irradiating the laser beam, the image receiving sheet on which the image has been recorded and the final recording medium are superimposed and heated An image forming method comprising: laminating an image receiving sheet after laminating, and roughening a surface of an image receiving layer on a final recording medium. 5. The image forming method according to claim 4, wherein the ten-point average roughness Rz of the surface of the image receiving layer on the final recording medium is 0.1 to 10 [mu] m. 6. The image formation according to claim 3, wherein the image recording area is 515 mm × 728 mm or more, and the resolution of the transferred image is 2400 dpi or more (dpi is the number of dots per inch, that is, 2.54 cm) or more. Method. 5. The image forming method according to claim 4, wherein the image receiving sheet according to claim 1 is used.

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