JP2009137255A - Protective layer formation method using intermediate transfer recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a protective layer formation method which enables forming of a protective layer leaving no margin on the entire surface of an object for a patch part to be transferred to. <P>SOLUTION: An intermediate transfer recording medium 1 contains a detection agent 6' which can be detected by a detector, in a heat transferable protective layer 4 and/or a receptive layer 5. Alternatively, an intermediate transfer recording medium 1 has a detection layer containing a detection agent formed between the heat transferable protective layer 4 and the receptive layer 5. The detection agent 6' or the detection layer contained in a patch part as a part to be transferred to an object for a patch part to be transferred to, is detected using the detector. After that, the register of positions for the patch part and the object, is performed and thereby, the patch part is transferred to the object and the heat transferable protective layer 4 is formed on the surface of the object. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for forming a thermal transferable protective layer on a transfer medium using an intermediate transfer recording medium, and more specifically, a so-called borderless thermal transferable protective layer can be formed without a margin on the outer edge of the transfer medium. And a method for forming a protective layer.

  Conventionally, various thermal transfer methods are known, but this method uses a thermal transfer sheet in which a colored transfer layer is formed on a sheet substrate, and heats it from the back side of the thermal transfer sheet into an image by a thermal head or the like. The colored transfer layer is thermally transferred onto the surface of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet to form an image. This thermal transfer method is roughly classified into a sublimation transfer type and a thermal melt transfer type depending on the configuration of the colored transfer layer. Both types can form full-color images.For example, yellow, magenta, and cyan, if necessary, black or three-color thermal transfer sheets are prepared, and the surface of the same thermal transfer image-receiving sheet has each color. The images are superimposed and thermally transferred to form a full color image. With the development of various hardware and software related to multimedia, this thermal transfer method can be used as a full-color hard copy system for analog images such as digital graphics and video such as still images by computer graphics, satellite communications and CDROM. That market is expanding.

  The specific application of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet by this thermal transfer method is diverse. Typical examples include printing proofs, image output, CAD / CAM design and design output, various medical analysis instruments such as CT scans and endoscope cameras, measurement instrument output applications, and instant As an alternative to photos, output of ID cards, ID cards, credit cards, other face photos on cards, etc., as well as composite photos and amusement photos at amusement facilities such as amusement parks, game centers, museums, and aquariums Etc.

  In particular, in recent years, in ID cards, ID cards, credit cards, and other cards, so-called borderless images that form images on the entire card surface have become mainstream.

  By the way, when an image is formed with a sublimation transfer type thermal transfer sheet, a gradation image such as a face photograph can be precisely formed, but unlike an image with a normal printing ink, weather resistance, friction resistance, There is a problem that durability such as chemical properties is insufficient.

  As a solution, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-330235 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-149048 (Patent Document 2), a thermal transfer sheet is overlaid on a thermal transfer image, and thermal A protective layer having transparency is transferred using a head, a heating roll, or the like to form a protective layer on the image.

  However, in order to provide a protective layer on an image as described above in a card on which a borderless image is formed, it is necessary to provide a protective layer so as to be the same size as the card. Therefore, conventionally, a protective layer that is slightly larger than the card is transferred to the surface of the card on which the image is formed on the entire surface, and the portion of the protective layer that protrudes from the card is cut off, so that the protective layer It was done to provide.

  Also, a method of printing a detection mark on a protective layer thermal transfer sheet in advance, and performing a half cut on a portion (patch portion) to be transferred to the card based on position information by the detection mark, and transferring the patch portion to the card Have also been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-312752: Patent Document 3 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-238439: Patent Document 4).

However, since the transfer sheet that has been scraped after half-cut is usually wound up once and the protective layer is transferred in a separate process, the position of the detection mark and the patch portion is not accurate, There may be a deviation between the position of the patch portion and the card. Usually, since the detection mark printing process and the patch portion half-cut process are performed in different processes, the positional relationship between the two varies considerably due to their processing tolerances. For this reason, conventionally, the patch portion has been half-cut so as to be slightly smaller than the card surface area by taking a position shift.
JP-A-5-330235 JP 58-149048 A JP 2002-312752 A No. 2000-238439

  The present inventors pay attention to the above problems, and by performing positioning of the protective layer and the transferred body immediately before transferring the protective layer to the transferred body, they are half-cut to the same size as the transferred body. It was found that even a protective layer could be transferred to the entire surface of the transfer target without shifting its position. Then, the patch part remaining in the intermediate transfer recording medium is made to contain a detection agent that can be detected by a detector, or a detection layer is provided in advance by the step of removing after half-cut processing. It was found that the patch part can be positioned by using the part itself as a detection mark, and as a result, a protective layer can be provided on the entire surface of the transfer object without a blank space. The present invention is based on such knowledge.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for forming a protective layer on a transfer medium using an intermediate transfer recording medium, in which a protective layer can be provided on the entire surface of the transfer medium without a blank space.

The method according to the present invention uses an intermediate transfer recording medium in which a sheet base material provided with a resin layer and a heat transferable protective layer provided with a receiving layer are laminated so that the resin layer and the heat transferable protective layer overlap each other. In the method for forming the thermal transferable protective layer on the transfer object,
An intermediate transfer recording medium containing a detection agent that can be detected by a detector in the thermal transferable protective layer and / or the receiving layer, or detection containing a detection agent between the thermal transferable protective layer and the receiving layer. An intermediate transfer recording medium provided with a layer,
The patch portion of the intermediate transfer recording medium, which is a portion to be transferred to the transfer material, is subjected to a half-cut process, and the thermal transferable protective layer including the receiving layer and the detection layer is cut.
The thermal transferable protective layer other than the patch portion subjected to the half-cut treatment is peeled off from the resin layer of the sheet base material and removed from the intermediate transfer recording medium,
Overlaying the intermediate transfer recording medium and the thermal transfer sheet so that the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium and the transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet are in contact with each other to form a transfer image on the receiving layer,
When the surface of the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the image is transferred to the receiving layer is retransferred with the surface of the intermediate transfer recording medium superimposed on the transfer target, the detection agent contained in the patch portion or at least one of the patch portions, The detection layer is detected by a detector to align the position of the patch portion with the position of the transfer target, and the patch portion is transferred to the transfer target to protect the surface of the transfer target from thermal transfer. A layer is provided.

  Moreover, as an aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the detection by the detector is performed at two or more locations in the patch portion.

  Moreover, in the aspect of this invention, it is preferable that the said detection is performed in a biaxial direction.

  Furthermore, as an aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the patch portion is half-cut so as to have the same shape as the surface of the transfer target.

  Moreover, as an aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that a release layer is provided on the surface of the resin layer, and the release layer and the thermal transferable protective layer are laminated so as to overlap each other.

  In the aspect of the present invention, when the transfer image is formed on the receiving layer, the detection agent or the detection layer is detected, and the position of the patch portion and the position of the transfer target are aligned. Is preferred.

  Furthermore, the present invention also provides an image formed product obtained by the above method.

  In the method for forming a protective layer according to the present invention, the patch portion is composed of a receiving layer containing a detection agent and a heat transferable protective layer (or a detection layer in some cases), so that the intermediate transfer recording medium is scanned with a detector. The boundary line of the patch part can be recognized, and the position of the patch part can be accurately known. As a result, the thermal transferable protective layer can be accurately retransferred onto the surface of the transfer target. Therefore, even when a patch portion having the same size as that of the transfer target is formed at the time of half-cutting, the thermal transferable protective layer can be provided without any gap without shifting from the transfer target.

  Also, just before the transfer image is formed using the thermal transfer sheet on the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium, the patch portion can be accurately aligned with the detection mark, so that the thermal transfer sheet can be used for the entire patch portion. A transfer image can be formed.

  In addition, the patch portion, which is a portion that is thermally transferred to the transfer target, includes a detection agent or detection layer, but is formed on the transfer target by using a detection agent that cannot be visually recognized by visible light. Images can also be identified.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detectors are arranged at two locations, and the detection is performed in the biaxial direction, so that, for example, the detector is in the flow direction of the intermediate transfer recording medium and the direction perpendicular to the direction. Can be detected to detect a more accurate position of the patch portion in the intermediate transfer recording medium. As a result, even if the patch portion of the thermal transferable protective layer is the same size as the transfer target, the thermal transferable protective layer does not shift or protrude from the transfer target when thermally transferred.

  The method according to the present invention uses an intermediate transfer recording medium in which a sheet base material provided with a resin layer and a heat transferable protective layer provided with a receiving layer are laminated so that the resin layer and the heat transferable protective layer overlap each other. Then, in the method of forming the thermal transferable protective layer on the transfer object, the thermal transferable protective layer and / or the receiving layer contains an intermediate transfer recording medium containing a detection agent that can be detected by a detector, or the thermal transfer A step of preparing an intermediate transfer recording medium provided with a detection layer containing a detection agent between the protective layer and the receiving layer, and a patch portion of the intermediate transfer recording medium, which is a portion to be transferred to a transfer medium Applying a half-cut treatment to cut the thermal transferable protective layer including the receiving layer and the detection layer, and applying the half-cut treatment to the thermal transferable protective layer other than the patch portion, the sheet base material Resin layer Separating the intermediate transfer recording medium and the thermal transfer sheet so that the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium and the transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet are in contact with each other, A step of forming a transfer image on the receiving layer, and at the time of re-transferring the thermal transferable protective layer surface of the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the image has been transferred to the receiving layer, to the transfer medium, at least one or more of the patch portions , The step of detecting the detection agent or the detection layer contained in the patch portion with a detector and aligning the position of the patch portion with the position of the transfer target, and transferring the patch portion to the transfer target And a step of providing a thermal transferable protective layer on the surface of the transfer object.

  Each process will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Preparation process of intermediate transfer recording medium)
As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate transfer recording medium used in the method according to the present invention includes a sheet base material 2 provided with a resin layer 3 and a heat transferable protective layer 4 provided with a receiving layer 5. The heat transferable protective layer 4 is laminated so as to overlap, and a detection agent 6 ′ that can be detected by a detector is added to the heat transferable protective layer and / or the receiving layer.

  As another embodiment of the intermediate transfer recording medium, as shown in FIG. 2, a detection layer 6 containing a detection agent 6 'may be provided between the thermal transferable protective layer and the receptor layer.

  Hereinafter, each layer constituting the intermediate transfer recording medium will be described.

<Sheet base material>
The sheet base material used in the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, condenser paper, glassine paper, sulfuric acid paper, high-size paper, synthetic paper (polyolefin-based, polystyrene-based), high-quality paper, art paper Paper, coated paper, cast coated paper, wallpaper, backing paper, synthetic resin or emulsion impregnated paper, synthetic rubber latex impregnated paper, synthetic resin internal paper, paperboard, cellulose fiber paper, or polyester, polyacrylate, polycarbonate, polyurethane, Polyimide, polyetherimide, cellulose derivative, polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polypropylene, polystyrene, acrylic, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, nylon, polyether ether ketone, Films such as lisulfone, polyethersulfone, tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkyl vinyl kneel, polyvinyl fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene / ethylene, tetrafluoroethylene / hexafluoropropylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride Can be mentioned.

  The sheet base material preferably has a thickness of 10 μm to 100 μm. If the sheet base material is too thin, the so-called stiffness of the obtained intermediate transfer recording medium is lost, and the sheet cannot be conveyed by a thermal transfer printer, or the sheet is curled or wrinkled. To do. On the other hand, if the sheet base material is too thick, the resulting intermediate transfer recording medium becomes too thick, and the force to drive and drive the thermal transfer printer becomes too large, causing the printer to fail or not being transported normally.

<Resin layer>
The resin layer 3 provided on the sheet substrate 2 can be formed of an adhesive layer, a simple adhesive layer, or an extrusion coating layer (EC). The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer can be formed using any conventionally known solvent-based or water-based pressure-sensitive adhesive. Examples of the adhesive include vinyl acetate resin, acrylic resin, vinyl acetate-acrylic copolymer, vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyurethane resin, natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, and nitrile rubber. Etc. The coating amount of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is generally about 8 to 30 g / m ² (solid content), and conventionally known methods, that is, methods such as gravure coating, gravure reverse coating, roll coating, comma coating, die coating, etc. Then, it is applied onto a release sheet and dried to form an adhesive layer. Further, the adhesive strength of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is the peel strength between the heat transferable protective layer and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and is desirably in the range of about 5 to 1,000 gf / inch in a 180 ° peeling method in accordance with JIS Z0237. . It is preferable to select and use the type of adhesive and the coating amount as described above so that the peel strength is within the above range when the adhesive layer is formed.

  Moreover, in order to laminate | stack an adhesive layer on a heat transferable protective layer, methods, such as a dry lamination of an adhesive layer and a hot-melt lamination, are employable.

  For the simple adhesive layer, latex of acrylic resin such as styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber (SBR), acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer rubber (NBR) or polyacrylate, rubber resin, waxes and a mixture thereof are used. Thus, it can be formed by a conventionally known coating method. The simple adhesive layer after the thermal transferable protective layer (receptive layer) has been peeled off from the sheet base material (resin layer) has reduced tackiness and cannot be bonded again. When such a simple adhesive layer is used, a primer layer may be provided between the resin of the sheet base material and the simple adhesive layer.

  Moreover, an EC layer can be provided on the sheet substrate as the resin layer. The thermoplastic resin forming the EC layer is not particularly limited as long as it does not essentially adhere to the heat transferable protective layer and has an extrusion (extrusion) processing characteristic. For a PET film generally used for a heat transferable protective layer, a polyolefin resin having no essential adhesiveness and excellent processability is particularly preferable. Specifically, LDPE, MDPE, HDPE, PP resin, etc. can be used, and when these resins are extrusion coated, a mat roll is used as a cooling roll to transfer the mat surface to the EC layer surface. It is possible to shape an uneven shape and to impart opacity to the EC layer. Further, an opaque EC layer can be formed by kneading and mixing a white pigment such as calcium carbonate or titanium oxide with the above-mentioned polyolefin resin. The EC layer need not be a single layer and may be formed of two or more layers. The peel strength from the heat transferable protective layer can be adjusted by the processing temperature at the time of extrusion processing and the resin type. Thus, simultaneously with the extrusion processing of the EC layer onto the sheet base material (resin layer), the sheet base material (resin layer) and the thermal transferable protective layer described later are laminated via the EC layer by so-called EC lamination. Can do.

When providing a resin layer on said sheet base material, a primer layer can be provided in the sheet base material surface, and the adhesiveness of a sheet base material and a resin layer can be improved. Further, instead of the primer layer, it is possible to subject the sheet base material surface to corona discharge treatment. For the primer layer, a coating solution is prepared by dissolving or dispersing polyester resin, polyacrylate resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyurethane resin, polyamide resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, etc. in a solvent. However, it can be formed by a conventionally known method. The thickness of the primer layer is about 0.1 to 5 g / m ^{2 in} a dry state.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate transfer recording medium used in the present invention has a patch portion 7 transferred to the back surface of the sheet substrate 2, that is, the surface opposite to the surface on which the resin layer 3 is provided, as shown in FIG. In order to prevent adverse effects such as sticking and wrinkles due to heat from a thermal head or a heat roll as a means for transferring to a body, a heat resistant slipping layer 16 may be provided.

  The resin for forming the heat resistant slipping layer may be any conventionally known resin, such as polyvinyl butyral resin, polyvinyl acetoacetal resin, polyester resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyether resin, polybutadiene resin, Styrene-butadiene copolymer, acrylic polyol, polyurethane acrylate, polyester acrylate, polyether acrylate, epoxy acrylate, urethane or epoxy prepolymer, nitrocellulose resin, cellulose nitrate resin, cellulose acetopropionate resin, cellulose acetate butyrate Resin, cellulose acetate hydrodiene phthalate resin, cellulose acetate resin, aromatic polyamide resin, polyimide resin, polycarbonate resin, chlorinated polyolefin Fin resins, and chlorinated polyolefin resins.

  The slipperiness imparting agent added to or overcoated with the heat resistant slipping layer made of these resins includes phosphate ester, silicone oil, graphite powder, silicone graft polymer, fluorine graft polymer, acrylic silicone graft polymer, acrylic siloxane, aryl Examples thereof include silicone polymers such as siloxane, but a layer made of a polyol, for example, a polyalcohol polymer compound, a polyisocyanate compound, and a phosphate ester compound, and a filler is more preferably added.

  The heat-resistant slip layer is prepared by dissolving or dispersing the above-described resin, slipperiness-imparting agent, and filler with an appropriate solvent to prepare a heat-resistant slip layer forming ink. It can be applied to the back surface of the base material by a forming means such as a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, a reverse coating method using a gravure plate, and dried to form.

<Peeling layer>
The intermediate transfer recording medium 1 used in the present invention has a structure in which the resin layer 3 and the thermal transferable protective layer 4 are laminated so that the thermal transferable protective layer 4 is easily peeled off from the resin layer 3 by thermal transfer. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable to provide a release layer 15 between the resin layer 3 and the heat transferable protective layer 4.

  Examples of the resin used for the release layer include an acrylic resin, a urethane resin, a resin obtained by modifying each of these resins with silicone, a polyvinyl acetal resin, a polyvinyl alcohol resin, or a mixture thereof. These resins are dissolved in a solvent to prepare a coating solution, and the coating solution is applied and dried to form a release layer. The thickness of the release layer is about 0.1 to 5.0 μm.

  In addition, a release treatment may be performed on the side of the thermal transferable protective layer 4 facing the resin layer 3 to facilitate separation between the resin layer 3 and the thermal transferable protective layer 4.

  In the release treatment, a release layer 15 is provided on the heat transferable protective layer 4, and waxes, silicone wax, silicone resin, fluororesin, acrylic resin, polyvinyl alcohol resin, cellulose derivative resin, and the like, and these resins are used. A coating liquid containing a group of copolymers can be formed by applying and drying by a conventional means such as gravure printing, screen printing, reverse roll coating using a gravure plate, and the like. it can.

<Thermal transfer protective layer>
The thermal transfer protective layer 4 of the thermal transfer sheet used in the present invention has the thermal transfer protective layer (including the adhesive layer) cut off at the half-cut portion as a boundary, and is transferred to the entire surface of the transfer target body. A protective layer (including an adhesive layer) functions as a protective film in a form covering the transfer target. Therefore, a sheet having durability such as transparency, weather resistance, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance can be suitably used for the thermal transfer protective layer. Although it does not specifically limit as such a sheet | seat, For example, the polyethylene terephthalate film of the thickness of about 0.5-100 micrometers, Preferably about 2.5-30 micrometers, 1, 4- polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate film , Polyethylene naphthalate film, polyphenylene sulfide film, polystyrene film, polypropylene film, polysulfone film, aramid film, polycarbonate film, polyvinyl alcohol film, cellophane, cellulose acetate film such as cellulose acetate, polyethylene film, polyvinyl chloride film, nylon film, A polyimide film, an ionomer film, etc. are mentioned.

  This thermal transferable protective layer is intended to cover and protect the image formed on the transfer target, and is preferably colorless and transparent so that the coated image can be visually observed.

<Receptive layer>
A receiving layer 5 is provided on the outermost surface of the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 as shown in FIGS. The structure of the receiving layer is different depending on the recording method of hot melt transfer recording and sublimation transfer recording. In the case of thermal melt transfer recording, a colored transfer layer can be thermally transferred directly from a thermal transfer sheet to a thermal transferable protective layer without providing a receiving layer. The receiving layer of the thermal melt transfer recording and the sublimation transfer recording has a function of receiving a color material transferred from the thermal transfer sheet by heating. In particular, in the case of a sublimation dye, it accepts and develops the color. It is desirable not to resublimate the dye once received.

  Since an intermediate transfer recording medium is used to form a transfer image on the receiving layer and retransfer to the transfer target to form an image, the receiving layer is made transparent and transferred to the transfer target. In general, it is possible to clearly observe the recorded image from above. However, it is also possible to characterize the retransfer image by artificially making the receiving layer turbid or lightly colored.

  The receiving layer is generally composed mainly of a thermoplastic resin. Examples of the material for forming the receiving layer include polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymers, halogenated polymers such as polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, and polyacrylic. Examples include polyester resins such as esters, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, copolymers of olefins such as nitrylene and propylene and other vinyl monomers, cellulose resins such as ionomers and cellulose diacetates, and polycarbonate resins. Particularly preferred among these are polyester resins, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymers, and mixtures thereof.

  In sublimation transfer recording, a release agent is mixed in the receiving layer for the purpose of preventing fusion between the thermal transfer sheet having the colored transfer layer and the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium or a decrease in printing sensitivity during image formation. be able to. Preferable release agents used in combination include silicone oil, phosphate ester surfactants, fluorine surfactants, and the like, among which silicone oil is desirable. As the silicone oil, modified silicone oils such as epoxy modification, vinyl modification, alkyl modification, amino modification, carboxyl modification, alcohol modification, fluorine modification, alkylaralkyl polyether modification, epoxy / polyether modification, and polyether modification are desirable.

  One or more release agents are used. The amount of the release agent added is preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the receiving layer forming resin. When the range of the addition amount is not satisfied, problems such as fusion between the sublimation type thermal transfer sheet and the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium or a decrease in printing sensitivity may occur. By adding such a releasing agent to the receiving layer, the releasing agent bleeds out on the surface of the receiving layer after the transfer to form a releasing layer. Further, these release agents may not be added to the receiving layer but may be separately applied on the receiving layer.

  The receptor layer is obtained by dissolving a resin obtained by adding a necessary additive such as a release agent to the above-described resin on a heat transferable protective layer, or dissolving a dispersion dispersed in an organic solvent or water. It is formed by applying and drying by a known forming means such as a coat, a gravure reverse coat, or a roll coat.

  In forming the receptor layer, the receptor layer may be of any thickness, but generally has a thickness of 1 to 50 μm in a dry state.

  Such a receiving layer is preferably a continuous coating, but may be formed as a discontinuous coating using a resin emulsion, a water-soluble resin, or a resin dispersion. Furthermore, an antistatic agent may be coated on the receiving layer in order to stabilize the conveyance of the thermal transfer printer.

  Furthermore, after forming a transfer image on the receiving layer, an adhesive layer (not shown) may be provided thereon. As a method for providing the adhesive layer, when the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the transfer image is formed is re-transferred to the transfer target, for example, an adhesive sheet formed into a film shape is used, and the image-formed receiving layer surface and the transfer target are transferred. The image-receiving layer and the transparent sheet can be bonded to the transferred body by inserting the adhesive sheet between the body and thermocompression bonding.

  In addition, by using an adhesive layer transfer sheet in which an adhesive layer is formed on a release paper, the adhesive layer of the adhesive layer transfer sheet can be heated and pressure-bonded onto the imaged receiving layer to transfer the adhesive layer. .

  As the adhesive component used in the above adhesive sheet or adhesive layer transfer sheet, thermoplastic synthetic resin, natural resin, rubber, wax and the like can be used. For example, cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate propionate, styrene copolymers such as polystyrene and poly α-methylstyrene, acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, and polyethyl acrylate, polyvinyl chloride , Vinyl resins such as polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl butyral, polyester resins, polyamide resins, epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, ionomers, olefins, synthetic resins such as ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, Examples of the tackifier include natural resins such as rosin, rosin-modified maleic resin, ester gum, polyisobutylene rubber, butyl rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, and butadiene acrylonitrile rubber, and derivatives of synthetic rubber. These adhesive components are preferably used alone or in combination of two or more, and a material that exhibits adhesiveness by heating is preferably used.

  The thickness of the adhesive layer of the adhesive sheet or the adhesive layer transfer sheet is about 0.1 to 500 μm.

  Examples of the heating means for transferring the adhesive layer include a thermal head, a line heater, a heat roll, or a hot stamp when forming a transfer image.

  Further, an intermediate layer (not shown) made of various resins can be provided between the heat transferable protective layer 4 and the receiving layer 5. However, it is desirable that the intermediate layer has transparency so that the transferred image can be observed.

  By giving the intermediate layer various roles, an excellent function can be added to the transfer layer. For example, as a resin imparting cushioning properties, a resin having a large elastic deformation or plastic deformation, for example, a polyolefin resin, a vinyl copolymer resin, a polyurethane resin, a polyamide resin, or the like can be used to increase the printing sensitivity of the image receiving sheet. It is possible to improve or prevent image roughness.

  Moreover, you may add an antistatic agent, a ultraviolet absorber, and a fluorescent dye to an intermediate | middle layer as needed. For example, an ultraviolet absorber may be added to the intermediate layer in order to improve the light resistance of the image. Examples of such ultraviolet absorbers include low molecular weight compounds having a melting point of 50 to 150 ° C., such as benzophenone series, benzotriazole series, cyanoacrylate series, salicylate series, and oxalic acid anilide series compounds. Further, a fluorescent dye can be added to the intermediate layer for the purpose of imparting security. Examples of such fluorescent dyes include europium compounds, and specifically, n-tetrabutylanimonium tetra [4,4,4-trifluoro-1- (2-) thienyl) -1,3. A europium complex compound such as a [butanedionate] europium complex can be preferably used.

The intermediate transfer recording medium used in the present invention may be provided with an antistatic layer (not shown) on the outermost surface thereof. Antistatic layer dissolves or disperses antistatic agent, fatty acid ester, sulfate ester, phosphate ester, amides, quaternary ammonium salt, betaines, amino acids, acrylic resin, ethylene oxide adduct, etc. in solvent It is possible to form by applying the applied one. Examples of the forming means are the same as in the case of the above receiving layer. The coating amount of the antistatic layer is preferably 0.001 to 0.1 g / m ² when dried.

<Detection agent and detection layer>
In the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 used in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a detection agent 6 ′ that can be detected by a detector is added to the thermal transferable protective layer 4 and / or the receiving layer 5, or FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a detection layer 6 including a detection agent 6 ′ is provided between the thermal transferable protective layer 4 and the receiving layer 5.

  The detection agent that can be detected by the detector is not particularly limited, and various agents such as a fluorescent brightener, an ultraviolet absorber, and an infrared absorber can be used. Further, in order to make it possible to visually recognize the image formed on the transfer object, it is possible to suitably use a material that can be detected only by a detector and that is not visible by visible light.

  Examples of the fluorescent brightener include conventionally known stilbene compounds, benzimidazole compounds, and benzoxazole compounds.

  Examples of the ultraviolet absorber include conventionally known hindered amine compounds, hindered phenol compounds, benzophenone compounds, and benzotriazole compounds.

  Furthermore, as an infrared absorber, metal oxides such as iron oxide, cerium oxide, tin oxide, antimony oxide, indium-tin oxide, tungsten hexachloride, tin chloride, cupric sulfide, chromium-cobalt complex salt, thiol- Examples thereof include organic infrared absorbers such as nickel complexes, aluminum compounds, dimonium compounds, and phthalocyanine compounds.

  By adding the above-described detection agent to the thermal transferable protective layer and / or the receiving layer, an intermediate transfer recording medium containing the detection agent can be obtained. As a containing method, after the resin constituting each layer is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent to prepare a coating liquid, a fluorescent agent is added to the coating liquid, and the coating liquid is applied and dried, whereby the fluorescent agent Each layer containing can be formed.

  Further, a polyethylene terephthalate film or the like previously kneaded with the detection agent as described above may be used as the heat transferable protective layer.

  In addition, when six detection layers are provided as shown in FIG. 2, in order to form the detection layer, an appropriate binder resin such as urethane-based, polyolefin-based, polyester-based, acrylic-based, or epoxy-based adhesive resin and the above-mentioned The detected agent is dissolved and dispersed in an appropriate organic solvent such as acetone, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, xylene, cyclohexanone, or in a water / alcohol mixed solvent such as water / IPA (isopropyl alcohol) or water / ethanol. Disperse to prepare a coating solution, which is applied to one surface of the heat transferable protective layer by a known method such as a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, or a reverse roll coating method using a gravure plate. And it dries, and also makes it harden | crosslink as needed and forms a detection layer.

The coating amount of the thus intermediate layer formed, 0.5~10.0g / ^{m 2} in solids, preferably the degree of 1.0 to 3.0 g / ^{m 2.} If the thickness is too thin, the performance required for the detection layer cannot be obtained. On the other hand, if the thickness is too thick, the effect as the detection layer is not further improved and the cost is not preferable.

(Protective layer forming method)
The intermediate transfer recording medium prepared as described above is then subjected to a half cut process.

  FIG. 4 shows a half-cut process and a subsequent blurring process (removal process other than the patch portion).

  The intermediate transfer recording medium 1 is subjected to a half-cut process 9 on a patch portion that is a portion to be transferred to a transfer target.

  An intermediate transfer recording medium 1 in which a sheet base material 2 provided with a resin layer 3 and a thermal transferable protective layer 4 provided with a resin layer 5 are laminated is first an upper mold 24 to which a cutter blade 23 is attached, a pedestal 25, The upper die 24 is moved downward, and the thermal transferable protective layer 4 provided with the resin layer 5 of the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 is cut by the cutter blade 23. The region 7 (patch portion) to be transferred to one unit of transferred object is processed, then the adjacent cutting process is performed, and this is repeated to perform continuous cutting process. It is also possible to cut a plurality of sections at once.

  The half-cut forming method includes a method in which an intermediate transfer recording medium is inserted between the upper die attached with the cutter blade and the pedestal, and the upper die is moved up and down, a cylinder type rotary cutter method, a laser processing means There is no particular limitation as long as it is a method capable of half cutting, such as a heat treatment method.

  When the half-cut treatment is performed on the sheet base material side, when the thermal transferable protective layer 4 side is cut, the cut portion is too deep in the depth direction, so that not only the thermal transferable protective layer 4 but also the sheet base material 2 is reached. When cut, the entire intermediate transfer recording medium 1 is cut at the cutting portion during conveyance of the printer, and a conveyance trouble is likely to occur. On the other hand, when the cut portion is too shallow in the depth direction, for example, only the receiving layer 5 is cut and the thermal transferable protective layer 4 is not cut, the residue on the thermal transferable protective layer 4 side is removed and removed. The problem arises by cutting at a position different from the normal cutting position.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable that the depth of the cutting process (half-cut process) is made to penetrate the thermal transferable protective layer 4 and slightly bite in the thickness direction of the resin layer 3. In the case where the detection layer is provided, as shown in FIG. 6, the depth of the cutting process (half-cut process) penetrates the thermal transferable protective layer 4 and the detection layer 6 and the thickness of the resin layer 3. It is preferable to make it bite slightly in the direction.

  Next, the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 is continuously scraped with respect to the patch portion 7 that has been half-cut by the peeling roll 20, and is wound up by the scrapping roll 21. Through this step, the thermal transferable protective layer part 22 having the resin layer (and the detection layer in some cases) that has been subjected to the half-cut process is removed from the intermediate transfer recording medium 1. It is also possible to remove the residue using a dedicated waste removal device such as a vacuum type or an adhesive type.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the patch portion 7, which is a portion to be transferred to the transfer target, remains on the intermediate transfer recording medium 1, as shown in FIG. 6.

  Next, the surface of the receiving layer 5 of the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 that has been subjected to the brushing is overlapped with the transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet, and heated to form a transfer image on the receiving layer. At this time, the detection agent 6 ′ or the detection layer 6 may be detected to align the position of the patch portion 7 with the position of the thermal transfer sheet 14.

  The detector 13 (13 ') is preferably installed before thermal transfer, for example, as shown in FIG. By this detector, the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 and the thermal transfer sheet 14 are accurately aligned. As a result, a transfer image can be accurately formed on the entire patch portion.

  A method for forming an image on the intermediate transfer recording medium may be a conventionally known sublimation type thermal transfer method or a thermal melting type thermal transfer method. For example, a thermal transfer sheet having three color transfer layers of yellow, cyan and magenta in order is used. Then, a desired full-color image is formed on the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium by a known thermal head type or laser heating type thermal transfer printer.

  The receiving layer 5 of the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 on which the image is formed and the transfer target 12 are brought into pressure contact with each other, and the receiving layer and the thermal transfer property are heated by a heating means such as a thermal head, a hot stamp, or a hot roll. Re-transfer the protective layer to the transfer medium. The retransfer process can be performed inline with the above-described thermal transfer process, can be performed offline, or can be freely specified.

  As the heating means, it is desirable to use a thermal head or hot stamp means for partial transfer, and when transferring to the entire surface of the transfer target, a hot roll method is desirable.

  As a means for retransferring the receiving layer and the heat transferable protective layer to the surface of the transfer target, the transfer target and the intermediate transfer recording medium are sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen, and heating from the thermal head is performed. As shown in FIG. 7, a method of sandwiching the transfer medium 12 and the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 between the heat roller 10 and the platen roller 11 and heating from the heat roller 10 or a heat roll method (commercially available) Many laminators are of this type, and a method of hot pressing with a pair of heat rolls) or a heated flat plate and a flat plate, or a hot flat plate and a roll are used. It can also be applied to a thermal transfer means of heating by laser irradiation.

  Regardless of which thermal transfer method is applied, it is preferable to install the detector 13 (13 ') in front of the heat roller 10 as shown in FIG. By this detector, the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 and the transfer target 12 are accurately aligned. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the intermediate transfer recording medium 1 after the removal is made up of a portion where the patch portion 7 exists and a portion where the patch portion does not exist. Since the patch portion 7 includes the detection agent 6 ′ or the detection layer 6, the position can be confirmed by the detector. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, immediately before the thermal transferable protective layer is thermally transferred to the transfer target, at least one position on the surface of the intermediate transfer recording medium, the position where the patch portion is present by the detector 13 (13 ′). Confirm.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the patch portion includes a resin layer containing a detection agent and a heat transferable protective layer (in some cases, a detection layer). Therefore, the boundary line of the patch part can be recognized by scanning the intermediate transfer recording medium with a detector, so that the position of the patch part can be accurately known. As a result, the thermal transferable protective layer can be accurately transferred onto the surface of the transfer object. Therefore, even when a patch portion having the same size as that of the transfer target is formed at the time of half-cutting, the thermal transferable protective layer can be provided without any gap without shifting from the transfer target.

  In addition, the patch portion, which is a portion that is thermally transferred to the transfer target, includes a detection agent or detection layer, but by using a detection agent that is not visible with visible light as described above, It is also possible to identify an image formed on the screen.

  Moreover, in the preferable aspect of this invention, while arrange | positioning a detector in two places, it is preferable to perform a detection in a biaxial direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, by scanning the detector 13 (13) ′ in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the intermediate transfer recording medium, the patch portion in the intermediate transfer recording medium can be more accurately detected. The position can be detected.

  As a result, even if the patch portion of the thermal transferable protective layer is the same size as the transfer target, the thermal transferable protective layer does not shift or protrude from the transfer target when thermally transferred.

  Note that an image may be formed in advance on the surface of the transfer target, and the image is protected by providing a protective layer. Note that the image forming process on the transfer object and the protective layer forming process according to the present invention can be performed inline, offline, or freely specified.

(Transfer)
The transfer object used in the method for forming a protective layer according to the present invention is not particularly limited, but identification cards, ID cards, credit cards, and other cards can be suitably used.

  In addition, as a base material of a transfer object, for example, synthetic paper (polyolefin type, polystyrene type, etc.), high quality paper, art paper, coated paper, cast coated paper, wallpaper, backing paper, synthetic resin or emulsion impregnated paper, synthetic paper Various types of plastic films or sheets such as rubber latex impregnated paper, cellulose fiber paper such as synthetic resin internal paper, paperboard, polyolefin, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polymethacrylate, etc. can be used. A white opaque film formed by adding a white pigment or a filler to a synthetic resin, or a film having fine voids (microvoids) inside the substrate can be used, and is not particularly limited.

  Moreover, the laminated body by the arbitrary combinations of the said base material can also be used. The thickness of these base materials may be arbitrary, for example, the thickness of about 10-300 micrometers is common.

  An image may be formed in advance on the transfer target, and conventionally known methods can be used for image formation. For example, there is an electrophotographic recording method. In this recording method, when the photosensitive member passes through a charger, ions generated by corona discharge are uniformly charged on the photosensitive member surface, and the surface of the photosensitive member is imaged at the exposure unit. The exposed charge is removed by the photoconductive phenomenon, and a latent image is formed by the charge of the portion not exposed to light. Next, a latent image is electrostatically attached to the latent image in the developing unit to obtain a visible image, and the visible image is transferred to a printed material in the transfer unit, and the transfer image is transferred with heat and pressure of the fixing unit. It is fixed on the printed matter.

  In order to form a full-color image, the above-described steps are repeated for each toner using four toners of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

  In addition, an ink jet recording method can be used as one of the methods for forming an image on a transfer target in advance, and this method forms characters and images by directly spraying ink droplets onto a recording medium. The on-demand type, which records ink by dropletizing ink in response to image signals, changes the volume of the ink chamber by energizing the piezo element, and ejects ink from the nozzle, and the nozzle There is an electrical / thermal conversion system that embeds a heat generating element inside and heats and boils the ink instantaneously by energizing it, creating bubbles in the ink, and ejecting the ink from the nozzle by a sudden volume change . In order to form a full-color image, the above-described steps are repeated for each ink using four inks of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

  Furthermore, an image can also be formed in advance on a transfer medium by a thermal transfer recording method. In this method, thermal energy controlled by the image signal is generated by a thermal head and used as the activation energy of a recording material such as ink, and the ink ribbon is superimposed on the recording paper and brought into an appropriate pressure state. The recording material is activated by the thermal head heated by energization through a certain thermal head and the platen, and transferred to the recording paper with the help of the pressure of the platen. This type of transfer recording system includes a thermal melting type and a thermal sublimation type, and any of them can be used.

  An image can also be formed by a combination of a plurality of the above-described methods, for example, a gradation image portion is formed by an electrophotographic recording method, and a character portion is formed by a heat melting thermal transfer recording method.

  Further, a receiving layer may be provided on the surface of the transfer object. Known additives such as gravure printing, silk screen printing, etc. are applied on the base material by adding additives as necessary to the resin suitable for each image forming method and dissolving or dispersing in an appropriate solvent. It forms by well-known coating means, such as a means or a gravure coat. The thickness is about 0.5 to 10 μm when dried.

  In the method for forming a protective layer according to the present invention, the image forming means on the transfer target and the means for thermally transferring the protective layer to the transfer target using the thermal transfer sheet can be carried out inline or offline. Can be specified. Even when the above-described means are performed in-line, the image forming means and the protective layer thermal transfer means can be performed by the same apparatus, or can be performed by connecting separate apparatuses.

It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the layer structure of the intermediate transfer recording medium used for the method by this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the layer structure of another aspect of the intermediate transfer recording medium used for the method by this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the layer structure of another aspect of the intermediate transfer recording medium used for the method by this invention. It is the schematic which shows one embodiment of a half cut process and the scrap removal process following it. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows one embodiment of the intermediate transfer recording medium of the state which performed the half cut process. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of an intermediate transfer recording medium from which a portion other than a patch portion has been removed by a scraping step. It is the schematic which shows a thermal transfer process and a retransfer process. It is the schematic which shows the detection process in the case of a thermal transfer process and a retransfer process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Intermediate transfer recording medium 2 Base material sheet 3 Resin layer 4 Thermal transferable protective layer 5 Receiving layer 6 Detection layer 6 'Detection agent 7 Patch part 9 Half cut process 10 Heat roller 11 Platen roller 12 Transfer object 13, 13' Detector DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Thermal transfer sheet 15 Platen roller 16 Heat resistant slipping layer 17 Peeling layer 20 Release roll 21 Scraping roll 22 Thermal transfer protective layer other than patch part 23 Cutter blade 24 Upper mold 25 Base

Claims (7)

Using an intermediate transfer recording medium in which a sheet base material provided with a resin layer and a heat transferable protective layer provided with a receiving layer are laminated such that the resin layer and the heat transferable protective layer overlap each other, In the method of forming the thermal transferable protective layer,
An intermediate transfer recording medium containing a detection agent that can be detected by a detector in the thermal transferable protective layer and / or the receiving layer, or detection containing a detection agent between the thermal transferable protective layer and the receiving layer. An intermediate transfer recording medium provided with a layer,
The patch portion of the intermediate transfer recording medium, which is a portion to be transferred to the transfer material, is subjected to a half-cut process, and the thermal transferable protective layer including the receiving layer and the detection layer is cut.
The thermal transferable protective layer other than the patch portion subjected to the half-cut treatment is peeled off from the resin layer of the sheet base material and removed from the intermediate transfer recording medium,
Overlaying the intermediate transfer recording medium and the thermal transfer sheet so that the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium and the transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet are in contact with each other to form a transfer image on the receiving layer,
When the surface of the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the image is transferred to the receiving layer is retransferred with the surface of the intermediate transfer recording medium superimposed on the transfer target, the detection agent contained in the patch portion or at least one of the patch portions, The detection layer is detected by a detector to align the position of the patch portion with the position of the transfer target, and the patch portion is transferred to the transfer target to protect the surface of the transfer target from thermal transfer. Providing a layer.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the detection by the detector is performed at two or more locations of the patch portion.   The method of claim 2, wherein the sensing is performed in a biaxial direction.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the patch portion is half-cut processed so as to have the same shape as the surface of the transfer target.   The method according to claim 1, wherein a release layer is provided on the surface of the resin layer, and the release layer and the thermal transferable protective layer are laminated so as to overlap each other.   When forming a transfer image on the receiving layer, the detection agent or the detection layer is detected, and the position of the patch portion and the position of the transfer target are aligned. The method according to item.   An image formed product obtained by the method according to claim 1.

Images