JP2016165898A - Recorded matter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording medium capable of improving productivity of a recorded matter, enhancing information security and reducing a recording cost, the recording medium appropriate for an inkjet method.SOLUTION: A recording medium 1 includes: an ink-receiving layer 53 configured to receive an ink for inkjet recording; and a transparent sheet 52 with 50% or higher total light transmittance. The recording medium has a multilayer structure in which the transparent sheet 52 and the ink-receiving layer 53 are sequentially layered. The ink-receiving layer 53 is a gap-absorption type ink-receiving layer formed of a composition including at least inorganic fine particles and polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average polymerization degree of 2,000 or more and 5,000 or less and a saponification degree of 70 mol% or more and 90 mol% or less.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium having an ink receiving layer, and more particularly to a recording medium having a reverse image (mirror image) recorded on the ink receiving layer and a method for manufacturing the same. The present invention also relates to a recorded matter comprising the recording medium and an image support, and an original image (normal image) supported on the image support, and a method for manufacturing the recorded matter.

  Conventionally, various thermal transfer recording methods are known. Among them, in the thermal transfer sheet in which the colored transfer layer is formed on the base sheet, the image is heated from the back side by a thermal head or the like, and the above-described colored transfer layer is thermally transferred to the surface of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet. A thermal transfer method for forming an image is common (see Patent Document 1). This thermal transfer method is a full-color hard copy system for analog images such as digital images and video such as still images by computer graphics, satellite communications, and CDROM, etc. due to the development of various hardware and software related to multimedia. That market is expanding.

  In the case of obtaining a recorded material by forming an image on various objects such as arbitrary paper, resin product, metal, etc., conventionally, an image is formed on a symmetrical object by a thermal transfer method. This thermal transfer system is roughly classified into a sublimation transfer type and a hot 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.

  As a recorded matter production method for producing a recorded matter using a thermal transfer type thermal transfer method, for example, a recording medium having a receiving layer detachably provided on a substrate, and a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer, Method for producing recorded matter by producing a recorded matter by transferring the dye of the dye layer to the receiving layer on the substrate to form an image and then heating the recording medium to transfer the receiving layer to the object Has been proposed (Patent Document 2).

  In addition, a method for manufacturing a recorded matter in which an image is formed using a sublimation transfer type thermal transfer sheet has been proposed (Patent Document 3).

  The sublimation transfer type thermal transfer sheet can precisely form gradation images such as facial photographs, but unlike images formed with ordinary recording inks, weather resistance, friction resistance, chemical resistance, etc. There is a problem of lacking in durability. As a solution, a protective layer thermal transfer film having a thermal transfer resin layer is superimposed on the thermal transfer image, and the thermal transfer resin layer having transparency is transferred using a thermal head, a heating roll, or the like, and the protective layer is formed on the image. (Patent Document 4).

  In addition, a technique has also been proposed in which an image is printed on a receiving layer of a recording medium by an ink jet method, and the recording medium and a transfer target are superposed, heated, and transferred (Patent Document 5).

JP-A-62-238791 JP 2000-238439 A JP 2003-211761 A JP 2008-44130 A JP 2008-188865 A

  However, the printing method as described in Patent Document 4 provides an image transfer region for each color in the order of black, cyan, magenta, yellow, and a transparent protective layer on the thermal transfer film, and sequentially advances and reverses the transfer target. Since an image is formed by sequentially transferring each color while repeating, it is difficult to improve the productivity, and there is a great problem in terms of productivity. Also, with the thermal transfer recording method, the recorded information remains as a negative on the thermal transfer film, and special considerations are required for the disposal of the thermal transfer film after use. It was. Furthermore, a thermal transfer film corresponding to the entire recording surface is required without depending on the image, and the ratio of the recording cost relating to the non-recording portion is large, which is a big problem with respect to the economy.

  In addition, the technique described in Patent Document 5 does not have a specific description of the recording medium. For this reason, it has been impossible to manufacture a recording medium suitable for the technique in which the recording medium and the transfer target are superposed and heated and transferred using the inkjet method.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. That is, the present invention provides a recording medium capable of improving the productivity of recorded matter, improving information security, and reducing recording cost. The present invention also provides a recording medium adapted to the ink jet system.

  The present inventor has intensively studied the above problems. As a result, by adopting the inkjet recording method instead of the thermal transfer recording method, the productivity and the recording cost can be drastically improved, the recording cost can be reduced, and the information security is also improved because no negative image remains. I realized that this is possible. Further, the present invention is completed by conceiving that a recording medium adapted to the ink jet system can be configured by precisely controlling the configuration of inorganic fine particles or water-soluble resin contained in the ink receiving layer. It came. That is, according to the present invention, there are provided the following recording medium, recorded matter, and methods for producing them.

[1] Recording medium:
According to the present invention, a laminated structure comprising: an ink receiving layer for receiving ink for ink jet recording; and a transparent sheet having a total light transmittance of 50% or more, wherein the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer are sequentially laminated. And the ink receiving layer comprises a composition containing at least inorganic fine particles and a polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average polymerization degree of 2,000 to 5,000 and a saponification degree of 70 mol% to 90 mol%. A recording medium characterized by being an ink receiving layer.

  In addition, according to the present invention, an ink receiving layer that receives ink for inkjet recording and a transparent sheet having a total light transmittance of 50% or more are provided, and the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer are sequentially laminated. The ink receiving layer has a laminated structure, and contains at least one resin selected from the group consisting of alumina fine particles having an average particle diameter of 120 nm to 200 nm, and a water-soluble resin and a water-dispersible resin. There is provided a recording medium, which is a void-absorbing ink-receiving layer made of a composition.

[2] Recorded matter:
Furthermore, according to the present invention, an image support on which an image is supported and a recording medium on which an image is recorded are provided, and the recording medium is the recording medium of the present invention, and the image support and the ink There is provided a recorded matter having a laminated structure in which a receiving layer and the transparent sheet are sequentially laminated.

[3] Manufacturing method of recording medium:
According to the present invention, a laminated structure comprising: an ink receiving layer for receiving ink for ink jet recording; and a transparent sheet having a total light transmittance of 50% or more, wherein the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer are sequentially laminated. A polyvinyl alcohol having at least water, inorganic fine particles, and a weight average polymerization degree of 2,000 to 5,000 and a saponification degree of 70 mol% to 90 mol% on the surface of the transparent sheet. There is provided a method for producing a recording medium, wherein a void-absorbing ink-receiving layer comprising a composition containing at least the inorganic fine particles and the polyvinyl alcohol is formed. The

  In addition, according to the present invention, an ink receiving layer that receives ink for inkjet recording and a transparent sheet having a total light transmittance of 50% or more are provided, and the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer are sequentially laminated. A method for producing a recording medium having a laminated structure, wherein the surface of the transparent sheet is selected from the group consisting of at least water, alumina fine particles having an average particle diameter of 120 nm to 200 nm, and a water-soluble resin and a water-dispersible resin. And a coating liquid containing at least one kind of resin is formed to form a void-absorbing ink-receiving layer comprising a composition containing at least the alumina fine particles and the resin. A method is provided.

[4] Method for producing recorded matter:
Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a recorded matter comprising an image support on which an image is supported and a recording medium on which the image is recorded, wherein the recording is performed by the method for producing a recording medium of the present invention. A medium is obtained, and the image support and the recording medium are thermocompression-bonded in a state where the image support, the ink receiving layer, and the transparent sheet are sequentially laminated, and the image support, There is provided a method for producing a recorded matter, wherein a recorded matter having a laminated structure in which the ink receiving layer and the transparent sheet are sequentially laminated is obtained.

  The recording medium of the present invention can improve the productivity of recorded matter, improve information security, and reduce the recording cost as compared with the thermal transfer method.

1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a recording medium of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a cross section obtained by cutting the recording medium in a thickness direction. It is a figure which shows another embodiment of the recording medium of this invention, and is sectional drawing which shows typically the cross section which cut | disconnected the recording medium in the thickness direction. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which a recording medium is formed by pasting the recording medium of the present invention on an image support. It is a perspective view which shows typically the state which peeled the base material sheet and the release layer from the recorded matter shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows typically the 1st structural example of the manufacturing apparatus which manufactures the recorded matter of this invention. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the average particle diameter of alumina fine particles, reflection density (OD), and the color difference (ΔE) between the recording surface and the viewing surface. It is a block diagram which shows the connection state of a 1st manufacturing apparatus and a controller. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the recording part shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement flow of a 1st manufacturing apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which performed the precut process on the recording medium shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a recorded matter. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the ink penetrate | invaded into the conventional precut process part. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the ink penetrate | invaded into the precut process part. It is sectional drawing which shows an image support body and a primer layer. It is a schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of a 2nd manufacturing apparatus. It is a figure flowchart which shows the operation | movement flow of a 2nd manufacturing apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the state in which the primer layer was provided in the base material sheet in the 3rd manufacturing apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the recording medium in a 4th manufacturing apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the recording medium using an anchor layer. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which performed the precut process on the recording medium shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the recorded matter manufactured using an anchor layer. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the ink penetrate | invaded into the precut process part containing an anchor layer. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the recording medium which performed the surface modification process. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which pigment ink is fixed to a gap absorption type ink receiving layer. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a swollen state of the ink receiving layer after ink is fixed to the swelling absorption type ink receiving layer. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where dye ink is fixed on a gap absorption type ink receiving layer. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the dye ink has migrated after the dye ink is fixed to the gap absorption type ink receiving layer.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and includes all objects having the invention-specific matters. In addition, about the member of the same structure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected in drawing, The description may be abbreviate | omitted.

  In the present invention, an ink jet recording system is adopted instead of the thermal transfer recording system. Thereby, compared with the thermal transfer method, it is possible to improve the productivity of recorded matter, improve information security, and reduce recording cost.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, the weight average polymerization degree and saponification degree of polyvinyl alcohol constituting the ink receiving layer are precisely controlled. Thereby, the adhesion strength between the ink receiving layer and the transparent sheet, which is an inherent problem when the ink jet method is adopted, can be improved.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, the average particle diameter of the alumina fine particles constituting the ink receiving layer is precisely controlled. As a result, the transparency (transparency) of the ink receiving layer, which is an inherent problem when the ink jet method is employed, can be improved, and the visibility of the reversed image from the transparent sheet side can be improved. . Therefore, even when a pigment ink that does not easily penetrate into the ink receiving layer is used, it is not necessary to increase the ink density or increase the thickness of the ink receiving layer in order to receive a large amount of ink. For this reason, the overall thickness of the recording medium, and hence the recorded matter, can be reduced.

[1] Recording medium:
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a recording medium of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section of the recording medium cut in the thickness direction. The recording medium of the present invention is a recording medium provided with an ink receiving layer 53 and a transparent sheet 52 like the recording medium 1 shown in FIG.

[1-1] Ink receiving layer:
The ink receiving layer is a layer that receives ink for inkjet recording. As the form of the ink receiving layer, there are a swelling absorption type that receives ink in a network structure of a water-soluble polymer, and a void absorption type that receives ink in a void formed by inorganic fine particles. The recording medium of the present invention includes a void-absorbing ink receiving layer made of a composition containing at least one kind of resin selected from the group consisting of at least inorganic fine particles and a water-soluble resin and a water-dispersible resin. . The void absorption type ink receiving layer can quickly absorb ink by voids formed by inorganic fine particles. Therefore, when the recording medium is heat-pressed to the image support, the ink hardly abruptly boils, and the recording medium and the image support are not completely in close contact (adhesion failure), or the recording medium and the image support are not supported. It is possible to suppress a problem (bubble remaining) in which bubbles remain between the body.

[1-1-1] Inorganic fine particles:
The inorganic fine particles are fine particles made of an inorganic material. The inorganic fine particles have a function of forming a void for receiving ink in the ink receiving layer.

  The kind of the inorganic material constituting the inorganic fine particles is not particularly limited. However, it is preferably an inorganic material that has high ink absorbability, excellent color developability, and can form high-quality images. For example, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, kaolin, clay, talc, hydrotalcite, aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, diatomaceous earth, alumina, colloidal alumina, aluminum hydroxide, boehmite structure alumina hydrate, pseudo boehmite structure And alumina hydrate, lithopone (a mixture of barium sulfate and zinc sulfide), zeolite and the like.

  Among the inorganic fine particles made of these inorganic materials, alumina fine particles made of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of alumina and alumina hydrate are preferable. Examples of the alumina hydrate include boehmite structure alumina hydrate and pseudoboehmite structure alumina hydrate. Alumina, boehmite-structured alumina hydrate, and pseudoboehmite-structured alumina hydrate are preferred in that the transparency of the ink receiving layer and the image recording density can be improved.

  Boehmite-structured alumina hydrate can be obtained by adding an acid to a long-chain aluminum alkoxide for hydrolysis and peptization (see JP-A-56-120508). Either an organic acid or an inorganic acid may be used for peptization. However, it is preferable to use nitric acid. By using nitric acid, the reaction efficiency of hydrolysis can be improved, an alumina hydrate having a controlled shape can be obtained, and a dispersion having good dispersibility can be obtained.

  The inorganic fine particles preferably have an average particle size of 120 nm or more and 200 nm or less. By setting the average particle size to 120 nm or more, preferably 140 nm or more, the ink absorbability of the ink receiving layer can be improved, and ink bleeding and beading in an image after recording can be suppressed. On the other hand, when the average particle diameter is 200 nm or less, preferably 170 nm or less, light scattering by the inorganic fine particles can be suppressed, and the glossiness and transparency of the ink receiving layer can be improved. Further, since the number of inorganic fine particles per unit area of the ink receiving layer can be increased, the ink absorbability can be improved. Accordingly, the recording density of the image can be improved, and dullness of the image after recording can be suppressed.

  As the inorganic fine particles, commercially available inorganic fine particles may be used as they are, or those obtained by adjusting the average particle diameter and polydispersity index of commercially available inorganic fine particles using a pulverizer / disperser may be used. The type of the pulverizer is not particularly limited. For example, a conventionally known pulverizer such as a high-pressure homogenizer, an ultrasonic homogenizer, a wet media type pulverizer (sand mill, ball mill), a continuous high-speed stirring type disperser, or an ultrasonic disperser can be used.

  More specific examples of the pulverizing and dispersing machine are as follows: Manton Gorin homogenizer, Sonorator (above, manufactured by Doei Sei); Microfluidizer (manufactured by Mizuho Industries); Nanomizer (manufactured by Tsukishima Kikai); Pearl mill, Glen mill, Tornado (above Asada Steel); Visco mill (Imex); Mighty mill, RS mill, SΓ mill (above Inoue Seisakusho); Sugawara Milder (Ebara Seisakusho); Fine Flow Mill, Cavitron (above, manufactured by Taiheiyo Kiko);

The inorganic fine particles preferably satisfy the above average particle diameter range and have a polydispersity index (μ / <Γ> ² ) of 0.01 or more and 0.20 or less, more preferably 0.01. It is preferable to set it to 0.18 or less. By setting the particle size within the above range, the particle size can be kept constant, so that the glossiness and transparency of the ink receiving layer can be improved. Accordingly, the recording density of the image can be improved, and dullness of the image after recording can be suppressed.

The average particle diameter and polydispersity index referred to in this specification are the values measured by the dynamic light scattering method, “polymer structure (2) scattering experiment and morphology observation Chapter 1 light scattering” (Kyoritsu Shuppan High) Molecular Society), or J. Chem. Phys. , 70 (B), 15 ApI. 3965 (1979). According to the theory of dynamic light scattering, when fine particles having different particle diameters are mixed, there is a distribution in the decay of the time correlation function from the scattered light. By analyzing this time correlation function by the cumulant method, the average (<Γ>) and dispersion (μ) of the decay rate can be obtained. Since the decay rate (Γ) is expressed as a function of the particle diffusion coefficient and the scattering vector, the hydrodynamic average particle diameter can be obtained using the Stokes-Einstein equation. Therefore, the polydispersity index (μ / <Γ> ² ) obtained by dividing the dispersion of the decay rate (μ) by the mean square (<Γ> ² ) represents the degree of dispersion of the particle size, and the value is zero. The closer it is, the narrower the particle size distribution. The average particle size and polydispersity index defined in the present invention can be easily measured using, for example, a laser particle size analyzer PARIII (manufactured by Otsuka Electronics Co., Ltd.).

  The inorganic fine particles can be used alone or in combination of two or more. “Two or more types” includes not only materials different from each other but also materials having different characteristics such as average particle diameter and polydispersity index.

[1-1-2] Water-soluble resin, water-dispersible resin:
The water-soluble resin is a resin that is completely mixed with water at 25 ° C. or has a solubility in water of 1 (g / 100 g) or more. The water-dispersible resin is a resin that is a constituent component of latex. The water-soluble resin and the water-dispersible resin function as a binder that binds the inorganic fine particles.

Examples of water-soluble resins include:
Starch, gelatin, casein and modified products thereof;
Cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose;
Polyvinyl alcohol (complete saponification, partial saponification, low saponification, etc.) or a modified product thereof (cation modified product, anion modified product, silanol modified product, etc.);
Urea resin, melamine resin, epoxy resin, epichlorohydrin resin, polyurethane resin, polyethyleneimine resin, polyamide resin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, poly (meth) acrylic acid or copolymer thereof And resins such as resins, acrylamide resins, maleic anhydride copolymer resins, and polyester resins.

As a water dispersible resin, for example,
Synthetic rubbers such as SBR and NBR;
Acrylic polymer resins such as methyl methacrylate-butadiene copolymer resin and acrylate copolymer resin;
Vinyl polymer resins such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resins;
And a functional group-modified polymer resin in which a cationic group or an anionic group is introduced into the synthetic rubber or the polymer resin. These water-dispersible resins can exist in a latex state using water as a dispersion medium.

  Among the water-soluble resin and the water-dispersible resin, polyvinyl alcohol, particularly saponified polyvinyl alcohol obtained by hydrolyzing (saponifying) polyvinyl acetate is preferable.

  In the recording medium of the present invention, the ink receiving layer is preferably composed of a composition containing polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of 70 mol% or more and 100 mol% or less. The degree of saponification means the percentage of the number of moles of hydroxyl groups relative to the total number of moles of acetate groups and hydroxyl groups of polyvinyl alcohol.

  By setting the saponification degree to 70 mol% or more, preferably 86 mol% or more, the ink receiving layer does not become excessively hard, and sufficient viscoelasticity can be imparted to the ink receiving layer. Therefore, it is possible to improve the adhesive strength between the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer, and it is possible to suppress the problem that the ink receiving layer is peeled off from the transparent sheet due to the insufficient adhesive strength. Moreover, the viscosity of the coating liquid containing inorganic fine particles and polyvinyl alcohol can be reduced. Therefore, it becomes easy to apply the coating liquid to the transparent sheet, and the productivity of the recording medium can be improved. On the other hand, when the degree of saponification is 100 mol% or less, preferably 90 mol% or less, moderate hydrophilicity can be imparted to the ink receiving layer, and the ink absorbability is improved. Accordingly, it is possible to record a high quality image on the ink receiving layer.

  Examples of the saponified polyvinyl alcohol that satisfies the saponification degree range include fully saponified polyvinyl alcohol (saponification degree: 98 mol% to 99 mol%), partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol (saponification degree: 87 mol% to 89 mol%), and low saponification polyvinyl alcohol (saponification). Degree 78 mol% or more and 82 mol% or less). Among these, partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol is preferable.

  In the recording medium of the present invention, the ink receiving layer is preferably composed of a composition containing polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average polymerization degree of 2,000 or more and 5,000 or less.

  By setting the weight average degree of polymerization to 2,000 or more, preferably 3,000 or more, polyvinyl alcohol has an appropriate viscosity and can impart sufficient viscoelasticity to the ink receiving layer. Therefore, it is possible to improve the adhesive strength between the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer, and it is possible to suppress the problem that the ink receiving layer is peeled off from the transparent sheet due to the insufficient adhesive strength. On the other hand, when the weight average degree of polymerization is 5,000 or less, preferably 4,500 or less, the viscosity of the coating liquid containing inorganic fine particles and polyvinyl alcohol can be lowered. Therefore, it becomes easy to apply the coating liquid to the transparent sheet, and the productivity of the recording medium can be improved. Further, the pores of the ink receiving layer can be prevented from being filled, and the opening state of the pores can be kept good, so that the ink absorbability is good. Accordingly, it is possible to record a high quality image on the ink receiving layer.

  The value of the weight average degree of polymerization is a value calculated according to the method described in JIS-K-6726.

  The water-soluble resin and water-dispersible resin can be used alone or in combination of two or more. “Two or more” includes those having different properties such as saponification degree and weight average polymerization degree.

  The amount of the water-soluble resin or water-dispersible resin is preferably 3.3 parts by mass or more and 100 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the inorganic fine particles. By setting the amount of the water-soluble resin and the water-dispersible resin to 3.3 parts by mass or more, preferably 5 parts by mass or more, the ink receiving layer does not easily crack or fall off. On the other hand, when the amount of the water-soluble resin and the water-dispersible resin is 100 parts by mass or less, preferably 33 parts by mass or less, the ink absorbability is improved.

[1-1-3] Thickness:
The thickness of the ink receiving layer is not particularly limited. However, the thickness of the ink receiving layer is preferably 10 μm or more and 20 μm or less. By setting the thickness of the ink receiving layer to 10 μm or more, preferably 13 μm or more, and more preferably 18 μm or more, it is possible to ensure ink absorbability and transparency of the ink receiving layer. Further, ink absorbability and ink fixability are improved. On the other hand, by setting the thickness of the ink receiving layer to 20 μm or less, the transparency of the ink receiving layer can be improved. Also, as will be described later, when a plastic card is used as the image support, it is preferable because the thickness of the entire recorded matter can be easily suppressed to a total thickness of 0.84 mm or less described in JIS6301.

[1-1-4] Others:
The ink receiving layer may be one in which an auxiliary image different from a reverse image described later is formed (preprinted) in advance.

[1-2] Transparent sheet:
The transparent sheet means a sheet having a total light transmittance measured in accordance with JIS K7375 of 50% or more, preferably 90% or more. Accordingly, the transparent sheet includes a translucent sheet, a colored transparent sheet, and the like in addition to the colorless transparent sheet.

  The kind of transparent sheet is not particularly limited. However, a sheet or film made of a material having excellent durability such as weather resistance, friction resistance, and chemical resistance is preferable. For example, a resin film etc. can be mentioned.

As resin constituting the resin film,
Polyesters such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), 1,4-polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate;
Polyamides and polyimides such as nylon (aliphatic polyamide), aramid (aromatic polyamide), polyimide;
Cellulose derivatives such as cellophane, cellulose acetate and polyacetate;
Other examples include resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyphenylene sulfide, polysulfone, polycarbonate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, ionomer, and polylactic acid. Among these, a thermoplastic resin is preferable, and more specifically, PET having excellent weather resistance is preferable. The resin film which consists of these resin can be used individually by 1 type, or 2 or more types can be combined or laminated | stacked.

  The thickness of the transparent sheet may be appropriately determined in consideration of material strength and the like, and is not particularly limited. However, the thickness of the transparent sheet is preferably 0.5 μm or more and 100 μm or less. By setting the thickness of the transparent sheet to 0.5 μm or more, preferably 1 μm or more, an effect of imparting weather resistance can be obtained. On the other hand, when the thickness of the transparent sheet is 100 μm or less, preferably 10 μm or less, more preferably 5 μm or less, the heat transfer property when the recording medium is heat-pressed to the image support can be improved.

  The recording medium of the present invention includes a transparent sheet 52 as in the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. By providing the transparent sheet 52, when the recording medium 1 is heat-pressed to the image support, it is possible to visually recognize the reverse image recorded on the ink receiving layer 53 through the transparent sheet 52 as an original image. Become. Further, when the recording medium 1 is heat-pressed on the image support, the transparent sheet 52 functions as a protective layer for the reverse image recorded on the ink receiving layer 53.

  When a dye ink is used as an ink for recording a reversal image (ink jet recording ink) in the ink receiving layer, the transparent sheet contains a UV-cutting agent in order to prevent decomposition (photodegradation) of the dye by ultraviolet rays. It is preferable to contain. Examples of the UV-cutting agent include ultraviolet absorbers such as benzotriazole compounds and benzophenone compounds; ultraviolet scattering agents such as titanium oxide and zinc oxide;

[1-3] Release layer:
The recording medium of the present invention may include a release layer 51 like the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. The release layer is a layer made of a composition containing a release agent. By providing the release layer 51, the base sheet 50 can be easily peeled from the transparent sheet 52.

The type of the release agent is not particularly limited, and is preferably a material that is excellent in releasability and is not easily melted by the heat generated by the thermal ink jet recording head. For example,
Waxes such as silicone wax;
Resin having a relatively high softening point such as cellulose resin, acrylic resin, polyurethane resin, polyvinyl alcohol resin, polyvinyl acetal resin;
A mixture of a resin and waxes having a relatively high softening point;
Among these, silicone-based materials such as silicone wax and silicone resin; and fluorine-based materials such as fluororesin are preferable in terms of excellent releasability.

  The thickness of the release layer may be determined as appropriate in consideration of releasability and the like, and is not particularly limited. However, the thickness of the release layer is preferably 0.1 μm or more and 10 μm or less in the dry state. By setting the thickness of the release layer to 0.1 μm or more, preferably 1 μm or more, it is possible to suppress fusion between the base sheet and the transparent sheet. On the other hand, when the thickness of the release layer is 10 μm or less, preferably 5 μm or less, the total thickness described in JIS6301 is the total thickness of the recorded material when a plastic card is used as an image support as described later. The thickness can be suppressed to 0.84 mm or less.

  In addition, when matte (matte) processing is desired on the surface of the transparent sheet, the release layer contains various particles, or the surface of the release layer that contacts the transparent sheet is matted. Is preferred. The mat processing is a useful method in that the glossiness of the transparent sheet can be appropriately controlled.

[1-4] Substrate sheet:
The recording medium of the present invention may include a base sheet 50 as in the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. A base sheet (also referred to as “release liner” or “separator”) is a sheet body that serves as a support for a release layer.

  It does not specifically limit about the material of a base material sheet, a form, etc. For example, a sheet-like material used as a base film of a conventional thermal transfer sheet can be diverted. Specifically, a resin film, a paper sheet, a nonwoven fabric sheet, etc. can be mentioned.

For example, polyester (such as PET), nylon (aliphatic polyamide), polyimide, cellulose acetate, cellophane, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, chlorinated rubber, fluororesin, ionomer, etc. Resin film made of resin;
A paper sheet made of paper such as condenser paper or paraffin paper is preferred. Among these, a PET film having excellent weather resistance is preferable. A resin film, a paper sheet, a nonwoven fabric sheet, etc. can be used individually by 1 type or in combination of 2 or more types.

  The thickness of the substrate sheet may be appropriately determined in consideration of material strength and the like, and is not particularly limited. However, the thickness of the base sheet is preferably 5 μm or more and 200 μm or less. By setting the thickness of the base sheet to 5 μm or more, preferably 10 μm or more, it is possible to obtain an effect of preventing curling due to the lamination of the ink receiving layer. On the other hand, when the thickness of the base sheet is 200 μm or less, preferably 50 μm or less, more preferably 20 μm or less, the heat transfer property when the recording medium is heat-pressed to the image support can be improved.

[1-5] Anchor layer:
FIG. 2 is a view showing another embodiment of the recording medium of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section obtained by cutting the recording medium in the thickness direction. The recording medium of the present invention may further include an anchor layer 59 as in the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. 2 or as shown in FIG.

  The anchor layer 59 is an adhesive layer and is disposed between the transparent sheet 52 and the ink receiving layer 53. By providing the anchor layer, it is possible to improve the adhesion and adhesive strength between the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer, and it is possible to suppress a problem that the ink receiving layer is peeled off from the transparent sheet due to the insufficient adhesive strength. The anchor layer can employ the same configuration as the primer layer described later.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 24, as the surface modification treatment, the surface of the transparent sheet 52 on which the ink receiving layer is applied is preliminarily subjected to corona discharge treatment or plasma discharge treatment, or an organic solvent such as IPA or acetone is applied. By improving the surface of the transparent sheet 52 by processing, it is possible to improve paintability and improve adhesion. By forming the anchor layer and performing the surface treatment as described above, the binding property between the ink receiving layer 53 and the transparent sheet 52 can be improved, the film strength can be increased, and the peeling of the transparent sheet 52 can be prevented. it can.

  As such an anchor layer 59, the one equivalent to that constituting a primer layer to be described later can be used to enhance the binding property. For example, it can be formed using a thermoplastic synthetic resin, natural resin, rubber, wax or the like. More specifically, cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate propionate, styrene resins such as polystyrene and poly α-methylstyrene, acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate and polyethyl acrylate, polyvinyl chloride, Polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl resins such as polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal, polyester resin, polyamide resin, epoxy resin, polyurethane resin, ionomer, ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid ester Synthetic resins such as copolymers, rosin as tackifier, rosin modified maleic resin, ester gum, polyisobutylene rubber, butyl rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, butadiene acrylonitrile rubber, polyamide resin, Derivatives of natural resins and synthetic rubber such as Li chlorinated olefins.

  Further, as a material that improves the wettability of the coating liquid or enhances the binding property, a polyolefin resin or the like is also preferably used, and among these, polyethylene is particularly preferably used. The polyethylene is mainly low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), but other LLDPE, polypropylene, or the like can also be used in part.

  The anchor layer 59 is preferably melted by heat treatment with a heat roll in an adhesion step described later. By melting the anchor layer 59, the binding property of the ink receiving layer 53 and the transparent sheet 52 can be made stronger without being affected by the unevenness of the ink receiving layer 53 and the surface of the transparent sheet 52. The heat treatment is preferably used in such a range that the adhesion is exhibited by melting the anchor layer by heat while the ink does not evaporate. Therefore, the glass transition temperature (Tg) is preferably 60 to 160 ° C, more preferably 70 to 140 ° C, and particularly preferably 70 to 100 ° C. The above temperature range is preferably used because the ink does not boil because the internal pressure of the ink inside the ink receiving layer is increased by the heat applied from the recording medium 1 at the adhesion portion 29. On the other hand, when the temperature is 160 ° C. or higher, the ink is boiled by rapid heat, and good adhesion cannot be performed.

[1-6] Hologram layer:
The recording medium of the present invention may further include a hologram layer 58 as shown in the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. 2 or as shown in FIG. The hologram layer 58 is a layer on which a three-dimensional image is recorded, and is disposed between the transparent sheet 52 and the ink receiving layer 53. By providing the hologram layer, an effect of preventing forgery of a recorded material (such as a credit card) is imparted. The configuration of the hologram layer is not particularly limited, and a conventionally known configuration can be adopted. An example is a relief hologram.

  When the anchor layer 59 is provided, a hologram layer 58 can be provided between the anchor layer 59 and the transparent sheet 52 as shown in FIG. The hologram layer 58 is generally composed of a resin layer, but the layer itself may have a single structure or a multilayer structure. The hologram forming layer may be a planar hologram or a volume hologram. In the case of a planar hologram, a relief hologram is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of mass productivity and cost.

  In addition, Fresnel holograms, Fraunhofer holograms, lensless Fourier transform holograms, laser reproduction holograms such as image holograms, and white light reproduction holograms such as rainbow holograms, color holograms utilizing these principles, computer holograms, hologram displays, Multiplex holograms, holographic stereograms, holographic diffraction gratings and the like can be used.

  As the hologram forming photosensitive material for recording interference fringes, silver salt, dichromated gelatin, thermoplastics, diazo photosensitive material photoresist, ferroelectric, photochromic material, chalcogen glass, and the like can be used. In addition, as the material of the hologram forming layer, polyvinyl chloride, acrylic resin (eg, polymethyl methacrylate), thermoplastic resin such as polystyrene and polycarbonate, unsaturated polyester, melamine, epoxy, polyester (meth) acrylate, urethane Cured thermosetting resins such as (meth) acrylate, epoxy (meth) acrylate, polyether (meth) acrylate, polyol (meth) acrylate, melamine (meth) acrylate, triazine acrylate, or the above thermoplastics A mixture of a resin and a thermosetting resin can be used.

  Further, as the material of the hologram layer 58, a thermoformable material having a radical polymerizable unsaturated group can be used. The hologram layer 58 can be formed by a conventionally known method. For example, when the transparent hologram is a relief hologram, a hologram master on which interference fringes are recorded in an uneven shape is used as a press die. Then, a hologram having a relief forming surface is obtained by placing a hologram forming resin sheet on the hologram original plate, heat-pressing both of them by means of a heating roll or the like, and replicating the concavo-convex pattern of the hologram original plate on the surface of the hologram forming resin sheet A forming layer can be obtained.

[1-7] Laminated structure:
The recording medium of the present invention has a laminated structure in which a transparent sheet 52 and an ink receiving layer 53 are sequentially laminated as in the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. “Transparent sheet and ink receiving layer are sequentially laminated” means that a transparent sheet and an ink receiving layer are laminated in that order regardless of whether or not another layer is interposed between the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer. Means that That is, the structure in which the anchor layer 59 and the hologram layer 58 exist between the transparent sheet 52 and the ink receiving layer 53 as in the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. Included in the laminated structure.

  However, the recording medium of the present invention preferably has a laminated structure in which the transparent sheet 52 and the ink receiving layer 53 are in contact with each other as in the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. That is, a structure in which no other layer (including a sheet) is interposed between the transparent sheet 52 and the ink receiving layer 53 is preferable. This is because the thickness of a credit card or the like, which is the object of the recorded matter, is strict, and therefore it is desirable to reduce the number of layers and sheets to be laminated to make the recorded matter thinner. In particular, if the weight average polymerization degree and saponification degree of polyvinyl alcohol contained in the ink receiving layer are precisely adjusted, the adhesive strength between the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer is remarkably improved, and it is not always necessary to form an anchor layer. . According to such a configuration, there is an advantage that the recording medium and thus the recorded matter can be thinned.

  When the recording medium of the present invention further includes a release layer 51 and a base sheet 50 as in the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. 1, the ink receiving layer 53, the transparent sheet 52, the release layer 51, and the base material It is preferable to have a laminated structure in which the sheets 50 are sequentially laminated.

  From the viewpoint of reducing the number of layers and sheets to be laminated and reducing the thickness of the recorded material, the recording medium of the present invention has a transparent sheet 52 and a release layer 51, as in the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. It is particularly preferable to have a laminated structure in which the release layer 51 and the base sheet 50 are in contact with each other.

[1-8] Image:
FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the recording medium of the present invention. The recording medium of the present invention preferably has an image formed on the ink receiving layer. In particular, as in the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. 3, the ink receiving layer 53 is a mirror image when viewed from the ink receiving layer 53 side. It is preferable that a reverse image 72 that is a normal image when viewed from the transparent sheet 52 side is recorded.

  In the recording medium of the present invention, as in the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. 3, the reverse image 72 is recorded by the ink jet recording method on the surface of the ink receiving layer 53 on which the transparent sheet 52 is not laminated. . By recording a reverse image by the ink jet recording method, compared to the conventional thermal transfer method, it is possible to improve the productivity of recorded matter and information security, and to reduce the recording cost.

  In the recording medium of the present invention, the image may be an image formed with a dye ink or an image formed with a pigment ink. However, the image is preferably an image formed with pigment ink. By forming a reversal image with pigment ink, it becomes difficult for moisture and solvent in the ink to remain on the surface of the ink receiving layer (that is, drying becomes easy), and the image support and recording caused by the moisture and the solvent are recorded. It is possible to effectively prevent poor adhesion and migration (ink movement) with the medium (specifically, the ink receiving layer). Furthermore, the light resistance of the reversed image can be improved by forming the reversed image with pigment ink.

  Further, as the pigment component in the pigment ink, it is preferable to use a resin dispersion type pigment component in which the periphery of the pigment particles is coated with a resin. By using a resin-dispersed pigment, it is possible to increase the binding force between the pigment particles after separating the ink medium. Further, when the image support is provided with a primer layer, the pigment layer is bonded to the primer layer. The wearing power can be increased. Thereby, the moisture on the surface of the pigment film is substantially blocked from the moisture in the lower layer in the ink receiving layer by the pigment film, and the water supply from the lower layer is almost blocked. Therefore, if the amount of water on the surface of the pigment film is small, it can be sufficiently dried by natural drying.

  The resin covering the periphery of the pigment particles is preferably a (meth) acrylic acid ester copolymer having an acid value of 100 mgKOH / g or more and 160 mgKOH / g or less. When the acid value is 100 mgKOH / g or more, ejection stability is improved in an ink jet recording system in which ink is ejected by a thermal system. On the other hand, when the acid value is 160 mgKOH / g or less, the ink particles have a relatively hydrophobic property with respect to the pigment particles, and the fixing property and bleeding resistance of the ink are improved. Therefore, it is suitable for high-speed ink fixing and high-speed recording.

[1-9] How to use:
FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the recording medium of the present invention is attached to an image support to form a recorded material, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a base sheet and a release from the recorded material shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows typically the state which peeled the layer.

  The recording medium of the present invention is used by being attached to the image support 55 so that the ink receiving layer 53 faces the image support 55 like the recording medium 1 shown in FIGS. Thereby, a laminated structure in which the image support 55, the ink receiving layer 53, and the transparent sheet 52 are sequentially laminated is formed. As a result, the reverse image 72 recorded on the recording medium 1 is attached to the image support 55.

  When the recording medium further includes a release layer 51 and a base sheet 50 as in the recording medium 70 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the release layer 51 and the base sheet 50 are shown in FIG. Is peeled off from the surface of the transparent sheet 52. In this way, when viewed from the transparent sheet 52 side, the reverse image 72 recorded on the recording medium 1 can be viewed as a normal image.

[2] Recorded matter:
The recorded matter of the present invention includes an image support 55 on which an image is supported, and a recording medium 1 on which an image (inverted image 72 in the illustrated example) is recorded, like a recorded matter 73 shown in FIGS. It is equipped with. The recorded matter of the present invention includes the recording medium of the present invention already described.

[2-1] Image support:
The image support is an object on which an image on a recording medium is supported. The configuration of the image support is not particularly limited. Examples thereof include an image support (resin base support) containing a resin as a constituent material, an image support (paper base support) containing paper as a constituent material, and the like. Examples of the resin base support include resin cards such as credit cards and IC cards. Examples of the paper base substrate include a paper booklet such as a passport; a paper card;

[2-1-1] Resin base support:
The resin constituting the resin base support may be appropriately selected according to the use of the image support, and is not particularly limited. For example,
Polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate / isophthalate copolymer;
Polyolefin resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polymethylpentene;
Polyfluorinated ethylene resins such as polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer;
Aliphatic polyamide resins such as nylon 6, nylon 6,6;
Vinyl polymer resins such as polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene / vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, vinylon;
Cellulosic resins such as cellulose triacetate and cellophane;
Acrylic resins such as methyl polymethacrylate, ethyl polymethacrylate, polyethyl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate;
And other synthetic resins such as polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyarylate, and polyimide.

  The resin constituting the resin base support may be, for example, a biodegradable resin such as aliphatic polyester, polycarbonate, polylactic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose acetate, and polycaprolactone. Moreover, the resin base support body should just be what uses resin as the main structural material, for example, may contain materials other than resin, such as metal foil.

[2-1-2] Paper base support:
The type of paper constituting the paper base support is not particularly limited. For example, condenser paper, glassine paper, sulfuric acid paper, high-size paper, synthetic paper (polyolefin type, polystyrene type), fine paper, art paper, coated paper, cast coated paper, wallpaper, backing paper, synthetic resin or emulsion impregnation Examples thereof include paper, synthetic rubber latex-impregnated paper, synthetic resin-added paper, paperboard, and cellulose fiber paper.

[2-1-3] Others:
Resin base support and paper base support can be embossed, signed, IC memory (IC chip), optical memory, magnetic recording layer, falsification preventing recording layer (pearl pigment layer, watermark recording layer, micro letter as required Etc.), an embossed recording layer, an IC chip concealing layer, and the like.

  In addition, the resin base support and the paper base support may be configured as a single layer made of the above-described materials, or may be configured as a multi-layered body in which two or more sheets or films having different materials and thicknesses are bonded together. May be.

  Further, the total thickness of the image support is preferably 30 μm or more and 800 μm or less. The thickness of the image support is preferably 30 μm or more, preferably 500 μm or more, more preferably 650 μm or more. On the other hand, the thickness of the image support is preferably 800 μm or less, more preferably 770 μm or less. As will be described later, when a plastic card is used as the image support, the total thickness of the recorded matter can be controlled to a total thickness of 0.68 mm or more and 0.84 mm or less described in JIS6301.

[2-2] Primer layer:
In the recorded matter of the present invention, it is preferable that the image support 55 further includes a primer layer 56 as in the recorded matter 73 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 15, the primer layer 56 is an adhesive layer and is disposed on the surface of the image support 55. By providing the primer layer, it is possible to improve the adhesion and adhesive strength between the image support 55 and the recording medium 1 (specifically, the ink receiving layer 53), and recording from the image support due to the insufficient adhesive strength. Problems that the medium peels can be suppressed.

The constituent material of the primer layer is not particularly limited. However, it is preferably composed of a material that exhibits adhesiveness upon heating, such as a thermoplastic synthetic resin, natural resin, rubber, wax, or the like. More specifically,
Cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate propionate;
Styrene resins such as polystyrene and poly-α-methylstyrene;
Acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate and polyethyl acrylate;
Vinyl resins such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal;
Other synthetic resins such as polyester, polyamide, epoxy resin, polyurethane, ionomer, ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid ester copolymer;
Tackifiers such as rosin, rosin-modified maleic resin, ester gum;
And synthetic rubbers such as polyisobutylene rubber (butyl rubber), styrene-butadiene rubber, butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber, and polychlorinated olefin.

  When the primer layer is composed of a thermoplastic resin, the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin is preferably 60 ° C. or higher and 160 ° C. or lower. By setting the glass transition temperature to 60 ° C. or higher, preferably 70 ° C. or higher, the primer layer is less likely to melt due to the atmospheric temperature inside the apparatus, strict temperature control is unnecessary, and handling of the recording medium is facilitated. be able to. On the other hand, by setting the glass transition temperature to 160 ° C. or lower, preferably 140 ° C. or lower, more preferably 100 ° C. or lower, a reverse image of the recording medium is formed even when the primer layer is heated to a temperature at which it exhibits adhesiveness. The ink is less likely to boil and adhesion between the recording medium and the image support is good.

  Examples of the thermoplastic resin having a glass transition point of 60 ° C. or higher and 160 ° C. or lower include polyamide, acrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyester, and the like. These resins are preferable in terms of good adhesiveness when heated.

  The primer layer can be used alone or in combination of two or more of the above materials. Further, the thickness of the primer layer may be appropriately set in consideration of the kind of the constituent material, required adhesion performance, coating property, and the like, and is not particularly limited. However, the thickness of the primer layer is preferably 0.5 μm or more and 10 μm or less. By setting the thickness of the primer layer to 0.5 μm or more, preferably 1.0 μm or more, good adhesiveness can be obtained even when an image support having a rough surface such as a paper base support is used. On the other hand, when the thickness of the primer layer is 10 μm or less, preferably 5 μm or less, the total thickness described in JIS 6301 is the total thickness of the recorded material when a plastic card is used as an image support as described later. The effect of suppressing to 0.84 mm or less can be obtained.

  The image support and the recording medium (specifically, the ink receiving layer) can be obtained by including the resin exemplified as the constituent material of the primer layer in the ink receiving layer instead of the image supporting body having the primer layer. It is also possible to improve adhesion and adhesive strength.

[2-3] Laminated structure:
The recorded matter of the present invention has a laminated structure in which an image support 55, an ink receiving layer 53, and a transparent sheet 52 are sequentially laminated, like a recorded matter 73 shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. The recorded matter of the present invention has a laminated structure in which an image support 55, a primer layer 56, an ink receiving layer 53, and a transparent sheet 52 are sequentially laminated as in the recorded matter 73 shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. It may be. In this case, in the recorded matter of the present invention, like the recorded matter 73 shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, the image support 55 and the primer layer 56 are brought into contact with each other, and the primer layer 56 and the ink receiving layer 53 It is preferable to have a laminated structure in which the two are in contact with each other.

[3] Manufacturing method of recording medium:
The method for producing a recording medium of the present invention comprises an ink receiving layer for receiving ink for inkjet recording, and a transparent sheet having a total light transmittance of 50% or more, and the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer are sequentially laminated. This is a method for manufacturing a recording medium having a laminated structure. In the following sections of the recording medium manufacturing method and recorded matter manufacturing method, items already described in the section of the recording medium are omitted, and only items unique to the manufacturing method are described.

[3-1] Formation of ink receiving layer:
In the first embodiment of the method for producing a recording medium of the present invention, at least water, inorganic fine particles, and a weight average polymerization degree of 2,000 to 5,000 and a saponification degree of 70 mol% to 90 mol are formed on the surface of the transparent sheet. A coating solution containing% or less of polyvinyl alcohol is applied. As a result, a void-absorbing ink receiving layer made of a composition containing at least the inorganic fine particles and the polyvinyl alcohol is formed.

  In the second embodiment of the method for producing a recording medium of the present invention, the transparent sheet has at least water, alumina fine particles having an average particle size of 120 nm to 200 nm, and a group consisting of a water-soluble resin and a water-dispersible resin. A coating solution containing at least one resin selected from the above is applied. As a result, a void-absorbing ink-receiving layer made of a composition containing at least the alumina fine particles and the water-soluble resin is formed.

[3-1-1] Transparent sheet:
A transparent sheet that has been surface-modified in advance may be used. By performing surface modification that roughens the surface of the transparent sheet, the wettability of the transparent sheet may be improved and the adhesion to the ink receiving layer or the anchor layer may be improved. The method for surface modification is not particularly limited. For example, a method of performing a corona discharge treatment or a plasma discharge treatment on the surface of the transparent sheet in advance; a method of applying an organic solvent such as IPA or acetone on the surface of the transparent sheet; These surface treatments can increase the binding property between the ink receiving layer and the transparent sheet, improve the strength, and prevent the ink receiving layer from peeling off from the transparent sheet.

  And you may use a transparent sheet in the state made into the laminated body with another layer and a sheet | seat. For example, it is preferable to use a laminated sheet in which the transparent sheet, a release layer composed of a composition containing a release agent, and a base sheet serving as a support for the release layer are sequentially laminated.

  The release layer can be formed by applying a coating liquid containing a resin or wax constituting the release layer to a resin film or the like constituting the base sheet and drying. Examples of the coating method include conventionally known coating methods such as a gravure recording method, a screen recording method, and a reverse roll coating method using a gravure plate.

  Moreover, you may use the transparent sheet in which the anchor layer was formed previously.

[3-1-2] Coating liquid:
The ink receiving layer is mixed with the inorganic fine particles, water-soluble resin and / or water-dispersible resin and aqueous medium to prepare a coating liquid, which is applied to the surface of the substrate and dried to form the ink receiving layer. It is obtained by doing.

  In the first embodiment of the recording medium manufacturing method of the present invention, the coating liquid includes at least water, inorganic fine particles, and a weight average polymerization degree of 2,000 to 5,000, and a saponification degree of 70 mol% to 90 mol. %, A coating solution containing polyvinyl alcohol is used.

  In the second embodiment of the method for producing a recording medium of the present invention, the coating liquid includes at least water, alumina fine particles having an average particle diameter of 120 nm to 190 nm, and a group consisting of a water-soluble resin and a water-dispersible resin. A coating solution containing at least one resin selected from the above is used.

As a medium for the coating liquid, an aqueous medium is preferably used. Examples of the aqueous medium include water; a mixed solvent of water and a water-soluble organic solvent; Examples of water-soluble organic solvents include:
Alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol;
Lower alkyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and ethylene glycol dimethyl ether;
Ketones such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone;
And ethers such as tetrahydrofuran;

  As the coating liquid, it is preferable to use a coating liquid further containing a heat-fusible resin. As the heat-fusible resin, it is preferable to use the material exemplified in the section of the primer layer, particularly a thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of 60 ° C. or higher and 160 ° C. or lower. Moreover, in order to improve the wettability of a coating liquid and to improve binding property, it is preferable to contain a polyolefin resin or the like. Among these, it is preferable to contain polyethylene. Examples of polyethylene include low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE). However, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), polypropylene and the like can also be used.

  Various additives can be contained in the coating liquid as long as the effects of the present invention are not hindered. When a dye ink is used as an ink for recording a reverse image, it is preferable to contain a dye fixing agent. The dye fixing agent binds to the anionic group of the dye molecule to form a salt, and the migration of the dye can be prevented by making the dye insoluble in water.

  Examples of other additives include surfactants, pigment dispersants, thickeners, antifoaming agents, ink fixing agents, dot adjusting agents, colorants, fluorescent whitening agents, antioxidants, ultraviolet absorbers, and preservatives. And a pH adjuster.

  The concentration of the inorganic fine particles in the coating solution may be appropriately determined in consideration of the coating properties of the coating solution, and is not particularly limited. However, it is preferable to set it as 10 to 30 mass% with respect to the total mass of a coating liquid.

  Further, for the purpose of adjusting the film strength of the ink receiving layer and increasing the adhesive strength between the ink receiving layer and the image support (transfer target), an adhesive resin used for the primer layer described later is used for the ink receiving layer. It is preferable. By using the resin used for the primer layer for the ink receiving layer, it is possible not only to provide the adhesiveness between the image support and the ink receiving layer described later without using the primer layer, but also the ink receiving layer. It is possible to make the adhesiveness to the image support stronger by melting. Furthermore, the film strength of the coating film can be weakened, and the releasability of the ink receiving layer at the time of retransfer described later can be improved. In addition, the pores of the ink receiving layer can be filled by dissolving the resin in the ink receiving layer by heating at the time of retransfer, thereby preventing ink migration due to residual moisture or solvent in the water-based ink. it can. However, when a resin having adhesiveness is contained in the ink receiving layer, the pores may be filled with the resin, so that the ink absorbability is lowered and the image quality may be lowered.

  In addition, when using resin which has adhesiveness in an ink receiving layer, the predrying temperature at the time of performing water evaporation control in the drying part 7 of the manufacturing apparatus 25 shown in FIG. 6 is below Tg temperature of resin which has adhesiveness. Set to.

  In general, a dye fixing agent may be used for the purpose of improving the water resistance of the recording medium. Such a dye fixing agent forms a salt with a dye in an ink having an anionic group, and improves migration by insolubilizing the dye with respect to water.

[3-1-3] Coating:
The ink receiving layer is formed by coating the coating liquid on the surface of the transparent sheet. After coating, if necessary, the coating solution is dried. Thereby, a recording medium having a laminated structure in which the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer are sequentially laminated can be obtained.

  In the case of using a laminated sheet in which the transparent sheet, the release layer, and the base sheet are sequentially laminated, the coating liquid may be applied to the surface of the transparent sheet constituting the laminated sheet. . Thereby, the recording medium 1 having a laminated structure in which the ink receiving layer 53, the transparent sheet 52, the release layer 51, and the base sheet 50 are sequentially laminated as shown in FIG. 1 can be obtained.

  As a coating method, a conventionally known coating method can be used. Examples thereof include a blade coating method, an air knife coating method, a curtain coating method, a slot die coating method, a bar coating method, a gravure coating method, and a roll coating method.

The coating amount of the coating liquid is preferably 8 g / m ² or more and 25 g / m ² or less in terms of solid content. By setting the coating amount to 8 g / m ² or more, preferably 10 g / m ² or more, it is possible to form an ink receiving layer excellent in water absorption in the ink. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the problem that ink in the recorded reverse image flows or the reverse image is blurred. On the other hand, when the coating amount is 25 g / m ² or less, preferably 18 g / m ² or less, curling is unlikely to occur on the recording medium when the coating layer is dried. Further, by reducing the thickness of the ink receiving layer, the thickness of the finally formed recorded matter can be reduced. When the image support is a plastic card such as a credit card, the thickness is strictly defined by Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS-X-6305). Therefore, the coating amount is effective. When the coating amount is 25 g / m ² or less, the thickness of the ink receiving layer is reduced, so that the precut process described later need not be performed.

[3-2] Precut processing:
In the method for producing a recording medium of the present invention, after the ink receiving layer is formed, a precut treatment may be performed in which a cut is made in the ink receiving layer and a part of the transparent sheet from the ink receiving layer side. . In the precut process, a reverse image is recorded on a recording medium to form a recording medium, and after the recording medium and the image support are bonded, the transparent sheet can be cut cleanly from the incision. Therefore, a strong protective layer made of a transparent sheet having a uniform thickness can be formed, and sufficient durability is imparted to the reverse image formed on the ink receiving layer.

[3-3] Recording of reverse image:
Next, on the surface of the recording medium on which the transparent sheet of the ink receiving layer is not laminated, a reverse image that is a mirror image when viewed from the ink receiving layer side and a normal image when viewed from the transparent sheet side, Recording is performed by an inkjet recording method. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the reverse image 72 is recorded on the ink receiving layer 53 of the recording medium 1.

  The ink jet recording method is a method of recording an image by ejecting ink (ink droplets) to a recording medium from a plurality of nozzles formed on a recording head. The type of the ink jet recording method is not particularly limited. However, a thermal ink jet recording method in which thermal energy corresponding to the drive pulse is applied to the ink in the nozzles to form bubbles by film boiling and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles by the bubbles is preferable.

  The ink jet recording method can be performed by an ink jet recording apparatus (ink jet printer). The ink jet printer is preferable in that it can perform extremely stable image recording because the recording head and the recording medium do not contact at the time of image recording. The type of ink jet printer is not particularly limited. However, it is necessary to use a full-line type ink jet printer having a line head in which a multi-nozzle head in which a plurality of nozzles including ink discharge ports and ink flow paths are integrated is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. preferable. A full-line type ink jet printer records an image by simultaneously ejecting ink from ink ejection ports of a plurality of nozzles in accordance with the conveyance of a recording medium. Therefore, it is preferable in that a high-quality and high-resolution image can be recorded at high speed.

  In the method for producing a recording medium of the present invention, it is preferable to use a pigment ink as the ink for ink jet recording for forming the reverse image. In particular, in the second embodiment of the recording medium of the present invention, the transparency of the ink receiving layer is remarkably improved by precisely controlling the particle size of the alumina particles of the ink receiving layer. Therefore, even a reversal image recorded with a pigment ink that hardly penetrates from the surface of the ink receiving layer can be visually recognized as a clear image through the transparent sheet.

  The ink discharge amount of the recording head is preferably 20 pl or less. By setting the ink ejection amount to 20 pl or less, preferably 10 pl or less, and more preferably 5 pl or less, the water content of the ink can be controlled to an appropriate level in the thermocompression bonding process between the recording medium and the image support. Further, as the ejection amount is decreased, the spread of ink in the ink receiving layer can be suppressed, and a dense and sufficiently reversed image can be recorded. Furthermore, the thickness of the image layer (ink layer) can be suppressed.

[3-4] Ink drying:
In the method for producing a recording medium of the present invention, it is preferable that the water content of the ink for ink jet recording forming the image is dried to 70% by mass or less with respect to the total amount of ink to be deposited. By setting the water content of the ink to 70% by mass or less, preferably 50% by mass or less, when the image support and the recording medium are heat-pressed, rapid evaporation of the ink components is suppressed, and the image support and the recording are recorded. It is possible to prevent problems such as a decrease in adhesion strength with the medium and bubbles remaining in the ink receiving layer. The amount of water referred to here means the total amount of water, non-volatile solvent, etc. excluding the coloring material.

  The total ink ejection amount can be adjusted by the ink ejection amount of the recording head. In order to easily control the amount of moisture, the amount of shot may be limited by thinning out the number of dots at the time of image recording in advance.

  The drying can be performed by a heater (heat source) such as a halogen heater or an exhaust device such as a fan. However, natural drying may be promoted by transporting a sufficiently long transport path without providing a special drying means such as a heater.

[4] Method for producing recorded matter:
The method for producing a recorded matter of the present invention is a method for producing a recorded matter comprising an image support on which an image is supported and a recording medium on which a reverse image is recorded.

[4-1] Production of recording medium:
First, the recording medium is obtained by the recording medium manufacturing method of the present invention.

[4-2] Image support:
As the image support, the resin base support, the paper base support and the like described in the section of recorded matter can be used. Among these, a resin card (plastic card) such as a credit card or an IC card; a paper booklet such as a passport;

  As the image support, an image support further provided with a primer layer may be used. The method for forming the primer layer is not particularly limited. However, the material exemplified in the section of the primer layer, in particular, a sheet made of a thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of 60 ° C. or more and 160 ° C. or less is laminated on the image support to form a laminate, and the laminate is subjected to thermocompression bonding. It is preferable to form a primer layer. Examples of the thermocompression bonding method include a method of heating the entire laminate using a heat roller, and a method of selectively heating a specific portion of the laminate using a thermal head.

[4-3] Thermocompression bonding of recording medium and image support:
The image support and the recording medium are heat-pressed in a state where the image support, the ink receiving layer, and the transparent sheet are in contact with each other so as to be sequentially laminated. Thereby, a recorded matter having a laminated structure in which the image support, the ink receiving layer, and the transparent sheet are sequentially laminated is obtained.

  In addition, when an image support further provided with a primer layer is used as the image support, the image support, the primer layer, the ink receiving layer, and the transparent sheet are sequentially laminated. A support and the recording medium are arranged, and the image support and the recording medium are thermocompression bonded. As a result, a recorded material 73 having a laminated structure in which the image support 55, the primer layer 56, the ink receiving layer 53, and the transparent sheet 52 are sequentially laminated as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

  The thermocompression bonding temperature is preferably controlled to 60 ° C. or higher and 160 ° C. or lower. By setting the thermocompression bonding temperature to 60 ° C. or higher, the thermoplastic resin contained in the primer layer (or anchor layer, ink receiving layer) is melted to a sufficient degree for adhesion, and the image support and the recording medium are pressure-bonded. be able to. On the other hand, by setting the thermocompression bonding temperature to 160 ° C. or less, when the image support and the recording medium are thermocompression bonded, rapid evaporation of the ink component is suppressed, and the adhesion strength between the image support and the recording medium is reduced. In addition, problems such as bubbles remaining in the ink receiving layer can be prevented.

  The method of thermocompression bonding is not particularly limited. For example, a method of laminating a recording medium on an image support to form a laminate, sandwiching the laminate between a pair of heat rollers, and thermocompression bonding can be exemplified. At this time, the surface temperature of the heat roller is preferably 100 ° C. or higher and 180 ° C. or lower. Thereby, even when the conveyance speed of the said laminated body is high and heating time cannot fully be taken, the said laminated body can be heated to 60 degreeC or more and 160 degrees C or less.

[4-4] Peeling of substrate sheet and release layer:
The recorded matter obtained as described above is finally peeled off from the base sheet 50 and the release layer 51 as shown in FIG. 5, whereby the image support 55, the primer layer 56, the ink receiving layer 53 and A recorded matter 73 having a structure in which the transparent sheets 52 are sequentially laminated is obtained. In this recorded matter 73, the transparent sheet 52 is positioned on the uppermost layer, and the reverse image 72 recorded on the ink receiving layer 53 positioned on the lower layer side thereof is protected. The recording medium 1 and the image support 55 are sufficiently closely fixed via the primer layer 56.

[5] First manufacturing apparatus:
FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing a first configuration example (hereinafter, also referred to as “first manufacturing apparatus”) of a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a recorded matter of the present invention.

[5-1] Main configuration:
The manufacturing apparatus 25 contains a coloring material, water, a non-volatile organic solvent, and the like in the supply unit 4 that sends the recording medium 1 wound in a roll shape to the conveyance path, and the recording medium 1 that is sent to the conveyance path. And a recording unit 6 that directly ejects the water-based ink to record a reverse image.

  In addition, the manufacturing apparatus 25 evaporates moisture in the recording medium 1 to which ink has been applied to improve the adhesion to the image support 11 and the dew condensation in the apparatus by the evaporated moisture. And a transfer unit 13 for transferring a primer layer 18 for adhering the recording medium 1 on which the reversed image is recorded in the recording unit 6 to the image support 11 to the surface of the image support 11. Yes.

  Furthermore, the manufacturing apparatus 25 heats the primer layer 18 transferred to the image support 11 to improve the adhesion with the recording medium 1, the ink receiving layer on which the reverse image is recorded, An attaching portion 29 for attaching the transparent sheet 23 to the image support 11 and a discharge portion 26 for discharging and accumulating the image support 11 on which the reverse image is recorded are provided.

[5-2] Operation:
The supply unit 4 rotates the roll-shaped recording medium 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow in the drawing, and sends the recording medium 1 to the recording unit 6 and the drying unit 7. At that time, the recording medium 1 is guided by the sheet guide 27, sandwiched between the grip roller 3 and the nip roller 2, and conveyed to the recording unit 6 in a flat state.

  When the conveyance of the recording medium 1 from the supply unit 4 is started, the sensor unit 31 detects the detected portion 8 (through hole) that has been precut by the precut processing unit 5, and the recording unit 6 detects the recording medium 1. The reverse image 9 is recorded on the ink receiving layer. When the recording operation is completed, the recording medium 1 passes between the drying unit 7 and the guide plate 28. The drying unit 7 evaporates water or the like in the ink that forms the reverse image 9, and the fan 10 exhausts the evaporated water. Thereby, a recording medium in which the reverse image 9 is recorded on the ink receiving layer of the recording medium 1 is obtained.

  On the other hand, the image support supply unit 12 supplies the image support 11 to the transfer unit 13 one by one. The transfer unit 13 supplies the primer layer 18 from the supply roll 15, passes between the thermal head 30 and the image support 11, and winds it on the winding roll 17. At this time, the primer layer 18 is supported by the guide roll 16. The primer layer 18 is transferred to the image support 11 by the thermal head 30.

  The preheating unit 19 preheats the primer layer 18 in order to improve the adhesion of the recording medium 1. At this time, the solvent or the like evaporated from the primer layer 18 by the fan 20 is exhausted. Further, the registration guide 14 aligns the image support 11 and the recording medium 1. Thereafter, the image support 11 is laminated on the recording medium 1.

  The laminated body of the image support 11 and the recording medium 1 is conveyed to the attachment unit 29. The attaching portion 29 includes a pair of heat rollers 21 and 22. When the laminated body passes between the pair of heat rollers 21 and 22, the image support 11 and the recording medium 1 are heat-pressed. Thereafter, the base material sheet and the release layer constituting the recording medium 1 are peeled off and taken up by the take-up roll 24. Through such an operation, a recorded matter 73 in which the recording medium 1 is heat-pressed to the image support 11 can be obtained.

[5-3] Connection between first manufacturing apparatus and controller:
As shown in FIG. 8, the manufacturing apparatus 25 (image forming recording apparatus) is connected to the controller 41 via a network 47. However, the manufacturing apparatus 25 can be connected to the controller 41 via a serial port, a parallel port, a USB port, or the like without using the network 47. The manufacturing apparatus 25 includes the precut processing unit 5, the recording unit 6, the drying unit 7, the preheating unit 19, the transfer unit 13, and the adhesion unit 29 as described above, and the recording unit 6 includes a CPU described later. The precut processing unit 5, the drying unit 7, the preheating unit 19, the transfer unit 13, and the adhesion unit 29 are connected to the recording unit 6. The CPU 100 is configured to control operations of the precut processing unit 5, the recording unit 6, the drying unit 7, the preheating unit 19, the transfer unit 13, and the attaching unit 29.

  The network 47 is a network such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN), and may be wired or wireless. The controller 41 is a computer for controlling the manufacturing apparatus 25. In the controller 41, a control unit 44, a display unit 45, an input / output unit 46, a storage unit 42, and a communication unit 43 are connected to each other via a system bus 48. The controller 41 may be connected to a digital camera, a drive device for reading image data, and the like. Further, a plate making apparatus or the like may be connected to the controller 41.

  The control unit 44 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The CPU calls a program stored in a recording unit, ROM, or the like to a work memory area on the RAM and executes it, performs arithmetic processing and operation control, and controls the entire system. The ROM is a non-volatile memory and permanently holds programs, data, and the like. The RAM is a volatile memory and temporarily stores programs, data, and the like.

  The display unit 45 is a CRT monitor, a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, a display device such as a logic circuit (such as a video adapter) for realizing a video function of a computer in cooperation with the display device.

  The input / output unit 46 is a part that inputs and outputs data. Examples of data input include a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, and a numeric keypad. Through these input units, operation instructions, operation instructions, data input, maintenance management, etc. It can be performed. Further, it is connected to a scanner, a drive device, etc. (not shown), and transfers input data from these external devices to the control unit 44 and outputs data to the external devices.

  The storage unit 42 is a device that stores data, and includes a magnetic disk, a memory, an optical disk device, and the like. The storage unit 42 stores a program executed by the control unit 44, data necessary for program execution, an OS (Operating System), and the like. Moreover, the pattern recorded by the recording part 6 of the manufacturing apparatus 25 can also be stored. The communication unit 43 is a communication interface that mediates communication between the controller 41 and the network 47, and includes a communication control device, a communication port, and the like. A personal computer or the like can be used in place of the controller 41.

[5-4] Control system:
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system provided in the recording unit 6 shown in FIG. Recording data and commands transmitted from the host PC 120 are received by the CPU 100 via the interface controller 102. The CPU 100 is an arithmetic processing unit that performs overall control such as reception of recording data of the recording unit, recording operation, handling of the roll paper P, and the like. After analyzing the received command, the CPU 100 develops a bitmap of the image data of each color component of the recording data in the image memory 106. As an operation process before recording, the capping motor 122 and the head up / down motor 118 are driven via the output port 114 and the motor driving unit 116, and the respective recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y are capped positions (standby positions). To move to a recording position (image forming position).

  Subsequently, the position of the recording medium is detected by a sensor unit 31 (tip detection sensor) for determining the timing (recording timing) at which ink starts to be ejected onto the recording medium conveyed at a constant speed. Thereafter, in synchronism with the conveyance of the recording medium, the CPU 100 sequentially reads the recording data of the corresponding color from the image memory 106, and the read data is sent to the recording heads 22K, 22C, 22M, and 22Y by the recording head control circuit 112. Forward through. As a result, the ejection energy generating elements provided in the respective nozzles of the recording head are driven according to the recording data, and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles by the driven ejection energy generating elements. The ejected ink droplets land on the ink receiving layer (ink receiving portion) of the recording medium at a position facing the recording head, forming dots. A desired image is formed by the set of dots.

  The operation of the CPU 100 as described above is executed based on a processing program stored in the program ROM 104. The program ROM 104 stores processing programs and tables corresponding to the control flow. A work RAM 108 is used as a working memory.

[5-5] Operation flow of first manufacturing apparatus:
Next, the operation flow of the first manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 6 will be described according to the flowchart of FIG. This flowchart is executed by the CPU 100 shown in FIG.

  The CPU of the recording unit determines whether or not the recording data is transmitted from the controller via the network or various ports (S101). If it is determined that the recording data is transmitted (YES in S101), the supplying unit Supply of an unrecorded recording medium is started (S102). At this time, the sensor unit detects the detected portion (through hole) precut by the precut processing unit, and if the sensor unit does not detect the detected portion (if OFF (YES in S103)), The recording operation (S104) by the recording unit on the recording medium is started (S104). Thereafter, when the recording operation is completed (YES in S105), the drying unit performs a drying process for evaporating excess water from the recording medium recorded by the recording unit (S106). All of the above operations are performed while synchronizing with each other based on the time point when the sensor unit detects the detected portion. The detected part processed by the precut processing part may be formed in advance on a recording medium.

  On the other hand, when the recording data is transmitted to the CPU as described above (YES in S107), the image support is fed from the image support supply unit to the transfer unit (primer transfer unit) (S108). In the transfer unit, a sheet-like primer is supplied onto the fed image support, and the primer is transferred onto the image support by a thermal head (S109). Thereafter, in order to improve the adhesion of the recording medium 1 recorded by the recording unit, a pre-heat treatment by a preheating unit is performed (S110), and the alignment between the image support and the recording medium is started in the resist guide ( (S111) When the alignment with the recording medium is completed (S113), the process proceeds to the previous step. At this time, the step of S114 is YES, the image support is placed on the recording medium, and the recording medium and the image support are bonded to each other through the primer by the attaching portion (S115). Thereafter, as it is conveyed downstream, the base material of the recording medium is peeled off from the portion precut by the precut processing unit, and the recorded material (final recorded material) is loaded on the discharge unit (S116). ). As shown in FIG. 12, the recorded material has a transparent sheet 52 attached in such a manner that the ink receiving layer 53 is sandwiched therebetween, thereby realizing excellent image quality and strong robustness.

[5-6] Processing executed by the first manufacturing apparatus:
[5-6-1] Recording medium position detection and precut processing:
In the detected part 8 shown in FIG. 6, in order to synchronize the recording medium 1 and the recording part 6, the position of the recording medium 1 is detected, and each part is controlled based on the detection result. A reflective or transmissive optical sensor is used to detect the media. The detected portion 8 may be recorded or processed in advance on the recording medium 1 or may be formed by precut. At that time, if the ink receiving layer portion of the recording medium 1 is thickened, the peeling process after retransfer may be difficult in terms of structure and time. Alternatively, it may be formed by a media processing unit.

[5-6-2] Cut processing:
As shown in FIG. 13 or FIG. 21, the recording medium forms a cut 54 or a cut 60 in a part of the ink receiving layer 53 and the transparent sheet 52 or in a part of the ink receiving layer 53, the anchor layer 59 and the transparent sheet 52, as shown in FIG. Cut processing (hereinafter referred to as pre-cut processing) is performed. For this reason, when the recording medium 1 is attached to the image support 55 having the primer layer 56, the transparent sheet 52 is cut at the notch 54 formed by the pre-cut process as a boundary and the image-recorded portion (image recording Region) is covered by the transparent sheet 52. Since the transparent sheet 52 functions as a strong protective layer having a uniform thickness, sufficient durability is imparted to the image. Also, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 22, after the recording medium 1 is peeled off, the transparent sheet 52 is cut cleanly at the cut 54 or cut 60 formed by the pre-cut process. Can be accurately and easily transferred.

  Moreover, a sharp and accurate edge shape can be obtained by performing the pre-cut process and forming the cut 54 or the cut 60. As a result, for example, a sign panel, an IC chip, a magnetic stripe part of the image support, a position of a design design such as a logo, a hologram or the like recorded in advance on the image support, and the above-mentioned partly missing. The portions can be aligned and the patch can be attached to the image support. Thereby, in a portion such as a sign panel, an IC chip, and a magnetic stripe, it is possible to prevent a decrease in performance in post-processing of that portion. In addition, in design design parts such as logos and holograms, when an image is formed at that location, transparency is impaired (opacity increases) and the quality deteriorates, so it is necessary to remove it from the image forming part. Yes, this can be done accurately. The sign panel portion is a portion that is handwritten with a writing instrument such as a ballpoint pen, numbered with stamp ink, or stamped with vermilion or stamp ink.

  The notch 54 or the notch 60 formed by the precut process is a part of the ink receiving layer 53 and the transparent sheet 52 as shown in FIG. 11, or the ink receiving layer 53, the anchor layer 59 and the transparent sheet 52 as shown in FIG. This process is performed in part, and is different from the cutting process in which cutting is performed up to the release layer 51.

In the first manufacturing apparatus, since ink jet recording is performed, it is necessary for the ink receiving layer 53 to absorb ink, and it is necessary to increase the thickness of the ink receiving layer in order to ensure absorbability. In particular, when the ink receiving layer 53 is formed of a void absorption type and the ink receiving layer does not contain an adhesive resin or the like, or the coating amount is 25 g / m ² or more, the ink receiving layer 53 Depending on the thickness of the receiving layer, the image forming area may be inadvertently peeled off from the recording medium. For this reason, it is preferable to perform a precut process in order to prevent peeling of the image forming area.

  Further, when the cutting process is performed up to the release layer 51, in the first manufacturing apparatus that records an image by the ink jet method, when the ink is ejected to the cut portion, the release layer 51 as shown in FIG. Ink is absorbed in the ink and the quality of the recorded image is deteriorated. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14 or FIG. 23, even when recording is performed on the portion subjected to the precut processing, the ink is only properly absorbed by the ink receiving layer 53 and absorbed by the transparent sheet 52. Therefore, a good recorded image can be obtained. For this reason, it is preferable to perform a precut process in which a cut 54 is formed in a part of the ink receiving layer 53 and the transparent sheet 52 or a part of the ink receiving layer, the anchor layer, and the transparent sheet.

  In order to prevent the above-described image peeling, it is preferable that the recording medium 1 is transported in a smooth state without a curvature in the printer before retransfer. As a result, the image forming unit does not inadvertently peel off from the recording medium while the printer is running, and it is possible to produce a transfer image with excellent durability even under severe use conditions. Can be re-transferred to the image support with high accuracy and without any transfer failure.

[5-6-3] Recording process:
2. Related Art Inkjet image forming apparatuses (inkjet printers) that form images by discharging ink (ink droplets) from a plurality of nozzles formed on a recording head onto a recording medium are widely used. As a technique for ejecting ink droplets from a nozzle, a technique is known in which thermal energy corresponding to a drive pulse is supplied to ink in a nozzle to form bubbles due to film boiling, and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles by the bubbles. . An image is formed on the recording medium by ejecting a large number of ink droplets corresponding to the image to be formed from the nozzle onto the recording medium.

  In order to improve the image recording speed, an inkjet printer uses a line head in which a multi-nozzle head in which a plurality of nozzles including ink discharge ports and ink flow paths are integrated is arranged in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. There is a full line type. In this full-line type printer, an image is recorded by simultaneously ejecting ink from ink ejection ports of a plurality of nozzles in accordance with the conveyance of the recording medium. For this reason, according to the above-described full-line type ink jet printer, it is possible to satisfy the current requirement for a printer to form a high-resolution image with high image quality at a high speed. The ink jet printer also has an advantage that it can perform very stable image recording because the recording head and the recording medium are not in contact with each other during image recording. The ink ejection amount of the recording head is preferably 20 pl or less, more preferably 10 pl or less, and even more preferably 5 pl or less, from the viewpoint of appropriately managing the water content of ink at the time of retransfer described later. The Although depending on the density of the color material, it is possible to form a dense and sufficient density image and to reduce the thickness of the ink layer as the discharge amount decreases due to the extent of ink spreading in the ink receiving layer. Therefore, when the ejection amount is 20 pl or more, it may be difficult to control the water content of the ink in the adhesion process between the image support and the recording medium.

  While the recording medium 1 is conveyed to the recording unit 6 while being sandwiched between the grip roller 3 and the nip roller 2, a guide plate 28 exists, and the recording medium 1 passes through the guide plate 28 and is guided. The recording unit 6 is entered. The recording unit 6 mainly includes four recording heads composed of K, C, M, and Y. The six recording heads eject ink according to the image data and eject ink droplets onto the ink receiving layer provided on the recording medium 1 to form an image.

  As the ink, both dye ink and pigment ink can be suitably used. However, in order to improve the adhesion between the image support 55 and the ink receiving layer 53 at the time of retransfer, in order to prevent poor adhesion due to evaporation of moisture from the recording surface after recording, the dried state (on the surface) Pigment ink is preferably used from the standpoint of preventing ink migration due to residual moisture or solvent in the water-based ink. Furthermore, the pigment ink is preferably used because it can impart light resistance to the printed image.

  The above contents will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 25, in the gap absorption type ink receiving layer, since the pigment component 63 in the pigment ink has a large particle diameter, the pigment ink has pores composed of pigment particles 65 forming the ink receiving layer. The ink is fixed on the recording surface of the ink receiving layer 64 without penetrating into the ink. Further, unlike the swelling type ink receiving layer, the ink receiving layer is kept smooth without the ink receiving layer swelling. On the other hand, when a swelling absorption type ink receiving layer described later is used, as shown in FIG. 26, the ink receiving layer 67 swells due to moisture in the ink, and unevenness is generated on the surface of the ink receiving layer 66. As a result, the adhesiveness of the image support 55 is reduced. Further, since residual moisture and solvent in the ink remain on the surface of the ink receiving layer 66, the adhesion between the image support and the ink receiving layer may be insufficient due to evaporation of the residual moisture and solvent in the adhesion process. .

  Also, the pigment component in the pigment ink is fixed on the surface of the ink receiving layer 53, while the water and solvent component 62 in the ink penetrates into the ink receiving layer and separates from the pigment component 63 on the surface (solid-liquid separation). ) Thereby, at the time of retransfer, since the pigment surface is in a dry state, adhesion failure due to evaporation of moisture can be prevented and adhesion can be improved. In addition, since the residual moisture and the solvent component 62 remain inside the ink receiving layer, the pigment component does not come into contact with the residual moisture and the solvent component 62 again, so that ink migration (migration) can be prevented. .

  Further, as the pigment component in the pigment ink, it is preferable to use a resin dispersion type pigment component in which the periphery of the colorant pigment is coated with a resin. By using a resin-dispersed pigment, the binding force between the pigments after solid-liquid separation can be increased, and further, the binding force with the primer layer at the time of retransfer can be increased. As a result, the moisture on the pigment surface is almost blocked from the moisture in the lower layer in the ink receiving layer by the pigment film, and the water supply from the lower layer is also almost blocked. Can be sufficiently dried. As a resin for coating such a pigment, a (meth) acrylic acid ester-based copolymer having an acid value of 100 mgKOH / g or more and 160 mgKOH / g or less of a resin whose fixability is improved by being relatively hydrophobic. Is preferred. When the acid value of the (meth) acrylic acid ester copolymer exceeds 160 mgKOH / g, the hydrophilicity of the pigment component of the recorded image (printed matter) is enhanced, and the bleeding resistance tends to be lowered. On the other hand, when the acid value of the (meth) acrylic acid ester copolymer is less than 100 mgKOH / g, the ejection stability tends to be lowered when used in an ink jet recording apparatus that ejects ink by a thermal method. For the above reasons, pigment ink is optimal for high-speed recording because it fixes at high speed.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 27, in the dye ink, the dye component 68, moisture and solvent penetrate into the pores constituted by the pigment particles 65 forming the ink receiving layer and are fixed. Solid-liquid separation as shown with pigment ink does not occur. Therefore, when the dye component 68 comes into contact again with the remaining moisture and solvent components after the retransfer, the dye is dissolved again in the moisture and solvent components. Therefore, as shown in FIG. This is not preferable because migration (migration) occurs.

[5-6-4] Water evaporation control:
If the ink remains on the surface of the receiving layer containing the ink at the time of retransfer, the contact with the image support becomes poor. Because there is a possibility of problems such as insufficient adhesion due to ink components remaining on the surface layer of the receiving layer due to heating during retransfer or rapid evaporation of the ink or partial bubbles remaining in the receiving layer, after inkjet recording for retransfer, There may be a case where pre-drying is required in which the transfer sheet conveyance path is effectively devised before retransfer. Natural drying may be promoted as a configuration provided with a sufficiently long conveying path before retransfer without providing a special drying means such as a heater. Further, there are cases where air flow control and exhaust means inside the apparatus by the evaporated ink component are required. As shown in FIG. 6, when the reverse image 9 recorded on the ink receiving layer on the recording medium 1 is passed between the drying unit 7 and the guide plate 28 by the recording unit 6, the heat source and wind in accordance with the halogen, Alternatively, the drying unit 7 having an evaporation function by a combination of the two evaporates water, which is the main component of the ink contained in the image recorded in the receiving layer, and some volatile solvent components, and the evaporated gas is generated in the machine. In order to prevent condensation and the like, the fan 10 controls airflow and exhaust. By using the airflow control together, the saturated vapor pressure on the surface of the ink receiving layer may be improved and drying may be promoted.

  By the water control, the water content of ink in the ink receiving layer (total amount of water and non-volatile solvent, etc. excluding the coloring material) is 70% or less, more preferably 50%, based on the total ink deposition amount during the adhesion process. Control to: If the ink moisture content remains 70% or more, depending on the thickness of the ink receiving layer, the ink component remaining on the surface of the ink receiving layer or the rapid evaporation of the ink causes insufficient adhesion or partial bubbles in the receiving layer. This is not preferable because there is a possibility of a malfunction such as the rest. In addition, although the total ink ejection amount varies depending on the ejection amount of the head, the ejection amount is limited by thinning out the number of dots during image formation in advance so that the moisture control is appropriately performed. Therefore, it is possible to set an appropriate driving amount.

[5-6-5] Adhering step:
As shown in FIG. 6, an image is formed on the receiving layer provided on the recording medium 1 by the recording unit 6, and then the recording medium 1 is guided on the guide plate 28 and the two heat rollers 21. , 22 to the attachment portion 29. In the attaching portion 29, the image support 11 is placed in the form of a sheet-like sheet on the image support supply portion 12, and the primer is transferred to the image support 11 by the transfer portion 13. Is supplied in accordance with the conveyance of the recording medium 1. The image support supply unit 12 feeds paper from below in order to prevent dust from adhering to the transfer surface of the image support and contamination from the rubber roll during pickup.

  For transferring the primer, the image support 11 is supplied into the transfer unit 13 one by one, passed from the supply roll 15 (primer supply roll) between the thermal head 30 and the image support 11 and wound up via the guide roll 16. It is wound on the roll 17 (primer winding roll) side and conveyed. Energy is applied to the thermal head 30 in accordance with the heat capacity that varies depending on the thickness, material, etc. of the primer, heat is generated, and the primer is transferred to the image support 11 to form an adhesive layer. The selective heating of the thermal head 30 makes it possible to perform selective primer transfer without performing primer transfer to a special portion where surface coating is not desired, such as an IC portion, but it is assumed that a primer layer is applied to the entire surface. In such an apparatus, it is also possible to perform primer transfer by a heating means such as an inexpensive heat roller.

  The ink-receiving layer on which the image was formed on the recording medium 1 and the primer of the image support 11 were overlapped, conveyed between the heat rollers 21 and 23, and heated to form an image with the image support 11 via the primer. The ink receiving layer and the transparent sheet 23 are bonded. Thereafter, the base sheet provided on the recording medium 1 is peeled from the recording medium 1. As a result, the transparent sheet is attached to the image support 11 together with the ink receiving layer on which the image is formed. That is, the transparent sheet 23 is positioned on the uppermost layer as a protective film on the image support 11, and an image is formed under the protective film.

  In addition, the temperature at the time of re-transfer is such that if the water in the ink suddenly evaporates at the time of re-transfer, adhesion failure and partial bubbles remaining in the receiving layer may occur. It is performed in a range not less than Tg of the primer to be evaporated and not more than the evaporation temperature of the ink. Heating to the ink receiving layer at the time of retransfer is performed mainly by heat transfer from the side of the base sheet of the recording medium, not from the side of the thick image support such as a plastic card. It may be controlled so that the maximum temperature does not exceed the evaporation temperature of water, which is the main component of the ink. That is, the surface temperature of the heat roller at the time of bonding the recording medium 1 and the image support 11 may be a temperature at which water evaporates and bubbles are not formed between the recording medium 1 and the image support 11. Since the temperature difference between the heat source and the receiving part may occur when the conveyance speed is high and the heating time by the heat source is not sufficient, the surface temperature of the heat roller is 100 ° C. to 180 ° C. or the like. It may be controlled to be higher than the evaporation temperature. In addition, since heating in a closed space also increases the boiling point due to pressure increase, the evaporation temperature of water rises in the ink receiving layer sandwiched between the primer layer and the transparent sheet layer. Then, the temperature may be controlled to be higher.

[5-6-6] Preheating:
As shown in FIG. 6, when the primer layer 18 is transferred to the card side in advance and is attached in alignment with the recorded recording medium 1, the adhesion is performed by heating and melting only at least the surface layer of the primer layer 18. May be possible. For this purpose, if the surface of a card or the like including the primer layer and an image support such as paper to which the primer layer is transferred is appropriately heated by the preheating unit 19 before the recording medium 1 is attached, the recording medium 1 is obtained. An excessive temperature rise due to heating of the upper ink receiving layer can be controlled. In addition, the solvent evaporated from the primer layer during this heating is controlled by the fan 20 for airflow and exhaust.

[5-6-7] Peeling treatment:
As shown in FIG. 6, the base sheet 50 of the recording medium 1 that has passed through the adhering portion 29 is wound on the winding roll 24 side in a state where the image forming area separated by the precut process has been peeled off, and the image The formed image support 11 is transported to the discharge unit 26 and accumulated one by one.

  In the manufacturing apparatus 25 (recorded material manufacturing apparatus) shown in FIG. 6, the conveyance angle θ of the recording medium 1 is 0 to 165 °, more preferably 0 to 90 °. By setting the conveyance angle θ, it is possible to prevent the patch portion separated by the precut processing of the recording medium 1 by the precut processing unit 5 from being inadvertently peeled off or turned up while the printer is running. . The conveyance angle θ in the case of FIG. 6 is an angle formed by the conveyance path from the recording unit 6 to the attachment unit 29 and the conveyance path from the heat rollers 21 and 22 to the take-up roll 24, but is not limited thereto.

  FIG. 11 shows the structure of a recorded material (final recording medium). As shown in FIG. 11, the recorded material 73 has an excellent image quality due to the transparent sheet 52 being attached with the ink receiving layer 53 sandwiched therebetween. Combines strong robustness.

[6] Second manufacturing apparatus:
Next, a second configuration example (hereinafter also referred to as “second manufacturing apparatus”) of a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the recorded matter of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the second manufacturing apparatus 25. The manufacturing apparatus 25 includes a supply unit 4 that sends the recording medium 1 mounted in a roll shape to the conveyance path, and a recording unit 6 that directly records and records water-based ink on the recording medium 1 sent to the conveyance path. Prepare. Further, the manufacturing apparatus 25 prevents condensation in the apparatus by the drying unit 7 that evaporates the solvent contained in the reverse image 9 recorded on the recording medium 1 to improve the adhesion to the image support 11 and the evaporated water. Fan 10, recording medium 1 recorded by the recording unit, and image support supply unit 12. Further, the manufacturing apparatus 25 includes a transfer unit 13 on the conveyance path of the recording medium 1 for transferring a primer for adhering the image support 11 aligned with the resist guide 14 to the recording medium 1. This configuration is the main difference from the first manufacturing apparatus. Since the common part with the first manufacturing apparatus has the same apparatus and the same control system configuration as the first manufacturing apparatus, the description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the manufacturing apparatus 25 heats the primer portion transferred onto the recording medium 1 by the transfer unit 13 and attaches the transparent sheet 52 having the ink receiving layer on which the image is recorded and the image support 11 to each other. And a discharge unit 26 for discharging and accumulating the image-supported image support 11. As for the moisture evaporation control and pre-cut conditions, as with the first manufacturing apparatus, the recording medium 1 is attached more than the first manufacturing apparatus because the recording medium 1 becomes thicker as the primer is transferred. It needs to be heated.

  In the second manufacturing apparatus, by directly transferring the primer onto the recording medium 1, the path from the recording medium 1 supplied from the supply unit to the image support 11 is retransferred and discharged in series. Therefore, it can be simplified and the production speed of recorded matter can be increased. FIG. 18 is a schematic view of the primer layer transferred by the primer transfer unit 13, in which the primer layer 56 is further transferred onto the upper surface of the ink receiving layer 53 provided on the base sheet 57. . Moreover, the base material sheet 57 which provides a primer layer can use the same thing as the base material sheet 50 used with the 1st manufacturing apparatus.

  Next, the operation of the second manufacturing apparatus will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 17 and FIG. This flowchart is executed by the CPU.

  The conveyance operation of the unrecorded recording medium 1 fed from the supply unit 4 is started after the recording data is transmitted via the network or various ports by the controller 41 shown in FIG. 8 (S201, S202). Here, when the sensor unit 31 detects the detected portion 8 cut in the recording medium 1 by the precut processing unit 5 (YES in S203), the recording operation with the recording unit 6 and the drying unit 7 with respect to the recording medium 1 are performed. Control is performed in synchronization with the start and end of the drying process and the attachment portion 29 (retransfer portion) of the attachment (retransfer) of the recording medium 1 to the image support 11 (S204, S205). Here, the detected part 8 may be a part cut in advance other than the precut processing part 5.

  After the recording medium 1 recorded by the recording unit 6 is evaporated by the drying unit 7 and the excess water remaining on the recording medium 1 is evaporated, the sheet is transferred by the transfer unit 13 installed in the conveyance path of the recording medium 1. The primer supplied in a state is transferred onto the image support 11 by the thermal head 30 (S206, S207).

  On the other hand, the image support 11 supplied from the image support supply unit 12 is placed on the recording medium 1 in synchronization with the recording medium 1 by a registration guide (S208 to S212). Thereafter, YES is determined in the step of S213, and the image support 11 is adhered to the recording medium via the primer on the recording medium by the heat roller of the attaching portion 29 (S214). Further, the base sheet of the recording medium is peeled off using the portion precut by the precut processing unit 5 as a base point, and the final recorded matter is stacked on the discharge unit (S215).

[7] Third manufacturing apparatus:
The third manufacturing apparatus has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 6 of the first manufacturing apparatus. However, when ink fixing properties are required, a primer (resin) is used to improve the absorption speed of the ink ejected to the ink gap type receiving layer on the recording medium 1 when the recording speed is increased. While transferring to the support 11, the resin for adhesion contained in the ink receiving layer is excluded. As a result, the ink absorption speed can be improved.

[8] Fourth manufacturing apparatus:
Next, a fourth manufacturing apparatus will be described. The fourth manufacturing apparatus has the same configuration as that of the second manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. However, in the fourth manufacturing apparatus, the ink receiving layer formed of the void type receiving layer of the recording medium 1 is thinned, and an image is recorded on the thinned ink receiving layer 53 by the recording unit 6, and then the primer on the recording medium 1. Is directly transferred to reduce the thickness of the film deposited in the deposition process. This eliminates the need for processing such as pre-cutting, thereby improving productivity and reducing apparatus costs. That is, in the fourth manufacturing apparatus, after the recording medium 1 is attached to the image support 11 by heating at the attachment portion 29, the end of the image support 11 is quickly peeled off from the recording medium 1 to form an image. Has become. The coating amount of the ink receiving layer is preferably ^{20 to} 25 g / m ² or less.

[9] Fifth manufacturing apparatus:
The fifth manufacturing apparatus has the same configuration as that of FIG. 16 of the second manufacturing apparatus, but has a swelling type receiving layer as the ink receiving layer. This swelling type receiving layer absorbs ink quickly even if it is thin, and is suitable for high-speed recording because the end of the image support 11 is quickly peeled off from the recording medium 1 without performing precut. ing. However, since the surface has unevenness, the surface is smoothed by absorbing the unevenness with the thickness of the primer.

  Next, the swelling absorption type ink receiving layer will be described. The swelling absorption type ink receiving layer is composed of a water-soluble resin or the like that absorbs ink. Examples of water-soluble resins include gelatin, methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose derivatives such as hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, agar, casein, starch, and polyvinyl alcohol. Of these, gelatin is preferably used because of its good absorbability with water and solvent used in the ink.

  Any gelatin can be used as long as it is made from animal collagen, but gelatin derived from collagen made from pig skin, cow leather, or cow bone is preferred. Further, the type of gelatin is not particularly limited, but lime-processed gelatin, acid-processed gelatin, and derivative gelatin described in derivative gelatin) can be used alone or in combination.

  In the fifth production apparatus, as the water-soluble resin, in addition to the gelatin, celluloses and polyvinyl alcohol described above, for example, polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyacrylamide, polydimethylacrylamide, polydimethylaminoacrylate, vinyl acrylate acrylate Polymers containing acrylic groups such as compound salts (see JP-A-60-168651 and 62-9988), starch, oxidized starch, carboxyl starch, dialdehyde starch, cationized starch, dextrin, gum arabic, casein, pullulan , Polyalkylene glycols such as dextran, polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, polyvinyl ether, polyglycerin, maleic acid alkyl vinyl ether copolymer, maleic acid N-vinyl pyrrole copolymer, Styrene maleic anhydride copolymers can also be used in combination synthetic polymers such as polyethyleneimine.

Further, in the same manner as the gap absorption type, for the purpose of adjusting the film strength of the ink receiving layer 53, a resin used for the primer layer 56 described later may be an ink receiving layer. When an adhesive resin is used in the ink receiving layer, the pre-drying temperature performed by moisture evaporation control is set to be equal to or lower than the adhesive resin Tg. A preferred range for the coating amount of the ink receiving layer is 5 to 20 g / m ² , and a more preferred range is 10 to 15 g / m ² . By setting it in the above range, good ink absorbability can be maintained.

  Since the swelling absorption type has a smaller coating amount than the void absorption type, the peelability at the time of adhesion is improved, but it takes time for the ink absorption time, and the water and solvent of the ink are absorbed on the surface of the ink receiving layer 53. Therefore, the adhesion between the image support and the ink receiving layer may be insufficient. For this reason, when the image support and the ink receiving layer are adhered, it is preferable to perform pre-drying and perform water evaporation control of the ink receiving layer. In addition, when a swelling absorption type ink receiving layer is used, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the ink receiving layer, and thus it is not necessary to perform the precut treatment.

  Note that the thickness of the adhesive layer is such that when a swelling absorption type ink receiving layer is used, the ink receiving layer swells due to ink absorption and the thickness of the ink receiving layer increases, and the thickness causes unevenness on the surface. However, it is preferable to make it thicker than the thickness of the swollen absorption type ink receiving layer in terms of ensuring sufficient adhesion, and specifically, it is preferable to make it about 2-3 times.

  As described above, according to the first to fifth manufacturing apparatuses, when the recording medium has at least the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer on the substrate, the recording medium is attached to the image support. In the process, the ink moisture content of the ink receiving layer is controlled and the temperature at the time of adhesion is controlled. Thereby, the adhesion between the transparent sheet of the recording medium and the image support can be improved, and an image forming printer excellent in various durability such as weather resistance, water resistance, chemical resistance and gas resistance can be provided. .

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the following examples. In the following description, “parts” and “%” are based on mass unless otherwise specified.

(Example 1-1)
A recording medium having a void absorption type ink-receiving layer was produced by the following method.

[Preparation of Alumina Hydrate Dispersion]
20 parts of alumina hydrate A having a boehmite structure (pseudo boehmite structure) (trade name “Disperal HP14”, manufactured by Sasol) is added to pure water, and 0.4 part of acetic acid is further added to perform peptization. As a result, an alumina hydrate dispersion was obtained. The average particle diameter of the alumina hydrate fine particles in the alumina hydrate dispersion was 140 nm. Next, 0.3 part of boric acid was added to the dispersion to obtain a boric acid-added alumina hydrate dispersion.

[Preparation of aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution]
Separately, polyvinyl alcohol (trade name “PVA235”, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) was dissolved in ion-exchanged water to prepare an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution having a solid content of 8% by mass. The polyvinyl alcohol had a weight average polymerization degree of 3,500 and a saponification degree of 87 to 89 mol%.

[Preparation of ink receiving layer forming coating solution]
100 parts by mass of the boric acid-added alumina hydrate dispersion and 27.8 parts by mass of the aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution were mixed by a static mixer to obtain a coating liquid for forming an ink receiving layer.

[Manufacture of recording media]
Immediately after the mixing, the coating liquid is coated on a transparent sheet in a laminated sheet of a transparent sheet, a release layer and a base sheet, and dried, whereby a recording medium provided with a void absorbing ink receiving layer Manufactured. The coating solution was applied using a die coater at a coating speed of 5 m / min so that the coating amount after drying was 15 g / m ² . The drying temperature was 600 ° C. The product name “DCR-320” (manufactured by Dynic) was used as the laminated sheet. The laminated sheet had a thickness of 15 μm and a total light transmittance of 100%.

  The recording medium obtained as described above was subjected to 40% solid printing by the manufacturing apparatus 25 shown in FIG. 6 to obtain a recording medium, and then a vinyl chloride card (trade name “C- 4002 "(manufactured by Evolis) and the substrate sheet was peeled off to obtain the recorded matter of Example 1-1.

(Example 1-2)
A recorded matter was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1-1 except that the type of polyvinyl alcohol was changed to the trade name “PVA245” (manufactured by Kuraray). The polyvinyl alcohol is polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average polymerization degree of 4,500 and a saponification degree of 87 to 89 mol%.

(Example 1-3)
A recorded matter was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1-1 except that the type of polyvinyl alcohol was changed to the trade name “PVA424” (manufactured by Kuraray). The polyvinyl alcohol is polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average polymerization degree of 2,400 and a saponification degree of 87 to 89 mol%.

(Comparative Example 1-1)
A recorded matter was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1-1 except that the type of polyvinyl alcohol was changed to the trade name “PVA117” (manufactured by Kuraray). The polyvinyl alcohol is polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average polymerization degree of 1,700 and a saponification degree of 98 to 99 mol%.

(Comparative Example 1-2)
A recorded matter was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1-1 except that the type of polyvinyl alcohol was changed to the trade name “PVA217” (manufactured by Kuraray). The polyvinyl alcohol is polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average polymerization degree of 1,700 and a saponification degree of 87 to 89 mol%.

(Comparative Example 1-3)
A recorded matter was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1-1 except that the type of polyvinyl alcohol was changed to the trade name “PVA403” (manufactured by Kuraray). The polyvinyl alcohol is polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average polymerization degree of 300 and a saponification degree of 78 to 82 mol%.

[Evaluation <Adhesion Strength>]
The adhesion strength between the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer was evaluated based on the cross-cut method described in JIS-K-5600-5-6. Specifically, first, the surface on the transparent sheet side of the recorded matter of Example or Comparative Example was scratched in a 1 cm square lattice shape with a cutter knife. Next, an adhesive tape (trade name “Mending Tape”, manufactured by Sumitomo 3M) was attached to the damaged part. Finally, the adhesive tape was peeled off from the recording medium, and the degree of peeling of the transparent sheet was evaluated according to the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 1.
○: No peeling of the transparent sheet by visual evaluation.
X: The transparent sheet is peeled off by visual evaluation.

  The recorded matter of Examples 1-1 to 1-3 whose polyvinyl alcohol has a weight average polymerization degree of 2,000 to 5,000 and a saponification degree of 70 mol% to 90 mol% does not peel off the transparent sheet, and has high adhesion strength. showed that. On the other hand, the recorded matter of Comparative Examples 1-1 to 1-3 in which the weight average polymerization degree and saponification degree of polyvinyl alcohol deviate from the above ranges showed that the transparent sheet was peeled off and the adhesion strength was insufficient.

(Example 2-1)
A recording medium having a void absorption type ink-receiving layer was produced by the following method.

[Preparation of Alumina Hydrate Dispersion]
20 parts of alumina hydrate A having a boehmite structure (pseudo boehmite structure) (trade name “Disperal HP14”, manufactured by Sasol) is added to pure water, and 0.4 part of acetic acid is further added to perform peptization. As a result, an alumina hydrate dispersion was obtained. The average particle diameter of the alumina hydrate fine particles in the alumina hydrate dispersion was 140 nm. Next, 0.3 part of boric acid was added to the dispersion to obtain a boric acid-added alumina hydrate dispersion.

[Preparation of aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution]
Separately, polyvinyl alcohol (trade name “PVA235”, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) was dissolved in ion-exchanged water to prepare an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution having a solid content of 8% by mass. The polyvinyl alcohol had a weight average polymerization degree of 3,500 and a saponification degree of 87 to 89 mol%.

[Preparation of ink receiving layer forming coating solution]
100 parts by mass of the boric acid-added alumina hydrate dispersion and 27.8 parts by mass of the aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution were mixed by a static mixer to obtain a coating liquid for forming an ink receiving layer.

[Manufacture of recording media]
Immediately after the mixing, the coating liquid is coated on a transparent sheet in a laminated sheet of a transparent sheet, a release layer and a base sheet, and dried, whereby a recording medium provided with a void absorbing ink receiving layer Manufactured. The coating solution was applied using a die coater at a coating speed of 5 m / min so that the coating amount after drying was 15 g / m ² . The drying temperature was 80 ° C. The product name “DCR-320” (manufactured by Dynic) was used as the laminated sheet. The laminated sheet had a thickness of 15 μm and a total light transmittance of 100%.

(Example 2-2)
A recording medium was obtained in the same manner as in Example 2-1, except that the type of alumina hydrate A was changed to the trade name “Disperal HP13”. In addition, the average particle diameter of the alumina hydrate fine particles in the alumina hydrate dispersion obtained in Example 2-2 was 130 nm.

(Example 2-3)
A recording medium was obtained in the same manner as in Example 2-1, except that the type of the alumina hydrate A was changed to the trade name “Disperal HP18”. In addition, the average particle diameter of the alumina hydrate fine particles in the alumina hydrate dispersion obtained in Example 2-3 was 180 nm.

(Comparative Example 2-1)
A recording medium was obtained in the same manner as in Example 2-1, except that the type of the alumina hydrate A was changed to the trade name “Disperal HP22”. The average particle size of the alumina hydrate fine particles in the alumina hydrate dispersion obtained in Comparative Example 2-1 was 220 nm.

(Comparative Example 2-2)
An attempt was made to produce a recording medium in the same manner as in Example 2-1, except that the type of alumina hydrate A was changed to the trade name “Disperal HP30”. However, since the average particle diameter of the fine particles in the alumina hydrate dispersion obtained in Comparative Example 2-2 was 300 nm, which was large, the alumina hydrate was precipitated. For this reason, it was not possible to produce a recording medium, and it was not possible to evaluate recording suitability (fixability) and visibility (color difference).

(Comparative Example 2-3)
A recording medium was obtained in the same manner as in Example 2-1, except that the type of alumina hydrate A was changed to the trade name “Disperal HP10”. The average particle size of the alumina hydrate fine particles in the alumina hydrate dispersion obtained in Comparative Example 2-3 was 100 nm.

(Comparative Example 2-4)
An attempt was made to produce a recording medium in the same manner as in Example 2-1, except that the type of alumina hydrate A was changed to the trade name “Disperal HP8”. However, the average particle diameter of the alumina hydrate fine particles in the alumina hydrate dispersion obtained in Comparative Example 2-4 was as small as 80 nm, so the viscosity of the alumina hydrate dispersion became too high. I have. For this reason, it was not possible to produce a recording medium, and it was not possible to evaluate recording suitability (fixability) and visibility (color difference).

[Evaluation <Dispersibility>]
Whether the 20.0 mass% coating liquid of alumina hydrate has a viscosity suitable for the preparation of the coating liquid (10 to 300 mpa · s (25 ° C.), E-type viscometer) is visually uniform. Whether it was dispersed or not was evaluated according to the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 2.
◯: Satisfying the viscosity range, and is uniformly dispersed by visual evaluation.
X: The said viscosity range is not satisfy | filled, or the alumina hydrate has settled by visual evaluation.

[Evaluation <Recordability (Fixability)>]
Images were recorded on the recording media of Examples or Comparative Examples, and the recording suitability (fixability) was evaluated. Recording was performed by a thermal ink jet recording apparatus (trade name “LX-G5500”, manufactured by Canon Finetech). This time, evaluation was performed with a single color of magenta (M) ink having the worst fixability among the inks used in the recording apparatus. Printing was performed with a solid printing on a recording medium with an ink ejection density with respect to a unit area (1200 dpi × 1200 dpi) in a range of 10% to 100% (10% increments). The fixing failure includes tailing that occurs due to poor ink fixing on the recording surface and non-uniform density that occurs due to variations in coating of the ink receiving layer. By visually observing the recording medium after printing, the presence or absence of tailing and density non-uniformity was confirmed, and recording suitability (fixability) was evaluated according to the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 2.
Evaluation criteria (determined under the condition that the ratio of ink application amount to unit area is 40%)
○: Image disturbance (tailing, non-uniformity) does not occur.
Δ: Disturbance occurs on either side ×: Image distortion occurs

[Evaluation <Visibility (color difference)>]
Images were recorded on the recording media of Examples or Comparative Examples, and visibility was evaluated. Recording on the recording medium was performed by a thermal ink jet recording apparatus (trade name “LX-G5500”, manufactured by Canon Finetech). Similar to the evaluation of the recording suitability, the ink used was a magenta (M) ink single color, the ink injection density was 40%, and recording was performed by solid printing. The Lab color system of the recording surface (the surface on the ink receiving layer side) and the viewing surface (the surface on the transparent sheet side) of the recording medium was measured with a spectrophotometer (trade name “Spectrolino”, manufactured by GretagMacbeth), and the following formula (1 ) To calculate the color difference and evaluated according to the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 1 and FIG. FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the average particle diameter of alumina fine particles, the reflection density (OD), and the color difference (ΔE) between the recording surface and the viewing surface.
ΔE * ab = [(ΔL *) 2+ (Δa *) 2+ (Δb *) 2] 1/2: (1)
○: ΔE ≦ 3 (color development and clearness are good, and it is difficult to feel the difference in color between the recording surface and the viewing surface)
Δ: 3 <ΔE ≦ 5
×: 5 <ΔE

  In Examples 2-1 to 2-3 in which the average particle size of the alumina dispersion was 120 nm to 200 nm, the dispersibility, the recordability, and the visibility were good or bad, and good results were shown. On the other hand, Comparative Examples 2-1 to 2-4 in which the average particle size of alumina hydrate is less than 120 nm or more than 200 nm is x in any of dispersibility, recordability, and visibility, and shows an unsatisfactory result. It was.

1: recording medium, 2: nip roller, 3: grip roller, 4: supply unit, 5: precut processing unit, 6: recording unit, 7: drying unit, 8: detected portion, 9: inverted image, 10: fan, 11: Image support, 12: Image support supply unit, 13: Transfer unit, 14: Registration guide, 15: Supply roll, 16: Guide roll, 17: Winding roll, 18: Primer layer, 19: Preheating unit, 20: Fan, 21, 22: Heat roller, 22K, 22C, 22M, 22Y: Recording head, 23: Transparent sheet, 24: Winding roll, 25: Manufacturing device, 26: Discharge unit, 27: Sheet guide, 28: Guide plate, 29: adhesion part, 30: thermal head, 31: sensor part, 41: controller, 42: storage part, 43: communication part, 44: control part, 45: display part, 46: input / output part, 47: Ne 48: System bus 50: Base sheet 51: Release layer 52: Transparent sheet 53: Ink receiving layer 55: Image support 56: Primer layer 58: Hologram layer 59: Anchor Layer, 62: solvent component, 63: pigment component, 64: ink receiving layer, 65: pigment particles, 66: ink receiving layer, 67: ink receiving layer, 68: dye component, 69: dye component, 70: recording medium, 72: inverted image, 73: recorded material, 100: CPU, 102: interface controller, 104: program ROM, 106: image memory, 108: work RAM, 112: recording head control circuit, 114: output port, 116: motor drive Part: 118: head up / down motor, 120: host PC, 122: capping motor.

The present invention relates to a recorded matter provided with an ink receiving layer in which ink for inkjet recording is received.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. That is, the present invention provides improved productivity of the recording material, the improvement of information security, the recording material capable of reducing the recording cost. The present invention also provides a recorded material adapted to the ink jet system.

The present inventor has intensively studied the above problems. As a result, by adopting the inkjet recording method instead of the thermal transfer recording method, the productivity and the recording cost can be drastically improved, the recording cost can be reduced, and the information security is also improved because no negative image remains. I realized that this is possible. Further, the present invention is completed by conceiving that a recording medium adapted to the ink jet system can be configured by precisely controlling the configuration of inorganic fine particles or water-soluble resin contained in the ink receiving layer. It came. That is, according to the present invention, the following recorded matter is provided.

According to the present invention, a mold release comprising a composition containing an image support, an ink receiving layer in which ink for inkjet recording is received, a transparent sheet having a total light transmittance of 50% or more, and a release agent. And a base sheet that serves as a support for the release layer, and the image support, the ink receiving layer, the transparent sheet, the release layer, and the base sheet are sequentially laminated, and the ink The receptor layer is composed of a composition containing at least alumina fine particles having an average particle diameter of 120 nm to 200 nm and polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average polymerization degree of 2,000 to 5,000 and a saponification degree of 70 mol% to 90 mol%. an ink-receiving layer of a void-absorption, wherein the ink is to a recording material, wherein the pigment component is a pigment ink is a pigment resin dispersion type

According to the present invention , it is possible to improve the productivity of recorded matter, improve information security, and reduce the recording cost as compared with the thermal transfer method.

Claims (25)

An ink receiving layer for receiving ink for ink jet recording, and a transparent sheet having a total light transmittance of 50% or more,
The transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer have a laminated structure sequentially laminated,
The void-receptive ink-receiving layer is composed of a composition containing at least inorganic fine particles and a polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average polymerization degree of 2,000 to 5,000 and a saponification degree of 70 mol% to 90 mol%. A recording medium characterized by the above. An ink receiving layer for receiving ink for ink jet recording, and a transparent sheet having a total light transmittance of 50% or more,
The transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer have a laminated structure sequentially laminated,
Void absorption made of a composition containing at least one resin selected from the group consisting of alumina fine particles having an average particle diameter of 120 nm or more and 200 nm or less, and a water-soluble resin and a water-dispersible resin. A recording medium which is an ink-receiving layer of a type.   At least one resin selected from the group consisting of the water-soluble resin and the water-dispersible resin is polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average polymerization degree of 2,000 to 5,000 and a saponification degree of 70 mol% to 90 mol%. The recording medium according to claim 1 or 2.   The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the recording sheet has a laminated structure in which the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer are in contact with each other. A mold release layer comprising a composition containing a mold release agent, and a base sheet serving as a support for the mold release layer,
The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium has a laminated structure in which the ink receiving layer, the transparent sheet, the release layer, and the base sheet are sequentially laminated. The transparent sheet and the release layer are in contact with each other,
The recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the recording medium has a laminated structure in which the release layer and the base sheet are in contact with each other. An image is recorded on the ink receiving layer,
The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the image is recorded by an ink jet recording method. The image is a reverse image that is a mirror image when viewed from the ink-receiving layer side, and a normal image when viewed from the transparent sheet side;
The recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the reverse image is recorded on a surface of the ink receiving layer where the transparent sheet is not laminated.   The recording medium according to claim 7, wherein the image is an image formed with pigment ink. An image support on which an image is supported, and a recording medium on which the image is recorded,
The recording medium is the recording medium according to any one of claims 7 to 9,
A recorded matter having a laminated structure in which the image support, the ink receiving layer, and the transparent sheet are sequentially laminated. The image support further comprises a primer layer;
The recorded matter according to claim 10, which has a laminated structure in which the image support, the primer layer, the ink receiving layer, and the transparent sheet are sequentially laminated. The image support and the primer layer are in contact with each other;
The recorded matter according to claim 11, which has a laminated structure in which the primer layer and the ink receiving layer are in contact with each other. Production of a recording medium comprising an ink receiving layer for receiving ink for ink jet recording and a transparent sheet having a total light transmittance of 50% or more, and having a laminated structure in which the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer are sequentially laminated. A method,
On the surface of the transparent sheet, a coating liquid containing at least water, inorganic fine particles, and a polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average polymerization degree of 2,000 to 5,000 and a saponification degree of 70 mol% to 90 mol% is applied,
A method for producing a recording medium, comprising forming a void-absorbing ink receiving layer comprising a composition containing at least the inorganic fine particles and the polyvinyl alcohol. Production of a recording medium comprising an ink receiving layer for receiving ink for ink jet recording and a transparent sheet having a total light transmittance of 50% or more, and having a laminated structure in which the transparent sheet and the ink receiving layer are sequentially laminated. A method,
A coating liquid containing at least one resin selected from the group consisting of at least water, alumina fine particles having an average particle size of 120 nm to 200 nm, and a water-soluble resin and a water-dispersible resin on the surface of the transparent sheet. Coating,
A method for producing a recording medium, comprising forming a void-absorbing ink-receiving layer comprising a composition containing at least the alumina fine particles and the resin.   As the at least one resin selected from the group consisting of the water-soluble resin and the water-dispersible resin, polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average polymerization degree of 2,000 to 5,000 and a saponification degree of 70 mol% to 90 mol% is used. The manufacturing method of the recording medium of Claim 14 used.   The method for producing a recording medium according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein a composition further containing a heat-fusible resin is used as the coating liquid.   The recording medium manufacturing method according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein after the ink receiving layer is formed, a precut treatment is performed to cut the ink receiving layer and the transparent sheet from the ink receiving layer side. Method. Using a laminate sheet in which the transparent sheet, a release layer composed of a composition containing a release agent, and a base sheet serving as a support for the release layer are sequentially laminated,
On the surface of the transparent sheet constituting the laminated sheet, the coating liquid is applied,
The method for producing a recording medium according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein a recording medium having a laminated structure in which the ink receiving layer, the transparent sheet, the release layer, and the base sheet are sequentially laminated is obtained.   The method for producing a recording medium according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein an image is recorded on the ink receiving layer of the recording medium by an ink jet recording method.   A reverse image, which is a mirror image when viewed from the ink receiving layer side and a normal image when viewed from the transparent sheet side, is recorded on a surface of the recording medium on which the transparent sheet is not laminated. Item 20. A method for manufacturing a recording medium according to any one of Items 13 to 19.   21. The method for producing a recording medium according to claim 19, wherein a pigment ink is used as the ink for ink-jet recording for forming the image.   The recording medium according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the recording medium is dried until the water content of the ink for ink-jet recording forming the image is 70% by mass or less based on the total amount of the ink to be ejected. Manufacturing method. A method for producing a recorded matter comprising: an image support on which an image is supported; and a recording medium on which the image is recorded,
The recording medium is obtained by the method for manufacturing a recording medium according to any one of claims 20 to 22,
The image support and the recording medium are heat-pressed in a state where the image support, the ink receiving layer, and the transparent sheet are in contact with each other so as to be sequentially laminated, and the image support and the ink receiving layer And a recorded material having a laminated structure in which the transparent sheets are sequentially laminated. As the image support, an image support further provided with a primer layer,
The image support and the recording medium are arranged so that the image support, the primer layer, the ink receiving layer and the transparent sheet are sequentially laminated, and the image support and the recording medium are thermocompression bonded, The method for producing a recorded matter according to claim 23, wherein a recorded matter having a laminated structure in which the image support, the primer layer, the ink receiving layer, and the transparent sheet are sequentially laminated is obtained.   The method for producing a recorded matter according to claim 23 or 24, wherein a temperature of the thermocompression bonding is controlled to 60 ° C or higher and 160 ° C or lower.