JP2017128069A - Thermal transfer image receiving sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal transfer image receiving sheet capable of suitably performing thermal transfer printing.SOLUTION: There is provided a printing function-fitted game system comprising: a game machine 1 performing thermal transfer printing; and play media 2 held to the game machine 1 in a state before printing. A buffer layer 22 and a printing image layer 21 having a printing face 210 are fitted to the substrate part 23 of the plate media 2. The buffer layer 22 has elasticity mainly in the vertical direction of the printing face 210. Then, when the game machine 1 moves a printing head upon printing in a state where it is pressed against the printing face 210 under prescribed pressure, distortion is generated in the buffer layer 22, and the contact state between the printing head and the printing face 210 is held. Further, the back side of the substrate part 23 is provided with leg parts 26A, 26B for grounding. The leg parts 26A, 26B are contacted with the surface of the outer marginal part 29 of the plate media 2 at the lower side in a state where the plate media 2 are piled up.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium (sheet) printable by thermal transfer printing.

  Conventionally, proposals have been made for the configuration of media suitable for printing. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a proof card in which a transparent hard vinyl chloride sheet layer is thermally laminated on at least one surface of an ABS resin. Patent Document 2 discloses a thermal transfer recording sheet for forming an image having excellent heat resistance. Other techniques related to the present invention are disclosed in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-24574 JP-A-10-226178 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-12639 Registered Utility Model No. 2522596

  When printing on a medium by thermal transfer printing, a cushion function is required to bring the print head into close contact with the printing surface of the medium. When this cushion function is incorporated in a printing press, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the printing press increases. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a main object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer image receiving sheet that can suitably perform thermal transfer printing even when the printing machine does not have a cushion function for bringing the print head into close contact with the printing surface. .

  In one aspect of the present invention, the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet has a base part, and a main body part having a printing surface that is superimposed on the base part and printed by thermal transfer printing, and the base part includes the main body part. The leg part which supports the said base part is provided in the surface on the opposite side to the surface which contact | connects a part. Here, the “thermal transfer image receiving sheet” refers to an arbitrary object to be printed by thermal transfer printing. With this configuration, even when the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is stored in an overlapped manner, a space is provided between the thermal transfer image receiving sheet and the other thermal transfer image receiving sheet due to the presence of the legs, and thus the printing surface is preferably protected. Can do.

  In the other one aspect | mode of the said thermal transfer image receiving sheet, the said base part has a recessed part which fits the said main-body part, and an outer edge part surrounding the said recessed part. According to this aspect, the main body is held in a state in which the main body is suitably fitted into the base.

  In another aspect of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, the outer edge portion is in contact with the outer edge portion when the other thermal transfer image receiving sheet is placed on top of the outer edge portion. Provided in position. According to this aspect, even when the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is stored in an overlapping manner, the printing surface can be suitably protected because the printing surface does not come into contact with other thermal transfer image receiving sheets.

  In another aspect of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, a part of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet has a shape for identifying the front, back, left and right sides. According to this aspect, the thermal transfer image receiving sheet can be suitably stored in a state where the front, back, left and right are aligned.

  In another aspect of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, the base portion is hard, and the main body portion has elasticity mainly in a direction perpendicular to the printing surface. “Hard” refers to the property of being difficult to deform even when pressure is applied during printing or the like. Here, “elasticity” refers to the property that distortion occurs when pressure is applied during printing, etc., and returns to its original value when unloaded, and conforms to the usage in JIS K 7181 “# 3.13 compression modulus”. . According to this configuration, when the print head is horizontally moved while being pressed against the printing surface during printing, the elastic body is placed on the lower portion even when the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is gently deformed or the main body is rigid. Therefore, the adhesiveness is improved, and the contact state between the print head and the printing surface is suitably maintained. Therefore, with this configuration, even when the printing machine does not have a cushion function for bringing the print head into close contact with the printing surface, it is possible to suitably perform thermal transfer printing on the printing surface.

  In another aspect of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, the main body has a hard printing layer constituting the printing surface and a buffer layer provided between the printing layer and the base. In this aspect, since the buffer layer is provided between the print layer and the base portion, the buffer layer is distorted when the print head is pressed against the print surface during printing, and preferably the print head and the print surface. The contact state is maintained.

  In another aspect of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, the direct sublimation printing medium is stored in a stacked state by an apparatus that performs the direct sublimation printing before the direct sublimation printing is performed. According to this aspect, the thermal transfer image receiving sheet can suitably suppress the printing surface from being pressed or damaged by the other stacked thermal transfer image receiving sheets.

  In another aspect of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet, the printing surface is formed at a position higher in the vertical direction than the outer edge portion. Preferably, the height difference between the printing surface and the outer edge portion is equal to or greater than the maximum width at which the main body portion shrinks due to pressure from a print head when the thermal transfer printing is performed. The above-mentioned “maximum width that the main body portion shrinks” may be a width measured based on experiments or the like, or may be a theoretical value of the maximum width that the main body portion can shrink in performance. With such a configuration, even when the print surface is pressed down when the print head is pressed against the print surface during printing, the print surface is prevented from falling below the outer edge portion of the base portion. Can be suitably executed.

  Even when the thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to the present invention is stored in an overlapping manner, a space is provided between the thermal transfer image receiving sheet and the other thermal transfer image receiving sheet due to the presence of the legs, and thus the printing surface is preferably protected. Can do.

1 shows a game system with a printing function according to an embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the plate media before printing is performed. The front view of plate media is shown. The back view of plate media is shown. Sectional drawing at the time of observing a plate media from arrow A1 of FIG. 3 is shown. (A) shows the plate media stacked in the game machine. (B) shows a cross-sectional view of any two plate media stacked. (C) is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a broken line in (B). Sectional drawing of the plate media which concerns on a modification is shown. The perspective view of the plate media which concerns on a modification is shown.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration of game system with printing function]
FIG. 1 shows a game system with a printing function according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the game system with a printing function according to the present embodiment includes a game machine 1 that is an arcade game machine and a plate medium 2 that is printed by the game machine 1.

  The game machine 1 mainly includes a display 10, a placement unit 11 on which a plate medium 2 held by an operator is placed, a reading unit 12 such as a camera, an operation unit 13 used for game operations, and prizes. And an outlet 14 for supplying the plate medium 2 to the operator. As will be described later, the reading unit 12 reads the QR code (registered trademark) 20 of the plate medium 2 placed on the placement unit 11. In addition, the game machine 1 has a plate medium 2 in a stacked state. The plate media 2 has not been printed yet in a state where the plate media 2 are stacked and held.

  The game machine 1 performs thermal transfer printing on the plate media 2 according to the result of the game, and supplies the printed plate media 2 as a prize to the game operator. When printing the plate media 2, the game machine 1 fixes the sublimation ink gasified by applying heat to the ink ribbon on the surface of the plate media 2 with the print head, and prints it without using transfer paper. Print directly on the media 2. The game machine 1 takes out one of the stacked plate media 2 according to the result of the game, prints on the printing surface of the plate media 2, and supplies the printed plate media 2 to the takeout port 14.

  In the example of FIG. 1, an image including the QR code 20 is printed on the surface of the plate media 2 by the game machine 1. The QR code 20 is a two-dimensional barcode encoded so that the game machine 1 can later read the content printed on the plate medium 2 by the reading unit 12. On the surface of the plate media 2 shown in FIG. 1, characters that can be made to appear in the game by using the plate media 2 and properties of the characters are printed so that the user can visually recognize them. The QR code 20 in which the above information is coded is printed.

  The printed plate media 2 taken out from the take-out port 14 can be used in the next and subsequent games. Specifically, when the user uses the acquired plate medium 2 for a game, the user places the plate medium 2 so that the reading unit 12 can read the QR code 20 printed on the surface of the plate medium 2. Place on the part 11. In this case, the game machine 1 reads the QR code 20 by the reading unit 12 to reflect the read content in the current game.

  Here, when the game machine 1 prints the plate medium 2, the print head (not shown) is brought into close contact with the printing surface of the plate medium 2 by applying a predetermined pressure to the printing surface of the plate medium 2. Printing is performed while moving in parallel. At this time, even if the plate medium 2 is gently deformed in the thickness direction and the main body portion is in a hard state, the adhesiveness is improved due to the elastic body in the lower part, and printing between the print head and the plate medium 2 is performed. The plate media 2 has a cushioning property so that the surface can be kept in close contact. A specific configuration of the plate medium 2 will be described later.

  The plate medium 2 is an example of the “thermal transfer image receiving sheet” in the present invention, and the game machine 1 is an example of the “apparatus that performs thermal transfer printing” in the present invention.

[Configuration of plate media]
Next, a specific configuration of the plate medium 2 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the plate medium 2 before printing. As shown in FIG. 2, the plate medium 2 includes a stamp screen layer 21, a buffer (cushion) layer 22, and a base portion 23 in order from the top. Hereinafter, the short direction of the plate media 2 is defined as “X-axis direction”, the longitudinal direction of the plate media 2 is defined as “Y-axis direction”, and the thickness direction of the plate media 2 is defined as “Z-axis direction”. Is determined as shown in the figure.

  The seal screen layer 21 has a print surface 210 on which an image is printed by the game machine 1 according to the result of the game. The seal screen layer 21 is formed of a material capable of thermal transfer printing. In the present embodiment, for example, the stamp screen layer 21 is formed with a thickness of 0.75 mm from hard polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

  The buffer layer 22 has elasticity in at least the Z-axis direction. When the stamp screen layer 21 is pressed by the print head of the game machine 1, the buffer layer 22 is moved in the Z-axis direction by the pressure transmitted from the stamp screen layer 21. It shrinks. Preferably, the buffer layer 22 has a thickness of 0.5 mm and is designed to shrink by a maximum of 40% by the pressure from the stamp screen layer 21. The material of the buffer layer 22 is, for example, polyurethane, polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), or elastomer.

  The stamp screen layer 21 and the buffer layer 22 are examples of the “main body” in the present invention.

  The base portion 23 functions as a casing of the plate medium 2 and has a recess 28 for fitting the stamp screen layer 21 and the buffer layer 22. The recess 28 is formed in accordance with the shape of the stamp screen layer 21 and the buffer layer 22 on the XY plane. As will be described later, the entire buffer layer 22 and a part of the printing screen layer 21 are fitted into the recess 28. Further, an outer edge portion 29 having a step in the Z-axis direction is formed around the recess 28. The base portion 23 is, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polystyrene that can be integrally molded.

  An adhesive (not shown) is applied between the seal screen layer 21 and the buffer layer 22 and between the buffer layer 22 and the base portion 23. Thereby, the stamp screen layer 21, the buffer layer 22, and the base part 23 are fixed in a state of being in close contact with each other.

  FIG. 3 shows a front view of the printed plate media 2. As shown in FIG. 3, a notch 25 is formed at one corner of the plate media 2. The notch 25 is provided to align the front and back of the plate media 2 and the direction (that is, the X-axis direction). Accordingly, the plate media 2 are stacked so that the positions of the notches 25 are the same, so that the front and back and the orientation of all the stacked plate media 2 are aligned. Specifically, the front and back sides of the plate media 2 are aligned so that printing is performed on the printing surface 210 of the plate media 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the plate media 2 are aligned so that the end in the Y-axis (longitudinal) direction where the notch 25 is formed is the lower end of the printed image. Therefore, the notch 25 can suitably suppress the setting of the plate media 2 in the game machine 1 in a state where the front and back sides and the direction of the plate media 2 are reversed.

  FIG. 4 is a back view of the plate medium 2. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the XZ plane of the plate medium 2 when the plate medium 2 is observed from the arrow A1 in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, grounding legs 26 </ b> A extending in parallel along the Y-axis direction are respectively provided at both ends in the short direction of the base portion 23 that forms the back surface of the plate media 2. 26B is formed. The leg portions 26A and 26B are provided on the outer side (that is, the position sandwiching the concave portion 28) than the concave portion 28 into which the printing screen layer 21 and the buffer layer 22 are fitted in the X-axis direction. In other words, the leg portions 26A and 26B are provided at positions that overlap the outer edge portion 29 in the Z-axis direction. The functions of the legs 26A and 26B will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the printing surface 210 of the stamp screen layer 21 protrudes by a width “h1” from the outer edge portion 29 of the base portion 23 toward the positive side of the Z axis. The protrusion width h <b> 1 of the stamp screen layer 21 in the Z-axis direction with respect to the base portion 23 is preferably longer than the maximum length in which the buffer layer 22 contracts when the print head of the game machine 1 is pressed against the stamp screen layer 21. Designed as such. For example, when the buffer layer 22 has a thickness of 0.5 mm and is designed to shrink a maximum of 40%, the protrusion width h1 is set to 0.2 mm (= 0.5 mm × 0.4) or more. The Thereby, when the print head of the game machine 1 is pressed against the stamp screen layer 21 during printing, it is preferable to prevent the printing surface 210 from falling below the surface of the outer edge portion 29.

  Next, functions of the legs 26A and 26B will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 6A shows the plate media 2 in a state of being stacked inside the game machine 1. FIG. 6B shows a cross-sectional view of the two stacked plate media 2 cut along the XZ plane at the central portion in the Y-axis direction. Further, FIG. 6C is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a broken line 70 in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the leg portions 26A and 26B are provided at both ends in the short side (X-axis) direction of the back surface of the plate media 2, so that the surface of the printing screen layer 21 is The plate media 2 stacked on the plate media 2 do not abut. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6C, the height “h2” of the leg portions 26A and 26B is such that the printing screen layer 21 protrudes in the positive direction of the Z axis with respect to the outer edge portion 29 of the base portion 23. It is longer than the protruding width h1. As a result, a gap having a predetermined width (that is, width “h2−h1”) is generated between the printing surface 210 of the seal screen layer 21 and the back surface of the base portion 23 of the stacked plate media 2. Further, the leg portions 26A and 26B are provided at positions that do not overlap the concave portion 28 into which the seal screen layer 21 and the like are fitted in the Z-axis direction (that is, positions on the back side of the outer edge portion 29). Therefore, the leg portions 26 </ b> A and 26 </ b> B are in contact with the outer edge portion 29 of the plate media 2 stacked below, and are not in contact with the printing surface 210 of the printing screen layer 21.

  Therefore, with this configuration, when the plate media 2 are stacked, the occurrence of damage to the printing surface 210 due to contact with other plate media 2 can be suitably suppressed. In particular, on the back surface of the base portion 23 (that is, the surface opposite to the printing surface 210), fine irregularities of some design are formed by embossing or the like. Therefore, if the leg portions 26A and 26B are not present, when the plate media 2 are stacked, the printing of the lower plate media 2 is performed due to the fine uneven shape formed on the back surface of the base portion 23 of the upper plate media 2. There is a possibility that the surface 210 may be deformed into a wavy shape. In consideration of the above, the plate media 2 according to the present embodiment has the leg portions 26A and 26B, and in the state where the plate media 2 are stacked, the back surface of the base portion 23 of the upper plate media 2 and the lower plate media A space is provided between the two printing surfaces 210. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the printing surface 210 of the lower plate medium 2 from being deformed into a wavy shape or the like.

[Operational effects of game system with printing function according to the present embodiment]
According to the game system with a printing function according to the present embodiment, the game machine 1 performs printing on the stamp screen layer 21 of the plate medium 2 by thermal transfer printing, and the plate medium 2 on which the content corresponding to the game result is printed is stored in the user. Can be suitably supplied. Here, at the time of printing, the printing surface 210 of the stamp screen layer 21 is pressed by the print head of the game machine 1, whereby the buffer layer 22 having elasticity is contracted. With this configuration, when the print head of the game machine 1 moves horizontally, the printing surface 210 and the print head are preferably kept in contact with each other even if there is a gradual deformation in the plate media 2. It is. As described above, in this embodiment, the plate media 2 has the cushion performance necessary for the thermal transfer printing instead of the game machine 1. Thereby, the thermal transfer printing can be suitably performed on the plate media 2, and the configuration related to the printing of the game machine 1 can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost of the game machine 1 can be suitably reduced.

  Further, since the leg portions 26A and 26B are formed on the back surface of the plate media 2, even when the plate media 2 are stacked and stored in the game machine 1, the printing surface 210 is in contact with the other plate media 2. It is suitably protected without doing.

  Furthermore, by forming the notch 25 in one corner of the plate media 2, the game machine 1 can be held in a state where the front and back sides and the orientation of the plate media 2 are suitably aligned.

[Modification]
Next, a modified example suitable for the above-described embodiment will be described. The following modifications may be applied to the above-described embodiment in any combination.

(Modification 1)
In the configuration example of FIG. 3 and the like, the plate media 2 has a buffer layer 22 having a cushion function separately from the stamp screen layer 21. Instead of this, the plate media 2 may have a printing screen layer 21 having a cushion function.

  FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the XZ plane of the plate media 2A according to this modification. As shown in FIG. 7, the plate medium 2 </ b> A has a stamp screen layer 21 </ b> A and a base portion 23. The stamp screen layer 21 </ b> A is fitted in the recess 28 of the base portion 23 and is fixed to the base portion 23 with an adhesive or the like.

  The printing screen layer 21 </ b> A has a printing surface 210 capable of thermal transfer printing, and has elasticity in at least the Z-axis direction. When the printing surface 210 is pressed by the print head of the game machine 1, It shrinks. The imprint screen layer 21A is, for example, soft polyvinyl chloride. The printing surface 210 protrudes by a width h1 from the surface of the outer edge portion 29 to the Z axis positive direction side in a state where the printing screen layer 21A is fitted in the concave portion 28 of the base portion 23. Similar to the embodiment, the protruding width h1 is designed to be equal to or larger than the maximum width in which the printing screen layer 21A shrinks when the print head of the game machine 1 is pressed against the printing surface 210.

  Also in the configuration of FIG. 7, as in the configuration of the embodiment, even when there is a gradual deformation in the thickness direction of the plate media 2 during printing of the plate media 2 by the game machine 1, the print head and the print screen The contact state with the layer 21A can be maintained, and printing can be suitably executed. In the present modification, the stamp screen layer 21A is an example of the “main part” in the present invention.

(Modification 2)
The QR code 20 was printed on the plate media 2. However, the configuration to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to this. Instead of this, for example, an IC chip may be embedded in the plate media 2.

  In this case, the game machine 1 writes necessary information on the IC chip according to the result of the game, and prints an image indicating the contents written on the IC chip on the stamp screen layer 21 of the plate medium 2. The game machine 1 has a reading function for reading an IC chip of the plate medium 2 when the plate medium 2 is placed on the placement unit 11. The content read from the card is reflected in the running or next game.

  As described above, in the aspect using the IC chip, the property information of the character that can be made to appear in the game by using the plate media 2 is stored in the IC chip with the initial parameters, and depending on the progress of the game, Each time the character grows, the property information and the like can be rewritten. Thereby, the user can raise the corresponding character virtually by repeatedly using the plate media 2 which he owns.

  Note that the IC chip may be a contact type chip (for example, an SD card) having a contact portion, or may be an IC chip with an antenna (for example, an RF-ID tag or a non-contact IC card).

(Modification 3)
A system to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to a game system with a printing function, and may be any system that includes a printing machine that performs thermal transfer printing and a plate medium 2 that is a printing target.

  For example, a printing machine that performs thermal transfer printing may be a business or household machine that immediately prints a photographed image on the plate medium 2. In this case, for example, the printing press has a camera and photographs the user based on a user operation. Then, the printing machine prints the user's photographed image on the plate medium 2 and supplies it to a predetermined outlet. In this case, the plate media 2 may be configured as a key holder.

  In another example, the printing machine that performs thermal transfer printing may be a machine that issues an admission ticket to a facility with entrance restrictions. In this case, the printing machine prints a barcode or the like with an expiration date on the plate medium 2 based on a print instruction transmitted from a computer or the like that performs admission management. Then, the user who has been given the plate media 2 enters the facility by having the gate installed at the entrance of the facility read the barcode of the plate media 2.

(Modification 4)
The leg portions 26A and 26B (also simply referred to as “leg portions 26”) are formed along the longitudinal direction of the plate media 2 (ie, the Y-axis direction), instead of being formed along the short direction (ie, X-axis) of the plate media 2. Direction) and may be formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction. In another example, the leg portion 26 may be formed continuously along the outer edge of the plate media 2.

  Moreover, the leg part 26 is not limited to a bank-shaped protrusion, and may be a columnar or mountain-shaped protrusion formed on the back surface of the base part 23 by four to six. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a plate medium 2B according to a modification. FIG. 8A shows a perspective view of the plate media 2B when observed from the printing surface 210, and FIG. 8B shows a perspective view of the plate media 2B when observed with the printing surface 210 facing downward. FIG. 8C is a perspective view showing a state in which two plate media 2B are overlapped. In plate media 2B shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, cylindrical leg portions 26a to 26d are formed at the four corners of the back surface of the base portion 23. As shown in FIG. 8C, when the plate media 2B are stacked, the printing surface 210 of the lower plate media 2B is in contact with the bottoms of the legs 26a to 26d of the upper plate media 2B. Yes. It should be noted that a depression or the like may be formed on the printing surface 210 in a portion in contact with the leg portions 26a to 26d of the upper plate media 2B. As described above, in the case of the plate medium 2B shown in FIG. 8, the outer edge portion 29 that is brought into contact with the leg portion 26 when being overlapped is not formed. Even in this case, by setting the edge portion of the printing surface 210 including the portion in contact with the legs 26a to 26d as a non-printing area where printing is not performed, the printing area due to contact with the legs 26a to 26d is reduced. Deformation can be prevented.

(Modification 5)
In the embodiment, the notch 25 for distinguishing the front, back, left and right is formed in one corner of the plate medium 2. However, the mode of the plate media 2 for distinguishing the front, back, left and right is not limited to a mode in which the shape of one of the four corners of the plate media 2 is made different. Instead of this, the plate media 2 may be in a form in which a part of one side is cut into a U shape, a V shape, or a concave shape. As described above, even when a notch or the like is formed on a part of one side of the plate media 2, the position of the notch or the like is the same in the plate media 2 as in the case of the embodiment. As a result, the front and back surfaces and orientations of all the stacked plate media 2 are aligned.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game machine 2, 2A ... Plate media 10 ... Display 11 ... Mounting part 12 ... Reading part 13 ... Operation part 14 ... Extraction port 20 ... QR code 21, 21A ... Stamping screen layer 22 ... Buffer layer 23 ... Base part

Claims (9)

The foundation,
A main body having a printing surface that is overlaid on the base and printed by thermal transfer printing,
The thermal transfer image receiving sheet, wherein the base part is provided with a leg part for supporting the base part on a surface opposite to the surface in contact with the main body part.   The thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to claim 1, wherein the base portion has a concave portion into which the main body portion is fitted, and an outer edge portion surrounding the concave portion.   The outer edge portion is provided at a position where a leg portion of the other thermal transfer image receiving sheet comes into contact with the outer edge portion when another thermal transfer image receiving sheet is placed thereon. 2. The thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to 2.   The thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thermal transfer image receiving sheet has a shape for identifying the front, back, left and right sides of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet. The base portion is hard,
The thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the main body has elasticity mainly in a direction perpendicular to the printing surface.   6. The thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to claim 5, wherein the main body portion includes a hard printing layer constituting the printing surface, and a buffer layer provided between the printing layer and the base portion. .   The thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is stored by an apparatus that performs the thermal transfer printing in a stacked state before the thermal transfer printing is performed. Image receiving sheet.   The thermal transfer image receiving sheet according to claim 5, wherein the printing surface is formed at a position higher in the vertical direction than the outer edge portion.   The thermal transfer image-receiving sheet according to claim 8, wherein a difference in height between the printing surface and the outer edge portion is equal to or greater than a maximum width at which the main body portion contracts due to pressure from a print head when the thermal transfer printing is performed.