JP2019038173A - Thermal transfer printing device, thermal transfer printing system and thermal transfer printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

To manufacture a printing object different in a feeling.SOLUTION: A thermal transfer printing device 13 comprises: a supply part 23 supplying a thermal transfer sheet 30 provided with a transfer layer 31 and a dye layer 32 including a reception layer 38; and a heating part 21 which heats the transfer layer 31 of the thermal transfer sheet 30 supplied from the supply part 23, transfers the transfer layer 31 on an image receiving sheet 40 to apply irregularity processing to a surface of the image receiving sheet 40, heats the dye layer 32, and transfers a dye to the image receiving sheet 40 and the transferred transfer layer 31, thereby forming an image 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printing apparatus, a thermal transfer printing system, and a thermal transfer printing method.

  Conventionally, a thermal transfer sheet provided with a dye layer and an image receiving sheet to be transferred are superimposed, and thermal energy from a heat source called a thermal head is applied to the thermal transfer sheet to transfer the dye in the thermal transfer sheet to the image receiving sheet. Thus, thermal transfer printers that form images are known.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that an image receiving sheet in which a base sheet, a heat insulating layer, and a receiving layer are laminated is further cushioned between the base sheet and the heat insulating layer and / or between the heat insulating layer and the receiving layer. It is disclosed that the surface of the image receiving sheet is flattened by providing a layer.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a method for improving the surface property (smoothness) of an image receiving sheet that has changed due to contact with a mechanical component of a conveyance system in a thermal transfer printer by heat-treating the surface of the dye receiving layer of the image receiving sheet. Is disclosed.

  Thus, conventionally, since the dye was transferred to an image receiving sheet having a smooth surface to form an image, the printed matter produced has a uniform texture such as appearance and touch and lacks interest. was there.

JP 2010-234702 A JP-A-11-348433

  An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printing apparatus, a thermal transfer printing system, and a thermal transfer printing method capable of producing printed materials having different textures.

  The thermal transfer printing apparatus of the present invention comprises: a supply unit that supplies a thermal transfer sheet provided with a transfer layer including a receiving layer and a dye layer; and the transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet supplied from the supply unit to heat the image transfer sheet A heating unit that transfers the transfer layer onto the surface of the image receiving sheet to form an uneven surface, heats the dye layer, and transfers the dye to the image receiving sheet and the transferred transfer layer to form an image. Are provided.

  In one aspect of the invention, the heating unit transfers the first transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet onto the image receiving sheet, heats the first dye layer, and transfers the dye to the image receiving sheet and the first transfer layer. Forming a first image, transferring the second transfer layer onto the first image of the image receiving sheet, heating the second dye layer to transfer the dye to the second transfer layer, and Form.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the thermal transfer sheet includes a first thermal transfer sheet provided with the transfer layer and a second thermal transfer sheet provided with the dye layer, and the supply unit supplies the first thermal transfer sheet. A first supply unit that supplies the second thermal transfer sheet, and the heating unit heats the first thermal transfer sheet to transfer the transfer layer onto the image receiving sheet. A heating unit; and a second heating unit that heats the second thermal transfer sheet to transfer dye to the image receiving sheet and the transferred transfer layer to form an image.

  A thermal transfer printing system according to the present invention includes a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention, an input unit that receives input of image data, a display unit that displays an input image, and a processing region that receives designation of a processing region that performs uneven processing on the input image. A designation unit; and a print control unit that outputs information about the image data and the designated processing area to the thermal transfer printing apparatus.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the processing area designating unit further accepts designation of a pattern for uneven processing.

  In one aspect of the present invention, an image processing unit that extracts an object region in the input image is further provided, and the extracted object region or a contour portion of the object region is set as a processing region.

  In the thermal transfer printing method of the present invention, the transfer layer of a thermal transfer sheet provided with a transfer layer including a receiving layer and a dye layer is heated, the transfer layer is transferred onto the image receiving sheet, and irregularities are formed on the surface of the image receiving sheet. A step of processing, and a step of heating the dye layer to transfer the dye to the image receiving sheet and the transferred transfer layer to form an image.

  According to the present invention, a transfer layer is transferred from a thermal transfer sheet to an image receiving sheet, the unevenness is applied to the surface of the image receiving sheet, and the dye is transferred to the uneven surface of the image receiving sheet to form an image. Can be made.

1 is an external view of a thermal transfer printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block block diagram of the thermal transfer printing system by the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram realized by executing a print processing program. It is a schematic block diagram of the thermal transfer printing apparatus by the same embodiment. It is a top view of a thermal transfer sheet. It is sectional drawing of a thermal transfer sheet. It is sectional drawing of an image receiving sheet. (A) is sectional drawing of the image receiving sheet in which the transfer layer was transcribe | transferred, (b) is a perspective view. (A) (b) is sectional drawing of the image receiving sheet in which the image was formed. It is a perspective view of the image receiving sheet in which the image was formed. (A) is a figure which shows the image to transfer, (b) (c) is a figure which shows the example of a process area | region. (A)-(d) is sectional drawing of the image receiving sheet explaining the image forming method by another embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the image receiving sheet explaining the image forming method by another embodiment. (A) (b) is sectional drawing of the image receiving sheet explaining the image forming method by another embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a thermal transfer printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the thermal transfer printing system. The thermal transfer printing system includes touch panels (display unit, operation unit) 10A, 10B, data input unit 11, billing unit 12, thermal transfer printing device 13, CPU (central processing unit) 14, disk device (storage unit) 15, and main memory. 16 Each part of the thermal transfer printing system is connected via a bus.

  The touch panels 10A and 10B display information including images and accept input of various instructions from the user. For example, the touch panels 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B accept selection of image data to be printed, designation of the number of prints and print size of the selected image data, presence / absence of concave / convex processing, designation of concave / convex processing regions, and the like from the user. Concavity and convexity processing will be described later.

  The touch panel 10B is provided in the upper part of the housing 1 of the thermal transfer printing system, and the display screen is in a substantially vertical state. The touch panel 10 </ b> A is provided on the top plate 1 </ b> A portion of the housing 1. To facilitate the input operation to the touch panel 10A, the screens of the top board 1A and the touch panel 10A are slightly inclined such that the front side is low and the back side is high. In this embodiment, an example in which two touch panels are mounted will be described. However, one touch panel may be mounted, or three or more touch panels may be mounted.

  The data input unit 11 receives input of image data by reading the image data from a storage medium in which image data taken by a digital camera or the like is stored. The data input unit 11 has a data reading device corresponding to various storage media. Further, the data input unit 11 can accept input of image data from the portable terminal by wireless communication. As shown in FIG. 1, the data input unit 11 is provided between the touch panel 10A and the touch panel 10B.

  The billing unit 12 has a coin insertion slot 12A, a bill insertion slot 12B, and a change return slot 12C provided on the front side of the housing 1, and identifies and counts the coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 12A and the bill insertion slot 12B. Then, the change is discharged from the change return port 12C. Further, the billing unit 12 may have a payment function using electronic money. The billing unit 12 may have a receipt printer that prints the number of prints, unit price, billing amount, input amount, change amount, etc. on a receipt and outputs the receipt. The receipt printer may be arranged in the vicinity of the data input unit 11.

  The thermal transfer printing device 13 is a sublimation thermal transfer type high-resolution color printer, and prints and outputs image data based on the order contents. One or a plurality of thermal transfer printing apparatuses 13 are accommodated in the housing 1.

  An opening / closing door 2 is provided on the front side of the housing 1 so as to be freely opened and closed. An accumulation part is provided on the back side of the opening / closing door 2, and when the opening / closing door 2 is opened, the printed matter 40a (see FIG. 4) accumulated in the accumulation part can be taken out.

  The disk device 15 stores a print processing program. When the CPU 14 loads the print processing program into the main memory 16 and executes it, the image processing unit 61, the display processing unit 62, the processing area designating unit 63, the order receiving unit 64, and the print control unit 65, as shown in FIG. Is realized. The processing of each unit will be described later.

  4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the thermal transfer printing apparatus 13, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the thermal transfer sheet 30 used in the thermal transfer printing apparatus 13, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of the thermal transfer sheet 30. is there. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the image receiving sheet 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the thermal transfer sheet 30 has a transfer layer 31 and a dye layer 32 repeatedly provided on one side of the base film 35 in the surface order, and a back layer 36 on the other side of the base film 35. Is provided. The dye layer 32 includes a yellow dye layer (Y layer), a magenta dye layer (M layer), and a cyan dye layer (C layer) that are provided in the surface order.

  The transfer layer 31 has a single layer structure or a stacked structure including only the receiving layer 38. In the form shown in FIG. 5, the transfer layer 31 has a laminated structure in which a peeling layer 37, a receiving layer 38, and an adhesive layer 39 are laminated in this order.

  The thermal transfer printing apparatus uses the thermal transfer sheet 30 and the thermal head (heating unit) 21 to transfer the transfer layer 31 onto the image receiving sheet 40 (printing paper), and subsequently sublimates and transfers Y, M, and C images. Form.

  A supply unit 23 formed by winding the thermal transfer sheet 30 around a bobbin is provided on the downstream side of the thermal head 21, and a recovery unit 24 having a take-up bobbin is provided on the upstream side of the thermal head 21. The thermal transfer sheet 30 fed out from the supply unit 23 passes through the thermal head 21 and is collected (wound up) by the collection unit 24.

  A rotatable platen roll 22 is provided below the thermal head 21. The image receiving sheet 40 and the thermal transfer sheet 30 are sandwiched between the thermal head 21 and the platen roll 22, and the thermal transfer sheet 30 is heated by the thermal head 21, thereby transferring the transfer layer 31 onto the image receiving sheet 40 or dyes. Transfer to form an image.

  On the upstream side of the thermal head 21, there are provided a capstan roller 29 a and a pinch roller 29 b that can be rotated and driven to convey the image receiving sheet 40.

  The image receiving sheet 40 is wound around the image receiving paper roll 26 and is fed out from the image receiving paper roll 26. The image receiving sheet roll 26, the capstan roller 29a, and the pinch roller 29b feed out the image receiving sheet 40 (conveying to the front side) and winding it (conveying to the rear side).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the image receiving sheet 40 has a configuration in which a receiving layer 42 is provided on one surface of a base material sheet 41 and a back surface layer 43 is provided on the other surface of the base material sheet 41. The back layer 43 may be omitted.

  The image receiving sheet 40 to which the transfer layer 31 and the dye have been transferred is cut out as a print 40a by the cutter 28 on the downstream side.

  In one aspect of the printing process using the thermal transfer printing apparatus 13, first, the image receiving sheet 40 and the transfer layer 31 of the thermal transfer sheet 30 are aligned, and the thermal head 21 is moved to the platen roll 22 via the image receiving sheet 40 and the thermal transfer sheet 30. Abut. Next, the capstan roller 29a and the collection unit 24 are driven to rotate, and the image receiving sheet 40 and the thermal transfer sheet 30 are fed. During this time, the transfer layer 31 is selectively and sequentially heated by the thermal head 21 based on a predetermined pattern, and the transfer layer 31 (the receiving layer 38 and the adhesive layer 39) is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet 30 onto the image receiving sheet 40.

  As a result, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the transfer layer 31 is transferred in a predetermined pattern onto the receiving layer 42 of the image receiving sheet 40, and the transfer layer 31 portion becomes a convex portion. By transferring the transfer layer 31, the surface of the image receiving sheet 40 can be processed to be uneven.

  After the transfer of the transfer layer 31, the thermal head 21 rises and leaves the platen roll 22. Next, the image receiving sheet 40 and the Y layer of the dye layer 32 are aligned, and the image receiving sheet 40 and the thermal transfer sheet 30 are sandwiched between the thermal head 21 and the platen roll 22. The capstan roller 29a and the collection unit 24 are rotationally driven, and the image receiving sheet 40 and the thermal transfer sheet 30 are sent. During this time, the area of the Y layer is selectively and sequentially heated by the thermal head 21 based on the image data, and the yellow dye is transferred from the Y layer to the receiving layer 42 of the image receiving sheet 40 and the receiving layer 38 of the transfer layer 31.

  After the transfer of the yellow dye, the thermal head 21 rises and leaves the platen roll 22. Next, the image receiving sheet 40 and the M layer are aligned. Similar to the method of transferring the yellow dye, the M layer and the C layer are heated based on the image data, and the magenta dye and the cyan dye are transferred to the receiving layer 42 and the receiving layer 38. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 10, an image 50 is formed on the image receiving sheet 40 whose surface has been processed to be uneven. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B show examples of cross sections of different regions of the image receiving sheet 40.

  When the user inputs image data to the thermal transfer printing system shown in FIG. 1, the image processing unit 61 performs image data resizing processing to generate a preview image. The display processing unit 62 displays the preview image on the touch panel 10A. The user operates the touch panel 10A to select an image to be printed and the number of prints, or to select whether or not to perform the uneven processing as described above, and to make a print order.

  The processing area designating unit 63 accepts a pattern of uneven processing and designation of an area to be processed from the user. For example, the thermal transfer printing system prepares a plurality of types of patterns (patterns) for concavo-convex processing such as “wood grain”, “checkered pattern”, “Glen check”, “Sugaya”. The user operates the touch panel 10A to specify the pattern type and the region for processing the concavo-convex pattern.

  For example, after the user selects the print image shown in FIG. 11A, the user performs the uneven processing on the entire image and specifies the pattern of the uneven processing as shown in FIG. 11B. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11C, the user may specify that a convex portion or a concave / convex pattern is provided along the contour of the object in the image.

  In addition, the image processing unit 61 may automatically extract a person area (or object area) in an image and process a concavo-convex pattern in the extraction area, or may provide a convex part or a concavo-convex pattern in the outline part of the extraction area. It may be possible to specify.

  The image processing unit 61 may convert the input image into a painting style (oil painting style, watercolor style), and the converted image may be printed on the image receiving sheet 40 on which the unevenness processing is performed.

  The order receiving unit 64 receives a print order and performs charging processing using the charging unit 12.

  The print control unit 65 outputs image data, information on the uneven processing pattern and information on the processing area to the thermal transfer printing apparatus 13. The thermal transfer printing apparatus 13 performs uneven processing on the surface of the image receiving sheet 40 by the above-described printing process, and forms an image on the uneven surface. The thermal transfer printing system is capable of producing a printed material with a different texture such as appearance and tactile sensation compared to the case where an image is formed on an image receiving sheet having a smooth surface. Can provide fun.

  A plurality of transfer layers 31 and dye layers 32 may be used, and transfer and image formation of the transfer layer 31 may be repeated a plurality of times on the same screen of the image receiving sheet 40. For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, the transfer layer 31A is transferred onto the image receiving sheet 40. Next, the dye of the dye layer 32 is transferred to the image receiving sheet 40 and the transfer layer 31A to form an image 50A as shown in FIG.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 12C, the transfer layer 31 </ b> B is transferred onto the image receiving sheet 40. The transfer layer 31B may be transferred onto the receiving layer 42, or may be transferred onto the transfer layer 31A that has already been transferred. Next, the dye of the dye layer 32 is transferred to the image receiving sheet 40 and the transfer layer 31B to form an image 50B as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, the transfer layer 31B may be provided so as to overlap a part of the transfer layer 31A.

  As described above, by repeatedly performing the transfer of the transfer layer 31 and the image formation a plurality of times, it is possible to produce a printed matter on which an image having a three-dimensional depth is formed.

  After the dye is transferred from the dye layer 32 to the image receiving sheet 40 to form an image, the transfer layer 31 may be transferred. For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, the dye of the dye layer 32 is transferred to the image receiving sheet 40 to form an image 50. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 14B, the transfer layer 31 is transferred onto the image receiving sheet 40. Even with such a method, it is possible to produce a printed material having a roughened surface.

  In the above embodiment, the example using the thermal transfer sheet 30 in which the transfer layer 31 and the dye layer 32 are repeatedly provided in the surface order has been described, but the first thermal transfer sheet provided with the transfer layer 31 and the dye layer 32 are provided. A second thermal transfer sheet may be used. In this case, the thermal transfer printing apparatus includes a first supply unit that feeds out the first thermal transfer sheet, a first thermal head (first heating unit) that heats the first thermal transfer sheet and transfers the transfer layer 31 to the image receiving sheet 40, a first A first recovery unit that recovers the thermal transfer sheet, a second supply unit that feeds the second thermal transfer sheet, and a second thermal head that heats the second thermal transfer sheet to transfer Y, M, and C to the image receiving sheet 40 to form an image. (Second heating unit) and a second recovery unit that recovers the second thermal transfer sheet.

  Next, materials constituting the thermal transfer sheet 30 will be described.

[Base film]
The base film 35 used for the thermal transfer sheet 30 may be any as long as it has a certain degree of heat resistance and strength. For example, polyethylene terephthalate film, 1,4-polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate film, polyethylene naphthalate film, polyphenylene sulfide film, polystyrene film, polypropylene film, polysulfone film, aramid film, polycarbonate film, polyvinyl alcohol film, cellophane, acetic acid Examples thereof include cellulose derivatives such as cellulose, resin films such as polyethylene film, polyvinyl chloride film, nylon film, polyimide film, and ionomer film. Moreover, it is also possible to apply and form a primer layer (adhesion layer) between the base film and the back layer. The primer layer is, for example, a polyester resin, a polyacrylate resin, a polyvinyl acetate resin, a polyurethane resin, a styrene acrylate resin, a polyacrylamide resin, a polyamide resin, a polyether resin, a polystyrene resin, Polyethylene resins, polypropylene resins, polyvinyl chloride resins, polyvinyl alcohol resins, polyvinyl resins such as polyvinylidene chloride resins, polyvinyl acetal resins such as polyvinyl acetoacetal and polyvinyl butyral, cellulose resins, etc. Can do.

[Dye layer]
The dye layer 32 preferably uses a material in which a sublimable dye is melted or dispersed in a binder resin. Examples of sublimation dyes include diarylmethane dyes; triarylmethane dyes; thiazole dyes; merocyanine dyes; pyrazolone dyes; methine dyes; indoaniline dyes; Azomethine dyes such as azomethine and pyridone azomethine; xanthene dyes; oxazine dyes; cyanostyrene dyes such as dicyanostyrene and tricyanostyrene; thiazine dyes; azine dyes; acridine dyes; benzeneazo dyes; Azo dyes such as azo, isothiazole azo, pyrrole azo, pyrazole azo, imidazole azo, thiadiazole azo, triazole azo, disazo; spiropyran dyes; indolinospiropyran dyes ; Fluoran dyes; rhodamine lactam dyes; naphthoquinone dyes; anthraquinone dyes; quinophthalone dyes; and the like.

  The dye layer 32 may use additives such as a release agent, inorganic fine particles, and organic fine particles. Examples of the mold release agent include silicone oil and phosphate ester. Inorganic fine particles include carbon black, aluminum, molybdenum disulfide and the like. Examples of the organic fine particles include polyethylene wax.

[Back layer]
The back surface layer 36 is provided on the back surface of the base film in order to improve heat resistance and running performance of the thermal head during printing.

  The back layer 36 can be formed by appropriately selecting a thermoplastic resin or the like. As such a thermoplastic resin, for example, polyester resins, polyacrylate resins, polyvinyl acetate resins, styrene acrylate resins, polyurethane resins, polyethylene resins, polypropylene resins, and other polyolefin resins, Polystyrene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyether resin, polyamide resin, polyimide resin, polyamideimide resin, polycarbonate resin, polyacrylamide resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, polyvinyl acetoacetal resin, etc. Examples thereof include thermoplastic resins such as polyvinyl acetal resin, and silicone modified products thereof.

  In addition to the above thermoplastic resin, the back layer 36 has a wax, a higher fatty acid amide, a phosphoric ester compound, a metal soap, a silicone oil, a surfactant and other release agents for the purpose of improving slip properties, fluorine Organic particles such as a resin can be contained. In addition, inorganic particles such as talc, silica, clay and calcium carbonate may be added to the back layer.

[Peeling layer]
Examples of components of the release layer 37 include waxes, silicone waxes, silicone resins, silicone-modified resins, fluorine resins, fluorine-modified resins, polyvinyl alcohol resins, acrylic resins, polyester resins, thermally crosslinkable epoxy-amino resins, and A heat-crosslinkable alkyd-amino resin etc. can be mentioned. Moreover, the peeling layer 37 may contain 1 type of these components independently, and may contain 2 or more types. Although there is no limitation in particular about the thickness of the peeling layer 37, as an example, it is the range of 0.5 micrometer or more and 5 micrometers or less.

[Receptive layer]
The receiving layer 38 is not particularly limited. Examples of the component of the receiving layer 38 include polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, halogenated resins such as polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. Or a vinyl resin such as polyacrylic acid ester, a polyester resin such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate, a polystyrene resin, a polyamide resin, a copolymer of olefin such as ethylene or propylene, other vinyl polymer, ionomer or Examples thereof include cellulose resins such as cellulose diastase, and solvent resins such as polycarbonate and acrylic resins. Among them, it is preferable to use a polyester resin and a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, and it is more preferable to use a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer. Moreover, the receiving layer 38 may contain 1 type of these components independently, and may contain 2 or more types.

  Moreover, the receiving layer 38 may contain a mold release agent together with the resin component. Examples of the release agent include solid waxes such as polyethylene wax, amide wax, and Teflon (registered trademark) powder, fluorine or phosphate surfactant, silicone oil, reactive silicone oil, and curable silicone oil. And various modified silicone oils, and various silicone resins.

  Although there is no limitation in particular about the thickness of the receiving layer 38, it is the range of 1 micrometer or more and 10 micrometers or less as an example.

[Adhesive layer]
Examples of components of the adhesive layer 39 include acrylic resins, vinyl chloride resins, vinyl acetate resins, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, styrene-acrylic copolymers, polyester resins, polyamide resins, and the like. be able to. Although there is no limitation in particular about the thickness of the contact bonding layer 39, Usually, it exists in the range of 0.1 micrometer or more and 5 micrometers or less.

  Next, materials constituting the image receiving sheet 40 will be described.

[Base material sheet]
The substrate sheet 41 is not particularly limited as long as it supports the receiving layer 42 and other layers provided as necessary and can withstand the heating during thermal transfer. For example, highly heat-resistant polyolefins such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, polyester, polypropylene, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, polyethylene derivatives, polyamide, polymethylpentene and other plastic stretched or unstretched films, and these synthetic resins are white White opaque films formed by adding pigments and fillers can also be used. In addition, materials such as high-quality paper, coated paper, art paper, cast coated paper, and paperboard can also be used. Moreover, the composite film which laminated | stacked 2 or more types of these materials can also be used. Examples of typical laminates include cellulose fiber paper and synthetic paper or cellulose synthetic paper, plastic film, and synthetic paper.

  The thickness of the base sheet 41 can be appropriately selected according to the material so that the strength, heat resistance and the like are appropriate, but are usually 1 μm or more and 300 μm or less, and preferably about 60 μm or more and 200 μm or less.

[Receptive layer]
The receiving layer 42 is for receiving the dye transferred from the thermal transfer sheet 30 and maintaining the formed image. As the resin for forming the receiving layer 42, polycarbonate resin, polyester resin, polyamide resin, acrylic resin, cellulose resin, polysulfone resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, vinyl chloride- Examples thereof include a vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyvinyl acetal resin, a polyvinyl butyral resin, a polyurethane resin, a polystyrene resin, a polypropylene resin, a polyethylene resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and an epoxy resin. The resin for forming the receiving layer 42 may be a so-called solvent system or an aqueous system.

[Back layer]
The back surface layer 43 includes a binder resin and fluorine resin fine particles, and may further include polyamide resin fine particles. Examples of the binder resin include polyvinyl butyral resin, polyvinyl acetal resin, and acrylic resin, and it is preferable to use polyvinyl butyral resin. Examples of the fluororesin fine particles include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fine particles, polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) fine particles, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fine particles, and polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) fine particles. PTFE It is preferable to use fine particles. By adding the fluorine resin fine particles to the back surface layer 43, the frictional force can be reduced and the dispersibility can be improved.

  Although there is no limitation in particular about the thickness of the back surface layer 43, it is preferable that they are 0.5 micrometer or more and 10 micrometers or less, and it is especially preferable that they are 0.5 micrometer or more and 5 micrometers or less.

  The above description is an example of the present invention, and the present invention may take other forms.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Opening / closing door 10A, 10B Touch panel 11 Data input part 12 Charge part 13 Thermal transfer printing apparatus 14 CPU
15 Disk device 16 Main memory 21 Thermal head (heating unit)
22 Platen Roll 30 Thermal Transfer Sheet 31 Transfer Layer 32 Dye Layer 37 Release Layer 38 Receptive Layer 39 Adhesive Layer 40 Image Receiving Sheet 50 Image 61 Image Processing Unit 62 Display Processing Unit 63 Processing Area Designating Unit 64 Order Accepting Unit 65 Print Control Unit

Claims (7)

A supply unit for supplying a thermal transfer sheet provided with a transfer layer including a receiving layer and a dye layer;
The transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet supplied from the supply unit is heated, the transfer layer is transferred onto the image receiving sheet, the surface of the image receiving sheet is roughened, the dye layer is heated, and the image receiving sheet is heated. And a heating unit that forms an image by transferring dye to the transferred transfer layer;
A thermal transfer printing apparatus comprising:   The heating unit transfers the first transfer layer of the thermal transfer sheet onto the image receiving sheet, heats the first dye layer, and transfers the dye to the image receiving sheet and the first transfer layer to form a first image. And transferring the second transfer layer onto the first image of the image receiving sheet and heating the second dye layer to transfer the dye to the second transfer layer to form a second image. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1. The thermal transfer sheet includes a first thermal transfer sheet provided with the transfer layer and a second thermal transfer sheet provided with the dye layer,
The supply unit includes a first supply unit that supplies the first thermal transfer sheet, and a second supply unit that supplies the second thermal transfer sheet,
The heating unit heats the first thermal transfer sheet to transfer the transfer layer onto the image receiving sheet, and heats the second thermal transfer sheet to transfer the image receiving sheet and the transferred transfer layer. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second heating unit that forms an image by transferring the dye onto the thermal transfer printing apparatus. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An input unit for receiving input of image data;
A display for displaying the input image;
A processing area designating unit that accepts designation of a processing area to be subjected to uneven processing on the input image;
A print control unit for outputting information about the image data and the designated processing area to the thermal transfer printing apparatus;
Thermal transfer printing system equipped with.   The thermal transfer printing system according to claim 4, wherein the processing area specifying unit further receives specification of a pattern for uneven processing. An image processing unit for extracting an object region in the input image;
The thermal transfer printing system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the extracted object region or a contour portion of the object region is used as a processing region. Heating the transfer layer of a thermal transfer sheet provided with a transfer layer including a receiving layer and a dye layer, transferring the transfer layer onto the image receiving sheet, and subjecting the surface of the image receiving sheet to uneven processing;
Heating the dye layer and transferring the dye to the image receiving sheet and the transferred transfer layer to form an image;
A thermal transfer printing method comprising:

Images