JP2019188730A - Thermal transfer printing device, manufacturing method for printed matter, and intermediate transfer medium - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a thermal transfer printing device, a manufacturing method for a printed matter, and an intermediate transfer medium used in the thermal transfer printing device which can form an image of an arbitrary size on a transfer medium irrespective of sizes of a thermal transfer sheet and a thermal head or the like.SOLUTION: A thermal transfer printing device includes: a first supply part which supplies an intermediate transfer medium 10 which has a transfer layer formed on one surface of a support body and arranged so as to be peeled from the support body; a second supply part which supplies a thermal transfer sheet having a coloring material layer on one surface of a base material; a printing part 50 which heats the thermal transfer sheet based on image data and prints an image by transferring ink on the coloring material layer to the transfer layer; and a transfer part 60 which heats the intermediate transfer medium and transfers the transfer layer with the image printed to the transfer medium. The printing part prints the image of each divided area which is formed by dividing the intermediate transfer medium into a plurality of areas in a transverse direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printing apparatus, a method for producing a printed matter, and an intermediate transfer medium.

  As one of printers for forming a thermal transfer image on an arbitrary object, an intermediate transfer medium having a receiving layer releasably provided on a substrate and a thermal transfer sheet having a color material layer are used. There has been proposed a thermal transfer printer that forms an image by transferring ink from a thermal transfer sheet to a receiving layer, and then transfers a transfer layer including the receiving layer on which the image is formed from an intermediate transfer medium onto a transfer medium.

  In the conventional thermal transfer printer, the size of the image formed on the transfer target is limited by various factors. For example, the size of one side of the image is limited by the width of the heating element of the thermal head that heats the thermal transfer sheet. Also, the size of one side of the image is limited by the width of the thermal transfer sheet. When the width of the heating element of the thermal head is increased, there is a problem that the weight of the apparatus and energy consumption increase. When the width of the thermal transfer sheet is increased, there is a problem that an unused area when a small image is formed is increased and the cost is increased.

  In many cases, detection marks for position detection are provided on the surface (transfer surface) at predetermined intervals on the intermediate transfer medium. In this case, when the detection mark portion is heated, the detection mark is transferred to the transfer target. For this reason, the size of one side of the image formed on the transfer object is limited to the distance between the detection marks or less.

JP 2008-188865 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printing apparatus and a method for producing a printed matter that can form an image of an arbitrary size on a transfer target regardless of the size of a thermal transfer sheet, a thermal head, or the like. Another object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate transfer medium used in a thermal transfer printing apparatus.

  A thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a first supply unit that supplies an intermediate transfer medium having a transfer layer provided on one surface of a support so as to be peelable from the support, and a color material on one surface of a substrate. A second supply unit that supplies a thermal transfer sheet provided with a layer, a printing unit that heats the thermal transfer sheet based on image data, transfers the ink of the color material layer to the transfer layer, and prints an image; A transfer unit that heats the intermediate transfer medium and transfers the transfer layer on which the image has been printed to a transfer target, and the printing unit divides the intermediate transfer medium into a plurality of regions in a short direction. An image is printed for each divided area.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the printing unit prints an image for each divided region obtained by dividing the intermediate transfer medium into a plurality of regions in the longitudinal direction.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the image to be printed in the divided area is a divided image obtained by dividing one image.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the printing section is movable along the short direction of the intermediate transfer medium.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the intermediate transfer medium is provided with a detection mark for detecting a position of a divided area obtained by dividing the intermediate transfer medium into a plurality of areas in the short side direction and the long side direction.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the detection mark includes a plurality of first detection marks extending in the lateral direction and a plurality of second detection marks extending in the longitudinal direction, and the first detection mark and A region surrounded by the second detection marks becomes the divided region.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the detection mark is formed in a dot shape with a predetermined interval in the short side direction and the long side direction of the intermediate transfer medium.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the detection mark is not transferred to the transfer target.

  The method for producing a printed product according to the present invention includes a step of supplying an intermediate transfer medium provided with a transfer layer on one side of a support so as to be peelable from the support, and a color material layer on one side of the substrate. A step of supplying a thermal transfer sheet provided with: a step of heating the thermal transfer sheet based on image data, transferring an ink of the color material layer to the transfer layer, and printing an image; Heating and transferring the transfer layer on which the image has been printed onto a transfer medium to produce a printed material, and for each divided region obtained by dividing the intermediate transfer medium into a plurality of regions in the short direction. It prints an image.

  An intermediate transfer medium according to the present invention is an intermediate transfer medium in which a transfer layer is provided on one surface of a support so as to be peelable from the support, and the intermediate transfer medium includes a plurality of intermediate transfer media in a short side direction and a long side direction. A detection mark for detecting the position of the divided region divided into regions is provided in a layer different from the transfer layer, and the detection mark includes a plurality of first detection marks extending in the lateral direction, A plurality of second detection marks extending in the longitudinal direction.

  An intermediate transfer medium according to the present invention is an intermediate transfer medium in which a transfer layer is provided on one surface of a support so as to be peelable from the support, and the intermediate transfer medium includes a plurality of intermediate transfer media in a short side direction and a long side direction. Detection marks for detecting the positions of the divided areas divided into areas are provided in a layer different from the transfer layer, and the detection marks are spaced at a predetermined interval in the short and long directions of the intermediate transfer medium. It is formed in the form of a dot.

  According to the present invention, an image of an arbitrary size can be formed on a transfer target regardless of the size of a thermal transfer sheet, a thermal head, or the like.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of an intermediate transfer medium. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a top view of a thermal transfer sheet. It is the VV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of a printing part. (A)-(c) is a figure explaining the image printing method. FIG. 10 is a plan view of an intermediate transfer medium according to a modification. It is a figure explaining an example of the heating method by a heat roller. It is a figure explaining an example of the heating method by a heat roller.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal transfer printing apparatus uses a thermal transfer sheet 20 to print an image on a receiving layer 13 (see FIG. 3) provided on the intermediate transfer medium 10, and the intermediate transfer medium 10. A transfer unit 60 that transfers the transfer layer 14 (see FIG. 3) onto the transfer target 40 and a control unit 30 that controls the operation of each unit are provided. In the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer medium 10 having a width wider than that of the thermal transfer sheet 20 is used, and an image is formed on the transfer target 40 having a width wider than that of the thermal transfer sheet 20.

  2 is a plan view of the intermediate transfer medium 10, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. The intermediate transfer medium 10 includes a support 11 and a transfer layer 14 provided on one surface of the support 11. The transfer layer 14 has a laminated structure including a peeling layer 12 provided on the support 11 and a receiving layer 13 laminated on the peeling layer 12. The receiving layer 13 is located on the outermost surface of the intermediate transfer medium 10, and is located farthest from the support 11 among the layers constituting the transfer layer 14. Ink is thermally transferred to the receiving layer 13 to print an image. After image printing, the area including the image of the transfer layer 14 is transferred onto the transfer target 40.

  On the intermediate transfer medium 10, a plurality of detection marks 15 a extending in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate transfer medium 10 and a plurality of detection marks 15 b extending in the width direction (short direction) of the intermediate transfer medium 10 are formed at predetermined intervals. Has been. The detection mark 15a and the detection mark 15b are orthogonal to each other, and each region surrounded by the detection marks 15a and 15b is a transfer block TB to be described later.

  The detection marks 15 a and 15 b are different from the transfer layer 14, for example, on the support 11, the support 11, a release layer arbitrarily provided between the support 11 and the transfer layer 14, and the transfer of the support 11. The layer 14 is formed on the surface where the layer 14 is not provided, and is not transferred to the transfer target 40.

  4 is a plan view of the thermal transfer sheet 20, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the thermal transfer sheet 20 includes a base material 21, a yellow (Y) layer 22, a magenta (M) layer 23, and a cyan (C) layer provided on the same surface of the base material 21. 24 and a molten layer 26 of black (BK). A set of a color material layer 27 composed of a dye layer 25 and a melt layer 26 is repeatedly provided.

  There is no limitation in particular about the base material 21, For example, the extending | stretching or unstretched film of a plastic can be used.

  The dye layer 25 contains a dye and a binder resin for supporting the dye. As the dye and binder resin, those conventionally known in the field of sublimation thermal transfer can be appropriately selected and used.

  The molten layer 26 may be any layer that satisfies the condition that it is melted and softened by heating and can be transferred onto the transfer layer 14, and includes, for example, a hot-melt ink and a binder resin. The molten layer 26 may be omitted.

  The configuration of the thermal transfer sheet 20 is not limited to that shown in FIGS. For example, a back layer (not shown) may be provided on the surface of the thermal transfer sheet 20 opposite to the surface on which the color material layer is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the supply unit 70 (first supply unit) of the thermal transfer printing apparatus is loaded with a winding obtained by winding the intermediate transfer medium 10 in a ribbon shape. The supply unit 70 rotates the winding of the intermediate transfer medium 10 and sequentially conveys the intermediate transfer medium 10 to the printing unit 50 and the transfer unit 60 in a long band shape.

  The printing unit 50 includes a thermal head 53, a platen roll 54 that is rotatably provided on the lower side of the thermal head 53, and lifting means (not shown) that allows the thermal head 53 to move up and down with respect to the platen roll 54. Have. The intermediate transfer medium 10 supplied from the supply unit 70 passes between the thermal head 53 and the platen roll 54.

  In the printing unit 50, the thermal transfer sheet 20 passes from the supply roll 51 (second supply unit) side through the guide roll 55, passes between the thermal head 53 and the platen roll 54, and passes through the guide roll 56. It is designed to be wound around a winding roll 52. Between the thermal head 53 and the platen roll 54, the dye layer 25 and the molten layer 26 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 and the receiving layer 13 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 are opposed to each other.

  The thermal head 53 heats the dye layer 25 from the substrate 21 side of the thermal transfer sheet 20 and transfers the dye to the receiving layer 13 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 to form an image. Further, the thermal head 53 heats the molten layer 26 from the base material 21 side of the thermal transfer sheet 20 and transfers hot-melt ink or the like to the receiving layer 13 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 to form an image (character).

  In the image printing process, first, the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the Y layer 22 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 are aligned, and the thermal head 53 is lowered toward the platen roll 54, via the thermal transfer sheet 20 and the intermediate transfer medium 10. The thermal head 53 comes into contact with the platen roll 54. The winding portion 71 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the winding roll 52 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 are rotationally driven, and the thermal transfer sheet 20 and the intermediate transfer medium 10 are fed. During this time, the area of the Y layer 22 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 is selectively heated by the thermal head 53 based on the image data transmitted to the thermal head 53, and the yellow dye moves from the thermal transfer sheet 20 to the receiving layer 13.

  After the yellow transfer, the thermal head 53 rises and leaves the platen roll 54. Next, the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the M layer 23 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 are aligned. Then, in the same manner as the method of transferring the yellow dye to the receiving layer 13, the M layer 23 and the C layer 24 are heated, and the magenta dye and the cyan dye are sequentially transferred to the receiving layer 13.

  Subsequently, the thermal head 53 rises and leaves the platen roll 54. Next, the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the molten layer 26 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 are aligned. The thermal head 53 descends toward the platen roll 54, and the thermal head 53 comes into contact with the platen roll 54 through the thermal transfer sheet 20 and the intermediate transfer medium 10. The winding portion 71 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the winding roll 52 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 are rotationally driven, and the thermal transfer sheet 20 and the intermediate transfer medium 10 are fed. During this time, based on the image data transmitted to the thermal head 53, the area of the molten layer 26 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 is selectively heated by the thermal head 53. As a result, an image is printed on the intermediate transfer medium 10.

  In the present embodiment, the thermal transfer sheet 20 is sized so that an image can be printed on one transfer block TB by one printing process. As shown in FIG. 6, the printing unit 50 including the thermal head 53 and the platen roll 54 is movable in the width direction of the thermal transfer sheet 20 (intermediate transfer medium 10), and is positioned using the detection marks 15a and 15b. The images can be continuously printed on the adjacent transfer block TB. For example, the width of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is n times the width of the thermal transfer sheet 20 (color material layer 25) (n is an integer of 2 or more). Along with the movement of the printing unit 50, the conveyance roller R that conveys the intermediate transfer medium 10 also moves. The conveyance roller R is preferably about the same width as the thermal head 53. The conveyance roller R may have the same width as the intermediate transfer medium 10 so that the movement is not necessary.

  By combining the movement of the printing unit 50 and the conveyance of the intermediate transfer medium 10, for example, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, divided images obtained by dividing a large image are transferred to transfer blocks TB1, TB2, TB3,. .. Print in order on TB11 and TB12. The divided images are also printed on the detection marks 15a and 15b. The divided images printed on each transfer block TB are connected, and a large-size image G that cannot be printed by one printing process can be printed on the intermediate transfer medium 10. In the example shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the width of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is about four times the width of the thermal transfer sheet 20 (coloring material layer 25), and four in the width direction of the intermediate transfer medium 10. The transfer block is provided.

  For example, the control unit 30 divides the image G into a plurality of meshes based on the size of the transfer block TB and the number of transfer blocks TB, and sequentially transfers the divided image data to the thermal head 53 to control the printing process. .

  Note that the control unit 30 may set the print position of the divided image in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate transfer medium 10 so that the number of transfer blocks TB for printing the divided image (the number of transfer blocks TB to be used) is reduced. preferable.

  The intermediate transfer medium 10 on which images are printed on the receiving layers 13 of the plurality of transfer blocks TB in the printing unit 50 is conveyed to the transfer unit 60 via the guide roll 72.

  The transfer unit 60 includes a heat roller 61 and a pressure roll 62 provided below the heat roller 61. The transfer unit 60 transfers the transfer layer 14 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 to the transfer target 40 supplied from the transfer target supply unit 42 (third supply unit). The heat roller 61, the pressure roll 62, and the transfer target 40 have a size corresponding to the width of the intermediate transfer medium 10.

  The transferred material supply unit 42 includes a feeding device that feeds the sheet-like transferred material 40 one by one in accordance with the conveyance of the intermediate transfer medium 10, and a conveyor device that conveys the fed transferred material 40.

  The transferred material 40 is, for example, a card base material made of a synthetic resin such as polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyimide, polycellulose diacetate, polycellulose triacetate, polystyrene, acrylic resin, polypropylene, or polyethylene. is there.

  The transfer unit 60 heats the receiving layer 13 surfaces of the plurality of transfer blocks TB of the intermediate transfer medium 10 on which the image has been printed on the transfer target body 40 between the heat roller 61 and the pressure roll 62. As a result, the transfer layer 14 is peeled off from the support 11 and transferred to the transfer target 40, and an image is formed on the transfer target 40. The detection marks 15 a and 15 b are not transferred to the transfer target 40 and remain on the intermediate transfer medium 10. The intermediate transfer medium 10 after the transfer layer 14 is transferred is wound around the winding unit 71 and collected.

  In this embodiment, the thermal transfer sheet 20 and the thermal head 53 having a small size (width) are used, alignment is performed based on the lattice-like detection marks 15a and 15b, and the intermediate transfer medium 10 is divided into a plurality of regions. Images are printed in units of areas (transfer blocks). A divided image obtained by dividing a large image is printed on each transfer block. As a result, it is possible to print a large image on the intermediate transfer medium 10 that cannot be printed by a single printing process using the small thermal transfer sheet 20 and the thermal head 53. A large-size image is transferred from the intermediate transfer medium 10 to the transfer target 40. By changing the number of transfer blocks used for image printing, the size of the image formed on the transfer target 40 can be easily changed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, an image having an arbitrary size can be formed on the transfer target 40 regardless of the size of the thermal transfer sheet 20 or the thermal head 53.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the printing unit 50 and the thermal transfer sheet 20 are movable with respect to the intermediate transfer medium 10 has been described. However, the intermediate transfer medium 10 is moved by fixing the positions of the printing unit 50 and the thermal transfer sheet 20. May be.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the lattice-like detection marks 15a and 15b are formed on the intermediate transfer medium 10 has been described. However, the detection mark is not limited as long as it can detect the position of each transfer block TB. Not. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of detection marks 15c and 15d may be formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction and the short direction of the intermediate transfer medium 10, respectively. The detection marks 15c and 15d can also indicate the position of the transfer block obtained by dividing (dividing) the intermediate transfer medium 10 into a plurality of parts in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction.

  Further, the detection mark may not be linear but may be a point. For example, a plurality of detection marks may be formed in a dot shape at predetermined intervals in each of the longitudinal direction and the short direction of the intermediate transfer medium 10. For example, a dot-shaped detection mark corresponds to the apex of the transfer block TB.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the transfer layer 14 in the entire width direction of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is transferred to the transfer target 40 has been described. However, the transfer layer 14 of a part of the transfer block TB in the width direction is transferred to the transfer target 40. You may transfer to. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, only a part of the heat roller 61 having a size equal to or larger than the width of the intermediate transfer medium 10 may be heated.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10, a necessary area of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is heated while moving a small-sized heat roller 61A corresponding to the width of one transfer block TB, and an image is printed 1 Alternatively, the transfer layers 14 of a plurality of transfer blocks TB may be transferred to the transfer target 40.

  In the examples shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the size (width) of the transfer target 40 may be smaller than the size (width) of the intermediate transfer medium 10.

  As described above, the intermediate transfer medium 10 has a structure in which the support 11, the release layer 12, and the receiving layer 13 are laminated. The material of the support 11 is not particularly limited, and for example, stretched or unstretched plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and other highly heat-resistant polyester, polypropylene, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, polyethylene derivatives, polyamide, polymethylpentene, etc. A film etc. can be mentioned. Moreover, the composite film which laminated | stacked 2 or more types of these materials can also be used. The thickness of the support 11 can be appropriately selected depending on the material so that the strength, heat resistance, etc. are appropriate, but is usually in the range of 3 μm to 30 μm, preferably in the range of 4 μm to 15 μm. .

  The material of the receiving layer 13 is not particularly limited, and a conventionally known receiving layer can be appropriately selected and used in the field of intermediate transfer media. For example, polyolefin such as polypropylene, halogenated resin such as polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl resin such as polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer or polyacrylic ester, Polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyamide, copolymer of olefin such as ethylene or propylene and other vinyl polymer, cellulose resin such as ionomer or cellulose diastase, solvent-based resin such as polycarbonate and acrylic resin Is mentioned. Moreover, the receiving layer 13 may contain 1 type of these components independently, and may contain 2 or more types.

  The receiving layer 13 may contain a 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 13, as an example, it is the range of 1 micrometer or more and 10 micrometers or less.

  The release layer 12 is for improving transferability (peelability) of the transfer layer 14, and is located closest to the support 11 among the layers constituting the transfer layer 14. Examples of the component of the release layer 12 include waxes, silicone wax, silicone resin, silicone-modified resin, fluorine resin, fluorine-modified resin, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic resin, heat-crosslinkable epoxy-amino resin, and heat-crosslinkable alkyd-amino. Examples thereof include resins. Moreover, the peeling layer 12 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 12, as an example, it is the range of 0.5 micrometer or more and 5 micrometers or less.

  The detection marks 15a and 15b that are not transferred to the transfer target 40 are not particularly limited, but can be formed of, for example, carbon black, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer / vinyl alcohol copolymer, or polyethylene wax.

  The configuration of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is not limited to that shown in FIG. For example, an arbitrary layer such as a protective layer (not shown) may be provided between the release layer 12 and the receiving layer 13. Moreover, it can also be set as the transfer layer 14 by which the protective layer and the receiving layer 13 are laminated | stacked in this order from the support body 11 side. Further, an arbitrary layer may be provided between the support 11 and the transfer layer 14. Further, a back layer (not shown) may be provided on the other surface of the support 11.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Intermediate transfer medium 11 Support body 12 Peeling layer 13 Receiving layer 14 Transfer layer 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d Detection mark 20 Thermal transfer sheet 21 Base material 22 Yellow layer 23 Magenta layer 24 Cyan layer 25 Dye layer 26 Melting layer 27 Color material layer 30 Control part 40 Transfer object 50 Printing part 60 Transfer part

Claims (11)

A first supply unit for supplying an intermediate transfer medium having a transfer layer provided on one surface of the support so as to be peelable from the support;
A second supply unit for supplying a thermal transfer sheet provided with a color material layer on one surface of the substrate;
A print unit that heats the thermal transfer sheet based on image data, transfers the ink of the color material layer to the transfer layer, and prints an image;
A transfer unit that heats the intermediate transfer medium and transfers the transfer layer on which the image is printed to a transfer target;
With
The thermal printing apparatus, wherein the printing unit prints an image for each divided region obtained by dividing the intermediate transfer medium into a plurality of regions in a short direction.   The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit prints an image for each divided region obtained by dividing the intermediate transfer medium into a plurality of regions in the longitudinal direction.   The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image printed in the divided area is a divided image obtained by dividing one image.   4. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit is movable along a short direction of the intermediate transfer medium. 5.   The detection mark for detecting a position of a divided area obtained by dividing the intermediate transfer medium into a plurality of areas in the short side direction and the long side direction is provided on the intermediate transfer medium. 5. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to any one of 4 above. The detection mark has a plurality of first detection marks extending in the lateral direction and a plurality of second detection marks extending in the longitudinal direction,
6. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an area surrounded by the first detection mark and the second detection mark is the divided area.   6. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detection mark is formed in a dot shape with a predetermined interval in a short direction and a long direction of the intermediate transfer medium.   The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detection mark is not transferred to the transfer target. Supplying an intermediate transfer medium provided with a transfer layer on one surface of the support so as to be peelable from the support;
Supplying a thermal transfer sheet provided with a color material layer on one surface of the substrate;
Heating the thermal transfer sheet based on image data, transferring the ink of the color material layer to the transfer layer, and printing an image;
Heating the intermediate transfer medium, transferring the transfer layer on which the image has been printed to a transfer target, and producing a printed matter;
With
An image is printed for each divided area obtained by dividing the intermediate transfer medium into a plurality of areas in the lateral direction. An intermediate transfer medium provided with a transfer layer on one surface of a support so as to be peelable from the support,
A detection mark for detecting the position of a divided region obtained by dividing the intermediate transfer medium into a plurality of regions in the short side direction and the long side direction is provided in a layer different from the transfer layer,
The intermediate transfer medium, wherein the detection mark includes a plurality of first detection marks extending in the lateral direction and a plurality of second detection marks extending in the longitudinal direction. An intermediate transfer medium provided with a transfer layer on one surface of a support so as to be peelable from the support,
A detection mark for detecting the position of a divided region obtained by dividing the intermediate transfer medium into a plurality of regions in the short side direction and the long side direction is provided in a layer different from the transfer layer,
The intermediate transfer medium, wherein the detection mark is formed in a dot shape at a predetermined interval in a short direction and a long direction of the intermediate transfer medium.

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