JP2021146700A - Production method of printed matter and thermal transfer printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printed matter in which a recess is provided on a desired region and which has high three-dimensional feeling.SOLUTION: A production method of a printed matter comprises: a step for holding a thermal transfer sheet comprising a color material layer and a protective layer, and an image reception sheet on which a thermal recess part formation layer and a reception layer are laminated, between a thermal head and a platen roll, heating the thermal transfer sheet by the thermal head, and shifting the color material to the reception layer of the image reception sheet from the thermal transfer sheet for forming an image; a step for heating the thermal transfer sheet by the thermal head, for transferring the protective layer to the image on the image reception sheet from the thermal transfer sheet; and a step for heating the image reception sheet through the protective layer formation region used on the thermal transfer sheet, by the thermal head, for forming the recess part on the image reception sheet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a printed matter and a thermal transfer printing apparatus.

Conventionally, various printing methods have been known, but among them, the sublimation thermal transfer method has excellent density gradation and excellent reproducibility of neutral colors and gradations, and has high quality comparable to silver halide photography. Image formation is possible.

In the sublimation type thermal transfer method, a thermal transfer sheet having a sublimation transfer type color material layer containing a sublimation dye and a thermal transfer image receiving sheet having a receiving layer are superposed, and then the thermal transfer sheet is heated by a thermal head provided in the printer. , The sublimation dye in the sublimation transfer type color material layer is transferred to the receiving layer to form an image, thereby obtaining a printed matter. Further, the protective layer is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet onto the receiving layer of the printed matter produced in this manner to improve the durability of the printed matter.

In recent years, a wide variety of designs are required for the printed matter obtained by the sublimation type thermal transfer method. For example, for the purpose of expressing the rarity of the printed matter, the printed matter having a high three-dimensional effect is required. There is.

Japanese Patent No. 6520364

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a method for producing a printed matter having a high three-dimensional effect by forming a recess in a desired region and a thermal transfer printing apparatus.

In the method for producing a printed matter of the present disclosure, a thermal transfer sheet provided with a coloring material layer and a protective layer and an image receiving sheet on which a heat-sensitive recess forming layer and a receiving layer are laminated are sandwiched between a thermal head and a platen roll. A step of heating the thermal transfer sheet by the thermal head to transfer a color material from the thermal transfer sheet to the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet to form an image, and heating the thermal transfer sheet by the thermal head. The process of transferring the protective layer from the thermal transfer sheet onto the image of the image receiving sheet and the thermal head heat the image receiving sheet through the used protective layer forming region of the thermal transfer sheet to heat the image receiving sheet. It is provided with a step of forming a recess in the surface.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the region where the thermal head heats the used protective layer forming region when forming the recess is described when the protective layer is transferred onto an image formed on the image receiving sheet. The thermal head is smaller than the region that heats the protective layer forming region.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the protective layer is transferred so as to cover the entire surface of the image, the used protective layer forming region is heated in a predetermined pattern, and the recess is formed in a region corresponding to a part of the image. To form.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the energy applied by the thermal head when forming the recess is higher than the energy applied by the thermal head when forming the image.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the printing pressure of the thermal head and the printing portion including the platen roll when forming the recess is higher than the printing pressure of the printing portion when forming the image.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the hologram layer is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet to a region of the image receiving sheet that becomes a relatively convex portion by forming the concave portion.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the thickness of the heat-sensitive cambium is 40 μm or more, and the depth of the recess is 5 μm or more.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the heat-sensitive cambium has at least one of a porous film and a hollow particle-containing layer.

In the thermal transfer printing apparatus of the present disclosure, a thermal transfer sheet provided with a coloring material layer and a protective layer and an image receiving sheet on which a heat-sensitive recess forming layer and a receiving layer are laminated are sandwiched between a thermal head and a platen roll. The thermal transfer sheet is heated by a thermal head to transfer a coloring material from the thermal transfer sheet to the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet to form an image, and the protective layer is placed on the image of the image receiving sheet from the thermal transfer sheet. A printing portion to be transferred is provided, and the thermal head heats the image receiving sheet through a used protective layer forming region of the thermal transfer sheet to form a recess in the image receiving sheet.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the energy applied by the thermal head when forming the recess is higher than the energy applied by the thermal head when forming the image.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to produce a printed matter having a high three-dimensional effect by forming a recess in a desired region.

It is a schematic block diagram of the thermal transfer printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this disclosure. It is a top view of the thermal transfer sheet. It is sectional drawing of the image receiving sheet. It is a schematic diagram explaining the heating region in the protection layer formation region. It is a cross-sectional view of the process of forming a recess in an image receiving sheet. FIG. 6a is a plan view of the printed matter, and FIG. 6b is a sectional view taken along line VIb-VIb of FIG. 6a.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a thermal transfer sheet used in the thermal transfer printing apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an image receiving sheet.

The thermal transfer printing apparatus includes a thermal transfer sheet 5 provided with a yellow dye layer 51 containing a yellow dye, a magenta dye layer 52 containing a magenta dye, a cyan dye layer 53 containing a cyan dye, and a protective layer 54 in a surface-sequential manner. The dye is transferred onto the image receiving sheet 7 to print an image, and the protective layer is transferred onto the printed image. The image to be printed is, for example, a person image such as a face image or characters such as a mark, an address, a name, a greeting card, and a phrase.

A supply unit 3 formed by winding a thermal transfer sheet 5 is provided on the downstream side of the thermal head 1, and a recovery unit 4 is provided on the upstream side of the thermal head 1. The thermal transfer sheet 5 unwound from the supply unit 3 passes through the thermal head 1 and is wound up by the recovery unit 4 for recovery.

A rotatable platen roll 2 is provided on the opposite side of the thermal transfer sheet 5 from the thermal head 1. The printing unit 10 including the thermal head 1 and the platen roll 2 sandwiches the image receiving sheet 7 and the thermal transfer sheet 5, heats the thermal transfer sheet 5, and transfers the dye onto the image receiving sheet 7 to form an image.

The thermal transfer sheet 5 is formed on one surface of the base sheet (base sheet 50 in FIG. 5, which will be described later), from the recovery unit 4 side, from the yellow dye layer 51, the magenta dye layer 52, the cyan dye layer 53, and the protective layer 54. Are formed in sequence. For the yellow dye layer 51, the magenta dye layer 52, and the cyan dye layer 53, it is preferable to use a material in which a sublimation dye is melted or dispersed in a binder resin. A release layer may be provided on the base sheet (between the base sheet and the protective layer 54).

It is preferable to use a transparent resin material having adhesiveness, light resistance and the like for the protective layer 54. For example, (meth) acrylic resin, styrene resin, vinyl resin, polyolefin, polyester, polyamide, imide resin, cellulose resin, thermosetting resin, active photocurable resin and the like can be mentioned. The "active light-curable resin" means a resin in a state in which the active light-curable resin is irradiated with active light and cured. “Active light” means radiation that chemically acts on an active light-curable resin to promote polymerization, and specifically, visible light, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, electron rays, α rays, and β rays. It means line, γ-ray, etc.

The thickness of the protective layer 54 is preferably 0.1 μm or more and 10 μm or less, and more preferably 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less. Thereby, the scratch resistance and storage stability of the image can be improved.

As the base sheet of the thermal transfer sheet 5, a conventionally known base sheet having a certain degree of heat resistance and strength can be used. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) film, polystyrene (PS) film, polypropylene (PP) film, polycarbonate film and the like can be mentioned. The thickness of the base sheet is, for example, 0.5 μm or more and 50 μm or less, preferably 2 μm or more and 10 μm or less.

Materials for the release layer on the base sheet include waxes, silicone wax, silicone resin, silicone-modified resin, fluororesin, fluorine-modified resin, polyvinyl alcohol, acrylic resin, heat-crossable epoxy-amino resin, and heat-crossable. Alkid-amino resin and the like can be exemplified. The thickness of the release layer is generally 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less.

The thermal transfer sheet 5 is provided with a color material layer containing a color material such as a pigment or carbon black in a surface-sequential manner with a yellow dye layer 51, a magenta dye layer 52, and a cyan dye layer 53, which are dye layers for sublimation transfer. You may. Further, the hologram transfer layer may be provided on the thermal transfer sheet 5.

On the upstream side of the thermal head 1, a rotationally driveable capstan roller 9a for transporting the image receiving sheet 7 and a pinch roller 9b for crimping the image receiving sheet 7 to the capstan roller 9a are provided.

The image receiving sheet 7 is unwound from the image receiving sheet roll 6 around which the image receiving sheet 7 is wound. The image receiving sheet roll 6 is attached to a winding shaft component (not shown), and when the winding shaft component is rotated (forward / reverse rotation), the image receiving sheet roll 6 rotates and the image receiving sheet 7 is extended (transported to the downstream side). And winding (transportation to the upstream side) are performed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image receiving sheet 7 includes a base material 71, a heat-sensitive recess forming layer 72, and a receiving layer 73, which are laminated in this order. The heat-sensitive recess forming layer 72 may have a multi-layer structure. The image receiving sheet 7 is provided with an arbitrary layer such as an adhesive layer between arbitrary layers, for example, between the base material 71 and the heat-sensitive recess forming layer 72, or between each layer constituting the heat-sensitive recess forming layer 72 having a multi-layer structure. You may. Further, a primer layer may be provided between the heat-sensitive recess forming layer 72 and the receiving layer 73.

The image receiving sheet 7 has a recess formed by heating a part of the image receiving sheet 7 from the receiving layer 73 side by the thermal head 1. The depth of the recess (depth h in FIG. 5) is preferably 5 μm or more.

The control device 14 controls the driving of each part of the thermal transfer printing device, and performs the printing process and the recess forming process. In the printing process, first, the image receiving sheet 7 and the yellow dye layer 51 are aligned, and the thermal head 1 comes into contact with the platen roll 2 via the image receiving sheet 7 and the thermal transfer sheet 5. Next, the capstan roller 9a and the recovery unit 4 are rotationally driven, and the image receiving sheet 7 and the thermal transfer sheet 5 are sent to the upstream side. During this time, the region of the yellow dye layer 51 is selectively and sequentially heated by the thermal head 1 based on the image data, and the yellow dye is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet 5 to the image receiving sheet 7.

After the transfer of the yellow dye, the thermal head 1 rises and separates from the platen roll 2. Next, the image receiving sheet 7 and the magenta dye layer 52 are aligned. Similar to the method of sublimation transfer of the yellow dye, the magenta dye and the cyan dye are sequentially transferred onto the image receiving sheet 7, and an image for one screen is formed on the image receiving sheet 7. Next, the thermal head 1 transfers the protective layer 54 over the entire surface of the image.

Next, a recess forming process is performed. In the recess forming process, the thermal head 1 applies higher applied energy than during the printing process (image formation and protective layer transfer) to heat the image receiving sheet 7 to form a recess in the image receiving sheet 7. For example, the applied energy during the printing process is about 0.1 (mJ / dot), and the applied energy during the recess forming process is greater than 1 times and 5 times or less, preferably 2 times or more and 3 times the applied energy during the printing process. It is less than double.

During the recess forming process, the used protective layer forming region of the thermal transfer sheet 5 after the protective layer is transferred onto the image is arranged between the thermal head 1 and the image receiving sheet 7. In the used protective layer forming region, the base sheet 50 of the thermal transfer sheet 5 (the release layer when the release layer is provided) is exposed. That is, during the recess forming process, heat energy is applied to the image receiving sheet 7 from the thermal head 1 via the base sheet 50 (and the release layer).

As shown in FIG. 4, the region R2 that heats the used protective layer forming region during the recess forming treatment is the protective layer forming region that was heated when the protective layer was transferred (the region R1 to which the protective layer 54 was transferred, in other words, the base. It is preferable that the material sheet 50 is slightly smaller than the exposed area). For example, the region R2 is made smaller than the region R1 by about 5 mm in circumference. As a result, the image receiving sheet 7 can be efficiently heated during the recess forming process.

As shown in FIG. 5, by heating the image receiving sheet 7 based on the predetermined pattern data via the base sheet 50 of the thermal transfer sheet 5, the heated portion of the heat-sensitive cambium 12 is dented and heat-sensitive. The receiving layer 73 and the protective layer 54 provided on the recess forming layer 12 are also recessed accordingly, and the recess A is formed on the surface.

The image receiving sheet 7 on which the recess A is formed is cut at the rear edge of the screen by a cutter 8 (see FIG. 1) provided on the downstream side to produce a printed matter. By adjusting the concave portion forming region in the image receiving sheet 7, it is possible to give a three-dimensional effect to the printed matter and improve the design. For example, by forming a recess on the receiving layer 73 in a region other than the image region such as a shape or pattern of characters, figures, etc., it is possible to give a three-dimensional effect to these images.

As shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b, by forming the recesses A at a plurality of locations, a convex portion representing a pattern, characters, or the like can be formed on the printed matter P. When the hologram transfer layer is provided on the thermal transfer sheet 5, the design of the printed matter can be further improved by transferring the hologram layer on the convex portion.

The recess A may be formed before the protective layer is transferred to the image receiving sheet 7. In this case, after the image is formed, heat energy is applied from the thermal head 1 to the image receiving sheet 7 through the used protective layer forming region where the protective layer transferred to the previously produced print is provided to form the recess A. Form. After forming the recess A, the protective layer is transferred.

In the recess forming process, the pressure (printing pressure) of the thermal head 1 on the image receiving sheet 7 may be higher than that in the printing process. The pressure applied from the platen roll 2 to the thermal head 1 may be variable.

Next, each layer included in the image receiving sheet 7 in which the recesses are formed by heating will be described.

(Base material)
Examples of the base material include condenser paper, glassin paper, sulfate paper, synthetic paper, high-quality paper, art paper, coated paper, non-coated paper, cast-coated paper, wallpaper, cellulose fiber paper, synthetic resin inner paper, backing paper, and the like. Paper substrates such as impregnated paper (synthetic resin impregnated paper, emulsion impregnated paper, synthetic rubber latex impregnated paper) and polyolefins such as PET, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), PEN, polyethylene (PE), PP and polymethylpentene, poly Vinyl resins such as vinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, (meth) acrylic resins such as polyacrylate, polymethacrylate and polymethylmethacrylate, styrene resins such as PS, polycarbonate, and ionomers. Examples thereof include a film made of resin or the like (hereinafter, simply referred to as “resin film”).

When the base material is a resin film, the resin film may be a stretched film or an unstretched film, but from the viewpoint of mechanical strength, the resin film is stretched in the uniaxial direction or the biaxial direction. It is preferable to use a stretched film.

In the present disclosure, "(meth) acrylic" includes both "acrylic" and "methacryl". Further, "(meth) acrylate" includes both "acrylate" and "methacrylate".

The above-mentioned paper base material or resin film laminate can also be used as the base material. The laminate can be produced by using a dry lamination method, a wet lamination method, an extraction method, or the like.

From the viewpoint of mechanical strength, the thickness of the base material is preferably 50 μm or more and 500 μm or less, more preferably 75 μm or more and 500 μm or less, and further preferably 100 μm or more and 500 μm or less.

(Heat-sensitive cambium)
The image receiving sheet of the present disclosure includes a heat-sensitive recess forming layer having a thickness of 40 μm or more. By heating the image receiving sheet of the present disclosure from the receiving layer side under high temperature conditions with a thermal head, recesses are formed in the heat-sensitive cambium, and a high three-dimensional effect can be imparted to the printed matter to be manufactured. Specifically, by forming a concave portion in the heat-sensitive concave portion forming layer, a region that becomes a relatively convex portion is formed, and by forming the concave portion so that the convex portion represents a pattern, characters, etc., the printed matter is printed. Can improve the design of.

The configuration of the heat-sensitive cambium is not particularly limited as long as it can satisfy the depth of the recess formed by heating the thermal transfer sheet 5 via the base sheet 50, but is not limited to the following. An example of the configuration is shown in.

The heat-sensitive cambium may have a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure. The thickness of the heat-sensitive cambium is more preferably 40 μm or more, and further preferably 80 μm or more. As a result, the depth of the recess to be formed can be improved, and the ease of forming the recess can be improved. Furthermore, the image density formed on the receiving layer can be improved. Further, from the viewpoint of transportability and processability in the thermal transfer printing apparatus, the thickness of the heat-sensitive recess forming layer is preferably 200 μm or less.

The heat-sensitive cambium is a porous layer including at least one of a porous film having fine voids inside and a hollow particle-containing layer. Hereinafter, a case where the heat-sensitive cambium is a porous layer will be described. The heat-sensitive cambium may include both a porous film and a hollow particle-containing layer.

When the heat-sensitive cambium is a porous layer having a single-layer structure, the porosity is preferably 20% or more and 80% or less, and more preferably 30% or more and 60% or less. As a result, the depth of the recess to be formed can be improved, and the ease of forming the recess can be improved. In addition, the image density formed on the receiving layer can be improved. Further, the embossing inhibitory property at the time of printing can be improved.

When the heat-sensitive cambium is a porous layer having a multi-layer structure, the porosity of the first heat-sensitive cambium (the heat-sensitive cambium arranged closest to the receiving layer) is the porosity of the other heat-sensitive cambium. It is preferably smaller than the rate. As a result, the embossing inhibitory property at the time of printing can be improved.

The porosity of the first heat-sensitive cambium is preferably 10% or more and 60% or less, and more preferably 20% or more and 50% or less. As a result, the depth of the recess can be further improved, and the ease of forming the recess can be improved. Further, the embossing inhibitory property at the time of printing can be improved.

The average porosity of the heat-sensitive cambium other than the first heat-sensitive cambium is preferably 10% or more and 80% or less, and more preferably 20% or more and 80% or less. As a result, it is possible to facilitate the formation of the recess in the first heat-sensitive recess forming layer and improve the embossing inhibitory property at the time of printing.

In the present disclosure, the porosity is calculated by (1-specific gravity of the heat-sensitive cambium / specific density of the resin material constituting the heat-sensitive cambium) × 100. When the specific gravity of the resin material constituting the heat-sensitive cambium is unknown, a cross-sectional image of the heat-sensitive cambium is acquired by a scanning electron microscope (manufactured by Hitachi High Technology Co., Ltd., trade name: S3400N), and the cross-sectional image is obtained. From the total area (a) of the above and the area (b) occupied by the voids (vacancy), it is calculated by ((b) / (a)) × 100.

The thickness of the first heat-sensitive cambium is preferably 20 μm or more and 150 μm or less, more preferably 30 μm or more and 130 μm or less, and further preferably 30 μm or more and 100 μm or less. As a result, the depth of the recess to be formed can be improved, and the ease of forming the recess can be improved.

The sum of the thicknesses of the heat-sensitive cambium other than the first heat-sensitive cambium is preferably 10 μm or more and 180 μm or less, more preferably 20 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and further preferably 20 μm or more and 130 μm or less. .. Thereby, the image density formed on the receiving layer can be improved.

Examples of the resin material constituting the porous film include polyolefins such as PE and PP, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and polyesters such as PET and PBT. Examples thereof include styrene resin and polyamide. PP is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of film smoothness, heat insulating property and cushioning property.

To the extent that the characteristics of the image receiving sheet are not impaired, the porous film can contain an additive, for example, a plastic material, a filler, an ultraviolet stabilizer, a color inhibitor, a surface active material, an optical brightener, and a gloss. Erasing materials, deodorizing materials, flame-retardant materials, weather-resistant materials, antistatic materials, thread friction reducing materials, slip materials, antioxidants, ion exchangers, dispersants, UV absorbers, and coloring materials such as pigments and dyes. Can be mentioned.

The porous film can be produced by a known method, and can be produced, for example, by forming a film by kneading an incompatible organic particle or an inorganic particle with the above-mentioned resin material. Further, in one embodiment, the porous film can be produced by forming a mixture containing a first resin material and a second resin material having a melting point higher than that of the first resin material into a film.

The porous film produced by the above method is not limited, and a commercially available porous film may be used.

The porous film can be laminated on the substrate via an adhesive layer. Further, a plurality of porous films may be laminated via an adhesive layer.

The hollow particle-containing layer is a layer containing hollow particles and a binder material. The hollow particles are not particularly limited as long as they can satisfy the depth conditions of the recesses formed by heating the image receiving sheet via the PET film, and even organic hollow particles may be used. Inorganic hollow particles may be used, but organic hollow particles are preferable from the viewpoint of dispersibility. Further, the hollow particles may be foamed particles or non-foamed particles.

The organic hollow particles are made of a resin material, and examples thereof include styrene resins such as crosslinked styrene-acrylic resins, (meth) acrylic resins, phenol resins, fluororesins, polyacrylonitrile, imide resins, and polycarbonates.

In one embodiment, the organic hollow particles can be produced by enclosing a foaming material such as butane gas in resin particles or the like and heating and foaming the particles. Further, in one embodiment, the organic hollow particles can also be produced by utilizing emulsion polymerization. Commercially available organic hollow particles may be used.

Binder materials contained in the hollow particle-containing layer include polyurethane, polyester, cellulose resin, vinyl resin, (meth) acrylic resin, polyolefin, styrene resin, phenol resin, fluororesin, polyamide, imide resin, polycarbonate, polyether, and gelatin. And its derivatives, styrene acrylic acid ester, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, purulan, dextran, dextrin, polyacrylic acid and its salts, agar, κ-carrageenan, λ-carrageenan, ι-carrageenan, casein, xantene gum, Locust bean gum, alginic acid, arabic rubber and the like can be mentioned.

The hollow particle-containing layer can contain the above-mentioned additives as long as the characteristics of the image receiving sheet of the present disclosure are not impaired.

The hollow particle-containing layer is prepared by dispersing or dissolving the above material in an appropriate solvent to prepare a coating liquid, which is used as a roll coating method, a reverse roll coating method, a gravure coating method, a reverse gravure coating method, a bar coating method and a rod. It can be formed by applying it on a substrate or the like by a known means such as a coating method to form a coating film, and drying the coating film.

(Receptive layer)
The receiving layer is a layer that receives the sublimation dye transferred from the dye layer included in the thermal transfer sheet and maintains the formed image.

The receiving layer contains a resin material, and the resin material is not limited as long as it is a resin that is easily dyed with a dye. For example, an olefin resin, a vinyl resin, a (meth) acrylic resin, a cellulose resin, or an ester resin. , Amid resin, carbonate resin, styrene resin, urethane resin, ionomer resin and the like. The receiving layer can contain two or more of the above resin materials.

The content of the resin material in the receiving layer is preferably 80% by mass or more and 98% by mass or less, and more preferably 90% by mass or more and 98% by mass or less.

In one embodiment, the receptive layer comprises a release agent. Thereby, the releasability from the thermal transfer sheet can be improved. Examples of the release agent include solid waxes such as polyethylene wax, amide wax, and Teflon (registered trademark) powder, fluorine-based or phosphate ester-based surfactants, silicone oil, reactive silicone oil, and curable silicone oil. Examples include various modified silicone oils and various silicone resins. As the silicone oil, an oily one can be used, but a modified silicone oil is preferable. As the modified silicone oil, amino-modified silicone, epoxy-modified silicone, aralkyl-modified silicone, epoxy-aralkyl-modified silicone, alcohol-modified silicone, vinyl-modified silicone, urethane-modified silicone and the like can be preferably used, but epoxy-modified silicone and aralkyl-modified silicone can be preferably used. , Epoxy-aralkyl modified silicones are particularly preferred. The receiving layer can contain two or more of the above release agents.

The content of the release agent in the receiving layer is preferably 0.5% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less, and more preferably 0.5% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less. As a result, the releasability from the thermal transfer sheet can be improved while maintaining the transparency of the receiving layer.

The receiving layer may contain the above-mentioned additive.

The thickness of the receiving layer is preferably 0.5 μm or more and 20 μm or less, and more preferably 1 μm or more and 10 μm or less. Thereby, the image density formed on the receiving layer can be improved.

The receiving layer is prepared by dispersing or dissolving the above material in an appropriate solvent to prepare a coating liquid, which is used as a roll coating method, a reverse roll coating method, a gravure coating method, a reverse gravure coating method, a bar coating method and a rod coating method. It can be formed by applying it on the heat-sensitive recess forming layer to form a coating film by a known means such as, and drying it.

(Adhesive layer)
The image receiving sheet of the present disclosure includes an adhesive layer between arbitrary layers. Thereby, the adhesion between layers can be improved.

The adhesive layer contains a resin material. For example, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyolefins such as PE and PP, polyester, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate and poly. Examples thereof include (meth) acrylic resins such as methyl methacrylate, polyol resins, polyurethane and the like. Further, the adhesive layer may contain the above-mentioned additive.

The thickness of the adhesive layer is, for example, 0.5 μm or more and 10 μm or less. The thickness of the adhesive layer formed between each layer of the heat-sensitive recess forming layer having a multi-layer structure is preferably 1 μm or more and 8 μm or less, and more preferably 2 μm or more and 5 μm or less. As a result, the adhesion between the layers can be improved while maintaining the recess forming property in the heat-sensitive recess forming layer.

The adhesive layer can be formed by dispersing or dissolving the above-mentioned material in an appropriate solvent to prepare a coating liquid, applying the above material on an arbitrary layer, and drying the adhesive layer. As the coating means, known means such as a roll coating method, a reverse roll coating method, a gravure coating method, a reverse gravure coating method, a bar coating method and a rod coating method can be used. Further, in one embodiment, the adhesive layer can be formed by melt extrusion of a resin composition containing the above materials.

1 Thermal head 2 Platen roll 3 Supply unit 4 Recovery unit 5 Thermal transfer sheet 6 Image receiving sheet roll 7 Image receiving sheet 10 Printing unit 14 Control device 50 Base sheet 54 Protective layer 71 Base material 72 Thermal recess forming layer 73 Receptive layer

Claims (10)

A thermal transfer sheet provided with a coloring material layer and a protective layer and an image receiving sheet on which a heat-sensitive recess forming layer and a receiving layer are laminated are sandwiched between a thermal head and a platen roll, and the thermal transfer sheet is heated by the thermal head. Then, the step of transferring the coloring material from the thermal transfer sheet to the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet to form an image, and
A step of heating the thermal transfer sheet with the thermal head and transferring the protective layer from the thermal transfer sheet onto the image of the image receiving sheet.
A step of heating the image receiving sheet through the used protective layer forming region of the thermal transfer sheet by the thermal head to form a recess in the image receiving sheet.
A method of manufacturing a printed matter comprising. The region where the thermal head heats the used protective layer forming region when forming the recess is the region where the thermal head heats the protective layer forming region when the protective layer is transferred onto the image formed on the image receiving sheet. The method for producing an imprint according to claim 1, which is smaller than the area for heating. The protective layer is transferred so as to cover the entire surface of the image.
The method for producing a printed matter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the used protective layer forming region is heated in a predetermined pattern to form the recess in a region corresponding to a part of the image. The method for producing a printed matter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the energy applied by the thermal head when forming the recess is higher than the energy applied by the thermal head when forming the image. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the printing pressure of the thermal head and the printing portion including the platen roll when forming the recess is higher than the printing pressure of the printing portion when forming the image. Method of manufacturing photographic paper. The method for producing a printed matter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the hologram layer is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet to a region of the image receiving sheet that becomes a relatively convex portion by forming the concave portion. The method for producing a printed matter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the thermal recess forming layer has a thickness of 40 μm or more, and the recess has a depth of 5 μm or more. The method for producing a printed matter according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heat-sensitive recess-forming layer has at least one of a porous film and a hollow particle-containing layer. A thermal transfer sheet provided with a coloring material layer and a protective layer and an image receiving sheet on which a heat-sensitive recess forming layer and a receiving layer are laminated are sandwiched between a thermal head and a platen roll, and the thermal transfer sheet is heated by the thermal head. Then, the coloring material is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet to the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet to form an image, and a printing portion for transferring the protective layer from the thermal transfer sheet is provided on the image of the image receiving sheet.
A thermal transfer printing apparatus in which the thermal head heats the image receiving sheet through a used protective layer forming region of the thermal transfer sheet to form recesses in the image receiving sheet. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the energy applied by the thermal head when forming the recess is higher than the energy applied by the thermal head when forming the image.

Images