JP2023060782A - Image foil transfer sheet, manufacturing method of image foil transfer sheet, and transfer method of image foil - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image foil transfer sheet in a simpler design that allows a printer-printable image foil in a desired image shape such as complex diagrams and small letters to be transferred onto an object using a foil sheet and a non-contact type printer, and to provide a manufacturing method in a further simplified process than the prior art and a transfer method of the image foil using the image foil transfer sheet.SOLUTION: In the image foil transfer sheet, a foil layer is laminated on the entire surface of a first paste layer of a release sheet with paste on which the peelable first paste layer is provided on one surface of a separator, a clear layer obtained by printing an image of an arbitrary shape with clear ink is provided on a part of a surface of the foil layer, and a second paste layer and an application sheet are laminated, in this order, on the entire surface of the clear layer and the foil layer of a portion having no clear layer. The first paste layer has easy adhesiveness to the foil layer, and the second paste layer has easy adhesiveness to the foil layer and has releasability for the clear layer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention provides an image foil transfer sheet for transferring a metal foil having an arbitrary image shape to the surface of a transfer object, a method for producing the image foil transfer sheet, and a transfer object using the image foil transfer sheet. relates to an image foil transfer method.

Techniques such as water transfer, thermal transfer, sublimation transfer, and dry transfer are known as transfer printing for transferring an image to a transfer target. Among them, dry transfer, in which an adhesive is applied to the back surface of the image layer temporarily adhered to the base sheet, and then the image layer is transferred to the surface of the transfer target by pressing and adhered, does not leave an edge on the image during transfer. Therefore, it looks as if it was printed directly on the object to be transferred, and there is no need for post-processing using a cutting plotter or the like.

The inventor of the present application has worked to simplify the dry transfer technology, and has developed, manufactured and sold the product "Smart Paper (trade name)" described in Non-Patent Document 1. This is a base sheet made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) whose surface has been subjected to a releasable treatment, and a mirror image is printed on the surface by toner printing using a laser printer or the like to form an image layer. After applying acrylic glue on the image layer and drying it, the base sheet is brought into close contact with the transfer target and pressure is applied. When the base sheet is peeled off, only the image layer is placed on the transfer target as a normal image. The transfer is completed by bonding. The smart paper not only has a very simple process, but also does not use solvents or the like, so it does not cause the problem of environmental load. In addition, since it does not use water or apply heat during transfer, it can be applied to a wide range of materials such as paper, wood, leather, fiber (cloth), and ceramics, as well as metal, glass, and synthetic resin. In addition, since the image layer is temporarily attached to a flexible base sheet and then transferred, it can be transferred to three-dimensional objects and curved surfaces that cannot be directly passed through a printer. This has the effect of simplifying the work and increasing efficiency.
Explanation of "Smart Paper"(applicant's website page) URL: https://ing-global.net/smartpaper/

In addition, as shown in Patent Document 1, the inventor of the present application further developed smart paper, provided an image layer between an upper transfer film and a lower glue layer, and placed the transfer film on the image layer. We have developed an image transfer sheet characterized by having releasability and easy adhesion to the glue layer. Unlike smart paper, the image transfer sheet does not need to apply glue to the transfer target to form a glue layer, or remove the glue protruding from the image after transfer. Advantageous effects are achieved in that the work load can be reduced and the finish can be homogenized. In addition, the image transfer sheet is compatible with UV printing, and when the image transfer sheet is manufactured, an arbitrary image is printed on the upper surface of the adhesive layer of the adhesive release sheet in a normal image, and ink is applied to the printing machine. The image layer can be formed by stacking the layers with a desired thickness within the range of specifications. A finish as if printed directly on the object to be transferred can be obtained, and in particular, by taking advantage of the characteristics of UV printing, printing with a high three-dimensional effect suitable for package printing and the like has become possible. Further, since the image transfer sheet can transfer an image onto a planar or three-dimensional object having a size and shape that is difficult to directly print with a printing press, advanced settings of the printing press and dedicated jigs are no longer required. As a result, it has become possible to significantly reduce costs such as printing on low-volume, high-mix products and their packages, originalization and customization of mass-produced products, and printing on prototypes and samples at the product development stage.
JP 2017-209931 A

On the other hand, there has long been a demand for transferring metal foil such as gold foil or silver foil as a desired image onto a transfer object in order to impart a sense of luxury to the transferred image or to realize more diverse expressions. , was difficult in the prior art described above. Metal foil for general interior and decoration use is a "foil sheet" in which metal is vapor-deposited on the surface of a base material such as a plastic film, and an adhesive layer (generally hot-melt adhesive) is provided on the back side. What is called is prevalent. These are cut into the required shape like a cutting sheet, directly attached to the object, and heated to adhere the metal foil together with the base material to the object to be transferred. Cutting is difficult and time consuming. In addition, since the base material is attached to the object, the thickness of the base material degrades the quality of the finish, particularly in the case of delicate figures.

As another means of foil stamping, the foil is placed on the object fixed to the receiving jig, and the printing plate, which has the image as a relief printing on the surface of the metal plate from above, is heated and pressed to press the lettering part. A technique called hot stamping is also known in which a foil is fused to the surface of an object. However, since the production of printing plates is costly, there is a problem in terms of economy when the number of objects to be processed is small or when a large number of images are subjected to foil stamping. In addition, a jig suitable for the object must be prepared, and depending on the shape of the object, it may be difficult to apply hot stamping. Of course, when the object is made of resin that is weak against heat, it cannot be applied in the first place.

Here, if it is possible to form an image layer of a desired shape with a metal foil in the same way that ink is printed on an object by a printer, and transfer it to the object using an image transfer sheet, the texture and expressiveness of the transferred image can be improved. is extremely effective in improving On the other hand, the image transfer sheet according to the prior art such as smart paper can print an image directly on the adhesive layer and attach it to the object like a sticker to transfer only the image. However, since the adhesive layer is provided on the entire surface, when the foil sheet is attached, the entire surface is adhered to the image transfer sheet, and there is a problem that only the desired image portion cannot be transferred.

Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 2, the inventors of the present application have applied an image layer formed by sandwiching a metal foil between a first clear layer as an upper layer and a second clear layer as a lower layer printed by an inkjet printer to be transferred. We have developed a transfer technology that adheres to objects with a glue layer, have already obtained the patent right (Patent No. 6353616), and are manufacturing and selling it. According to the present invention, the foil sheet is transferred while being left on the glue layer with only the image portion sandwiched between the two clear layers in advance being extracted, and the unnecessary foil is removed in advance. Problem solved. As a result, it is possible to easily and freely transfer the desired image according to the printing data to the surface of the article as metal foil. "attachment" can be realized at extremely low cost and efficiently. In particular, there is great potential for use in small-lot, high-mix products and their packaging, originalization and customization of mass-produced products, and foil stamping and foiling on prototypes and samples at the product development stage. It can also be used for architectural interiors and decorations.
JP 2018-011356 A

However, with the image foil transfer sheet according to the present invention, although the transfer of the image foil onto the object itself is extremely simple, the production thereof requires complicated steps over multiple steps. Specifically, (1) a first printing step in which a desired image is printed on the surface of the release sheet with clear ink or primer to form a second clear layer, (2) the foil surface side of the foil sheet is pressed onto the surface of the release sheet, the foil sheet is peeled off and the foil is transferred only to the second clear layer, (3) the first clear with clear ink or primer on the surface of the transferred foil a second printing step of printing a layer to form an image layer; (4) an image transfer step of peeling and removing the release sheet after the application sheet is pressed against the surface of the release sheet to transfer the image layer to the application sheet; (5) A separator pasting process to obtain an image foil transfer sheet by pasting the image layer side of the application sheet to the glue layer side of a separator having a peelable glue layer on one side. There was a demand for further efficiency and cost reduction in manufacturing by simplifying the manufacturing process.

Similarly, as prior arts for transferring only an image foil to a transfer target without using a base material, there are a "metal foil transfer method" according to Patent Document 3, a latex ink according to Patent Document 4, and a Foil Imaging Methods, Laminates, Wallpaper” are known. However, in the invention according to Patent Document 3, a curable ink is printed on the surface of the hot-melt adhesive layer of the laminate in which the hot-melt adhesive layer is formed on the surface of the metal foil on the substrate to form a mask image and transfer it. A metal foil is transferred in the form of a mirror image of the mask image by placing the hot-melt adhesive layer of the transfer material on an object to be transferred, hot-pressing it, and then separating the substrate. In this invention, since heat press is always required at the time of transfer, not only is there a risk of denaturation of the transfer target due to heat, but it is also difficult to apply to three-dimensional objects and uneven surfaces that are difficult to apply heat press. In the invention according to Patent Document 4, a foil image is formed by heat-pressing a transfer foil to an adhesive layer formed in a pattern with latex ink on a base material, and forming a foil transfer layer on the adhesive layer. It is. In this invention, since heating is required to form the image foil, depending on the type of foil, the foil itself may be denatured. The accuracy is inevitably inferior to that of , and although it can be applied to wallpaper pattern formation, it is not suitable for the formation of high-definition images. In addition, preparation of the latex ink and prevention of nozzle clogging are highly difficult, resulting in a high cost.
JP 2012-210715 A Japanese Patent No. 6424894

The present invention has been devised to solve such problems in the prior art. , using a widely used foil sheet and a non-contact printing machine such as an inkjet printer, metal foil in the shape of a desired image that can be printed with a printer, such as complicated figures and small characters (hereinafter referred to as "image foil") ) can be transferred to an object with a simpler structure, a manufacturing method with a process that is even simpler than the conventional technology, and an image foil transfer method using the image transfer sheet. The task is to provide

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 1 of the present invention is a release sheet with adhesive provided with a peelable first adhesive layer on the upper surface of a separator. It has a foil layer on the upper surface, a clear layer formed by printing an image of any shape with clear ink on the upper surface of the foil layer, and the upper surface of the foil layer including the clear layer has a second wherein the first glue layer has easy adhesion to the foil layer, and the second glue layer is attached to the foil layer It is characterized by having easy adhesion to the clear layer and releasability to the clear layer.

As the separator, in addition to silicon-treated paper having a silicon film formed on the surface as a release layer, silicon-treated resin film based on PET or the like, and non-silicon release paper/film containing no silicon in the release layer. is applicable. On the other hand, since the application sheet has the first adhesive layer firmly adhered to one side thereof as described above, the application sheet and the first adhesive layer cannot be separated. By the way, as the application sheet, the above-mentioned "smart paper" invented by the inventor of the present application can be applied as it is.

A pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) is used for the first glue layer and the second glue layer. Acrylic, silicone, urethane, rubber, and the like can be used as the pressure-sensitive adhesive, and it is desirable to select an appropriate adhesive depending on the type of transfer target and the usage environment. For the adhesive layer of the present invention, an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive, which has high internal strength and resistance to UV (ultraviolet rays), is relatively inexpensive and is often used as a paste for general adhesive tapes, is suitable. . However, most acrylic adhesives have a temperature range of about 15 to 30°C that maintains high durability. should be selected. Silicone-based adhesives are expensive, but exhibit durability over a wide temperature range of -40 to 260°C. In addition, although many urethane-based and rubber-based adhesives are low in cost, they are somewhat inferior in durability (especially resistance to aging due to sunlight and oxidation). It was confirmed that the releasability was sometimes insufficient, but it could become an option depending on future improvements.

The clear ink is also called gloss ink, and is colorless and transparent ink that does not contain dyes such as pigments. A clear ink containing no pigment has small internal stress due to volumetric shrinkage of the coating film during drying and curing, so that it has a large adhesive strength and exhibits high adhesiveness even to foil, which is a metal. In particular, UV ink, which is cured by ultraviolet irradiation, has a crosslinked structure, so it exhibits higher adhesive strength than solvent ink. Therefore, the clear layer itself serves as an adhesive and is firmly integrated with the foil layer.

In clear ink printing with a UV printer, it may be possible to set the coating surface to be glossy or matte by controlling the irradiation of the UV-LED lamp. Since the unevenness of the surface of the foil is reflected on the ultra-thin foil and spoils the appearance, it is desirable to set it to a glossy tone.

Next, the image foil transfer sheet described in claim 2 is the image foil transfer sheet described in claim 1, wherein a color film formed of colored ink is entirely or partially between the clear layer and the foil layer. A layer is provided. Here, "whole" means that the color layer exists on the entire surface between the clear layer and the foil layer. Further, "partially" means that the color layer exists in part between the clear layer and the foil layer, and the clear layer and the foil layer are in direct contact with each other in the part without the color layer.

Next, the image foil transfer sheet according to claim 3 is the image foil transfer sheet according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the separator is provided with fine protrusions all over the surface. Further, the lower surface of the first adhesive layer is formed with fine concave portions corresponding to the convex portions.

The image transfer sheets according to Patent Documents 1 and 2, which are inventions of the applicant of the present application, were initially used mainly for transferring relatively small images to the surfaces of various articles. There is a growing need for transfer of large-sized images and sign displays onto surfaces, floors, and paved road surfaces. However, when a large image is transferred at once, there remains an unsolved problem that air remains between the transfer target and the adhesive layer, resulting in air bubbles. In order to solve this problem, the applicant of the present application, as shown in Patent Document 5, provided a large number of fine protrusions on the surface of a release paper (corresponding to the "separator" of the present invention) to form a glue layer ("separator" of the present invention). We have developed an image transfer sheet in which recesses corresponding to the protrusions are formed on the "adhesive layer" of No. 1), and have already acquired the patent right (Patent No. 6454048) to manufacture and sell it. This image transfer sheet is formed by removing the release paper to expose a glue layer having concave portions and by applying pressure to the surface of the transfer film while bringing the glue layer into close contact with the surface of the transfer film. Most of the air remaining in the air passes between the convex portions and moves to the portion without the image layer, or is discharged from the edge of the image transfer sheet to the outside. Since it disperses in the space between the gaps, it does not generate air bubbles of a size that can be visually recognized with the naked eye.
Japanese Patent No. 6454048

Also in the image foil transfer sheet according to claim 1, the above-mentioned problem of bubble generation occurs. However, by providing fine protrusions on the upper surface of the separator, fine recesses corresponding to the protrusions are formed on the lower surface of the first adhesive layer. It is possible to add the effect of discharging and dispersing air bubbles similar to the transfer sheet.

Next, the method for manufacturing an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 4 is characterized in that at least (1) the first adhesive layer of the adhesive-attached release sheet having a peelable first adhesive layer provided on the upper surface of the separator; (2) a clear printing step of printing an image of any shape on the upper surface of the foil layer with clear ink to form a clear layer; (3) a sheet forming step of attaching the second glue layer side of an application sheet having a second glue layer on the lower surface to the upper surface of the foil layer including the clear layer, wherein the first glue layer is the foil. The second adhesive layer of the application sheet has easy adhesion to the foil layer and releasability to the clear layer. do.

Next, the method for manufacturing an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 5 is the method for manufacturing an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 4, wherein after the foil attaching step and before the clear printing step, It is characterized by providing a color printing step of printing an arbitrary shape with colored ink on all or part of the foil layer within the range where the image by the clear layer is provided.

Next, a method for producing an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 6 is the method for producing an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 4 or 5, wherein fine particles are formed on the upper surface of the separator. A convex portion is provided on one surface, and fine concave portions corresponding to the convex portion are formed on the bottom surface of the first glue layer.

Finally, in the image foil transfer method described in claim 7, the separator is peeled off from the image foil transfer sheet described in any one of claims 1 to 3, and the exposed lower surface of the first adhesive layer is removed. is pressed against the transfer target and then the application sheet is peeled off to transfer only the image consisting of the clear layer and at least the foil layer immediately below it to the transfer target.

Specifically, the image foil transfer method described in claim 7 is performed as follows. First, the separator of the image foil transfer sheet is peeled off to expose the first adhesive layer, which is pressed against the predetermined surface of the transfer target, and then only the area where the clear layer image exists is covered with a roller from above. After applying pressure with, etc., the application sheet is peeled off. At this time, since the second adhesive layer has releasability from the clear layer in the area where the clear layer has an image, the clear layer is peeled off from the application sheet, and the clear layer and the foil layer immediately below the clear layer are separated from each other. It is transferred in a state of being adhered to the surface of the transfer target by one glue layer. On the other hand, in the portion outside the image where there is no clear layer, the second glue layer of the application sheet is integrated with the first glue layer because it has easy adhesion, and the second glue layer is integrated with the application sheet. While the first glue layer can be peeled off from the separator, the first glue layer, the foil layer, and the second glue layer in the portions other than directly under the clear layer are all removed. It is peeled off from the separator together with the application sheet.

The entire surface of the image foil transferred using the image foil transfer sheet according to claim 1 and claim 2 is covered with a clear layer, and the surface of the metal foil can be visually recognized through the transparent clear layer. On the other hand, in the image foil transferred using the image foil transfer sheet according to claim 3, when the color layer is provided entirely between the clear layer and the foil layer, the foil layer cannot be directly seen, but the image cannot be seen. A presentation effect is produced in which a metallic texture is added to the color layer of the shape. Further, when a color layer is provided in a part between the clear layer and the foil layer, the foil layer can be directly recognized in the part without the color layer.

In the production of the image foil transfer sheet according to Patent Document 2, (1) first printing step, (2) foil transfer step, (3) second printing step, (4) image transfer step, (5) separator attachment In contrast, the image foil transfer sheet according to the present invention requires three steps of (1) foil attachment process, (2) clear printing process, and (3) sheet formation process. It becomes possible to manufacture in the process, and the manufacturing efficiency is greatly improved. In addition, by reducing the number of clear layers from two to one, the printing process can be completed only once, and the amount of clear ink used can be halved. In addition, friction and catching with other articles can be suppressed. Furthermore, by providing a color layer, it is possible to transfer an image to which a metallic effect is added to a color image, or to superimpose an arbitrary pattern or color on a simple foil image to enhance the expressiveness of the image.

In addition, the present invention also inherits the following excellent effects of the image foil transfer sheet according to the prior art of Patent Document 2.
(b) With a non-contact printer such as an inkjet printer that can use clear ink, it is possible to form foil as an image layer according to the printed image, so it is possible to create delicate images such as complicated figures and small characters. can be accurately transferred to the object as a foil. This makes it possible to create expressions that were difficult to achieve with conventional manual foil stamping and foiling. In addition, it is possible to transfer a complex image, in which images are overlaid on foil with ink, to the object in a single transfer.
(b) The same image foil transfer sheet can be continuously mass-produced by a printing method. As a result, work efficiency is greatly improved compared to a method of cutting out images one by one from a foil sheet like a cutting sheet.
(c) High-mix low-volume production for each image data is possible without the need for plate making. Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the cost of transfer to small-lot, high-mix products and their packages, originalization and customization of mass-produced products, and foil stamping and foiling on prototypes and samples at the product development stage. .
(d) No special tools or jigs are required for the transfer. Simply attach the image foil transfer sheet to the object to be transferred, press it, and peel off the application sheet. It does not require technical skill or skill. Moreover, since the transfer process itself does not require heat or a pressurizing device such as a press, it is possible to freely transfer onto objects made of resin that are vulnerable to heat, three-dimensional objects that are difficult to apply a pressurizing device to, and curved surfaces. is.
(e) The adhesive layer (adhesive layer) other than the image foil can be peeled off simply by peeling off the application sheet, improving work efficiency and providing a beautiful finish.
(f) Since the surface of the transferred image foil is protected by the clear ink, it is highly resistant to abrasion and deterioration over time, and the texture of the foil image is enhanced.
(g) Since the completed image foil transfer sheet is in a state in which the adhesive surface to the object is protected by the separator, it is easy to handle and store like conventional printed image stickers with a base material.

Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 3 of the present invention, even when transferring a large-sized foil image to a building wall surface, a glass surface, a floor surface, a paved road surface, etc., the adhesive layer and the transfer object are Most of the air remaining between the foil images is discharged to the outside of the foil image, and a small amount of air remaining without being discharged is also dispersed in the space between the convex portions, generating air bubbles of a size that can be seen with the naked eye. It has the effect of not

(First embodiment)
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. The first embodiment relates to an image foil transfer sheet described in claim 1, a manufacturing method thereof, and an image foil transfer method using the image foil transfer sheet.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of an image foil transfer sheet 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention. The image foil transfer sheet 1 has a foil layer F on the upper surface of the first glue layer N1 of the release sheet 10 with glue, which is formed by providing the first glue layer N1 on the upper surface of the separator S. has a clear layer C formed by printing an image of arbitrary shape with clear ink, a second adhesive layer N2 is laminated on the upper surface of the foil layer F including the clear layer C, and an application sheet A is laminated on the upper surface. become. In addition, the clear layer C is printed directly on the upper surface of the foil layer F layer by a non-contact printer such as an inkjet printer or a UV printer. It is a layer of clear UV ink that is dried and cured into a thin film by causing a photopolymerization reaction by UV irradiation during printing.

Since the upper surface of the separator S is subjected to release treatment, it can be easily separated from the first adhesive layer N1. Since the first glue layer has easy adhesion to the foil layer F, the foil layer F is non-peelably adhered to the first glue layer N1. The clear layer C itself serves as an adhesive as described above, and is adhered to the foil layer F in a non-peelable manner. The second glue layer N2 has releasability from the clear layer C, but has easy adhesion to the foil layer F like the first glue layer N1. Since the second adhesive layer N2 and the application sheet A are integrated so as not to be peeled off, the second adhesive layer N2 and the application sheet A are integrated with each other. As the application sheet A, "smart paper" invented by the inventor of the present application can be applied.

2 to 6 are cross-sectional views showing the manufacturing process of the image foil transfer sheet 1 step by step. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a foil sticking step of sticking the foil layer F to the first glue layer N1 on the upper surface of the release sheet 10 with glue. The foil sheet 20 has a foil layer F formed by evaporating a metal on the lower surface of the base film f. When peeled off, only the foil layer F is attached to the first adhesive layer N1 (FIG. 3). The metal used for the foil layer F is generally pure gold, pure silver, copper, tin, aluminum, etc., but there are also red silver foil and blue silver foil that change the color tone by smoking silver, and brass that is colored yellow. You can also use Western gold that resembles . In addition, by adding an embossing process to the manufacturing process of the metal foil, interference fringes are generated in the foil to use a hologram foil that makes a three-dimensional pattern stand out, making the image foil more expressive.

FIG. 4 shows the clear printing process. A desired image is printed on the upper surface of the foil layer F using an inkjet printer H using clear ink to form a clear layer C. As shown in FIG. 5 and 6 show the sheeting process. The second glue layer N2 side of the glue-attached application sheet 30 made of the application sheet A having the second glue layer N2 on the lower surface is crimped onto the upper surface of the foil layer F provided with the clear layer C (FIG. 5), Further, the image foil transfer sheet 1 is completed by additionally applying pressure using a roller or a baren only to the portion where the clear layer C exists (FIG. 6).

7 to 10 show steps of image foil transfer using the image foil transfer sheet 1 according to the first embodiment. First, the separator S is peeled off from the image foil transfer sheet 1 (Fig. 7), the exposed first adhesive layer N1 is pressure-bonded to the transfer object O (Fig. 8), and only the part where the clear layer C is present is reapplied. Additional pressure is applied using rollers, barens, etc. (FIG. 9). After that, when the image foil transfer sheet 1 is peeled off, only the foil image in which the foil layer F and the clear layer C are integrated is adhered to the surface of the transfer object O by the first adhesive layer N1, and the transfer is completed (FIG. 10). )

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an image foil transfer sheet 2a according to the second embodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment, the color layer NC made of colored ink is provided entirely between the clear layer C and the foil layer F in the image foil transfer sheet described in claim 2 . The color layer NC is formed by adding a color printing process in which the same image as the clear layer C is printed with colored ink by an inkjet printer after the foil application process and before the clear printing process. It is the same as the first embodiment. Although the color and thickness of the colored ink of the color layer NC are arbitrary, the lighter the color and the thinner the thickness, the greater the effect of the foil layer F immediately below to give a metallic tone. The color layer NC is not limited to printing in a single color, and may be an image composed of arbitrary colors and lines.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an image foil transfer sheet 2b according to the third embodiment of the invention. In the third embodiment, a color layer NC made of colored ink is provided between the clear layer C and the foil layer F in the image foil transfer sheet described in claim 2 . As in the second embodiment, the processes are the same as in the first embodiment except for adding a color printing process. In FIG. 12, the color layer NC is printed on part of the image range on the foil layer F, the clear layer C1 is printed on the remaining part with the same thickness, and the clear layer C2 is printed thereon. , the surface of the clear layer C1 in the area of the image becomes smooth. Here, the clear layer C2 may be printed without printing the clear layer C1 on the remaining portion. A three-dimensional effect can be added to the inside of the image. Furthermore, although not shown, in a color printing process, an arbitrary figure or pattern is printed with clear ink only on the clear layer C1, and a clear layer C2 is provided thereon, so that the image of the foil layer F has three-dimensional unevenness. It is also possible to add only feeling.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an image foil transfer sheet 1b according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. The adhesive release sheet 10 according to the present embodiment has a large number of fine protrusions c1 on at least the upper surface of the separator S2, and fine protrusions c1 corresponding to the protrusions c1 on the lower surface of the first adhesive layer N1. A concave portion c2 is formed on one surface. The shape of the convex portions c1 may be dot-like or linear, but the adjacent convex portions c1 are independent of each other, and when the first adhesive layer N1 comes into contact with the transfer object, the concave portions c2 are cleared. It is desirable to have a shape that is always open to the outside of the image without being closed and isolated directly under the image formed by the layer C.

In the fourth embodiment, the separator S of the glue-attached release sheet 10 of the image foil transfer sheet 1 according to the first embodiment is replaced with the separator S2 provided with the protrusions c1 on the lower surface of the first glue layer N1. Although the concave portion c2 is formed, the separator S2 is applied not only to the first embodiment, but also to the adhesive release sheet 10 of the image foil transfer sheets 2a and 2b of the second and third embodiments. Needless to say, it is possible to form the concave portion c2 in the glue layer.

Although the specific configuration of the image transfer method according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be improved or modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. , which are within the scope of the present invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily and freely transfer a desired image in accordance with print data to the surface of an article as a metal foil. and "foil attachment" can be realized more efficiently and at a lower cost than the conventional technology. In particular, there is great potential for use in small-lot, high-mix products and their packaging, originalization and customization of mass-produced products, and foil stamping and foiling on prototypes and samples at the product development stage. It can also be used for architectural interiors and decorations.

Sectional view of image foil transfer sheet (first embodiment) Sectional view showing a foil attaching process (attaching a foil sheet to a release sheet with glue) (first embodiment) Sectional view showing a foil sticking process (peeling of base film) (first embodiment) Sectional view showing clear printing process (first embodiment) Sectional view showing a sheeting process (pasting of application sheet with glue) (first embodiment) Cross-sectional view showing a sheet forming process (crimping of application sheet with glue) (first embodiment) Sectional view showing the image foil transfer process (separator peeling) (first embodiment) Sectional view showing the process of image foil transfer (attachment to transfer target) (first embodiment) Sectional view showing the process of image foil transfer (pressure bonding to a transfer target) (first embodiment) Sectional view showing the process of image foil transfer (peeling of image foil transfer sheet) (first embodiment) Sectional view of image foil transfer sheet (second embodiment) Sectional view of image foil transfer sheet (third embodiment) Sectional view of image foil transfer sheet (fourth embodiment)

1 Image foil transfer sheet (first embodiment)
1b Image foil transfer sheet (fourth embodiment)
2a Image foil transfer sheet (second embodiment)
2b Image foil transfer sheet (third embodiment)
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Release sheet with glue 20 Foil sheet 30 Application sheet with glue A Application sheet S Separator (first embodiment, second embodiment, third embodiment)
S2 separator (fourth embodiment)
F foil layer f base film N1 first glue layer N2 second glue layer C clear layer (first embodiment)
NC color layer (second embodiment, third embodiment)
C1 first clear layer (third embodiment)
C2 Second clear layer (third embodiment)
c1 convex part (fourth embodiment)
c2 recess (fourth embodiment)
N glue layer (first embodiment, third embodiment)
P Non-contact printer O Transfer object

The present invention provides an image foil transfer sheet for transferring a metal foil having an arbitrary image shape to the surface of a transfer object, a method for producing the image foil transfer sheet, and a transfer object using the image foil transfer sheet. relates to an image foil transfer method.

Techniques such as water transfer, thermal transfer, sublimation transfer, and dry transfer are known as transfer printing for transferring an image to a transfer target. Among them, dry transfer, in which an adhesive is applied to the back surface of the image layer temporarily adhered to the base sheet, and then the image layer is transferred to the surface of the transfer target by pressing and adhered, does not leave an edge on the image during transfer. Therefore, it looks as if it was printed directly on the object to be transferred, and there is no need for post-processing using a cutting plotter or the like.

The inventor of the present application has worked to simplify the dry transfer technology, and has developed, manufactured and sold the product "Smart Paper (trade name)" described in Non-Patent Document 1. This is a base sheet made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) whose surface has been subjected to a releasable treatment, and a mirror image is printed on the surface by toner printing using a laser printer or the like to form an image layer. After applying acrylic glue on the image layer and drying it, the base sheet is brought into close contact with the transfer target and pressure is applied. When the base sheet is peeled off, only the image layer is placed on the transfer target as a normal image. The transfer is completed by bonding. The smart paper not only has a very simple process, but also does not use solvents or the like, so it does not cause the problem of environmental load. In addition, since it does not use water or apply heat during transfer, it can be applied to a wide range of materials such as paper, wood, leather, fiber (cloth), and ceramics, as well as metal, glass, and synthetic resin. In addition, since the image layer is temporarily attached to a flexible base sheet and then transferred, it can be transferred to three-dimensional objects and curved surfaces that cannot be directly passed through a printer. This has the effect of simplifying the work and increasing efficiency.
Explanation of "Smart Paper"(applicant's website page) URL: https://ing-global.net/smartpaper/

In addition, as shown in Patent Document 1, the inventor of the present application further developed smart paper, provided an image layer between an upper transfer film and a lower glue layer, and placed the transfer film on the image layer. We have developed an image transfer sheet characterized by having releasability and easy adhesion to the glue layer. Unlike smart paper, the image transfer sheet does not need to apply glue to the transfer target to form a glue layer, or remove the glue protruding from the image after transfer. Advantageous effects are achieved in that the work load can be reduced and the finish can be homogenized. In addition, the image transfer sheet is compatible with UV printing, and when the image transfer sheet is manufactured, an arbitrary image is printed on the upper surface of the adhesive layer of the adhesive release sheet in a normal image, and ink is applied to the printing machine. The image layer can be formed by stacking the layers with a desired thickness within the range of specifications. A finish as if printed directly on the object to be transferred can be obtained, and in particular, by taking advantage of the characteristics of UV printing, printing with a high three-dimensional effect suitable for package printing and the like has become possible. Further, since the image transfer sheet can transfer an image onto a planar or three-dimensional object having a size and shape that is difficult to directly print with a printing press, advanced settings of the printing press and dedicated jigs are no longer required. As a result, it has become possible to significantly reduce costs such as printing on low-volume, high-mix products and their packages, originalization and customization of mass-produced products, and printing on prototypes and samples at the product development stage.
JP 2017-209931 A

On the other hand, there has long been a demand for transferring metal foil such as gold foil or silver foil as a desired image onto a transfer object in order to impart a sense of luxury to the transferred image or to realize more diverse expressions. , was difficult in the prior art described above. Metal foil for general interior and decoration use is a "foil sheet" in which metal is vapor-deposited on the surface of a base material such as a plastic film, and an adhesive layer (generally hot-melt adhesive) is provided on the back side. What is called is prevalent. These are cut into the required shape like a cutting sheet, directly attached to the object, and heated to adhere the metal foil together with the base material to the object to be transferred. Cutting is difficult and time consuming. In addition, since the base material is attached to the object, the thickness of the base material degrades the quality of the finish, particularly in the case of delicate figures.

As another means of foil stamping, the foil is placed on the object fixed to the receiving jig, and the printing plate, which has the image as a relief printing on the surface of the metal plate from above, is heated and pressed to press the lettering part. A technique called hot stamping is also known in which a foil is fused to the surface of an object. However, since the production of printing plates is costly, there is a problem in terms of economy when the number of objects to be processed is small or when a large number of images are subjected to foil stamping. In addition, a jig suitable for the object must be prepared, and depending on the shape of the object, it may be difficult to apply hot stamping. Of course, when the object is made of resin that is weak against heat, it cannot be applied in the first place.

Here, if it is possible to form an image layer of a desired shape with a metal foil in the same way that ink is printed on an object by a printer, and transfer it to the object using an image transfer sheet, the texture and expressiveness of the transferred image can be improved. is extremely effective in improving On the other hand, the image transfer sheet according to the prior art such as smart paper can print an image directly on the adhesive layer and attach it to the object like a sticker to transfer only the image. However, since the adhesive layer is provided on the entire surface, when the foil sheet is attached, the entire surface is adhered to the image transfer sheet, and there is a problem that only the desired image portion cannot be transferred.

Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 2, the inventors of the present application have applied an image layer formed by sandwiching a metal foil between a first clear layer as an upper layer and a second clear layer as a lower layer printed by an inkjet printer to be transferred. We have developed a transfer technology that adheres to objects with a glue layer, have already obtained the patent right (Patent No. 6353616), and are manufacturing and selling it. According to the present invention, the foil sheet is transferred while being left on the glue layer with only the image portion sandwiched between the two clear layers in advance being extracted, and the unnecessary foil is removed in advance. Problem solved. As a result, it is possible to easily and freely transfer the desired image according to the printing data to the surface of the article as metal foil. "attachment" can be realized at extremely low cost and efficiently. In particular, there is great potential for use in small-lot, high-mix products and their packaging, originalization and customization of mass-produced products, and foil stamping and foiling on prototypes and samples at the product development stage. It can also be used for architectural interiors and decorations.
JP 2018-011356 A

However, with the image foil transfer sheet according to the present invention, although the transfer of the image foil onto the object itself is extremely simple, the production thereof requires complicated steps over multiple steps. Specifically, (1) a first printing step in which a desired image is printed on the surface of the release sheet with clear ink or primer to form a second clear layer, (2) the foil surface side of the foil sheet is pressed onto the surface of the release sheet, the foil sheet is peeled off and the foil is transferred only to the second clear layer, (3) the first clear with clear ink or primer on the surface of the transferred foil a second printing step of printing a layer to form an image layer; (4) an image transfer step of peeling and removing the release sheet after the application sheet is pressed against the surface of the release sheet to transfer the image layer to the application sheet; (5) A separator pasting process to obtain an image foil transfer sheet by pasting the image layer side of the application sheet to the glue layer side of a separator having a peelable glue layer on one side. There was a demand for further efficiency and cost reduction in manufacturing by simplifying the manufacturing process.

Similarly, as prior arts for transferring only an image foil to a transfer target without using a base material, there are a "metal foil transfer method" according to Patent Document 3, a latex ink according to Patent Document 4, and a Foil Imaging Methods, Laminates, Wallpaper” are known. However, in the invention according to Patent Document 3, a curable ink is printed on the surface of the hot-melt adhesive layer of the laminate in which the hot-melt adhesive layer is formed on the surface of the metal foil on the substrate to form a mask image and transfer it. A metal foil is transferred in the form of a mirror image of the mask image by placing the hot-melt adhesive layer of the transfer material on an object to be transferred, hot-pressing it, and then separating the substrate. In this invention, since heat press is always required at the time of transfer, not only is there a risk of denaturation of the transfer target due to heat, but it is also difficult to apply to three-dimensional objects and uneven surfaces that are difficult to apply heat press. In the invention according to Patent Document 4, a foil image is formed by heat-pressing a transfer foil to an adhesive layer formed in a pattern with latex ink on a base material, and forming a foil transfer layer on the adhesive layer. It is a thing. In this invention, since heating is required to form the image foil, depending on the type of foil, the foil itself may be denatured. The accuracy is inevitably inferior to that of , and although it can be applied to wallpaper pattern formation, it is not suitable for the formation of high-definition images. In addition, preparation of the latex ink and prevention of nozzle clogging are highly difficult, resulting in a high cost.
JP 2012-210715 A Japanese Patent No. 6424894

The present invention has been devised to solve such problems in the prior art. , using a widely used foil sheet and a non-contact printing machine such as an inkjet printer, metal foil in the shape of a desired image that can be printed with a printer, such as complicated figures and small characters (hereinafter referred to as "image foil") ) can be transferred to an object with a simpler structure, a manufacturing method with a process that is even simpler than the conventional technology, and an image foil transfer method using the image transfer sheet. The task is to provide

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 1 of the present invention is a release sheet with adhesive provided with a peelable first adhesive layer on one side of a separator. A foil layer is laminated on the entire surface, and a part of the surface of the foil layer has a clear layer formed by printing an image of an arbitrary shape with clear ink, and the clear layer and the part of the foil layer without the clear layer are separated. An image foil transfer sheet formed by laminating a second glue layer and an application sheet in this order on the entire surface , wherein the first glue layer has easy adhesion to the foil layer, and the second glue layer has an easy adhesion property. is easy to adhere to the foil layer and releasable to the clear layer.

As the separator, in addition to silicon-treated paper having a silicon film formed on the surface as a release layer, silicon-treated resin film based on PET or the like, and non-silicon release paper/film containing no silicon in the release layer. is applicable. On the other hand, since the application sheet has the first adhesive layer firmly adhered to one side thereof as described above, the application sheet and the first adhesive layer cannot be separated. By the way, as the application sheet, the above-mentioned "smart paper" invented by the inventor of the present application can be applied as it is.

A pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) is used for the first glue layer and the second glue layer. Acrylic, silicone, urethane, rubber, and the like can be used as the pressure-sensitive adhesive, and it is desirable to select an appropriate adhesive depending on the type of transfer target and the usage environment. For the adhesive layer of the present invention, an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive, which has high internal strength and resistance to UV (ultraviolet rays), is relatively inexpensive and is often used as a paste for general adhesive tapes, is suitable. . However, most acrylic adhesives have a temperature range of about 15 to 30°C that maintains high durability. should be selected. Silicone-based adhesives are expensive, but exhibit durability over a wide temperature range of -40 to 260°C. In addition, although many urethane-based and rubber-based adhesives are low in cost, they are somewhat inferior in durability (especially resistance to aging due to sunlight and oxidation). It was confirmed that the releasability was sometimes insufficient, but it could become an option depending on future improvements.

The clear ink is also called gloss ink, and is colorless and transparent ink that does not contain dyes such as pigments. A clear ink containing no pigment has small internal stress due to volumetric shrinkage of the coating film during drying and curing, so that it has a large adhesive strength and exhibits high adhesiveness even to foil, which is a metal. In particular, UV ink, which is cured by ultraviolet irradiation, has a crosslinked structure, so it exhibits higher adhesive strength than solvent ink. Therefore, the clear layer itself serves as an adhesive and is firmly integrated with the foil layer.

In clear ink printing with a UV printer, it may be possible to set the coating surface to be glossy or matte by controlling the irradiation of the UV-LED lamp. Since the unevenness of the surface of the foil is reflected on the ultra-thin foil and spoils the appearance, it is desirable to set it to a glossy tone.

Next, the image foil transfer sheet described in claim 2 is the image foil transfer sheet described in claim 1, wherein a color film formed of colored ink is entirely or partially between the clear layer and the foil layer. A layer is provided. Here, "whole" means that the color layer exists on the entire surface between the clear layer and the foil layer. Further, "partially" means that the color layer exists in part between the clear layer and the foil layer, and the clear layer and the foil layer are in direct contact with each other in the part without the color layer.

Next, the image foil transfer sheet according to claim 3 is the image foil transfer sheet according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein fine protrusions are provided on one side of the separator. The surface of the first adhesive layer in contact with one side of the separator is formed with fine recesses corresponding to the protrusions.

The image transfer sheets according to Patent Documents 1 and 2, which are inventions of the applicant of the present application, were initially used mainly for transferring relatively small images to the surfaces of various articles. There is a growing need for transfer of large-sized images and sign displays onto surfaces, floors, and paved road surfaces. However, when a large image is transferred at once, there remains an unsolved problem that air remains between the transfer target and the adhesive layer, resulting in air bubbles. In order to solve this problem, the applicant of the present application, as shown in Patent Document 5, provided a large number of fine protrusions on the surface of a release paper (corresponding to the "separator" of the present invention) to form a glue layer ("separator" of the present invention). We have developed an image transfer sheet in which recesses corresponding to the protrusions are formed on the "adhesive layer" of No. 1), and have already acquired the patent right (Patent No. 6454048) to manufacture and sell it. This image transfer sheet is formed by removing the release paper to expose a glue layer having concave portions and by applying pressure to the surface of the transfer film while bringing the glue layer into close contact with the surface of the transfer film. Most of the air remaining in the air passes between the convex portions and moves to the portion without the image layer, or is discharged from the edge of the image transfer sheet to the outside. Since it disperses in the space between the gaps, it does not generate air bubbles of a size that can be visually recognized with the naked eye.
Japanese Patent No. 6454048

Also in the image foil transfer sheet according to claim 1, the above-mentioned problem of bubble generation occurs. However, by providing fine protrusions on the upper surface of the separator, fine recesses corresponding to the protrusions are formed on the lower surface of the first adhesive layer. It is possible to add the effect of discharging and dispersing air bubbles similar to the transfer sheet.

Next, in the method for producing an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 4, at least (1) the first glue layer of the glue-attached release sheet having a first peelable glue layer provided on one side of the separator; and (2) a clear printing step of printing an image of any shape on a part of the surface of the foil layer with clear ink to form a clear layer. (3) a sheet forming step of attaching the second glue layer of an application sheet having a second glue layer on the back side to the surface of the clear layer and the foil layer of the portion without the clear layer , The first glue layer has easy adhesion to the foil layer, and the second glue layer of the application sheet has easy adhesion to the foil layer and separates from the clear layer. It is characterized by having a pattern.

Next, the method for manufacturing an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 5 is the method for manufacturing an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 4, wherein after the foil attaching step and before the clear printing step, It is characterized by providing a color printing step of printing an arbitrary shape with colored ink on all or part of the foil layer within the range where the image by the clear layer is provided.

Next, the method for producing an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 6 is the method for producing an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 4 or 5, wherein fine particles are formed on one side of the separator. It is characterized in that convex portions are provided on the entire surface, and minute concave portions corresponding to the convex portions are formed on the entire surface of the first adhesive layer in contact with one side of the separator .

Finally, in the image foil transfer method described in claim 7, the separator is peeled off from the image foil transfer sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and the exposed first glue layer is transferred. The application sheet is peeled off after being pressure-bonded to the object, thereby transferring only the image composed of the clear layer and at least the foil layer immediately below the clear layer to the transfer object.

Specifically, the image foil transfer method described in claim 7 is performed as follows. First, the separator of the image foil transfer sheet is peeled off to expose the first adhesive layer, which is pressed against the predetermined surface of the transfer target, and then only the area where the clear layer image exists is covered with a roller from above. After applying pressure with, etc., the application sheet is peeled off. At this time, since the second adhesive layer has releasability from the clear layer in the area where the clear layer has an image, the clear layer is peeled off from the application sheet, and the clear layer and the foil layer immediately below the clear layer are separated from each other. It is transferred in a state of being adhered to the surface of the transfer target by one glue layer. On the other hand, in the portion outside the image where there is no clear layer, the second glue layer of the application sheet is integrated with the first glue layer because it has easy adhesion, and the second glue layer is integrated with the application sheet. While the first glue layer can be peeled off from the separator, the first glue layer, the foil layer, and the second glue layer in the portions other than directly under the clear layer are all removed. It is peeled off from the separator together with the application sheet.

The entire surface of the image foil transferred using the image foil transfer sheet according to claim 1 and claim 2 is covered with a clear layer, and the surface of the metal foil can be visually recognized through the transparent clear layer. On the other hand, in the image foil transferred using the image foil transfer sheet according to claim 3, when the color layer is provided entirely between the clear layer and the foil layer, the foil layer cannot be directly seen, but the image cannot be seen. A presentation effect is produced in which a metallic texture is added to the color layer of the shape. Further, when a color layer is provided in a part between the clear layer and the foil layer, the foil layer can be directly recognized in the part without the color layer.

In the production of the image foil transfer sheet according to Patent Document 2, (1) first printing step, (2) foil transfer step, (3) second printing step, (4) image transfer step, (5) separator attachment In contrast, the image foil transfer sheet according to the present invention requires three steps of (1) foil attachment process, (2) clear printing process, and (3) sheet formation process. It becomes possible to manufacture in the process, and the manufacturing efficiency is greatly improved. In addition, by reducing the number of clear layers from two to one, the printing process can be completed only once, and the amount of clear ink used can be halved. In addition, friction and catching with other articles can be suppressed. Furthermore, by providing a color layer, it is possible to transfer an image to which a metallic effect is added to a color image, or to superimpose an arbitrary pattern or color on a simple foil image to enhance the expressiveness of the image.

In addition, the present invention also inherits the following excellent effects of the image foil transfer sheet according to the prior art of Patent Document 2.
(b) With a non-contact printer such as an inkjet printer that can use clear ink, it is possible to form foil as an image layer according to the printed image, so it is possible to create delicate images such as complicated figures and small characters. can be accurately transferred to the object as a foil. This makes it possible to create expressions that were difficult to achieve with conventional manual foil stamping and foiling. In addition, it is possible to transfer a complex image, in which images are overlaid on foil with ink, to the object in a single transfer.
(b) The same image foil transfer sheet can be continuously mass-produced by a printing method. As a result, work efficiency is greatly improved compared to a method of cutting out images one by one from a foil sheet like a cutting sheet.
(c) High-mix low-volume production for each image data is possible without the need for plate making. Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the cost of transfer to small-lot, high-mix products and their packages, originalization and customization of mass-produced products, and foil stamping and foiling on prototypes and samples at the product development stage. .
(d) No special tools or jigs are required for the transfer. Simply attach the image foil transfer sheet to the object to be transferred, press it, and peel off the application sheet. It does not require technical skill or skill. Moreover, since the transfer process itself does not require heat or a pressurizing device such as a press, it is possible to freely transfer onto objects made of resin that are vulnerable to heat, three-dimensional objects that are difficult to apply a pressurizing device to, and curved surfaces. is.
(e) The adhesive layer (adhesive layer) other than the image foil can be peeled off simply by peeling off the application sheet, which improves work efficiency and provides a beautiful finish.
(f) Since the surface of the transferred image foil is protected by the clear ink, it is highly resistant to abrasion and deterioration over time, and the texture of the foil image is enhanced.
(g) Since the completed image foil transfer sheet is in a state in which the adhesive surface to the object is protected by the separator, it is easy to handle and store like conventional printed image stickers with a base material.

Furthermore, according to the invention of claim 3 of the present invention, even when transferring a large-sized foil image to a building wall surface, a glass surface, a floor surface, a paved road surface, etc., the adhesive layer and the transfer object are Most of the air remaining between the foil images is discharged to the outside of the foil image, and a small amount of air remaining without being discharged is also dispersed in the space between the convex portions, generating air bubbles of a size that can be seen with the naked eye. It has the effect of not

(First embodiment)
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. The first embodiment relates to an image foil transfer sheet described in claim 1, a manufacturing method thereof, and an image foil transfer method using the image foil transfer sheet.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of an image foil transfer sheet 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention. The image foil transfer sheet 1 has a foil layer F on the upper surface of the first glue layer N1 of the release sheet 10 with glue, which is formed by providing the first glue layer N1 on the upper surface of the separator S. has a clear layer C formed by printing an image of arbitrary shape with clear ink, a second adhesive layer N2 is laminated on the upper surface of the foil layer F including the clear layer C, and an application sheet A is laminated on the upper surface. become. In addition, the clear layer C is printed directly on the upper surface of the foil layer F layer by a non-contact printer such as an inkjet printer or a UV printer. It is a layer of clear UV ink that is dried and cured into a thin film by causing a photopolymerization reaction by UV irradiation during printing.

Since the upper surface of the separator S is subjected to release treatment, it can be easily separated from the first adhesive layer N1. Since the first glue layer has easy adhesion to the foil layer F, the foil layer F is non-peelably adhered to the first glue layer N1. The clear layer C itself serves as an adhesive as described above, and is adhered to the foil layer F in a non-peelable manner. The second glue layer N2 has releasability from the clear layer C, but has easy adhesion to the foil layer F like the first glue layer N1. Since the second adhesive layer N2 and the application sheet A are integrated so as not to be peeled off, the second adhesive layer N2 and the application sheet A are integrated with each other. As the application sheet A, "smart paper" invented by the inventor of the present application can be applied.

2 to 6 are cross-sectional views showing the manufacturing process of the image foil transfer sheet 1 step by step. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a foil sticking step of sticking the foil layer F to the first glue layer N1 on the upper surface of the release sheet 10 with glue. The foil sheet 20 has a foil layer F formed by evaporating a metal on the lower surface of the base film f. When peeled off, only the foil layer F is attached to the first adhesive layer N1 (FIG. 3). The metal used for the foil layer F is generally pure gold, pure silver, copper, tin, aluminum, etc., but there are also red silver foil and blue silver foil that change the color tone by smoking silver, and brass that is colored yellow. You can also use Western gold that resembles . In addition, by adding an embossing process to the manufacturing process of the metal foil, interference fringes are generated in the foil to use a hologram foil that makes a three-dimensional pattern stand out, making the image foil more expressive.

FIG. 4 shows the clear printing process. A desired image is printed on the upper surface of the foil layer F using an inkjet printer H using clear ink to form a clear layer C. As shown in FIG. 5 and 6 show the sheeting process. The second glue layer N2 side of the glue-attached application sheet 30 made of the application sheet A having the second glue layer N2 on the lower surface is crimped onto the upper surface of the foil layer F provided with the clear layer C (FIG. 5), Further, the image foil transfer sheet 1 is completed by additionally applying pressure using a roller or a baren only to the portion where the clear layer C exists (FIG. 6).

7 to 10 show steps of image foil transfer using the image foil transfer sheet 1 according to the first embodiment. First, the separator S is peeled off from the image foil transfer sheet 1 (Fig. 7), the exposed first adhesive layer N1 is pressure-bonded to the transfer object O (Fig. 8), and only the part where the clear layer C is present is reapplied. Additional pressure is applied using rollers, barens, etc. (FIG. 9). After that, when the image foil transfer sheet 1 is peeled off, only the foil image in which the foil layer F and the clear layer C are integrated is adhered to the surface of the transfer object O by the first adhesive layer N1, and the transfer is completed (FIG. 10). )

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an image foil transfer sheet 2a according to the second embodiment of the invention. In the second embodiment, the color layer NC made of colored ink is provided entirely between the clear layer C and the foil layer F in the image foil transfer sheet described in claim 2 . The color layer NC is formed by adding a color printing process in which the same image as the clear layer C is printed with colored ink by an inkjet printer after the foil application process and before the clear printing process. It is the same as the first embodiment. Although the color and thickness of the colored ink of the color layer NC are arbitrary, the lighter the color and the thinner the thickness, the greater the effect of the foil layer F immediately below to give a metallic tone. The color layer NC is not limited to printing in a single color, and may be an image composed of arbitrary colors and lines.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an image foil transfer sheet 2b according to the third embodiment of the invention. In the third embodiment, a color layer NC made of colored ink is provided between the clear layer C and the foil layer F in the image foil transfer sheet described in claim 2 . As in the second embodiment, the processes are the same as in the first embodiment except for adding a color printing process. In FIG. 12, the color layer NC is printed on part of the image range on the foil layer F, the clear layer C1 is printed on the remaining part with the same thickness, and the clear layer C2 is printed thereon. , the surface of the clear layer C1 in the area of the image becomes smooth. Here, the clear layer C2 may be printed without printing the clear layer C1 on the remaining portion. A three-dimensional effect can be added to the inside of the image. Furthermore, although not shown, in a color printing process, an arbitrary figure or pattern is printed with clear ink only on the clear layer C1, and a clear layer C2 is provided thereon, so that the image of the foil layer F has three-dimensional unevenness. It is also possible to add only feeling.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an image foil transfer sheet 1b according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. The adhesive release sheet 10 according to the present embodiment has a large number of fine protrusions c1 on at least the upper surface of the separator S2, and fine protrusions c1 corresponding to the protrusions c1 on the lower surface of the first adhesive layer N1. A concave portion c2 is formed on one surface. The shape of the convex portions c1 may be dot-like or linear, but the adjacent convex portions c1 are independent of each other, and when the first adhesive layer N1 comes into contact with the transfer object, the concave portions c2 are cleared. It is desirable to have a shape that is always open to the outside of the image without being closed and isolated directly under the image formed by the layer C.

In the fourth embodiment, the separator S of the glue-attached release sheet 10 of the image foil transfer sheet 1 according to the first embodiment is replaced with the separator S2 provided with the protrusions c1 on the lower surface of the first glue layer N1. Although the concave portion c2 is formed, the separator S2 is applied not only to the first embodiment, but also to the adhesive release sheet 10 of the image foil transfer sheets 2a and 2b of the second and third embodiments. Needless to say, it is possible to form the concave portion c2 in the glue layer.

Although the specific configuration of the image transfer method according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be improved or modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. , which are within the scope of the present invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily and freely transfer a desired image in accordance with print data to the surface of an article as a metal foil. and "foil attachment" can be realized more efficiently and at a lower cost than the conventional technology. In particular, there is great potential for use in small-lot, high-mix products and their packaging, originalization and customization of mass-produced products, and foil stamping and foiling on prototypes and samples at the product development stage. It can also be used for architectural interiors and decorations.

Sectional view of image foil transfer sheet (first embodiment) Sectional view showing a foil attaching process (attaching a foil sheet to a release sheet with glue) (first embodiment) Sectional view showing a foil sticking process (peeling of base film) (first embodiment) Sectional view showing clear printing process (first embodiment) Sectional view showing a sheeting process (pasting of application sheet with glue) (first embodiment) Cross-sectional view showing a sheet forming process (crimping of application sheet with glue) (first embodiment) Sectional view showing the image foil transfer process (separator peeling) (first embodiment) Sectional view showing the process of image foil transfer (attachment to transfer target) (first embodiment) Sectional view showing the process of image foil transfer (pressure bonding to a transfer target) (first embodiment) Sectional view showing the process of image foil transfer (peeling of image foil transfer sheet) (first embodiment) Sectional view of image foil transfer sheet (second embodiment) Sectional view of image foil transfer sheet (third embodiment) Sectional view of image foil transfer sheet (fourth embodiment)

1 Image foil transfer sheet (first embodiment)
1b Image foil transfer sheet (fourth embodiment)
2a Image foil transfer sheet (second embodiment)
2b Image foil transfer sheet (third embodiment)
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Release sheet with glue 20 Foil sheet 30 Application sheet with glue A Application sheet S Separator (first embodiment, second embodiment, third embodiment)
S2 separator (fourth embodiment)
F foil layer f base film N1 first glue layer N2 second glue layer C clear layer (first embodiment)
NC color layer (second embodiment, third embodiment)
C1 first clear layer (third embodiment)
C2 Second clear layer (third embodiment)
c1 convex part (fourth embodiment)
c2 recess (fourth embodiment)
N glue layer (first embodiment, third embodiment)
P Non-contact printer O Transfer object

Claims (7)

A release sheet with adhesive provided with a first adhesive layer that can be peeled off on the upper surface of a separator has a foil layer on the upper surface of the first adhesive layer, and an image of any shape is printed with clear ink on the upper surface of the foil layer. and an application sheet having a second adhesive layer on the bottom surface of the foil layer including the clear layer, the image foil transfer sheet comprising: The glue layer has easy adhesion to the foil layer, and the second glue layer has easy adhesion to the foil layer and releasability to the clear layer. An image foil transfer sheet characterized by: 2. An image foil transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein a color layer made of colored ink is provided wholly or partly between said clear layer and said foil layer. The upper surface of the separator is provided with fine protrusions all over, and the bottom surface of the first glue layer is formed with fine recesses corresponding to the protrusions. 3. The image foil transfer sheet according to claim 1 or 2. At least (1) a foil attaching step of attaching a foil to the upper surface of the first adhesive layer of the adhesive release sheet provided with the first adhesive layer that can be peeled off on the upper surface of the separator to provide a foil layer; 2) a clear printing step of printing an image of an arbitrary shape on the upper surface of the foil layer with clear ink to form a clear layer; and a sheet forming step of attaching the second glue layer side of an application sheet having a layer, wherein the first glue layer has easy adhesion to the foil layer, and the second glue layer of the application sheet has an adhesive property. A method for producing an image foil transfer sheet, wherein the adhesive layer has easy adhesion to the foil layer and releasability to the clear layer. After the foil attaching step and before the clear printing step, a color printing step is provided for printing an arbitrary shape with colored ink on all or part of the foil layer within the range where the image is provided by the clear layer. 5. A method for manufacturing an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 4. The upper surface of the separator is provided with fine protrusions all over, and the bottom surface of the first glue layer is formed with fine recesses corresponding to the protrusions. 6. A method for producing an image foil transfer sheet according to claim 4 or 5. The separator is peeled off from the image foil transfer sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the exposed lower surface of the first adhesive layer is pressed against a transfer target, and then the application sheet is peeled off. Thus, an image foil transfer method is characterized in that only an image composed of the clear layer and at least the foil layer immediately below the clear layer is transferred to a transfer target.

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