JP2548140B2 - Device that forms an image on an object - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for printing an image on an object by repeating sublimation transfer and thermal transfer, and particularly to a card, cloth, paper,
The present invention relates to a device for forming an image on an object including a transparent sheet.

(Prior Art) Generally, printing is used to form an image on an object.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Printing requires a plate, and it takes a lot of time and labor to prepare a plate even for any simple image. Furthermore, synthesizing a plurality of images, for example, an image in which a character or a barcode is combined with the image is extremely complicated.

Further, printing cannot be easily handled because it is necessary to select ink according to the object and to cope with various conditions.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an apparatus capable of forming a clear image without selecting an object.

(Means for Solving Problems) In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the first transfer is performed by a sublimation transfer method according to image data (including character data, line drawing data, pattern data having gradation, etc.). Means to form a first transfer material having a dye image formed on the image transfer material, and then transferring the first transfer material to a second transfer means to thermally transfer the image to an object to obtain a final product. It was created.

(Operation) In the first transfer means, the thermal head prints on the image transfer material via the dye film on the basis of the image data given from various image data input means. This printing is performed by the principle of sublimation transfer, in which the dye on the dye film is sublimated on the image transfer material by the heat of the thermal head.
A transfer is made to form a first transfer. Since the image is formed on the first transfer by the sublimable dye, the second
Then, the final product is completed by transferring it to the transfer means and superimposing it on the object and applying heat.

(Effects of the Invention) First image formed on image transfer material by sublimation transfer method
Has a clear image which is a feature of the sublimation transfer system. By forming this clear image on the object by thermal transfer, it is possible to form an image without particularly selecting the object.

Therefore, a delicate image can be formed on any object.

Then, by controlling heat during sublimation transfer and thermal transfer, suitable color development can be performed, and in this respect also, the image quality becomes good.

Also, in the final product obtained by thermally transferring the sublimation-transferred image, the layer located below the image during sublimation transfer is turned upside down by thermal transfer and acts as a protective layer. Play. For example, reduction of stains, improvement of light resistance, weather resistance, chemical resistance, reduction of color fading, glossiness, and facilitation of giving unevenness to grain.

(Embodiment) FIGS. 1A and 1B (a), (b) and (c) show the construction of an embodiment of the present invention. First, referring to FIG.
An image input unit 101 forms image data based on input of light such as a TV camera and a line sensor. In addition to these, video, CD, TV, scanner, captain system, etc. that provide image signals can be used as well. The image data output from the image input means 101 or the like is stored in the memory 105 via the data processing device 104.
Stored in. This stored data is then processed by the data processing device.
It is given to the display 102 via 104 and displayed.

The data processing device 104 is adapted to input position data relating to the display image on the display 102 to which the position data input means 103 such as a mouse and a tablet digitizer are connected, and to input character data such as a keyboard. The means 106 and the font generator 109 are used to input character data, and the bar code generator 110 is used to input a bar code. As a result, various processes are added to the image data.

The processed data is converted by the data conversion device 107 into data suitable for operating the sublimation transfer printer, and then output to the thermal head via the driver 108.

Next, in FIGS. 1B (a) and (b), 121 is a thermal head to which a signal is given from the driver of FIG. 1A,
The thermal head 121 is arranged so as to face the platen roll 122, and the common point is that the dye film is fed from the feeding roll 123 to the winding roll 124 toward the printing position between them.

Then, FIG. 3A shows a mechanism in which the former prints a card-shaped or sheet-shaped transferred sheet dye image.

Further, FIG. 2B shows a mechanism suitable for continuously making cards by using a film-shaped transfer sheet and a dye film.

Returning to FIG. 4A again, the transfer target sheet (card, sheet, etc.) stored in the case 125 is pushed up by the spring below the case 125 so as to come into pressure contact with the take-out roll 126. By the rotation of the take-out roll 126, the platen roll 1 is transferred via the transfer sheet transfer belts 127 and 128.
Sent to 22. And positioned platen roll 12
On the other hand, the transfer sheet is fixed by a mechanical attaching / detaching jig such as a gripper, electrostatic attraction or electromagnetic means, and then the platen roll 122 is rotated to move it to the printing start position.

Next, the thermal head 121 is pressed against the transfer sheet through the dye film, and the dye film and platen roll 1
While moving 22 synchronously, the thermal head 121 is energized to transfer an image (first transfer).

After the transfer, the platen roll 122 is rotated, the gripper is removed, and the take-out roll 129 is rotated and brought into pressure contact and taken out to the tray 130.

This is superposed on a transfer target sheet (not shown) and fused by a heat roll (not shown) or the like to complete the process. (Second
Transcription). Before the fusing, the transfer target sheet may be processed by punching and trimming.

This makes it possible to print a single color, but in the case of color, 3
It is necessary to repeat printing using a color or 4-color dye film. In this case, after printing one color, the platen roll is rotated and is not pressed against the take-out roll 129, and is moved to the printing start position again to repeat the same operation.

Further, FIG. 3B will be described by taking as an example the case where the dye film is a pattern for separately coloring three colors of cyan, magenta and yellow.

First, the transferred sheet from the roll 131 and the dye film from the roll 123 are overlapped and brought into contact with the positioned platen roll 122, and the thermal head 121 is further placed thereon.
To press. At this time, the platen roll 122 is rotated counterclockwise while synchronizing the platen roll 122 and the dye film, and the thermal head 121 is energized to print the first color.

Subsequently, the dye film is fed to the second color position, and the second color is printed while the platen roll 122, the dye film, and the transfer target sheet are fed clockwise around the platen roll 122.

Printed second color dye film on platen roll 122
Print the third color while feeding in the counterclockwise direction.

Then, the stacked cards to be transferred are sent one by one between the thermal transfer rolls 132 and 133 with a roll (not shown) or the like, positioned and superposed on the transferred sheet on which the image is transferred, and the thermal transfer rolls 132 and 133 are pressed against each other. Paint on the card.

There are also the following methods for printing with a thermal head.

[First color] Printing is performed while moving the platen roll, the transfer target sheet, and the dye film counterclockwise.

[Second color] The platen roll and the transfer target sheet are moved in the clockwise direction, and the dye film is printed in the counterclockwise direction at the same speed for printing.

[Third color] The platen roll, the transfer target sheet, and the dye film are moved counterclockwise for printing.

FIG. 1B (c) is a thermal transfer roll 132,133 of FIG. 1B (b).
It is a flat press type transfer head that can be used instead of the above.

In the above first transfer and second transfer processes, transfer
It should be noted that the image is flipped left and right every time it is performed. In other words, when the transfer is repeated twice, the normal image once changes to the reverse image and then returns to the normal image again. Therefore, in order to obtain a normal image during the first transfer, it is necessary to form reverse image data in the signal processing system. For this purpose, the address order may be reversed when storing or reading data in the memory.

FIG. 2 shows the data processing device 104 in the embodiment of FIG.
It shows the operation contents centering on. The operation contents of the data conversion device 107 and thereafter will be described separately. The operation contents will be described below with reference to FIG.

First, in step S101, an image is taken by the imaging means 101. The image may be picked up from the face of the person to be displayed on the card, or may be an imaged one such as a facial photograph or a portrait. A TV camera or a line sensor is used properly according to these objects.

The data captured by the image pickup means 101 is stored in the memory 105 via the data processing device 104 (S102). Then, an image is displayed on the display 102 using the stored data (S103). Since this display image has not been processed yet, it is generally not suitable for being displayed on the card as it is, but it may be displayed on the card as it is.

Therefore, the operator observes the display image on the display 102 to judge the necessity of additional processing (S104). When it is unnecessary, for example, by operating the keyboard 106, the data processing device 104 ends the processing and sends the data to the next data conversion device 107.

On the other hand, if additional processing is required, the operator observes the display image on the display 102 to determine whether to process the image data, the character data, or the barcode, and to process the image data. If so, the operation of trimming the menu area of the position data input means 103 or selecting the layout cell is performed. As a result, the operations of steps S105 and S106 are performed all at once.

Taking trimming as an example, as the next step, the position input means 103 uses the cursor to provide the position data of the range to be trimmed to the data processing device 104. When a doublet digitizer is used as the position data input means, the trimming range is determined by designating the position of the cursor displayed by overlapping the display image on the display 102 with the predetermined display position on the card by operating the cursor. Then, the operation of deleting the image data outside the trimming range is performed. As a result, the processing operation of step S107 is performed. When this processing operation is completed, the cell at the end of the menu area is selected. As a result, the data is stored at step S102 through step S109, and the display is displayed at step S103. If no additional processing is required, the data conversion device 107 can perform the termination operation using the keyboard 106 as described above. Move to operation.

The layout is operated by the position data input means 103 as in the case of trimming. That is, when the layout is selected in the menu area of the position data input means 103, the entire graphic of the card and the display position of the image are displayed on the display 102. Therefore, an operation such as correcting the inclination of the image so as to match the display position is performed. As a result, the processing operation of step S108 is performed. When finished, select the ending cell in the menu area.

As described above, when the position data input means 103 selects the menu area, trimming and layout are performed, while when the keyboard 106 is operated, character data is input (S110). What is character data?
If it is an ID card, it is related to the name, date of birth, etc., and the display 102 is used so that the data entered from the keyboard 106 is at the position on the screen determined for each item by using the output font of the font generator 109. Is displayed in. The operator confirms the displayed image and, if correct, operates the keyboard 106 to terminate (S111).

When finished, the data is stored in the memory 105 (S102),
And because it is displayed on the display 102, check it again,
The operation ends.

For barcode input, steps S112 and S113.
Is input in the same manner as when inputting character data. The barcode or the like may be separately input by printing or other mechanical method.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a data processing circuit for a sublimation transfer printer used in the present invention. As shown in the figure, the processing circuit 107 is composed of a pixel density converter 3, a color corrector 4, a gradation corrector 11, a storage device 12, a buffer 13, a mean diameter converter 14, and a driver 108. It is connected to the input device 100.

The image input device 100 inputs R, G, B or Y, M, C three primary color data of an original image to a sublimation transfer printer.

The pixel density converter 3 converts the pixel density of the image data input from the image input device 100 into a predetermined pixel density, and thins or interpolates the image data for each color. Here, in order to obtain a high quality color hard copy, it is preferable to convert the pixel density to at least about 10 lines / mm.

The color corrector 4 corrects the three primary color data converted into a predetermined pixel density in accordance with the characteristics of the transfer ink on the transfer sheet, and also forms the smear data. For low grade products, the sum data may be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the color corrector 4. As shown, the color corrector 4 includes adders 6Y, 6M, 6C, a sumi data calculator 7, a primary color correcting circuit 8, and The secondary color correcting circuit 9 is composed of a secondary color correcting circuit 9, and the primary color correcting circuit 8 corrects the turbidity of the transferred ink. The secondary color correcting circuit 9 controls an arbitrary color by selectively correcting a specific hue. It has a function that enables control.

The gradation corrector 10 receives Y, M, C, K input from the color corrector 4.
The gradation of the data for each color of (smear) is corrected as necessary, and a gradation circuit (not shown) or the like is provided, and highlights and shadows can be emphasized.

The storage device 12 temporarily stores the data for each color output from the gradation corrector 10. The output side of the storage device 12 is provided with a selection switch 12, and the buffer 13 stores the data for each color. You can write on it.
Then, data for one line of the transfer head 6 can be written in the buffer 13, and the buffer 13 is connected to a parallel-to-serial converter 14 that converts parallel data into serial data.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the parallel-to-serial converter 14. As shown, parallel data from the buffer 13 is given to one input side of the comparator 22, and output from the counter 23 is given to the other input side. The comparator 22 outputs the serial data based on these inputs, and supplies the serial data to the driver 15. The driver 15 drives the transfer head 16 based on the serial data.

FIG. 6 is a detailed circuit diagram of the transfer head 121. As shown in FIG. 6, when serial data from the comparator 22 is applied to the shift register SR, the serial data is latched by the latch circuit LT and then the strobe signal from one side. Is applied to the heating element HE via the NAND gate NA.

Next, the operation of the data processing circuit 107 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

First, when the three-primary-color data of an original image is input to the pixel density converter 3 from various image input devices 100, the pixel-density converter 3 converts the three-primary-color data into a predetermined pixel density and inputs it to the color corrector 4. To do. At this time, it is assumed that the color corrector 4 is supplied with the three primary color data represented by the density signals, and in the present embodiment, yellow, magenta, and cyan data Y0, M0, C0.
Is given.

The data Y0, M0, C0 input to the color corrector 4 is input to the sumi data calculation circuit 7 through the adders 6Y, 6M, 6C as shown in FIG. 4, and K = min (Y, M, C ) However, min represents the function that gives the minimum value.

The sumi data K is calculated by and output.

On the other hand, the data Y0, M0, C0 from the pixel density converter 3 is input to the primary color correction circuit 8 and the primary correction data Y1, M1, C1 is 2
It is input to the next color correction circuit 9 and the secondary correction data Y2, M2, C2 are calculated. Then, this secondary correction data is added to the adders 6Y and 6
It is supplied to M, 6C and added to the corresponding data Y0, M0, C0 to become data Y, M, C, and the sum data calculation circuit 7
After the Sumi data K is calculated by the above, it is directly input to the gradation corrector 10 as an output signal.

The primary color correction circuit 8 functions to calculate the primary correction data Y1, M1, C1 necessary for the correction of the turbidity of the transfer ink.
The original data Y0, M0, C0 are matrix-operated as in the following equation to calculate the primary correction data Y1, M1, C1.

Y1 = -k ₁₁ / C0-k ₁₂ / M0 + k ₁₃ / Y0 M1 = -k ₂₁ / C0 + k ₂₂ / M0-k ₂₃ / Y0 C1 = k ₃₁ / C0 + k ₃₂ / M0-k ₃₃ / Y0 where k _ij : weight Coefficients i = 1 to 3 j = 1 to 3 The secondary color correction circuit 9 uses the primary correction data Y1, M1, and C1 in order to enable arbitrary color control by selective correction for a specific hue. On the other hand, it works to calculate the secondary correction data Y2, M2, C2 with a predetermined correction. The primary correction data is matrix-calculated as in the following equation to obtain the secondary correction data Y2, M2, C2. Calculate.

Y2 = Y1 + l ₁₁ / ΔB + l ₁₂ / ΔC + l ₁₃ / ΔG + l ₁₄ / ΔY + l ₁₅ / ΔR + l ₁₆ / ΔM M2 = M1 + l ₂₁ / ΔB + l ₂₂ / ΔC + l ₂₃ / ΔG + l ₂₄ / ΔY + l ₂₅ / ΔR + l ₂₆ / ΔM C2 = C1 + l ₃₁ / ΔB + l ₃₂ / ΔC + l ₃₃・ ΔG + l ₃₄・ ΔY + l ₃₅・ ΔR + l ₃₆・ ΔM However, l _ij : Weighting coefficient i = 1 to 3 j = 1 to 6 ΔB, ΔC, ΔG, ΔY, ΔR, ΔM: Special color data Therefore, this secondary correction Data Y2, M2, C2 are added by adder 6
By adding the original data Y0, M0, C0 by Y, 6M, 6C and selecting the weighting coefficient k _ij by the primary color correction circuit 8, the ideal color of the ink on the image printed by the sublimation transfer printer is selected. Can be corrected arbitrarily, and if the weighting factor l _ij by the secondary correction circuit 9 is selected, the color condition of the image to be printed can be corrected arbitrarily.

In addition, the correction data for the Sumi data K is also calculated by the following formula.
K2 may be calculated, and this may be added to the sumi data K so that the correction can be performed.

K2 = K + m1 ・ ΔB + m2 ・ ΔC + m3 ・ ΔG + m4 ・ ΔY + m5 ・ ΔR + m6 ・ ΔM However, MI: weight coefficient i = 1 to 6 The data of Y, M, C, K output from the color corrector 4 in this way is gradation. The data is input to the corrector 10 and is corrected for each data.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the correction performed by the gradation corrector 10. f0 is a standard characteristic curve, f1 is a highlight emphasis curve, f2 is a shadow emphasis curve, f3 is a highlight / shadow emphasis curve, and f4 is an intermediate value. It is a keying curve. As shown in the figure, by setting the tone reproduction characteristics that determine the relationship between the density of color data and the density of the printed matter printed by the sublimation transfer printer, if necessary, it is possible to reproduce a tone close to the original image. That is, the curve f0 may be used when the correction is not performed, and the curves f1 to f4 may be appropriately used when the correction is performed according to the gradation portion to be emphasized. Further, the tone reproduction characteristic curve is not limited to that shown in the figure, and can be set arbitrarily. Then, for example, the gradation correction control based on the tone reproduction characteristic is performed by a gradation circuit (not shown), and a knob (not shown) provided individually for each of highlight, halftone, and shadow is adjusted. As a result, the tone reproduction characteristic is set.

Next, the Y, M, C, and K data corrected by the gradation corrector 10 is temporarily stored in the storage device 11. The data stored in the storage device 11 is read out for each color by the selection switch 12, stored in the buffer 13 for each line of the transfer head 16, and then input to the parallel-to-parallel converter 14 as parallel data and serially input. Converted to data.

The serial data thus converted from the parallel data is applied to the shift register SR shown in FIG. 6 for n pixels, latched by the latch circuit LT, and then NAND gated.
Input to NA. Then, when the strobe signal ST is input to the NAND gate NA, the data for the n pixels is heated.
Given to HE.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing signals for each pixel. The drawing shows that the first pixel has the highest gradation, the nth pixel has the lowest gradation, and the second to (n−1) th pixels. Shows an example that changes linearly.

Next, the operation of the parallel-to-serial converter 14 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 5, pixel data A (A0 ...
Parallel 8-bit data consisting of A7) is given to one input of the comparator 22, and the output B of the counter 23 (8-bit increment output consisting of B0 to B7) is given to the other input of the comparator 22. The counter 23 increments the clock and changes its outputs B0 to B7 one by one.

The comparator 22 compares these two inputs A and B, and the increment output B of the counter 13 is the pixel data A.
"1" is output until A> B and A = B, and then "0" is output.
That is, the comparator 22 continues to output "1" until the increment value of the counter 23 corresponding to the density weight of the pixel data A is given. For example, if pixel data A
If the density is 128 gradations in 256 gradations, serial data in which 128 "1" s are consecutive and 128 "0" s are successively obtained is obtained.

This serial data is A> B of the comparator 22 and A =
The B output is taken out as A ≧ B via the OR gate 24, and 256 gradations are expressed in this example. This gradation can be small. For example, if the increment bit is B1 instead of B0, 128 gradations, B
With a setting of 2, there are 64 gradations, and you can easily change the gradation settings.

In this way, by incrementing the output B of the counter 23 by 1, “1” continues until the relation between the pixel data A and the output B of the counter 23 becomes A = B, and thereafter, serial data that becomes “0” is generated. can get. This serial data is explained in comparison with FIG. 4 and FIG.

FIG. 9 shows the conversion contents in another mode of the parallel-to-serial converter 14 as a matrix. When the image data is 8-bit parallel data as shown in the figure, the gradation data represents 0 to 255. … 00 to 11 …… 11 serial data. In this way, the data stored in the buffer 13 for each line of the transfer head 16 is applied to the parallel-to-parallel converter 14 and converted into serial data, and applied to the transfer head 16 via the driver 15 to transfer the transfer drum. It is recorded on the image receiving paper P on the sheet 17.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the sublimation transfer printer of the present invention.

Explaining this, first, preparations such as paper setting and ribbon cueing are performed (S1), and when printing is started (S2), any one of the colors, that is, C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), K ( Printing is performed while updating the line for each line for any of the colors (Sumi) (S
3, S4). When printing for one color is completed (S5), the transfer sheet is changed to another color (S6), and printing is performed for the other three colors. It is most preferable to use a long sheet in which each color is repeatedly printed in a predetermined pattern as the transfer sheet. For each color, the image receiving paper starts printing from a predetermined position (S8). Then, after printing the four colors, eject the paper (S9).
The operation ends. FIG. 11 is a front view of the final product 200 according to the present invention made as a card, FIG. 12 is a sectional view thereof, 201 in the drawing is a card base material, 202 is a display layer, and 203. Is a surface protective layer, and 204 is a display image. Depending on the application, the surface protective layer may be omitted.

The final product 200 of the present invention is characterized in that the display image 204 of its display layer 202 is made of a sublimable dye, as illustrated in FIG. 11 and FIG.

The material that can be used as the transfer sheet in the present invention may be any of various types of paper, processed paper, plastic sheet, metal, glass and the like. These base materials 201 generally have a thickness of about 0.68 to 0.80 mm and a size of about 11 to 8 × 8 to 5 cm.

Further, as the display layer 202, a material that can be dyed with a sublimable dye, for example, a plastic material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, ABS, AS, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyamide, polyurethane, or the like is preferable.

The end product 200 of the present invention is characterized by the display layer 202 as described above.
All or a part of the display image 204 displayed on the screen is formed of a sublimable dye.

To form the image 204, a sublimation transfer sheet used in a known sublimation transfer method, that is, a dye capable of being sublimated by heating is supported on the surface of a support such as paper, a plastic film, or a sheet with a binder resin. It is possible to easily form a sublimation transfer sheet by heating the same in a patterned manner from the back surface of the sublimation transfer sheet. A dye having a molecular weight of 250 or more is suitable for enhancing the preservability, but a molecular weight of 370 or more is particularly preferable.

In the sublimation transfer as described above, after the image 204 is formed on a separately prepared sheet, the sheet may be attached or laminated to the base material 201.

Next, the structure, material, usage and use of the transfer sheet used in the present invention will be described.

FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically showing a basic embodiment of the transfer sheet used in the present invention, and FIGS. 14 to 19 are views showing a preferred embodiment of the transfer sheet of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 13, the basic structure of the transferred sheet 310 used in the present invention is characterized in that a peelable image receiving layer 302 is provided on one surface of an arbitrary sheet-shaped substrate 301. When the transfer sheet of the present invention has such a structure, the image receiving layer 302 formed of a transfer sheet having a heat transferable dye is used.
Image-receiving layer 302 having the desired image formed thereon and then having the image formed thereon.
By peeling the sheet-shaped base material 301 from the sheet-shaped base material 301 and adhering the sheet-shaped base material 301 to an arbitrary article by an arbitrary means, the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art are basically solved.

That is, the image receiving layer 302 in the above is limited to a material that can be dyed with a heat transferable dye, but the image forming and peeled from the sheet-like substrate 301 is the bonding method according to the material of the article to be decorated. Thus, it is possible to freely attach glass, metal, wood, or a plastic material that is difficult to dye with a heat transfer dye. Further, the image receiving layer 302 having an image and peeled from the sheet-shaped substrate 301
Is very thin and has sufficient flexibility, so that even if the surface shape of the article to be decorated is a curved surface or an uneven surface, it is possible to sufficiently follow those surface shapes. Adhesion is not limited by the surface shape. Further, similarly, since the image receiving layer 302 having an image is very thin, unlike a conventional sticker, it can be easily integrated with an article to be decorated, and the sticking portion does not rise, giving a so-called sticking feeling. There is no such thing.

FIG. 14 shows a preferred example of the transfer sheet 310 of the present invention, in which release layers 303, 303 ′ are provided on the surface of the image receiving layer 302 or between the image receiving layer 302 and the sheet-shaped substrate 301. ing.

The release layer 303 is for preventing heat-induced adhesion between the transfer sheet and the image receiving layer 302 when the heat transferable dye is transferred from a transfer sheet (not shown) to form an image on the image receiving layer 302. However, it is not necessary when such adhesion does not occur or when such a release layer is provided on the surface of the transfer sheet. The release layer 303 ′ is the image receiving layer 3 after image formation.
This is for facilitating the peeling of 02, and is provided when the sheet-shaped substrate 301 is difficult to peel from the image receiving layer 302 like paper, and the sheet-shaped substrate 301 itself is originally the image receiving layer 302 like a polyester film. When it has sufficient peelability, it is not particularly necessary.

The fifteenth illustrated example shows another preferable example of the transfer sheet 310 of the present invention, which comprises an image receiving layer 302 and a sheet-shaped substrate 301.
An intermediate layer 304 and / or a release layer 303 'is provided between the two. The intermediate layer 304 and the release layer 303 'may be laminated in any order. The intermediate layer 304 referred to here is the image receiving layer 302.
When a heat transferable dye is transferred from the transfer sheet to form an image, the image is formed sufficiently, and for example, a cushion layer or a heat insulating layer. For example, by providing a layer having a cushioning property as the intermediate layer 304, the adhesion between the transfer sheet and the image receiving layer 302 is improved, and the transfer of the heat transferable dye during image formation by the thermal head is made uniform,
An image sufficiently corresponding to the image signal can be formed.
Further, by forming the intermediate layer 304 as a heat insulating layer from a heat insulating material, the heat transferable dye is transferred from the transfer sheet to the image receiving layer.
The heat applied during the shift to 302 can be prevented from being dissipated, the heat utilization efficiency is improved, and sufficient image formation is promoted. Of course, these cushion layers or heat insulating layers may be separately provided at the same time in any order.

When the intermediate layer 304 is present above the release layer, the intermediate layer 304 is also removed at the same time when the image-receiving layer 302 is released, while the intermediate layer 304 is below the release layer 303. The intermediate layer 304 is the sheet-shaped substrate 301 after the image receiving layer 302 is peeled off.
Remain on top. Therefore, when the peeled image-receiving layer 302 is attached with the surface of the release layer 303 facing the article to be decorated, the intermediate layer 304
Is preferably substantially transparent.

The examples shown in FIGS. 16 to 18 are the same as those in the example shown in FIG.
A third protective layer 305 is further provided between the sheet 2 and the sheet-shaped substrate 301. The protective layer 305 prevents deterioration of the image of the image receiving layer 302 when the image receiving layer 302 on which an image has been formed and peeled off is attached with the surface (image forming surface) of the image receiving layer 302 facing the article to be decorated. It is made of a material having various physical properties such as abrasion resistance, light resistance, weather resistance, and chemical resistance. By providing such a protective layer 305, it is possible to improve various toughness of the image after being attached to the article to be decorated.

The example shown in the sixteenth example is an example in which such a protective layer 305 is provided between the intermediate layer 304 and the release layer 303 ', and the example shown in the seventeenth example is one in which the image receiving layer 302 and the release layer 303' are provided. In the example shown in FIG. 18, the intermediate layer 304 also serves as the protective layer 305. In any case, such a protective layer 305 is a release layer 303 ′.
It is desirable that the image receiving layer 302 which forms an image and is isolated by reversing the image forming layer is provided as the uppermost layer when the image receiving layer 302 is attached to the article to be decorated.

Furthermore, the example shown in the nineteenth example is similar to the image receiving layer 30 in the example shown in the fourteenth example.
This is an example in which an adhesive layer 306 is further provided between the 2 and the release layer 303. Of course, such an adhesive layer 306 can be provided adjacent to the release layer 303 'in the other illustrated examples.

Such an adhesive layer 306 is useful when it is attached to an article to be decorated without inverting the image-receiving layer 302 that has formed an image and peeled, and in such an example, FIGS. The protective layer 305 in is unnecessary.

By providing the adhesive layer 306 in advance, the image receiving layer 302 on which an image has been formed and peeled off can be directly attached to the article to be decorated without using a special adhesive means. Such an adhesive layer 306 may be an adhesive layer having tackiness at room temperature, or a heat-sensitive or photosensitive adhesive layer that exhibits tackiness by heat or light.

The above is the main configuration of the transfer sheet of the present invention, and various modes other than the above preferable examples are obvious to those skilled in the art, and these obvious modes are naturally included in the present invention.

Next, the apparatus of the present invention is characterized mainly in that the transfer-receiving sheet of the present invention as described above is used for decoration.

As a basic mode, the method illustrated in FIGS. 20 to 21 will be described.

The example shown in FIG. 20 uses the transfer sheet shown in FIG. 13, and first, a transfer sheet 320 which is a conventionally known transfer sheet having a heat transferable dye (sublimation dye) as a recording agent is used as the transfer sheet 310.
In addition, the dye carrying layer 321 of the transfer sheet is superposed so as to face the image receiving layer 302 of the transferred sheet 310, and an image signal is applied from either side of the transfer sheet 320 or the transferred sheet 310, preferably the transfer sheet 320 side by a thermal head. A desired image 307 is formed on the image-receiving layer 302 by applying thermal energy (arrow) according to. Then, the image-receiving layer 302 having the image thus formed is peeled from the sheet-shaped substrate 301 or is attached to the article to be decorated without peeling.
When not peeled in advance, the sheet-shaped substrate is peeled off after sticking. When peeling, the image receiving layer 302 and the sheet-shaped substrate 3
When the adhesive layer 306 is previously formed between 01 and
The adhesive layer 306 is placed so as to oppose the article to be decorated 330,
The decoration method of the present invention is completed by attaching the image receiving layer 302 to the article to be decorated 330 by means such as pressure, heat or light depending on the adhesive layer 306. When the adhesive layer is not formed in advance, the adhesive is applied to the surface of the article to be decorated 330 or either surface of the peeled image-receiving layer 302 to invert the image-receiving layer 302 as it is. Decorative article 330
Affix to (Fig. 21).

Further, since the image receiving layer 302 is generally formed of a thermoplastic resin which can be dyed with a heat transferable dye, it can be directly heat fused to a plastic molded product, cloth, metal or the like without the need for any adhesive layer. Is also possible.

The decoration method according to the present invention has been described above with reference to a basic example, but the same applies to the case where the decoration method according to the present invention is performed using the transfer sheet of the present invention illustrated in FIG.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail in terms of the materials and the method of constituting the transfer sheet of the present invention as described above.

As the sheet-shaped substrate, (1) synthetic paper (polyolefin-based, polystyrene-based, etc.), (2) high-quality paper, art paper,
Coated paper, cast coated paper, wallpaper, backing paper, backing paper, synthetic resin or emulsion impregnated paper, synthetic rubber latex impregnated paper, synthetic resin internal paper, paperboard, cellulose fiber paper, (3) polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, Various plastic films or sheets such as polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polymethacrylate, and polycarbonate can be used.

Of these, the synthetic paper (1) is preferable because it has a microvoid layer having low thermal conductivity (in other words, high heat insulation) on its surface. Further, a laminated body formed by any combination of the above (1) to (3) can also be used. As an example of a typical laminated body, cellulose fiber paper and synthetic paper, or
Synthetic paper of cellulose fiber paper and plastic film or sheet may be mentioned. Among them, the laminated body of cellulose fiber paper and synthetic paper compensates for the thermal instability (expansion and contraction) of the synthetic paper, and the high thermal sensitivity of printing due to the low thermal conductivity of the synthetic paper. You can show it.
Further, in order to balance the front and back of the laminate in this combination, it is preferable to use a three-layer laminate of synthetic paper, cellulose fiber paper, and synthetic paper, and curling due to printing can be reduced.

As the synthetic paper used for the above-mentioned laminated body, any synthetic paper can be used as long as it can be usually used as a synthetic paper base material of a transfer sheet, but in particular, a paper-like layer containing fine pores is provided. Synthetic paper (for example, commercially available synthetic paper Jubo: made by Oji Yuka Synthetic Paper) is preferable. The fine pores in the paper-like layer can be formed, for example, by stretching a synthetic resin in the state of containing a fine filler. The transfer-receiving sheet formed by using the synthetic paper provided with the paper-like layer containing the fine pores has an effect that the image density is high and no image variation occurs when an image is formed by thermal transfer. It is considered that this is because the fine pores have a heat insulating effect, the thermal energy efficiency is good, and the good cushioning property of the fine pores contributes to the image receiving layer provided on the synthetic paper and on which an image is formed. Be done. It is also possible to directly provide the paper-like layer containing the fine pores on the surface of a core material such as cellulose fiber paper.

A plastic film may be used in addition to the cellulose fiber paper in the laminate, and a laminate of the cellulose fiber paper and the plastic film may also be used.

Examples of the method for sticking the synthetic paper and the cellulose fiber paper include, for example, sticking using a conventionally known adhesive, sticking using an extrusion laminating method, sticking by heat bonding, and the like. Examples of the method for adhering to the plastic film include an adhering method such as a laminating method and a calendering method which simultaneously serve to form the plastic film. The above-mentioned sticking means is appropriately selected according to the material of the sticking member and the synthetic paper. Specific examples of the adhesive include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, emulsion adhesives such as polyvinyl acetate, water-soluble adhesives such as polyester containing a carboxyl group, and the like, and as the adhesive for lamination,
Adhesives such as polyurethane-based and acrylic-based organic solvent solution type adhesives can be used.

The material forming the image receiving layer is for receiving a heat transferable dye that moves from the transfer sheet, for example, a sublimable disperse dye, and maintaining the image formed by the reception. For example, the following synthetic resins (a) to (e) are used alone or 2
It can be used by mixing two or more kinds.

(A) Those having an ester bond.

Polyester resin, polyacrylic ester resin, polycarbonate resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, styrene acrylate resin, vinyl toluene acrylate resin, etc.

(B) Those having a urethane bond.

 Polyurethane resin and the like.

(C) Those having an amide bond.

 Polyamide resin (nylon).

(D) Those having a urea bond.

 Urea resin etc.

(E) Others having a highly polar bond.

Polycaprolactone resin, polystyrene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyacrylonitrile resin, etc.

The image receiving layer is composed of a mixed resin of saturated polyester and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer. Examples of the saturated polyester include Byron 200 and Byron 2
90, Byron 600, etc. (manufactured by Toyobo), KA-1038C (manufactured by Arakawa Chemical), TP220, TP235 (manufactured by Nippon Gosei) and the like are used. The vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer preferably has a vinyl chloride content of 85 to 97 wt% and a degree of polymerization of about 200 to 800. The vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer is not necessarily limited to a copolymer of only a vinyl chloride component and a vinyl acetate component, but includes a vinyl alcohol component, a maleic acid component, and the like within a range not to impair the object of the present invention. There may be. The image-receiving layer may also be composed of a polystyrene-based resin, for example, a styrene-based monomer, for example, a polystyrene-based resin composed of styrene, α-methylthretin, vinyltoluene homopolymer or copolymer, or the styrene-based monomer. And other monomers, for example, acrylic or methacrylic monomers such as acrylic acid ester, methacrylic acid ester, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, or a thretin type copolymer resin which is a copolymer with maleic anhydride.

Among the above synthetic resins, polyester resins are particularly preferred.

In any of the above modes, the image receiving layer is used for the purpose of improving the whiteness of the image receiving layer to further improve the sharpness of the transferred image, imparting writability to the surface of the transferred sheet, and preventing retransfer of the transferred image. White pigments can be added in the layers. As the white pigment, methane oxide, zinc oxide, kaolin clay, calcium carbonate, fine powder silica, and the like are used, and as described above, two or more kinds thereof can be mixed and used. Further, in order to further enhance the light resistance of the transferred image, an ultraviolet absorber and / or a light stabilizer may be added to the image receiving layer. The amount of these ultraviolet absorbers and light stabilizers added is preferably 0.05 to 10 parts by weight and 0.5 to 3 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the resin constituting the image receiving layer.

The transfer sheet used in the present invention has a release layer formed on one surface or both surfaces of the image receiving layer in order to improve the releasability between the transfer sheet and the image receiving layer and the sheet-shaped substrate. Alternatively, or in place of this, a releasing agent may be contained in the image receiving layer. Examples of the release agent include solid waxes such as polyethylene wax, amide wax, and Teflon powder; fluorine-based and phosphoric acid ester-based surfactants; silicone oil and the like, with silicone oil being preferred.

As the silicone oil, oily ones can be used, but curable ones are preferable. Examples of the curable silicone oil include a reaction curable type, a photocurable type and a catalyst curable type, and a reaction curable type silicone oil is particularly preferable. The reaction-curable silicone oil is preferably a reaction-cured amino-modified silicone oil and an epoxy-modified silicone oil, and the amino-modified silicone oil is KF-393, KF-857, or KF.
-858, X-22-3680, X-22-3801C (above, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. product) etc. are mentioned, As epoxy modified silicone oil, KF-100T, KF-101, KF-60-164 is mentioned. , KF
-103 (above, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and the like. As the catalyst-curable or photocurable silicone oil, KS-705F, KS-770 (catalyst-curable silicone oil: manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), KS-720, KS
-774 (above, photocurable silicone oil: manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and the like. The amount of the curable silicone oil added is 0.5 to 30 wt% of the resin constituting the image receiving layer.
% Is preferred. Further, a release layer can be provided on a part of the surface of the image receiving layer by dissolving or dispersing the release agent in an appropriate solvent and applying the solution, followed by drying. As the release agent constituting the release layer, a reaction curing type of the above-mentioned amino-modified silicone oil and epoxy-modified silicone oil is particularly preferable. The thickness of the release layer is 0.01-5 μm,
It is particularly preferably 0.05 to 2 μm.

If silicone oil is added during the formation of the image-receiving layer, the silicone oil will bleed to the surface after application, so that the release layer can be formed even by curing after bleeding.

The image receiving layer is formed by a known coating or printing method using a composition for forming an image receiving layer obtained by dissolving or dispersing a material for forming the image receiving layer on a sheet-shaped substrate, as well as an image receiving layer. Alternatively, the layer 302 may be formed on a temporary carrier different from the sheet-shaped substrate and then transferred onto the sheet-shaped substrate again.

The intermediate layer is either a cushioning layer or a porous layer depending on the constituent material, or in some cases also serves as an adhesive layer.

The cushioning layer is mainly made of a resin having a 100% modulus of 100 kg / cm ² or less specified in JIS-K-6301. Here, if the 100% modulus exceeds 100 kg / cm ² , the rigidity is increased. Since the resin is too high, even if the intermediate layer is formed by using such a resin, sufficient adhesion between the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving layer during printing cannot be maintained. The lower limit of the 100% modulus is practically about 0.5 kg / cm ² .

Examples of resins that meet the above conditions include the following.

Polyurethane resin, polyester resin, polybutadiene resin, polyacrylic acid ester resin, epoxy resin,
Polyamide resin, rosin-modified phenol resin, terpene phenol resin, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer resin, etc.

The above resins can be used alone or in combination of two or more. However, since the above resins have a relatively adhesive property, when there is a problem during processing, an inorganic additive,
For example, silica, alumina, clay, calcium carbonate, or an amide-based substance such as stearic acid amide may be added.

The cushioning layer can be formed by kneading the above-mentioned resin with other additives, if necessary, with a solvent, a diluent, etc. to prepare a paint or ink, and drying it as a coating film by a known coating method or printing method. , Its thickness is
The thickness is 0.5 to 50 μm, more preferably 2 to 20 μm.
If the thickness is less than 0.5 μm, it will not be able to absorb the roughness of the surface of the sheet-shaped substrate provided, and therefore it will not be effective. On the contrary, if it exceeds 50 μm, the effect will not be improved and the image receiving layer will be too thick. It is not economical because it sticks out and interferes with winding and stacking.

The reason why the adhesion between the thermal transfer sheet and the thermal transfer sheet is improved by forming such an intermediate layer is considered to be that the intermediate layer itself is low in rigidity and therefore deformed by the pressure during printing. Such a resin usually has a low glass transition point and a softening point, and it is presumed that it contributes to the fact that the thermal energy applied during printing further lowers the rigidity and makes it easier to deform than at room temperature. .

The porous layer is 1) a layer in which a synthetic resin emulsion such as polyurethane and a synthetic rubber latex such as methylmethacrylate-butadiene system are bubbled by mechanical agitation and applied on a sheet-shaped substrate and dried 2) A layer obtained by coating the above synthetic resin with an emulsion, a liquid obtained by mixing the above synthetic rubber latex with a foaming agent onto a sheet-shaped base material, and drying the same.
3) A layer formed by applying a liquid obtained by mixing a synthetic resin such as vinyl chloride plastisol, polyurethane or the like or a synthetic rubber such as styrene-butadiene type with a foaming agent onto a sheet-shaped base material and heating the same, and 4) a thermoplastic resin or A solution prepared by dissolving synthetic rubber in an organic solvent is a non-solvent that is less likely to evaporate than the organic solvent and has compatibility with the organic solvent, and has no solubility with respect to the thermoplastic resin or the synthetic rubber (water. A microporous layer or the like formed by applying a mixed solution of the main component) to a sheet-shaped substrate and drying the mixture to form a microscopically aggregated film is used. Above 1) ~
Since the layer 3) has large air bubbles, when the solution for forming the image receiving layer is applied onto the layer and dried, the surface of the dried image receiving layer may be uneven. Therefore, in order to obtain the surface of the image receiving layer which is capable of transferring an image having small unevenness and high uniformity, it is preferable to provide the microporous layer of 4) as a porous layer.

Examples of the thermoplastic resin used in forming the microporous layer include saturated polyester, polyurethane, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, cellulose acetopropionate, and the like, and as the synthetic rubber used in the same manner, Examples thereof include styrene-butadiene type, isoprene type and urethane type. Various organic solvents and non-solvents can be used in forming the microporous layer, but usually, a hydrophilic solvent such as methyl ethyl ketone or alcohol is used as the organic solvent, and water is used as the non-solvent. Used.

The thickness of the porous layer in the present invention is preferably 3 μm or more, particularly preferably 5 to 20 μm. When the thickness of the porous layer is less than 3 μm, the cushioning and heat insulating effects are not exhibited.

Although the description has been mixed up, the intermediate layer may also serve as the adhesive layer as described in the method for forming the image receiving layer.

The above-mentioned intermediate layer may be provided on both sides of the heat transferable sheet, or may be provided on only one side.

An antistatic agent may be contained in at least one of the image-receiving layers or on the surface of the image-receiving layer in order to suppress the generation of static electricity during the processing step of the heat transferable sheet or during running in the printer. Antistatic agents include surfactants such as cationic surfactants (eg, quaternary ammonium salts, polyamine derivatives, etc.), anionic surfactants (eg, alkyl sulfonates, etc.), zwitterionic surfactants. Examples include activators or nonionic release agents.
The antistatic agent may be applied to the surface of the image receiving layer by gravure coating, bar coating, or the like, or may be kneaded into the resin of the image receiving layer and transferred to the surface of the image receiving layer during coating and drying of the image receiving layer. A cationic acrylic polymer can be used as the antistatic agent mixed with the image receiving layer resin.

The protective layer is to be peeled from the sheet-like substrate together with the image-receiving layer having an image, becomes the uppermost layer when the image-receiving layer is reversed and attached to the article to be decorated, and the abrasion resistance of the image-receiving layer having the image, It improves light resistance, chemical resistance, etc. For example, as a material for forming the protective layer, an epoxy resin,
Alkyd resin, phenol-modified alkyd resin, aminoalkyd resin, phenol resin, urea resin, melamine resin, silicone resin, thermosetting acrylic resin, thermosetting polyurethane resin, or other thermosetting resin or room temperature curable resin, and other UV rays Active energy ray curable resins such as curable resins and electron beam curable resins or thermoplastic resins such as polyester, polyurethane, polyvinyl acetate resins, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resins, polyolefin resins, acrylic resins, etc. are useful. .

The protective layer made of these resins is formed between the release layer and the image receiving layer by dissolving these resins in an appropriate solvent as necessary to prepare a coating liquid or ink. The thickness of such a protective layer is generally about 0.5 to 20 μm.
In addition, the protective layer may be formed using a film of synthetic resin such as polyester, acrylic, polyvinyl chloride resin, or olefin resin.

Since the protective layer formed in this way is a sufficiently three-dimensionally cross-linked layer, it does not soften or melt even when the temperature during transfer rises. Since it is not integrated and the sheet-shaped substrate can be easily peeled off after transfer, it can also serve as a release layer or an intermediate layer. When using a film or a thermoplastic resin, a release layer is required.

The above is the configuration of the transfer sheet used in the present invention,
A preferred method of forming a desired image on such a transfer-receiving sheet is a method of using a thermal transfer sheet in which a layer having a heat transferable dye (sublimable dye) is provided on a sheet-shaped substrate. Both the thermal transfer sheet itself and the transfer method used in this method are known, and all of these known thermal transfer sheets and transfer methods are useful in the present invention. In addition, a mono-color image or a full-color image can be easily formed by such a transfer method.

For example, a conventionally known thermal transfer sheet is superposed on the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention, and any conventionally known transfer device is used.
For example, 5 to 100 mJ / mm depending on a device such as a thermal printer (for example, a thermal printer TN-5400 manufactured by Toshiba).
By applying the thermal energy of ² , a desired image can be formed in the image receiving layer of the transfer sheet of the present invention.

The image-receiving layer on which an image as described above is peeled off easily, and a thin film having a desired image can be peeled off. When the film having the peeled image has an adhesive layer made of the above-mentioned adhesive on the side opposite to the recording surface, the film can be directly attached to various decorative articles. As a matter of course, the attachment may be performed on the entire surface of the article to be decorated or a part thereof. Further, the peeled image can be heat-melted as it is, depending on the physical properties or material of the article to be decorated, when the film does not have an adhesive layer in advance. It is also possible to apply an appropriate adhesive to the film or the article to be decorated and then attach it.

Furthermore, the film having such an image can be reversed after peeling, that is, the image forming surface can be opposed to the article to be decorated and can be attached to any article to be decorated in the same manner as described above.
In this case, before the receiving layer is peeled off in advance, the transfer sheet having an image is placed on the article to be decorated with the image surface thereof facing,
More preferable is a method of sticking with an adhesive if necessary, and then peeling the sheet-shaped substrate to leave an image receiving layer having an image on the surface of the article.

In the case where the image is inverted and attached to the article to be decorated as described above, it is preferable that the image to be formed is formed in advance as an image having a mirror surface relationship.

The method of decoration in the present invention is, as described above, except that a specific transfer sheet is used, the image forming method and the sticking method for the article to be decorated may be conventionally known methods, and, The material to be decorated which is the target of the decoration method of the present invention is not particularly limited in its material, shape, and the like, for example,
Packages such as cartons, containers, bags, cassette cases, cassette halves, floppy cases, wrapping paper, etc. Kinds; Cards such as cash cards, credit cards, orange cards, telephone cards, members cards, greeting cards, postcards, business cards, IC cards, optical cards; etc.
Forms, envelopes, tags, OHP sheets, slide films,
Shiori, calendars, posters, brochures, menus, passports, POP clothing, coasters, displays, nameplates, keyboards, cosmetics, accessories (clocks, writers), stationery, building materials, radio, TV, speakers, calculators, car instrument panels ,emblem,
Keys, cloth, clothing, footwear, equipment, OA equipment, various sample books,
Any material or shape such as a ticket, an album, a computer image, or a printout of a medical image may be used.

The above-mentioned article may have an image previously formed by printing or the like, or may have an image once formed by the image forming means of the present invention and then further image formed by printing or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B (a), (b) and (c) are block diagrams showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 mainly shows the data processing device 104 in the embodiment of FIG. 1A. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the printer data processing circuit, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the color corrector in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the side-by-side converter.
FIG. 6 is a detailed circuit diagram of the transfer head in FIG. 1B, FIG.
FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram for explaining the operation in the step-height correction unit in FIG. 3, FIG. 8 is a signal explanatory diagram for each pixel, and FIG. The figure is a flowchart showing the operation of the sublimation transfer printer.
FIG. 12 is a front view and a cross-sectional view of a final product prepared as a card, and FIGS. 13 to 21 are explanatory views showing a structural example of a transfer sheet used in the present invention. 101 …… image input means, 102 …… display, 103 ……
Position data input means, 200 ... Final product, 201 ... Substrate,
202 ... Display device, 203 ... Surface protection layer, 204 ... Display image, 301 ... Sheet base material, 302 ... Image receiving layer, 303,303 '
...... Release layer, 304 …… Intermediate layer, 305 …… Protective layer.

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP 60-230899 (JP, A) JP 59-169882 (JP, A) JP 60-203494 (JP, A) JP 56-27128 (JP , A) JP-A-56-27129 (JP, A) JP-A-54-161946 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transfer sheet obtained by forming a dye carrying layer containing a heat transferable dye on a substrate sheet, and a transfer sheet provided with a receiving layer made of a dye-dyeable resin on the sheet substrate. An apparatus for forming an image on an object to be decorated using a thermal head, comprising: a data processing unit for processing image data; and a thermal head, the image data being provided from the data processing unit. Printing means for heating the transfer sheet to form an image by the dye transferred from the transfer sheet on the receiving layer of the transferred sheet, and the surface of the receiving layer on which the image is formed on the object to be decorated. And a means for pressing or heating or heating and pressing from the sheet base material on the side opposite to the receiving layer of the transferred sheet, and an image is formed on the object. Forming device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for processing the image data includes a memory for storing the image data, and an address order when the data is stored in or read from the memory. A device for forming an image on an object equipped with a means for storing or reading while reversing the left and right directions of the.