JP2657207B2 - Method of forming an image on an object - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for forming an image on an object having irregularities or an object having a rough surface, for example, a surface of wood or a surface of a leather product.

[Conventional technology]

As a method for forming an image on an object of this type, a press printing method has been adopted for a long time, and a method of directly printing the same image formed on a plate surface is known.

In recent years, a method of attaching a colorant in powder to an object by an electrostatic adsorption method has also been put to practical use.

However, any of these methods is based on mass production, and if these methods are used as they are as a method for forming an image on a small number of objects in a home or office, the space and the cost of the apparatus are low. For practical reasons, it was impossible.

For this reason, conventionally, in imparting an image to an object in a home or office, a handwritten recording paper, or
At present, recording paper printed out by a word processor or the like is pasted with glue or double-sided tape.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the case of this conventional method, a printed image is handwritten or printed out on a recording paper having good ink absorbency, so that the printed image is easily blurred due to bleeding or the like, and
Imprints easily collapse or bald due to contact with other objects. In addition, since the opaque recording paper is attached to the object in a state of being exposed to the outside, there is a disadvantage that the original color, pattern, and the like of the object are impaired.

An object of the present invention is to provide a useful method capable of forming a sharply printed image without damaging the original color or pattern of an object even at home or office.

[Means for solving the problem]

In the method of forming an image on an object according to the present invention, an image layer is formed by selectively transferring an ink layer of a recording medium to a non-ink-absorbing receptor by a thermal transfer method, and then forming an image on the receptor. A transparent sheet having an adhesive layer is attached to the adhesive sheet, the image is transferred and fixed to the adhesive layer of the transparent sheet, and then the transparent sheet is attached to an object. The effects are as follows.

(Operation)

In the thermal transfer method, in particular, in a method in which an ink layer solid at room temperature is melted or softened by heat to selectively transfer the ink layer to a receptor to form a printed image, It has been found that a clear printed image can be formed by transferring the ink layer even if the body is non-ink-absorbing.

Based on this knowledge, the thermal transfer system using a thermal transfer printer or the like selectively transfers the ink layer of the recording medium to a non-ink-absorbing receptor, thereby forming a predetermined printed image on the receptor without bleeding. can do.

In addition, since the ink transferred to the receptor is rapidly cooled and solidified at the time of the transfer, the printed image may be distorted when the ink transferred to the receptor is transferred and fixed to the adhesive layer of the transparent sheet. There is no. In addition, since the ink transferred to the transparent sheet is securely fixed by the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, it is possible to prevent the printed image from becoming unclear due to the collapse of the ink after the transfer.

Then, by attaching the transparent sheet manufactured in this manner to the object, not only the image but also the original color and pattern of the object can be easily visually recognized through the transparent sheet portion around the image.

〔The invention's effect〕

As a result, in recent years, using a printer by the thermal transfer recording method, which has become widespread in most offices and homes, or a computer for controlling the same, without impairing the original design and texture of the objects and the like. A clear image can always be easily formed. Moreover, since the imprint is protected by the transparent sheet, it does not collapse or bald due to contact with other objects,
The initial clear image can be maintained for a long time.

In particular, if a color printer is used, an image shown in a color photograph or a color gravure print can be easily formed on an object.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method of forming an image on an object according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, between a heating head (1) and a platen roller (2) of a thermal transfer printer, a thermal transfer ink ribbon (R), which is an example of a recording medium, and an ink are provided. After setting the non-absorbable receptor (3), the ink layer (r) of the ink ribbon (R) was selectively heated by the heating head (1), and the ink layer (r) was melted or softened by this heating. The ink layer (r) is transferred to the receptor (3) to form a predetermined image.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a transparent sheet (4) having a transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (4a) is attached on the image of the receptor (3), and the transparent sheet (4 After the transfer of the imprint onto the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer (4a), the transparent sheet (4) is peeled from the receptor (3) as shown in FIGS.

The peeled transparent sheet (4) is attached to the object (A) as shown in FIG.

The ink layer (r) of the ink ribbon (R) has a suitable heat melting property or thermoplasticity by using various pigments as a colorant, wax, thermoplastic oligomer, thermoplastic resin, or the like alone or by mixing them. A sick vehicle and
A layer having a thickness of about 0.5 to 10 μ in which additives such as other plasticizers and dispersants are mixed as necessary, and formed directly or via an undercoat layer on a base such as a resin film or high-density thin paper. Any material having solid properties at room temperature can be used.

In short, the recording medium (R) is not limited to the above-described ink ribbon, but may be of any shape and material as long as it has the ink layer (r).

Further, the ink layer (r) is not limited to a single color layer, and may be composed of a plurality of ink layers having different coloring capabilities such as yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

Further, the ink layer (r) may be configured to be transparent or translucent. Thus, even if the ink layer (r) is configured to be transparent or translucent, the printed image can be easily visually recognized due to the difference in light reflection.

The receptor (3) can be suitably used as long as it has a smooth surface and does not absorb the transferred ink (r), such as a release paper or a plastic sheet.

The transparent sheet (4) has a base on which an adhesive layer (4a) is fixed on one surface such as cellophane, various transparent plastic sheets, or a transparent plastic film (for example, a film of polyester, polyamide, acrylic, polyethylene, etc.). Any commercially available cellophane tape or the like can be used favorably.

In addition, as an apparatus that specifically achieves the thermal transfer method,
The invention is not limited to a thermal transfer printer connected to a computer as in the above-described embodiment, but a desktop or handy type word processor, or a generally widely used thermal transfer type copying machine can be used.

In short, any recording apparatus of a thermal transfer system that melts or softens the ink layer and selectively transfers it to the receptor (3) to form a printed image can be used.

In the claims, reference numerals are provided for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the attached drawings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of a method for forming an image on an object according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of a thermal transfer printer, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a receiver, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when the receiver and the transparent sheet are attached, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views when the transparent sheet is peeled from the receptor. FIG. 7 is a perspective view when a transparent sheet is attached to an object. (A): object, (R): recording medium, (r): colored ink layer, (3): receptor, (4): transparent sheet,
(4a) ... adhesive layer.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An ink layer (r) of a recording medium (R) is selectively transferred to a non-ink-absorbing receptor (3) by a thermal transfer method to form a printed image. )), A transparent sheet (4) having an adhesive layer (4a) is stuck on the image, and the image is transferred and fixed to the adhesive layer (4a) of the transparent sheet (4). A method for forming an image on an object, wherein the sheet (4) is attached to the object (A).