JP2943485B2 - Thermal transfer recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording on paper by a recording means such as a thermal head using an ink material containing at least a coloring material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a thermal transfer recording apparatus in which a coloring material is composed of a sublimable dye and transfers and records the sublimable dye by sublimation or thermal diffusion is, for example, a heat resistant recording medium such as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film or a capacitor paper. Using an ink sheet having a sublimable dye and an ink material layer having a thickness of about 3 μm including a binder material on the surface of a substrate, a sublimable dye as a coloring material is directly dyed by a recording head. There is known a thermal transfer recording apparatus which obtains a recorded material by transferring the image to a recording medium having a property.

An example of the above-described conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to a conventional example. In FIG. 6, 4
Is an ink sheet. Reference numeral 6 denotes a thermal head, 10 denotes an image receiving body, and 7 denotes a recording signal source.

The operation of the thus configured thermal transfer recording apparatus will be described below.

An ink sheet 4 having a color material layer 2 made of a color material and a binder material disposed on a heat-resistant substrate 3;
An image receiving body 10 such as a recording paper is pressed between the thermal head 6 and the platen 30 to generate heat in response to a signal from the recording signal source 7 to selectively raise the temperature of the coloring material. . The image receiving body 10 is moved by an arrow 32 by a conveying roller 31.
The ink sheet 4 is conveyed in the direction of arrow 33 by the ink sheet take-up roller 8 in the direction
Is peeled off from the image receiving body 10, the color material layer 2 is formed on the image receiving body 10.
Is transferred, and a recording image 34 is obtained.

[0007]

Conventionally, the thermal transfer recording apparatus constructed as described above performs thermal transfer recording on an image receiving body by raising the temperature of an ink material layer. Sublimation transfer is
Transfer is performed by sublimation or thermal diffusion of a coloring material composed of a sublimable dye. Therefore, transfer recording can be performed only when the surface material of the image receiving material is a material having dyeing properties. Therefore, the transfer recording sensitivity greatly differs depending on the surface material of the image receiving material. For example, when ordinary paper is used for the image receiving body, a recording image by transfer of the dye is hardly obtained because the surface has little dyeability. The recording sensitivity also changes depending on the state of contact between the ink sheet and the image receiving member. For example,
In the case of an image receiving body having an uneven surface, contact between the ink material layer and the image receiving body becomes poor, and a uniform recorded image cannot be obtained.

In view of the above problems, the present invention can provide a recorded image having good image quality and high fixability in sublimation transfer recording irrespective of the type of image receiver (surface material, surface condition). A thermal transfer recording apparatus is provided.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal transfer recording apparatus comprising: an ink sheet having at least an elastic layer, a dyeing layer, and a coloring material layer provided on a substrate in a plane-sequential manner; And an intermediate transfer member, after transferring the elastic layer from the ink sheet to the surface of the intermediate transfer member,
The dyeing layer is transferred from the ink sheet onto the intermediate transfer body by a recording unit, and a thermal transfer recording is performed from the coloring material layer of the ink sheet to the dyeing layer by the recording unit to form a primary recording image. This is an apparatus in which the dyed layer on which the primary recording image is formed is transferred to the image receiving body by a transfer unit in a state where the intermediate transfer body and the image receiving body are superimposed to obtain a recorded matter.

A thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 2, comprising a dyeing layer sheet having at least a dyeing layer on a substrate, an ink sheet having at least a coloring material layer on the substrate, and an intermediate transfer member. The dyeing layer is transferred from the coloring sheet onto the intermediate transfer body by a transfer unit, and a thermal transfer recording is performed on the dyeing layer by the recording unit from the ink sheet to form a primary recording image, and the intermediate transfer body and This is an apparatus in which the dyeing layer on which the primary recording image is formed is transferred to the image receiving body by the transfer means in a state where the image receiving body is overlapped with the image receiving body to obtain a recorded matter.

[0011] The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the third aspect is characterized in that
2. The dyeing layer of the recording apparatus according to item 2, wherein the elastic layer and the dyeing layer
Are provided in a face-sequential manner, and the dyeing layer sheet is
After transferring the elastic layer to the surface of the intermediate transfer body, the dyeing layer
The Rukoto to transferring the dyeing layer of the sheet on the intermediate transfer body, and in particular good properties can be obtained.

[0012] The ink billing records apparatus claim 4, provided with an elastic layer and a dyeing layer and a colorant layer sequentially face on the base sheet
And an intermediate transfer member provided with a sheet holder,
The elastic layer on the ink sheet is sandwiched between the sheet holders.
After being attached and held on the surface of the intermediate transfer body, the ink
Intermediate transfer of the dyed layer from the sheet by recording means
Transferred onto the body, and the recording from the coloring material layer of the ink sheet.
Thermal transfer recording to the dyed layer by means
A recording image is formed, and the intermediate transfer body and the image receiving body are superimposed.
Means for transferring the dyed layer on which the primary recorded image is formed in a state
The image is transferred to the image receiving body to obtain a recorded matter .

[0013] recording apparatus of claim 5, claim 1,3
Or the elastic layer of the recording device described in 4 is at least silicon
By forming the rubber containing rubber , particularly good characteristics can be obtained. The recording device according to claim 8,
Item 7. The dyeing layer of the recording device according to Item 1, 2 or 6,
By forming using polyvinyl acetal,
Excellent characteristics can be obtained.

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

According to the present invention, a primary recorded image is first formed on the dyed layer of the intermediate transfer member by the above-described structure. Next, the dyeing layer and the primary recording image are transferred to the surface of the image receiving body by pressing and heating the surface of the image receiving body to form a transfer image.

[0018] Accordingly, the dyeing layer may cause transferability.
The recorded image can be transferred to all image receivers. In the case of sublimation transfer, an image is formed on a dyeing layer having dyeing properties, and the dyeing layer is further transferred onto an image receiving body such as plain paper. It does not require special paper having dyeing properties, and can record on any recording paper, including plain paper, in principle.

With respect to the recording image quality, the ink sheet and the intermediate transfer member are made of a smooth material, so that the thermal head, the ink sheet and the intermediate transfer member can be in uniform contact with each other, and the dyeing on the intermediate transfer member can be achieved. High-quality recording can be performed by sublimation transfer to the deposited layer. By transferring the recorded image to an image receiving body having a rough surface, high-quality recording can be performed even on an image receiving body in which uniform recording could not be conventionally performed due to a rough surface.

Since a part of the dyed layer of the intermediate transfer member is almost uniformly transferred to the surface of the recording image on the image receiving member, the surface of the image receiving member is protected against friction (for example, rubbing with a finger). Also, the coloring material is not directly rubbed, and a recorded image having good fixability can be obtained.

By fixing the dyeing layer to the image receiving member simultaneously with transfer by pressure, heat or pressure and heat, if the image receiving member surface is uneven due to fibers or the like, the dyeing layer fills the concave portions. Is done. Since the gloss and writability of the surface of the image receptor are due to the roughness of the surface, the gloss of the surface of the dyeing layer,
Writability is similar to the original surface of the receiver.
Therefore, there is no sense of incongruity in the portion where only the colorless dyeing layer on which the image is not recorded is present on the image receptor, and characters can be written on the dyeing layer with a pencil or the like. Further, since the dyeing layer is firmly fixed to the image receiving body, the fixing property of the recorded image is further improved.

When heated at a temperature higher than the flow softening point of the thermoplastic resin contained in the dyeing layer, the dyeing layer is further softened and has fluidity, so that the dyeing layer penetrates into recesses on the surface of the image receiving body. For this reason, the surface condition of the image receiving member is, as described above,
The rough surface of the image receiving body is reproduced.

As a method of supplying the dyeing layer onto the intermediate transfer member, for example, from a dyeing layer sheet having a dyeing layer provided on a substrate, the dyeing layer is subjected to intermediate transfer using a heating roller for supplying the dyeing layer. The image is transferred onto the body, thermal transfer recording is performed from the ink sheet to the dyed layer to form a primary recording image, and then the dyed layer is transferred to the surface of the image receiving member by an image transfer roller. As described above, sublimation transfer recording on plain paper or the like is possible.

Further, a dyeing layer is transferred onto an intermediate transfer member by, for example, a thermal head from an ink sheet having a dyeing layer and a coloring material layer provided on a substrate in a plane-sequential manner, and is thermally transferred to the dyeing layer by a thermal head. By forming a primary recording image by performing recording, recording on plain paper or the like can be performed by supplying only one type of sheet without using two types of sheets, an ink sheet and a dyeing layer sheet.

The transfer of the dyeing layer from the dyeing layer sheet having only the dyeing layer on the substrate onto the intermediate transfer member and the transfer of the dyeing layer and the primary recorded image onto the surface of the image receiving member are the same. In this case, sufficient pressure and temperature can be applied uniformly without increasing the number of components, and stable transfer of the image receiving member can be achieved. You.

[0026]

An ink sheet is provided in which an elastic layer, a dyeing layer and a color material layer are provided on a substrate in a face-sequential manner. After transferring the elastic layer from the ink sheet to the surface of the intermediate transfer member, the ink sheet is dyed. When the layer is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member, the elastic layer can be easily replaced even if the elastic layer has releasability or deterioration in elasticity.

The same effect can be obtained by forming a dyeing layer sheet in which an elastic layer and a dyeing layer are provided on a substrate in a plane-sequential manner.

An ink sheet in which an elastic layer, a dyeing layer, and a color material layer are provided on a substrate in a plane-sequential manner, and an intermediate transfer member provided with a sheet holder are provided, and the elastic layer on the ink sheet is sandwiched by the sheet holder. When the dyed layer is transferred from the ink sheet onto the intermediate transfer member by the recording means after being adhered and held on the surface of the intermediate transfer member, the elastic layer can be elastically released even if the elastic layer is degraded in releasability or elasticity. The layers can be easily exchanged, and the elastic layer can be reliably held on the surface of the intermediate transfer member.

As described above, the type of image receiver (surface material,
Regardless of the surface condition), it is possible to obtain a good recorded image using a dye as a coloring material, such as image quality, writability, and fixability.

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a recording apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 2 is a dyeing layer, 4 is an ink sheet, 5 is an intermediate transfer member, 6 is a thermal head, 9 is a heating roller, and 10 is an image receiving member.
An ink sheet 4 is formed by providing a dyeing layer 1 and a coloring material layer 2 face-to-face on an A substrate 3 which is a sheet-like heat-resistant substrate. A thermal head 6 is provided as recording means, and a heating roller 9 is provided as transfer means.

The operation of the recording apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, while the ink sheet 4 is pressed between the thermal head 6 and the intermediate transfer member 5,
The thermal head 6 selectively generates heat by a signal from the recording signal source 7, and transfers the dyeing layer 1 to the surface of the intermediate transfer body 5. Next, a part of the color material of the color material layer 2 is transferred to the transferred dyeing layer 1 to form a primary recording image 11 corresponding to a recording signal. As the intermediate transfer member 5 rotates, the ink sheet 4 is taken up by the ink sheet take-up roller 8.

Next, the intermediate transfer member 5 and the image receiving member 10 are superimposed, nipped by the heating roller 9, and the image receiving member 10 is
Is heated, the dyeing layer 1 is softened and adheres to the surface of the image receiving body 10. Accordingly, when the intermediate transfer member 5 and the image receiving member 10 are separated, the dyed layer 1 is transferred to the image receiving member 10 side, and the primary recording image 11 is transferred to the surface of the image receiving member 10 to form a transfer image 12.

Since the transferred image 12 is an inverted image of the primary recording image 11, the recording signal source 7 normally generates a signal for recording the inverted image of the transferred image 12 by the thermal head 6.

For color recording, for example, an ink sheet 4 in which color material layers 2 of three primary colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow, and four primary colors including black are arranged on a base 3 in a face-to-face manner. The recording image can be made color by superimposing and transferring these onto the dyeing layer 1 in a sequential manner.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a transfer image 12 is formed in FIG. The transfer and fixing mechanism of the dyed layer will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, the image receiving member 1 is
When 0 is heated, the dyeing layer 1 softens and adheres to the surface of the image receiving body 10. When the intermediate transfer member 5 and the image receiving member 10 are separated,
The heated part of the dyeing layer 1 is separated from other parts and transferred to the image receiving body 10 side to form a transfer image 12 on the surface of the image receiving body 10. At this time, by providing the rubber layer 13 on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 5, if the surface of the image receiving member 10 is uneven by the fibers 14 or the like, the dyeing layer 1 is filled in the concave portion 15, and further pressurized. Then, the soft rubber penetrates into the recess 15 and the dyed layer 1 penetrates into the finer interior of the material fiber. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the surface condition reproduces the same rough unevenness as the original surface of the image receiving body.

In general, the gloss and the writability of the surface of the image receiving body are due to the rough irregularities on the surface. When the surface of the image receiving body 10 is as rough as plain paper, the image receiving body 10 has no gloss and has excellent writability. However, if the surface is relatively smooth, the surface becomes glossy and poor in writability. The part of the colorless dyeing layer surface where the transfer image is not recorded is required to have the same properties as the surface of the image receiving body, so if the entire surface is glossy and poor in writability, image quality, writability Inferior in terms of. here,
As shown in FIG. 2, if the rough surface similar to the original surface of the image receiving body is reproduced, the gloss and the writability of the surface of the dyeing layer become the same as the original surface of the image receiving body. Therefore, the sense of incongruity is eliminated, and letters can be written on the dyed layer with a pencil or the like. Further, since the dyeing layer is firmly fixed to the image receiving body, the fixing property of the recorded image is further improved.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the dyeing layer can be formed by providing the ink sheet having at least the dyeing layer and the coloring material layer on the substrate in a face-sequential manner and the intermediate transfer member. A recorded image can be recorded on all the image receiving members that cause transferability. Regarding the recording image quality, high-quality recording can be performed even on an image receiving body in which uniform recording could not be performed conventionally because of a rough surface. A recorded image having good fixability can be obtained even with respect to friction on the surface of the image receiving body. Since the surface condition reproduces the rough unevenness of the image receptor, only the colorless dyeing layer where the image is not recorded does not feel uncomfortable in the part present on the image receptor, and also use a pencil etc. from above the dyeing layer You can also write letters. Further, since the dyeing layer is firmly fixed to the image receiving body, the fixing property of the recorded image is further improved.

Further, a dyeing layer is transferred onto an intermediate transfer member by, for example, a thermal head from an ink sheet in which a dyeing layer and a color material layer are provided on a substrate in a plane-sequential manner, and is thermally transferred to the dyeing layer by a thermal head. By performing recording to form a primary recording image, recording on plain paper or the like becomes possible only by supplying one type of ink sheet.

In the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer member is a drum-shaped member made of a metal, a plastic material, or the like. However, the intermediate transfer member may have a belt-like configuration in which a base is wrapped around endlessly. By using a rigid body, there is no expansion and contraction and no bending, and no color shift at the time of overprinting occurs, so that high-quality printing can be performed. .

The recording means is not particularly limited as a means for performing thermal transfer recording.
In addition to the round head 6, a current-carrying head, an optical head, or the like may be used. As the transfer means, the heating roller 9 is used, but other means may be used for applying heat, pressure, or both, or may be based on other transfer principles. The heating roller 9 is a roller having a heat-generating portion inside or on an outer peripheral portion, and can control the amount of electricity supplied to the heat-generating portion, thereby controlling the amount of heat transmitted to the intermediate transfer member 5 by heat conduction from the surface. As a heating part,
A light source such as a halogen lamp having large radiant heat can also be used. As the material of the heating roller 9, for example, a rubber (rubber-coated) roll, a plastic roll, a metal roll, and the like are useful. The same applies to the intermediate transfer member 5, and a configuration may be adopted in which heating is performed as necessary. When pressure is applied, it is particularly desirable to provide a soft rubber layer 13 on the surface that can be fixed in accordance with the unevenness of the surface of the image receiving body 11. It is desirable that the rubber layer 13 has high elasticity and does not change significantly even when pressure and heat are applied.
By using a rubber material having a rubber hardness of 10 ° to 70 °, good fixability can be obtained. In particular, a rubber material of 10 ° to 25 ° is excellent even when the surface of the image receiving body 9 has large irregularities. A good fixing property is obtained.

It is necessary that the thickness of the rubber layer 13 be sufficiently deformable in accordance with the unevenness of the surface of the image receiving body 9, and therefore it is desirable that the thickness is as large as possible. In the case of plain paper having a relatively rough surface, since the depth of the concave portion is about 25 μm, fixing is possible if the thickness of the rubber layer 13 is about 25 μm or more.

The rubber material is desirably a rubber material having high releasability in order to prevent the rubber material from adhering to the dyeing layer 1. Silicone rubber is made of, for example, raw rubber, filler, various additives, silicone oil, and the like, and has excellent releasability among rubber materials. Silicone rubber with optimized film thickness, hardness, strength, surface smoothness, releasability, etc.
In this case, the fixing can be performed in accordance with the unevenness of the surface of the image receiving member 9, and the dyeing layer 1 does not adhere to the surface of the intermediate transfer member 5. Silicone rubber has extremely excellent heat resistance and is suitable as a material for the rubber layer 13.

It is more effective to apply pressure while heating. That is, the dyeing layer is softened by heating, and easily penetrates into the finer interior of the material fibers of the concave portion 15 of the image receiving body. In particular, when the heating temperature is equal to or higher than the lowest flow softening point of the thermoplastic resin of the dyeing layer, the softening progresses and takes on fluidity, so that it penetrates into the concave portions of the image receiving surface, so that the rubber layer that applies pressure 13 may be a rubber material which does not require much flexibility and has high hardness or very thin, or a release material.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the ink sheet 3 may be configured as a cassette wound around an unwind roller and a take-up roller.

The substrate A, which is a sheet-like heat-resistant substrate,
Various polymer films or various polymer films surface-treated by coating or the like. As various polymer films, for example, polyolefin-based, polyamide-based, polyester-based, polyimide-based, polyether-based, cellulo-
And polyparabanic acid, polyoxadiazole, polystyrene, and fluorine films. In particular, films such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate, aramid, triacetyl cellulose, polypropylene, and cellophane are useful. The useful thickness of the polymer film is usually about 3 μm to 100 μm, and particularly preferably 3 μm to 30 μm. When the A base of the ink sheet has a lubricating layer or a lubricating heat-resistant layer on at least one surface, running stability with the recording head is good. Further, an adhesive layer (anchor coat layer) is provided on the surface in contact with the color material layer, and a coat layer for improving the releasability from the dyeing layer is provided on the surface in contact with the dyeing layer, or a polymer film. A heat-resistant layer made of a thermosetting resin or the like for reinforcing heat resistance such as thermal deformation, an antistatic layer, or, if necessary, various coating layers may be provided.

The color material layer 2 is composed of at least a color material and a binder material. The coloring material is not particularly limited. Disperse dyes, basic dyes, color formers and the like are useful as coloring materials for sublimation transfer. The binder material is not particularly limited, and various polymer materials, various waxes, and the like can be used. The color material layer may have a multilayer structure. Further, a lubricating layer and various coating layers may be provided on the color material layer.
Further, various additives such as various silicon-based materials and various fluorine-based materials may be added to the color material layer.

The dyeing layer 1 is formed at least from a polymer material. Since a dyeing property is required, a polymer material which easily dyes a disperse dye or the like is suitable.For example, polyacetal resin, polyester resin, acrylic resin, urethane resin, nylon resin, vinyl acetate Based resins and vinyl butyral resins are useful. Polyvinyl acetal resins, especially vinyl butyral resins, are excellent as those which satisfy the dyeing properties of dyes, adhesiveness to paper, and releasability from PET films.

The dyeing layer 1 is required to have an adhesive property to the image receiving member when transferred onto the image receiving member. Therefore, the softening point of the polymer material is set to 50 so as to be softened by heating from the heating roller 9.
It is desirable that the temperature be in the range of from 200C to 200C. The softening point is a value measured by a flow tester. In addition, as a material constituting the dyeing layer 1, in addition to the above-described polymer material,
For example, hot melt materials such as waxes and resins,
If necessary, a single compound or a mixture of plural compounds can be used.

The dyeing layer 1 contains various silicone-based, fluorine-based, fatty acid-based compounds, various surfactants, and various particles in order to prevent thermal fusion with the colorant layer. It may be included as an additive.

In the recording method of the present invention, since the dyed layer is transferred onto the image receiving body to form an image, the dyed layer needs to have a light transmitting property, and is preferably a colorless and transparent polymer material. .

The image receiving body is made of uncoated paper such as high quality paper, plain paper (for copying, etc.), bond paper, coated paper, films such as polyethylene, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and aluminum foil. , PP, PE
Synthetic paper containing T, polyvinyl chloride, or the like as a main component, a continuous image receptor, a cut image receptor, or the like, can be used without particular limitation on its material, paper quality, form, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a recording operation of a recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. 3A shows the transfer of the dyeing layer 1 to the surface of the intermediate transfer member 5, FIG. 3B shows the transfer of the primary recording image 11 to the dyeing layer 1,
(C) shows transfer and fixing of the dyed layer on the image receiving body 10 and the primary recording image 11.

A dyeing layer 1 is provided on a B-type substrate 20 which is a sheet-like heat-resistant substrate to form a dyeing layer sheet 21. A thermal head 6 is provided as recording means, and a heating roller 9 is provided as transfer means.

The operation of the recording apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 3, in a state where the dyeing layer sheet 21 is pressed between the heating roller 9 and the intermediate transfer member 5,
The dyeing layer 1 is transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer member 5 by heat and pressure. Next, the ink sheet 4 is applied to the transferred dyeing layer 1.
A part of the color material of the upper color material layer 2 is transferred to form a primary recording image 11 corresponding to a recording signal. As the intermediate transfer member 5 rotates, the ink sheet 4 is taken up by the ink sheet take-up roller 8.

Next, the dyed layer sheet 21 and the paper feed roller 2
When the intermediate transfer body 5 and the image receiving body 10 nipped and conveyed by the intermediate transfer body 5 are overlapped and nipped by the heating roller 9, the heating roller 9 is heated again to heat the back surface of the image receiving body 10. The dyeing layer 1 softens and adheres to the surface of the image receiving body 10. Accordingly, when the intermediate transfer member 5 and the image receiving member 10 are separated, the heated dyeing layer 1 is transferred to the image receiving member 10 side, and the primary recording image 11 is transferred to the surface of the image receiving member 10 to form a transfer image 12. .

The B substrate 20 which is a sheet-like heat-resistant substrate
Are various polymer films or various polymer films surface-treated by coating or the like. As various polymer films, for example, polyolefin-based, polyamide-based,
Examples include polyester-based, polyimide-based, polyether-based, cellulose-based, polyparabanic acid-based, polyoxadiazol-based, polystyrene-based, and fluorine-based films. In particular, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate, aramid, triacetyl cellulose
Films such as polypropylene, cellophane, etc. are useful. The thickness of the polymer film is usually from 3 μm to 100 μm.
The order of μm is useful, and particularly preferably 3 to 30 μm.
The base B of the dyeing layer sheet is a coating layer on the surface in contact with the dyeing layer for improving the releasability from the dyeing layer, or for reinforcing heat resistance such as thermal deformation of the polymer film. A heat-resistant layer made of a thermosetting resin or the like, an antistatic layer, or, if necessary, various coating layers may be provided.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the dyeing layer sheet provided with the dyeing layer on the substrate, the ink sheet, and the intermediate transfer member, the dyeing layer improves the transferability. It is possible to record a recorded image with high image quality, good fixability, and good writability on all of the image receiving bodies that may occur.

Further, the transfer of the dyeing layer from the dyeing layer sheet having only the dyeing layer on the substrate onto the intermediate transfer member is performed by a heating roller, so that the transfer is performed in comparison with the heating and pressing by the thermal head. Transfer from the dyed layer sheet can be realized at a sufficient temperature and pressure, and stable transfer can be performed. Further, since the same heat roller as used for transferring the dyed layer and the primary recording image to the surface of the image receiving member is used, and no independent heating roller is provided, the configuration is simplified.

Further, when the image receiving member 10 is inserted, the image receiving member 10 can be sandwiched between the dyeing layer sheet 21 and the paper feed roller 22, so that the image receiving member having low rigidity and being easily bent does not cause paper jam. Can be transported stably.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the intermediate transfer member 5
4 shows the transfer of the elastic layer 13 to the surface.

An elastic layer 13 and a dyeing layer 1 are provided on a B base 20, which is a sheet-like heat-resistant base, in a plane-sequential manner to form a dyeing layer sheet 21. A thermal head 6 is provided as recording means, and a heating roller 9 is provided as transfer means.

The operation of the recording apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, in a state where the dyeing layer sheet 21 is pressed between the heating roller 9 and the intermediate transfer member 5,
The elastic layer 13 is transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer member 5 by heat and pressure. Next, the transfer of the dyeing layer 1, the recording of the coloring material from the ink sheet 4, and the transfer of the dyeing layer 1 to the image receiving body 10 are performed on the transferred elastic layer 13, as in the embodiment of FIG. 3. To form a transfer image.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the dyeing layer sheet provided with the elastic layer and the dyeing layer on the substrate, the ink sheet, and the intermediate transfer member are provided. It is possible to record a recorded image with high image quality, good fixability, and good writability on all the image receiving members that cause transferability.

The elastic layer covering the surface of the intermediate transfer member is scratched or the like and becomes uneven due to repeated pressing of the image receiving member. Smoothness and releasability are reduced by, for example, slipping through the paper. Therefore, when the dyeing layer is transferred and fixed to the image receiving member, there are cases in which the dye layer is not completely transferred or insufficiently penetrated into the image receiving member.

Therefore, the transfer of the elastic layer from the dyeing layer sheet provided with the elastic layer and the dyeing layer on the substrate onto the intermediate transfer member prevents deterioration of the characteristics of the surface of the intermediate transfer member. The elastic layer is provided, for example, only on one screen at the head of the dyed sheet. By transferring the elastic layer each time the dyed sheet is replaced, it is possible to prevent the surface of the intermediate transfer member from being covered with a fresh elastic layer and to prevent the recording characteristics and the transfer characteristics from deteriorating. On the surface of the elastic layer 13 on the dyeing layer sheet 21, an adhesive layer for providing adhesiveness to the surface of the intermediate transfer member 5 is provided as necessary.

In another embodiment, an ink sheet having an elastic layer, a dyeing layer, and a coloring material layer provided on a substrate, and an intermediate transfer member are provided in the same device configuration as in FIG. By performing the transfer of the elastic layer onto the intermediate transfer member, deterioration of the characteristics of the surface of the intermediate transfer member can be prevented. The elastic layer is provided, for example, only for one screen at the head of the ink sheet. By transferring the elastic layer each time the ink sheet is replaced, the surface of the intermediate transfer member is covered with a fresh elastic layer, so that the recording characteristics and the transfer characteristics can be prevented from deteriorating.

The method of supplying the elastic layer onto the intermediate transfer member may be a method of attaching the elastic layer to almost the entire surface of the intermediate transfer member as shown in FIG. 4 or another method, or another method.
Further, the elastic layer may be supplied one after another on the elastic layer used so far, or, for example, the elastic layer was peeled off at the end of the dyed sheet, and a new dyed sheet was attached. At times, a new elastic layer may be supplied.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a recording operation of a recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, (A) shows the state before the transfer operation, (B) shows the transfer of the elastic layer 13 onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member 5, and (C) shows the state before the transfer operation. 4 shows the transfer of the dyeing layer 1.

On a substrate A, which is a sheet-like heat-resistant substrate,
The elastic layer 13, the dyeing layer 1, and the coloring material layer 2 are provided in a plane-sequential manner,
It constitutes a dyeing layer sheet. On the surface of the elastic layer 13,
An elastic layer holding base 23 is provided. A thermal head 6 is provided as recording means, and a heating roller 9 is provided as transfer means.

The operation of the recording apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 5A, the end of the elastic layer holding base 23 provided at the beginning of the elastic layer 13 is connected to the intermediate transfer member 5.
In the vicinity of the sheet holder 24 of FIG. Next, the ink sheet is sandwiched between the thermal head 6 and the intermediate transfer body 5, and the end of the elastic layer holding base 23 is sandwiched by the sheet holder 24. As shown in FIG. 5B, the intermediate transfer member 5 is rotated to wind the elastic layer 13 and the elastic layer holding base 23 around the surface of the intermediate transfer member 5. At this time, the thermal head is heated if necessary. Next, the end of the elastic layer holding base 23 provided at the end of the elastic layer 13 is clamped by the sheet holder 24. In this manner, the elastic layer 13 can be firmly held on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 5. next,
As shown in FIG. 5C, the dyeing layer 1 on the ink sheet is transferred onto the elastic layer 13 by the thermal head 6. Thereafter, in the same manner as shown in FIG. 1, recording of the coloring material from the ink sheet and transfer of the dyeing layer 1 to the image receiving body 10 are performed to form a transfer image.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a dyeing layer sheet provided with an elastic layer and a dyeing layer on a substrate, an ink sheet, and an intermediate transfer member provided with a sheet holder are provided. Accordingly, it is possible to record a recorded image with high image quality, good fixability, and good writability on all image receiving bodies where the dyeing layer causes transferability.

By supplying the elastic layer from the ink sheet onto the intermediate transfer member, deterioration of the characteristics of the surface of the intermediate transfer member is prevented. The elastic layer is provided, for example, only for one screen at the head of the ink sheet. By supplying the elastic layer every time the ink sheet is replaced, the surface of the intermediate transfer member is covered with a fresh elastic layer, and it is possible to prevent the recording characteristics and the transfer characteristics from deteriorating. By providing a sheet holder on the intermediate transfer member and holding the elastic layer, the elastic layer can be reliably held on the intermediate transfer member without depending on the adhesiveness of the elastic layer. In addition, by providing the elastic layer holding base, even in a flexible elastic layer, the elastic layer can be held in a uniform state without expanding and contracting. Also, no displacement of the elastic layer occurs.

The ink sheet is mounted on the cartridge for, for example, 100 screens. After the cartridge is completely used, the entire cartridge is replaced. For example, when the cartridge is replaced, the sheet holder is rotated while rotating the intermediate transfer member. When opened, the used elastic layer and the elastic layer holding substrate are
Can be discharged to the outside similarly to the discharge of the image receiving body 10 shown in FIG.

As another embodiment, a dyeing sheet having an elastic layer and a dyeing layer provided on a substrate, an ink sheet having a coloring material layer provided on the substrate, and a device having the same configuration as that shown in FIG. By providing the intermediate transfer member provided with the sheet holder, the elastic layer can be similarly supplied onto the intermediate transfer member, and deterioration of the characteristics of the surface of the intermediate transfer member can be prevented.

The elastic layer holding substrate 23 which is a sheet-like substrate
Are various polymer films or various polymer films surface-treated by coating or the like. As various polymer films, for example, polyolefin-based, polyamide-based,
Examples include polyester-based, polyimide-based, polyether-based, cellulose-based, polyparabanic acid-based, polyoxadiazol-based, polystyrene-based, and fluorine-based films. In particular, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate, aramid, triacetyl cellulose
Films such as polypropylene, cellophane, etc. are useful. The thickness of the polymer film is usually from 3 μm to 100 μm.
μm is useful, and considering tensile strength etc.,
In particular, 30 to 50 μm is preferable. An adhesive layer or the like for improving the adhesiveness with the elastic layer 13 may be provided on the surface in contact with the elastic layer 13.

In the examples so far, the dyeing layer was placed on the surface of the dyeing layer or on the surface of the dyeing layer on the ink sheet.
By providing a dyeing barrier layer made of a material having a high g,
In the state where the sheet is wound and stored, the dyeing layer is prevented from softening and fusing to the back surface of the sheet, and when the transfer recording is performed on the dyeing layer with the coloring material, the coloring material diffuses the dyeing layer, It can be prevented from penetrating and dyeing the surface of the intermediate transfer member, the elastic layer, and the like, thereby contaminating. In that case, by using a material having a higher Tg than the dyeing layer for the dyeing blocking layer, it is more effective than the structure including only the dyeing layer. For example, if the resin has a Tg of 80 ° C. or higher, there is almost no problem, and if the dyeing-blocking layer is a thermosetting resin, it is more stable.

As described above, in the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention, any form of recording paper such as plain paper, transparent film for OHP, bond paper having a large surface roughness, coated paper, or coated film is used as the image receiving body. However, a uniform image can be obtained. Especially,
Conventionally, high-quality recording, which is a feature of sublimation recording, is almost impossible on plain paper, but is realized by the method of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific examples will be described. Example 1 An ink sheet was provided with a silicone release layer on a PET film (thickness: 4 μm) having a lubricating heat-resistant layer on the lower surface, and a vinyl butyral resin (flow softening, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) thereon. (At a temperature of 110 ° C.) with a wire bar and dried to form a dyeing layer having a thickness of about 2 μm. Next, a paint containing an azo-based disperse dye, a saturated polyester resin, and a silicone-based release agent was applied with a wire bar and dried to a thickness of about 1 mm.
A color material layer having a thickness of μm was formed in the order of the dyeing layer and the surface.

The intermediate transfer member has a rubber hardness of 20 ° and a thickness of 0.1 mm.
A 6 mm silicone rubber was provided on the surface, and a metal roll heated to 70 ° C. was used.

First, the dyed layer portion of the ink sheet was sandwiched between a thermal head pressed with about 3 kg and an intermediate transfer member, and the dyed layer was transferred under the following conditions. Heating element density: 6 line / mm, transfer speed: 33.3 ms
/ Line, applied pulse width: 8 ms, applied energy:
6 J / cm ² .

Next, recording was performed under the following recording conditions with the color material layer portion of the ink sheet interposed therebetween. Recording speed: 33.3
ms / line, recording pulse width: 2 to 8 ms, maximum recording energy: 6 J / cm ² .

After the recording, when the ink sheet was separated from the intermediate transfer member, the gradation pattern was clearly recorded on the dyed layer. Next, with the A4 size plain paper (copy paper) superimposed on this dyed layer, the intermediate transfer body and the plain paper are pressed by a heating metal roll at about 120 ° C. (transfer means pressure: about 120 ° C.). 10K
g) to transfer the dyed layer onto plain paper.

The transferred image on plain paper obtained as described above has a reflection recording density of 1.6 at a pulse width of 8 ms, and has high image quality having dots of a uniform shape from low recording density to high recording density. It was an image. The gloss of the dyed layer was not different from that of the paper surface, and there was no unnatural feeling in image quality. Furthermore, the surface of the dyed layer had the same writing properties as the paper surface.

Example 2 The dyeing layer sheet was provided with a silicone release layer on a PET film (thickness: 4 μm), and a vinyl butyral resin (flow softening point 110, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) thereon.
C.) with a wire bar and dried to form a dyeing layer having a thickness of about 2 μm. The ink sheet was coated with a azo-based disperse dye, a saturated polyester resin, and a silicone-based release agent on a PET film (thickness: 4 μm) having a lubricating heat-resistant layer on the lower surface with a wire bar and dried. , Thickness about 1μm
Was formed.

The intermediate transfer member and the heating roller are the same as in the first embodiment. First, the dyeing layer sheet was sandwiched between a heating roller to which about 10 kg of pressure was applied and the intermediate transfer member, and heated to transfer the dyeing layer. Next, the ink sheet was sandwiched between a thermal head and an intermediate transfer member, and recording was performed under the following recording conditions. Recording speed: 33.3 ms / line, recording pulse width: 2 to 8 ms, maximum recording energy: 6 J / c
m ² .

After the recording, when the ink sheet was separated from the intermediate transfer member, the gradation pattern was clearly recorded on the dyed layer. Next, in a state where A4 size plain paper (copy paper) is overlaid on the dyeing layer, the intermediate transfer body and the plain paper are pressed by a heating roll as a transfer means at about 10 kg to dye. The layers were transferred onto plain paper.

The transfer image on plain paper obtained as described above has a reflection recording density of 1.6 at a pulse width of 8 ms, and has high image quality having uniformly shaped dots from low recording density to high recording density. It was an image. The gloss of the dyed layer was not different from that of the paper surface, and there was no unnatural feeling in image quality. Furthermore, the surface of the dyed layer had the same writing properties as the paper surface.

Example 3 A dyeing layer sheet was provided with a silicone release layer on a PET film (thickness: 4 μm) and a rubber hardness of 20 on it.
An elastic layer having a thickness of about 30 μm was formed with the silicone rubber of ゜. Next, a vinyl butyral resin (Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd., flow softening point 110 ° C.) is coated on the release layer with a wire bar and dried to form a dyeing layer having a thickness of about 2 μm as an elastic layer. It was formed in a plane sequence. The ink sheet was coated with a paint containing an azo-based disperse dye, a saturated polyester resin, and a silicone-based release agent on a PET film (thickness: 4 μm) having a lubricating heat-resistant layer on the lower surface with a wire bar and dried. , Thickness about 1μm
Was formed.

The intermediate transfer member and the heating roller are the same as in the first embodiment. First, the dyeing layer sheet was sandwiched between a heating roller pressed by about 10 kg and an intermediate transfer member, and heated to transfer the elastic layer. Next, the dyeing layer was similarly transferred onto the elastic layer.

Next, the ink sheet was sandwiched between a thermal head and an intermediate transfer member, and recording was performed under the following recording conditions. Recording speed: 33.3 ms / line, recording pulse width: 2 to 8
ms, maximum recording energy: 6 J / cm ² .

After the recording, when the ink sheet was separated from the intermediate transfer member, the gradation pattern was clearly recorded on the dyed layer. Next, in a state where A4 size plain paper (copy paper) is overlaid on the dyeing layer, the intermediate transfer body and the plain paper are pressed by a heating roll as a transfer means at about 10 kg to dye. The layers were transferred onto plain paper.

The transferred image on plain paper obtained as described above has a reflection recording density of 1.6 at a pulse width of 8 ms, and has high image quality having dots of a uniform shape from low recording density to high recording density. It was an image. The gloss of the dyed layer was not different from that of the paper surface, and there was no unnatural feeling in image quality. Furthermore, the surface of the dyed layer had the same writing properties as the paper surface.

The elastic layer is provided, for example, only one screen at the head of the dyed sheet. By transferring the elastic layer each time the dyed sheet is replaced, it is possible to prevent the surface of the intermediate transfer member from being covered with a fresh elastic layer and to prevent the recording characteristics and the transfer characteristics from deteriorating.

[0101]

As described above , according to the present invention, high image quality can be obtained on all image receiving bodies in which the dyeing layer causes transferability.
It is possible to record characters and images with good writing properties and fixing properties without any discomfort in gloss and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a transfer image forming state for explaining the operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to another embodiment. FIG. 7B is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to another embodiment. FIG. 4C is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5A is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to another embodiment. FIG. 7B is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to another embodiment. FIG. 4C is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dyeing layer 4 Ink sheet 5 Intermediate transfer member 6 Thermal head 9 Heating roller 10 Image receiving member

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Akihiro Imai 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-49056 (JP, A) JP-A-3-162989 (JP, A) JP-A-3-240565 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 2/32-2/325 B41J 32/00 B41M 5/26

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A and the ink sheet provided at least an elastic layer and a dyeing layer and a colorant layer successively surface on the substrate, and an intermediate transfer member, the intermediate rolling the elastic layer from the ink sheet
After transferring to the surface of the photoreceptor, the dyeing layer is transferred from the ink sheet onto the intermediate transfer member by a recording unit, and thermal transfer recording is performed from the coloring material layer of the ink sheet to the dyeing layer by the recording unit. To form a primary recorded image,
A thermal transfer recording apparatus, wherein the dyed layer on which the primary recording image is formed is transferred to the image receiving member by a transfer unit in a state where the intermediate transfer member and the image receiving member are superimposed to obtain a recorded material. 2. A dyeing layer sheet having at least a dyeing layer on a substrate, an ink sheet having at least a coloring material layer on a substrate, and an intermediate transfer member, wherein the dyeing layer sheet is Is transferred onto the intermediate transfer body by a transfer unit, and the color material layer is transferred from the ink sheet by a recording unit.
The color material is subjected to thermal transfer recording on the dyeing layer to form a primary recording image, and the dyeing layer on which the primary recording image is formed in a state where the intermediate transfer member and the image receiving member are superimposed on each other. A thermal transfer recording apparatus, wherein the thermal transfer recording apparatus obtains a recorded material by transferring the image to the image receiving member. 3. A dyeing layer sheet having an elastic layer and a dyeing layer provided on a substrate in a face-sequential manner, and after transferring the elastic layer from the dyeing layer sheet to the surface of the intermediate transfer member, 3. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the dyeing layer is transferred from the coating sheet onto the intermediate transfer body. 4. An ink sheet having an elastic layer, a dyeing layer, and a color material layer provided on a substrate in a plane-sequential manner, and an intermediate transfer member provided with a sheet holder, wherein the elastic layer on the ink sheet is provided. After being sandwiched by the sheet holder and held on the surface of the intermediate transfer member, the dyeing layer is transferred from the ink sheet onto the intermediate transfer member by a recording unit, and the recording is performed from the coloring material layer of the ink sheet. Means for performing thermal transfer recording on the dyeing layer to form a primary recording image, and transferring the dyeing layer on which the primary recording image is formed in a state where the intermediate transfer body and the image receiving body are overlapped with each other by the transfer means. A thermal transfer recording apparatus, wherein a recorded matter is obtained by transferring the image to a body. 5. A resilient layer is characterized in that it is formed at least silicone rubber, claim 1,3 or
Or the thermal transfer recording apparatus according to 4 .