JP3182640B2 - Electronic image printing method and thermal transfer sheet - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for supporting an electronic image obtained by an electronic image forming apparatus on a thermal transfer sheet and transferring the image to a cloth such as a T-shirt.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the tendency of individualization has been particularly advanced, and it has been necessary to produce various kinds of products in small lots. However, since the manufacturing cost is suppressed, it is a major issue how to easily produce a pattern or a pattern formed on the cloth ground such as a T-shirt at a low cost. Therefore, an electronic image forming apparatus is used as a printing method that satisfies this requirement, a predetermined image is projected on the thermal transfer sheet by this apparatus, and the thermal transfer sheet is printed on the cloth by applying high pressure to the cloth. Can be done.

In this case, the image can be easily created by a computer, and the created image is output from an electronic image forming apparatus and transferred to the thermal transfer sheet. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-48860 discloses a "method of manufacturing a toner image receptor". In other words, this technique is based on "forming a fixed toner image on a transfer material having at least a surface layer having adhesiveness to the toner image, and bringing the transfer material surface on which the toner image is formed into contact with an image receptor. ,
A method for producing a toner image receptor in which a part of the toner image in the thickness direction is transferred to the image receptor by separating the image receptor and the transfer material at a temperature higher than the softening point of the toner.

[0004] Also, "an instant image pressure-sensitive transfer method using an image forming support using an electronic image forming apparatus" of a patent application filed on March 11, 1993 is a conventional technique. This technology is based on the following technology: `` After placing the toner in a predetermined pattern on the surface of the image support film on the base table, apply a cover coat on the placed toner image, apply an adhesive for pressure sensitivity, and place the toner image Aiming to be in contact with the transfer target, peel the base plate from the image support film while placing the image support film at the transfer position, rub the toner image portion from above the image support film, peel the image support film,
And an image instant pressure-sensitive transfer method for transferring a toner image to a transfer position.

By the way, in these conventional transfer methods, when the entire image formed on the transfer sheet is transferred to the fabric, or when the printed fabric has a color other than white, the image is vivid. It is not possible to print patterns etc. with various colors. That is, if it is a rectangular transfer sheet, not only the patterns and characters drawn on the sheet, but also the surrounding lower ground is transferred to the cloth ground and the texture is impaired, and the formed design is also preferable. Often not.

[0006]

As described above, the conventional thermal transfer sheet has the above-mentioned problems. The problems to be solved by the present invention are these problems, and only the necessary patterns and characters can be transferred to the cloth ground or the like with vivid colors, and in this case, the texture of the fabric is also deteriorated, which is preferable in terms of design. The present invention provides a thermal transfer sheet and a method for printing an electronic image which are not affected by the color of an article to be printed.

[0007]

According to the present invention, an A sheet and a B sheet are used.
A predetermined pattern or character is copied on one of the sheets using two types of sheets. Of course, the toner layer will be formed only on the pattern and character portions on the sheet surface,
The A sheet has a release layer between a substrate made of paper or film and a polyvinyl acetate layer (PVA layer) or a polyester resin layer, and the B sheet has the above substrate, release layer, and adhesive layer. , And a color layer.

The toner layer is formed on a PVA layer or the like or the color layer. The A sheet and the B sheet are overlapped with the toner layer and the PVA layer or the like facing each other. You. In this state, the toner is heated to 130 ° C. to 140 ° C. and pressed, so that the toner is softened and the two sheets are bonded. If the A sheet and the B sheet are peeled off, the adhesive layer of the B sheet is peeled off without being separated from the toner layer.

The A sheet peeled off from the B sheet is peeled from the base material with the adhesive layer applied to a cloth ground or the like.
Heat to ℃ and press. Therefore, the A sheet is fixed to the cloth or the like via the adhesive layer, and then the PVA layer or the like is peeled off. However, since the color layer is interposed below the toner layer on the surface, the A sheet is printed. The original color of the toner is printed without being affected by the color of the toner. Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows a case where the letter "A" is printed on a T-shirt. If the color of the T-shirt 1 is not white but blue, for example, to print a red A letter on this blue T-shirt, a bright red A letter cannot be projected by the conventional printing method. That is, the red color affects the blue color of the T-shirt and becomes purple. The present invention is a technique in which the letter A to be printed is clearly displayed in a predetermined color regardless of the color of the T-shirt.

FIGS. 2A to 2G show the printing method of the present invention. In the present invention, the A sheet 2 and the B sheet 3 are used, and the A sheet and other patterns can be printed on a colored T-shirt by combining the two sheets 2 and 3.
Here, the A sheet is composed of a base material 4 such as paper or film, a silicone release layer 5, and a polyvinyl acetate layer (PVA layer).
The PVA layer 6 has a laminated structure that is easily peeled off by the interposition of the silicon release layer 5. The B sheet 3 has a laminated structure including a base material 7, a silicon release layer 8, an adhesive layer 9, and a color layer 10.

Step (c) is a case where the A sheet 2 is copied, and a toner layer 11 is formed on the PVA layer 6.
The letter A is constituted by the toner layer 11. As a means for forming the letter A on the A sheet 2 by fixing the toner, a copying machine is used. However, it is also possible to form the letter A as an output from the computer using a computer without using the original of the letter A. .

A sheet 2 on which toner layer 11 is formed
The B sheet 3 is superimposed on, and the state shown in FIG.
That is, the two sheets 2 and 3 are stacked with the toner layer 11 therebetween, and heated to 130 ° C. to 140 ° C., so that the toner melts and adheres to the color layer 10 which is the surface of the B sheet 3. In this case, not only the toner layer 11 but also the adhesive layer 9 is melted and softened by the heating.

FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the temperature and the viscosity of the toner and the adhesive. The toner softens with a smooth curve as the temperature rises, and the curve of one adhesive rises rapidly and softens immediately. . Accordingly, if the A and B sheets 2 and 3 are overlaid and pressed and heated as described above, they are in close contact with each other. Then, if the two sheets 2 and 3 are peeled off after a short time has passed after the close contact, the state shown in FIG.

That is, the toner layer 11 cures with the passage of time and adheres to the color layer 10 of the B sheet 3.
Peeling is performed between the adhesive layer 9 and the silicon release layer 8. As is clear from FIG. 3, the temperature of the adhesive layer 9 is slightly lowered, and the adhesive layer 9 is kept in a soft state. As a result, the adhesive layer 9 is separated from the silicon release layer 8 which is most easily peeled. Since the PVA layer 6 is interposed on the A sheet 2 side, the silicon release layer 5 on the A sheet 2 side cannot be peeled off.

Accordingly, the toner layer 1 of the peeled A sheet 2
A state in which a color layer 10 and an adhesive layer 9 are laminated on 1 is obtained. By the way, this A sheet 2 is bonded to an appropriate place of the T-shirt 1, the base material 4 is peeled off together with the silicon release layer 5 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the PVA layer 6 is peeled off as shown in FIG. In this case, the adhesive layer 9
Although the adhesive layer 9 is in a softened state, the adhesive layer 9 is not peeled off because it is in close contact with the T-shirt 1.

Since the color layer 10 exists below the toner layer 11 which is in close contact with the T-shirt 1, the toner layer 11 can exhibit the original color without being affected by the color of the T-shirt 1. Here, titanium oxide is generally used as the color layer 10, and the white titanium oxide layer is
, And the color of the toner layer 11 can be produced vividly. Of course, the hue of the color layer 10 is not limited. For example, if a yellow toner layer is formed on the silver color layer 10, a golden color can be exhibited.
If the red toner layer 11 is formed on the silver color layer 10, the color becomes a red metallic color.

On the other hand, the object to be printed can be freely selected by changing the type of the adhesive 9. A thermoplastic resin is used as an adhesive for fabric such as a T-shirt, and a thermosetting resin is used for printing on the surface of a hard article such as a ceramic. Further, when printing on a sticker or the like, a pressure-sensitive resin is used. As mentioned above,
The printing method of the present invention is performed using both the A and B sheets, and the following effects can be obtained.

[0019]

According to the printing method of the present invention, two types of thermal transfer sheets are used. One of the sheets is copied to form a toner layer. A color layer and an adhesive layer are formed on the toner layer. In the present invention, this sheet is pressed against a T-shirt or the like to perform heat printing. Accordingly, since a color layer is interposed below the toner layer forming the printed pattern or character, the color of the toner is not affected by the color of the T-shirt or the like, and the pattern is printed as a vivid pattern. . That is, the printed T-shirt and other articles are not limited to white,
Even if it is a color, there is no problem and a predetermined pattern or character is formed with a vivid color.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a case where a letter A is printed on a T-shirt.

FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the present invention in which printing is performed using an A sheet and a B sheet.

FIG. 3 shows a change in viscosity of a toner and an adhesive with respect to a temperature.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 T-shirt 2 A sheet 3 B sheet 4 Base material 5 Silicon release layer 6 PVA layer 7 Base material 8 Silicon release layer 9 Adhesive layer 10 Color layer 11 Toner layer

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for printing an electronic image, comprising printing a predetermined pattern or character on a sheet and printing the same on a cloth ground such as a T-shirt or other articles using the sheet. Copies are made on either sheet surface using two sheets, an A sheet composed of an acetate layer (PVA layer) or a polyester resin layer, and a B sheet composed of a base material, a release layer, an adhesive layer, and a color layer. A predetermined pattern or character is formed by a toner layer, and the two sheets are overlapped with the toner layer therebetween, heated and pressed at a predetermined temperature, and then the two sheets are peeled off to remove the toner layer of the A sheet. A color layer and an adhesive layer of a peeled B sheet are formed thereon, the A sheet is bonded to an article such as a T-shirt, the substrate is peeled off together with a release layer, and further heated and pressed at a predetermined temperature. And removing the polyvinyl acetate layer (PVA layer) or polyester resin layer on the surface after performing the method. 2. A thermal transfer sheet for an electronic image, wherein a predetermined pattern or character is printed on a sheet, and the sheet is used to print on a cloth surface such as a T-shirt or other articles. The A sheet is made by laminating a base material made of paper or film, a release layer, and a polyvinyl acetate layer (PVA layer) or a polyester resin layer, and the B sheet is made of paper or film. A thermal transfer sheet for an electronic image, comprising a laminate of a substrate made of a film or the like, a release layer, an adhesive layer, and a color layer.