JP3359962B2 - Image 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 an image transfer sheet useful for transferring an image by a copying machine to various substrates such as cloth, pottery, and plastic molded products.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Printing of marks, logos and images on the surface of cloth such as T-shirts, ceramics, plastic products, and the like is usually performed by various printing methods mainly using screen printing. However, in these printing methods, it is necessary to produce an expensive printing plate. For this reason, printing of a small number of copies is not only unsuitable from the viewpoint of cost, but also it is difficult to print quickly because the preparation of the original requires a long time.

In order to solve these problems, a system for transferring an image to a small number of objects to be transferred quickly and inexpensively by using a color copying machine has recently been developed. This system uses a thermal transfer sheet having a support layer and a thermal adhesive layer instead of copy paper, and forms a toner image corresponding to a document on the surface of the thermal adhesive layer of the thermal transfer sheet,
The toner image is transferred onto the transfer member together with the heat-adhesive layer of the thermal transfer sheet by bringing the surface of the thermal transfer layer into contact with the transfer member and applying heat and pressure.

[0004] However, the above-mentioned system has a problem that the thermal transfer sheet is easily jammed in the copier or adheres to the heat fixing drum of the copier, especially in continuous copying. When such a trouble occurs, it is necessary to remove the transfer sheet each time, and the productivity is greatly reduced.
Also, clogging of the thermal transfer sheet causes a failure of the copying machine, and repair requires a lot of time and money.

In the above system, the toner image formed on the transfer sheet having a fixed size is thermally transferred to the transfer object together with the thermal adhesive layer. Damage and bad texture.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image transfer sheet which is excellent in paper passing property of a copying machine and in which an image having a good texture can be obtained.

[0007]

The present inventors have conducted intensive studies to achieve the above object, and as a result, when the thickness of each layer of a sheet having a support layer, a release layer and a heat bonding layer is set to a specific range,
It has been found that paper jamming in a copying machine and adhesion to a heat-fixing drum can be prevented, and an image having a good texture can be obtained, and the present invention has been completed.

That is, the present invention provides at least a support layer,
The release layer formed on the surface of the support layer and the release layer
Ri Do the three layers of the heat-bonding layer formed on the upper, the heat-bonding layer
An image transfer sheet for forming a toner image on the surface of the, wherein the thickness of the support layer is 50 μm or more, the thickness of the heat bonding layer is 60 μm or less, and the thickness of the entire sheet is 60 to 200 μm , The release layer and the heat bonding layer
The image transfer sheet having an adhesive strength of 5 to 500 g / 25 mm .

The support layer can be formed of a sheet material that can be provided to a copying machine, for example, paper, synthetic paper, chemical fiber paper, synthetic resin sheet or film. The paper includes printing paper such as high-quality paper, medium-quality paper, finely paper-changed, paper-breaking, art paper, coated paper; wrapping paper such as kraft paper and roll paper; thin paper such as glassine paper and Indian paper; .
The paper may be subjected to various processes such as lamination with polypropylene or polystyrene, surface coating, and the like. As the synthetic paper, various synthetic papers using polypropylene, polystyrene and the like can be used. The chemical fiber paper includes various chemical fiber papers made from chemical fibers such as rayon fiber, acetate fiber, vinylon fiber, nylon fiber, acrylic fiber, vinyl chloride fiber, polyester fiber, and polypropylene fiber. Further, the synthetic resin sheet or film includes a sheet or film of polyester, polypropylene, or the like.

Among these, paper, synthetic paper, synthetic resin film, etc., especially high quality paper, synthetic paper, etc., from the viewpoint of suitability for a copying machine and easy confirmation of color tone of a toner image after copying. Is preferred. The support layer is preferably made of a heat-resistant material that does not exhibit thermal adhesiveness at the thermal adhesive temperature of the thermal adhesive layer.

[0011] The release layer is formed between the support layer and the heat bonding layer. The release layer may be made of a material having a property of easily peeling off the thermal adhesive layer when transferring an image to a transfer object. As such a substance, for example,
Examples thereof include resins having a low interfacial tension such as polyethylene and polypropylene, silicone resins, and release agents such as waxes.

The adhesive strength between the support layer and the release layer is, for example, 1 kg / 25 mm or more, preferably 2 kg / 25 mm.
The above is more preferably about 2 to 100 kg / 25 mm, and the adhesive strength between the release layer and the heat bonding layer is, for example, 5 to 500 g / 25 mm, preferably 10 to 200 g / 25 mm.
It is about 25 mm.

The component constituting the thermal adhesive layer may be any component that exhibits adhesiveness by heat, and includes, for example, a thermal adhesive polymer. Examples of the heat-adhesive polymer include thermoplastic polyurethane, polyamide, polyester, and polyolefin. These thermoadhesive polymers can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The polyurethane includes isocyanates,
Includes thermoplastic polyurethanes obtained by reaction with polyols whose molecular ends are hydroxyl groups. Isocyanates include, for example, tolylene diisocyanate,
Aromatic diisocyanates such as diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate; alicyclic diisocyanates such as isophorone diisocyanate; aliphatic diisocyanates such as trimethylene diisocyanate, tetramethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate and dodecamethylene diisocyanate. The polyol includes a polyhydroxy compound such as an alkane polyol, a polyester polyol, and a polyether polyol. At least one of these polyhydroxy compounds is used. Examples of the alkane polyol include alkanediols such as 1,5-pentanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,10-decanediol, and 1,12-dodecanediol. Examples of the polyester polyol include an aliphatic polyester diol, for example, a polyester diol containing, as a constituent unit, any one of an aliphatic diol and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid described below. Examples of the polyether polyol include polyether diols such as diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and an addition compound of bisphenol A and an alkylene oxide such as ethylene oxide.

As the polyamide, for example, nylon 6, nylon 11, nylon 12, nylon 13, nylon 610, nylon 612, nylon 616, etc.
Copolymer nylon (for example, nylon 6/12) using these nylon raw materials is exemplified.

The polyester includes a polyester containing any one component of an aliphatic diol and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid as a constituent unit, and particularly an aliphatic polyester containing an aliphatic diol and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid as constituent components. Preferred polyesters often contain units of saturated aliphatic carboxylic acids. Examples of the aliphatic diol component include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol,
Tripropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, neopentyl glycol, 1,6-hexanediol, polymethylene glycol and the like are included, and as the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid component, for example, Examples include unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acids such as maleic acid and fumaric acid, and saturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acids such as succinic anhydride, adipic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, suberic acid, and dodecane diacid.

Examples of the polyolefin include polyethylene such as low-density polyethylene and linear low-density polyethylene, ethylene-butene-1 copolymer, ethylene- (4-
Methylpentene-1) copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene- (meth) acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene- (meth) acrylate copolymer, propylene-
Butene-1 copolymer, ethylene-propylene copolymer,
Modified polyolefins such as ethylene-propylene-butene-1 copolymer, maleic anhydride-modified polyethylene and maleic anhydride polypropylene are exemplified. Preferred polyolefins include modified polyolefins and the like.

The heat bonding layer preferably contains such a heat bonding polymer as a main component, and its content is, for example, about 50 to 100% by weight, preferably about 70 to 100% by weight. The heat bonding layer may contain a tackifier, an antioxidant, an ultraviolet absorber, a coloring agent, an antistatic agent, a flame retardant, a wax, a plasticizer, a filler, and the like, if necessary.

The main feature of the present invention is that the thickness of the support layer is 5
0 μm or more, the thickness of the heat bonding layer is 60 μm or less, and the thickness of the entire sheet is 60 to 200 μm.
By setting the thickness of each layer in the specific range, it is possible to prevent the transfer sheet from being clogged in the paper feeding mechanism of the copying machine, and to obtain a transferred image having an excellent texture.

The thickness of the support layer is preferably 70 to 180.
μm, and more preferably about 80 to 155 μm.
If the thickness of the support layer is less than 50 μm, the rigidity (stiffness) is small and clogging occurs in the paper feeding mechanism of the copying machine.

The thickness of the heat bonding layer is preferably 1 to
It is about 60 μm, more preferably about 5 to 30 μm.
When the thickness of the heat bonding layer exceeds 60 μm, the transferred portion becomes thick, and the texture is impaired. The thickness of the release layer is, for example, about 0.001 to 100 μm, and preferably about 0.01 to 60 μm.

Further, the thickness of the entire sheet is preferably about 80 to 190 μm, particularly preferably about 90 to 160 μm. If the thickness of the entire sheet is out of the range of 60 to 200 μm, the sheet feeding mechanism of the copying machine becomes insufficiently caught and paper jam occurs.

The image transfer sheet of the present invention can be manufactured by a conventional method. For example, a release agent or the like is applied to the surface of a predetermined support layer, or a resin having a small interfacial tension such as polyethylene is melt-extruded to form a release layer having a predetermined thickness, and then the release layer is formed. By laminating a thermo-adhesive resin on top of this and laminating by a method such as melt extrusion, a thermo-adhesive layer having a predetermined thickness can be formed to obtain an image transfer sheet.

The image transfer sheet can be suitably used as a transfer sheet for an image transfer system using a copying machine, especially a color copying machine. For example, the image transfer sheet of the present invention is cut and set to a size that can be supplied to a color copying machine, and a toner image corresponding to a document is formed on the surface of the thermal adhesive layer of the sheet. Next, the thermal adhesive layer on which the toner image is formed is brought into contact with the surface of the transfer-receiving body, and heat-pressed at the bonding temperature of the thermal bonding layer, and the thermal bonding layer is transferred onto the transfer-receiving body together with the toner image. Can be formed.

The thermal transfer temperature can be selected according to the type of the polymer in the thermal adhesive layer, but is usually 50 to 180 ° C., preferably about 70 to 150 ° C.

It is not necessary to use a special copying machine or heat press machine, and generally commercially available equipment can be used. In addition, the substrate of the transfer object is not particularly limited, and for example, an image can be transferred to any of cloth, pottery, plastic products, and the like.

[0027]

The image transfer sheet of the present invention has a specific thickness of a support layer, a heat bonding layer and the like, so that paper jams in a copying machine can be prevented and wrinkles and rough touches due to transfer are eliminated. An image with good appearance and texture can be obtained.

[0028]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited to these Examples.

Example 1 A low-density polyethylene was extruded on high-quality paper having a thickness of 100 μm to form a release layer having a thickness of 20 μm. Then, a urethane resin having a thickness of 20 μm was formed on the release layer as a heat bonding layer. A film [trade name: ELFAN UH203; manufactured by Nippon Matai Co., Ltd.] was laminated by a heat lamination method to obtain an image transfer sheet having a thickness of 140 μm. This transfer sheet is cut into A4 size, and Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
When the original was mounted on a color copier AC635 and 100 sheets of originals were continuously copied on the surface of the thermal adhesive layer of the transfer sheet, paper jam did not occur at all.

Next, the transfer sheet on which the original has been copied is
The thermal adhesive layer was placed on a cotton T-shirt so that the surface of the thermal adhesive layer was in contact with the T-shirt, and was heated and bonded at 120 ° C. for 1 minute. Thereafter, the high-quality paper and the release layer are simultaneously peeled off, and T
The image transferred on the shirt was observed. As a result, the texture of the transferred image was good, and there was no wrinkle or rough touch.

Example 2 A long-chain alkyl release agent [trade name: Piroyl 101] was coated on a polyethylene-laminated glassine paper having a thickness of 60 μm.
0; On the other hand, a product made by YAS Co., Ltd.] having a thickness of 0.1 μm to form a release layer, and then, on this release layer, a nylon 12 resin [trade name: DAIAMIDE] as a thermal adhesive layer T3
51; manufactured by Daicel Huls Co., Ltd.] and laminated by extrusion to obtain an image transfer sheet having a thickness of 80 μm. This transfer sheet was cut into A4 size paper, mounted on a color copying machine AC635 manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., and 100 sheets of original were continuously copied on the surface of the thermal adhesive layer of the transfer sheet. Did not.

Next, the transfer sheet on which the document has been copied is
The thermal adhesive layer was placed on a cotton T-shirt so that the surface of the thermal adhesive layer was in contact with the T-shirt, and was heated and bonded at 120 ° C. for 1 minute. Thereafter, the polyethylene-laminated glassine paper and the release layer were simultaneously peeled off, and the image transferred on the T-shirt was observed. As a result, the texture of the transferred image was good, and there was no wrinkle or rough touch.

Example 3 A low-density polyethylene was melt-extruded on a high-quality paper having a thickness of 150 μm to form a release layer having a thickness of 40 μm. Then, a urethane resin film having a thickness of 10 μm was formed on the release layer as a heat bonding layer. [Product name: ELFAN UH201; manufactured by Nippon Matai Co., Ltd.]
An image transfer sheet having a thickness of 200 μm was obtained. This transfer sheet was cut into A4 size paper, mounted on a pixel of a color copier manufactured by Canon Inc., and 100 sheets of original were continuously copied on the surface of the thermal adhesive layer of the transfer sheet. No paper jam occurred. Was.

Next, the transfer sheet on which the original has been copied is
The heat bonding layer was superimposed on the polycarbonate plate so that the surface of the heat bonding layer was in contact with the plate surface, and heated and bonded at 110 ° C. for 30 seconds.
Thereafter, the high quality paper and the release layer were simultaneously peeled off, and the image transferred on the polycarbonate plate was observed. as a result,
The texture of the transferred image was extremely good, and there was no wrinkle or rough touch.

Example 4 A silicone release agent (trade name: TSM6341; manufactured by Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.) was applied to a thickness of 0.05 μm on a polyethylene laminated high-quality paper having a thickness of 60 μm to form a release layer. On this release layer, as a thermal adhesive layer, a urethane resin film having a thickness of 5 μm [trade name: ELFAN U
H203; manufactured by Nippon Matai Co., Ltd.] by heat lamination to obtain an image transfer sheet having a thickness of 65 μm. This transfer sheet was cut into A4 size paper, mounted on a pixel of a color copier manufactured by Canon Inc., and 100 sheets of original were continuously copied on the surface of the thermal adhesive layer of the transfer sheet. No paper jam occurred. Was.

Next, the transfer sheet on which the original is copied is
The heat bonding layer was superimposed on the ceramic plate so that the surface of the heat bonding layer was in contact with the ceramic plate surface, and was heated and bonded at 130 ° C. for 30 seconds. Thereafter, the polyethylene laminated high-quality paper and the release layer were peeled off at the same time, and the image transferred on the ceramic plate was observed. As a result, the texture of the transferred image was extremely good, and there was no wrinkle or rough touch.

Comparative Example 1 An image transfer sheet having a thickness of 60 μm was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the thickness of the high-quality paper was 40 μm, the thickness of the release layer was 5 μm, and the thickness of the heat bonding layer was 15 μm. When 100 copies of this transfer sheet were continuously copied in the same manner as in Example 1, paper jam occurred on the 56th sheet.

Comparative Example 2 The thickness of the high-quality paper was 130 μm, the thickness of the release layer was 20 μm,
An image transfer sheet having a thickness of 230 μm was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the thickness of the heat bonding layer was changed to 80 μm. When 100 sheets of this transfer sheet were continuously copied by the same operation as in Example 1, paper jam occurred on the 22nd sheet.

Next, an image was transferred to a T-shirt by the same operation as in Example 1 using the transfer sheet on which the document was copied. As a result, the periphery of the transferred image became rough and rough, and a favorable texture was not obtained.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41M 3/12 G03G 7/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] At least a support layer and a surface of the support layer
Ri Do three layers of the formed release layer and the thermal adhesive layer formed on the release layer, the toner image on the surface of the thermoadhesive layer
An image transfer sheet for forming a support, wherein the thickness of the support layer is 50 μm or more, and the thickness of the heat bonding layer is 60 μm.
m or less, and the thickness of the entire sheet is 60 to 200 μm .
The adhesive strength between the release layer and the thermal adhesive layer is 5
An image transfer sheet having a weight of up to 500 g / 25 mm . 2. The image transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the support layer is made of paper or synthetic paper. 3. The image transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the thermal adhesive layer is composed of at least one polymer selected from thermoplastic polyurethane, polyamide, polyester and modified polyolefin. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein
A toner image is formed, and this thermal adhesive layer is applied to the surface of the transfer object.
Contact and heat press to form an image on the transferred object
Way.