JP4747706B2 - Retransfer printer - Google Patents

Description

  In the present invention, a transfer layer that can be peeled off from the support film is provided on the support film, and an intermediate transfer film having a plurality of diffraction images such as holograms as the transfer layer and the image is transferred to a transfer medium. The present invention relates to a retransfer printer, and in particular, relates to a belt-shaped intermediate transfer film in which a plurality of diffraction images are sequentially and repeatedly arranged, and a retransfer printer that selects and transfers a desired diffraction image therefrom. .

  Conventionally, as a transfer layer on a support film, an image pattern (such as a face photograph) formed from image data and / or an OVD (Optical Variable Device) medium such as a hologram that combines anti-counterfeiting and design, an ID card and a product Intermediate transfer films for applying indirectly (by transfer) to securities such as tickets or booklets such as passports and passbooks are known, and are widely used as suitable image forming means for each of the above-mentioned transferred materials.

  Thus, indirectly applying an image pattern to an image display body such as an ID card by transfer is, for example, technically difficult to form an image directly on the final image display body to which an image pattern is to be applied. If there is a problem such as lack of mass productivity or high cost, an image is first formed on the intermediate transfer sheet as described above, and then the image is transferred to the final product by transfer using a heat roller, a hot press plate, etc. The method of re-transferring to the image display body is taken.

  As an example of the intermediate transfer film, for example, as shown in a schematic side sectional view of FIG. 10, a thermoplastic acrylic resin or the like as a transfer layer (o) on a heat resistant base sheet (f) made of polyethylene terephthalate or the like. A releasable protective layer (g) which is detachably provided, a relief forming layer (m) having a relief pattern of a hologram or a diffraction grating, and a transparent thin film formed on the relief pattern by thin film forming means such as vacuum deposition There is an intermediate transfer film (a) composed of a layer (n) and an image receiving / adhesive layer (l) made of a resin having thermal adhesiveness to a transfer object (not shown) (for example, a patent) Reference 1).

  Then, for example, as shown in the schematic side view of FIG. 9, the intermediate transfer film (a) is an image transfer device (j), the main part of which is composed of a drum (h) and a thermal head (i). For example, a color material layer (not shown) of a transfer ribbon (k) whose color material is a pigment is brought into contact with the image receiving / adhesive layer (l) of the intermediate transfer film (a) shown in FIG. Then, the thermal head (i) is pressed from the transfer ribbon (k) side, and the heating element group of the thermal head (i) is appropriately heated based on the image data to form an image pattern on the image receiving and adhesive layer (l). . When the image data is multicolored, transfer ribbons having different color tones are applied, and the same operation is repeated to form a multicolored image pattern on the image receiving and adhesive layer (l). There is a retransfer printer (z) that transfers the image to the base material (b) such as an ID card by the heating medium (c) together with the image receiving / adhesive layer (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

The above prior art documents are shown below.
JP-A-7-199781 (FIG. 8, P8, etc.) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-43458 (FIG. 4 etc.)

  However, recently, for example, securities such as ID cards as transfer media have been required to form diffracted images such as holograms and image patterns with different designs on the front and back sides, and security such as passports has also become necessary. In the required booklets, there is a request to write different ID information and the like over a plurality of pages. In any case, a desired hologram diffraction image can be obtained from the plurality of ID information of the intermediate transfer film. It has become necessary to select a retransfer printer and transfer it efficiently to a transfer medium.

  The present invention is made to meet such demands, and the problem is that an intermediate transfer film used for image formation on securities such as ID cards and booklets requiring security such as a passport and the like are covered. In a retransfer printer for transferring to a transfer medium, an intermediate transfer film that can select a desired image from a plurality of types of diffraction images such as holograms and transfer it to a transfer medium, and retransfer the diffraction image to the transfer medium efficiently. It is to provide a transfer printer.

In order to achieve the above object in the present invention, first, in the invention of claim 1, a transfer layer that can be peeled off from the support film is provided on a belt-like support film, and the layer structure of the transfer layer is as follows. From the side close to the support film, it is provided with at least a diffractive structure layer corresponding to a diffraction image of either a hologram or a diffraction grating, and an image receiving layer capable of forming an image, along the longitudinal direction of the support film There are a plurality of different diffraction images for each frame, a plurality of different diffraction images are arranged in the plurality of frames, and the plurality of frames are repeatedly arranged along the longitudinal direction. There are a plurality of detection marks corresponding to the images, each having a different spatial frequency or directionality, and the detection marks corresponding to the diffraction image for each frame are along the longitudinal direction. A retransfer printer of an intermediate transfer film disposed in correspondence with the frame,
At least image forming means for forming an image on the image receiving layer located on the frame of the intermediate transfer film, and at the time of image formation for aligning the image receiving layer and the image forming portion of the image forming means when forming the image Alignment means, for retransfer, alignment of the image receiving layer and the transfer target is performed so that the surface of the image receiving layer on which the image is formed overlaps the transfer target region of the transfer target. Means, retransfer means for applying heat and pressure in a state where the image receiving layer and the transfer target are aligned and overlapped for the retransfer, and the intermediate transfer film for the image formation and retransfer. Provided with intermediate transfer film supply and recovery means for supply and recovery,
Prior to the image formation, the retransfer printer detects one of the detection marks and identifies which detection mark, thereby selecting one unused frame corresponding to a desired diffraction image. An image is formed on a frame having a desired diffraction image by cooperating with at least the alignment means at the time of image formation,
The frame selection means includes a plurality of light emitting elements for irradiating the detection mark with light and one or more light receiving elements for receiving either diffracted light reflected by the detection mark or diffracted light transmitted through the detection mark. Equipped with a detection mark detection unit with
The detection unit selectively detects the detection mark by detecting the diffracted light from any one of the light emitting elements with the light receiving element due to a difference in spatial frequency or directionality of the detection mark. And
The retransfer printer is characterized by selecting a diffraction image within the same frame as the detected detection mark .

In the invention of claim 2, a transfer layer that can be peeled off from the support film is provided on a belt-like support film, and the layer structure of the transfer layer is at least a hologram from the side close to the support film. Or a diffraction structure layer corresponding to one of the diffraction images of the diffraction grating, and an image receiving layer capable of forming an image, and there are a plurality of different diffraction images for each frame along the longitudinal direction of the support film. A plurality of different diffraction images are arranged in the plurality of frames, and the plurality of frames are repeatedly arranged along the longitudinal direction, respectively corresponding to the plurality of diffraction images, and each having a spatial frequency or directionality. There are a plurality of detection marks that are different from each other, and detection marks corresponding to the diffraction images for each frame are arranged corresponding to the respective frames along the longitudinal direction. A retransfer printer copy film,
At least image forming means for forming an image on the image receiving layer located on the frame of the intermediate transfer film, and at the time of image formation for aligning the image receiving layer and the image forming portion of the image forming means when forming the image Alignment means, for retransfer, alignment of the image receiving layer and the transfer target is performed so that the surface of the image receiving layer on which the image is formed overlaps the transfer target region of the transfer target. Means, retransfer means for applying heat and pressure in a state where the image receiving layer and the transfer target are aligned and overlapped for the retransfer, and the intermediate transfer film for the image formation and retransfer. Provided with intermediate transfer film supply and recovery means for supply and recovery,
Prior to the image formation, the retransfer printer detects one of the detection marks and identifies which detection mark, thereby selecting one unused frame corresponding to a desired diffraction image. An image is formed on a frame having a desired diffraction image by cooperating with at least the alignment means at the time of image formation,
The frame selection means includes one light emitting element that irradiates the detection mark with light and a plurality of light receiving elements that receive either the diffracted light reflected by the detection mark or the diffracted light transmitted through the detection mark. Detection mark detection unit
The detection unit selectively detects the detection mark by detecting with any one of the plurality of light receiving elements due to a difference in spatial frequency or directionality of the detection mark ,
The retransfer printer is characterized by selecting a diffraction image within the same frame as the detected detection mark .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the retransfer printer according to the first or second aspect, the detection mark is made of a diffraction structure layer having the same structure as the corresponding diffraction image. Is.

Further, in the invention of claim 4, wherein the diffractive structure layer corresponding to the diffraction image of the plurality Street, claim 1, wherein at least a spatial frequency or direction of any differ, the diffractive structure Or a retransfer printer according to any one of the above.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the detection mark detection unit has two guide rollers at the bottom, and the intersection of the irradiation axis of the light emitting element and the light receiving axis of diffracted light is the guide roller. The retransfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the retransfer printer is arranged so as to come upward .

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  Since this invention is the above structure, there exist the following effects.

That is, according to the invention according to the above claim, Yes to the support releasable transfer layer from the film is provided on the strip-shaped support film, the layer structure of the transfer layer from the side close to the support film, An intermediate transfer film comprising at least a diffraction structure layer corresponding to a diffraction image of either a hologram or a diffraction grating, and an image receiving layer capable of forming an image,
There are a plurality of different diffraction images for each frame along the longitudinal direction of the support film, a plurality of different diffraction images are arranged in the plurality of frames, and the plurality of frames are repeated along the longitudinal direction. Has been placed,
There are a plurality of detection marks that differ in at least the spatial frequency or the directionality of the diffractive structure corresponding to each of the plurality of diffraction images, and the detection marks corresponding to the diffraction images for each frame are along the longitudinal direction. In addition, it is possible to detect diffraction grating marks with different spatial frequency or directionality when selecting a desired diffraction image from multiple diffraction images. to, thus, can be a desired diffraction image in the same printer to be re-transferred efficiently transfer medium member.

Further, the invention according to the claims, at least, image forming means for forming an image on the image-receiving layer positioned in the frame of the intermediate transfer film,
An image forming alignment means for aligning the image receiving layer and the image forming portion of the image forming means when forming the image;
Re-transfer alignment means for aligning the image receiving layer and the transfer target so that the surface of the image receiving layer on which the image is formed overlaps the transfer target region of the transfer target for re-transfer,
Retransfer means for applying heat and pressure in a state where the image receiving layer and the transfer target are aligned and overlapped for the retransfer,
And a retransfer printer comprising an intermediate transfer film supply and recovery means for supplying and recovering the intermediate transfer film for the image formation and retransfer,
Prior to the image formation, it comprises a frame selection means for selecting one unused frame corresponding to a desired diffraction image by detecting the detection mark and identifying which detection mark.
At least a retransfer printer that forms an image on a frame having a desired diffracted image by cooperating with the alignment means during image formation,
The frame selection means comprises a detection mark detection unit comprising a light emitting element for irradiating the detection mark with light, and a light receiving element for receiving either reflected light or transmitted light from the detection mark,
One detection element including a single light emitting element for irradiating the detection mark with light and a plurality of light reception elements for receiving the diffracted light diffracted by the detection mark, thereby receiving one of the plurality of light reception elements. Thus, a desired detection mark can be captured (selected) and detected, and a diffracted image within the same frame as this detection mark can be selected and a retransfer printer can be transferred to the transfer medium.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the frame selecting means includes a plurality of light emitting elements that irradiate the detection mark with light, and one or more light receiving elements that receive the diffracted light diffracted by the detection mark. It is possible to capture (select) and detect a desired detection mark with diffracted light from one of the plurality of light emitting elements, and the same as this detection mark. The re-transfer printer can select the diffraction image in the frame and re-transfer it to the transfer medium.

Furthermore, the pre-Symbol detection mark detection unit has two guide rollers on the bottom, the intersection between the light receiving axis of the guide roller the diffracted light and the irradiation axis of the light emitting element, to come on the detection mark By being arranged, it is possible to guide the intermediate transfer film to be sent from above, to stabilize the detection by suppressing vibration and shaking of the detection surface of the intermediate transfer film, A guide roller is arranged so that the detection mark comes to the intersection of the light emission axis of the diffracted light and the irradiation axis of the light emitting element, and the light emitting element, the light receiving element and the detection mark are integrated so that the relative positions of the three elements do not change. Therefore, it is not necessary to adjust various mechanisms such as a light emitting element in the assembly and replacement of the printer, and the retransfer printer can be easily operated.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an intermediate transfer film having a plurality of diffraction images such as holograms and the like as a transfer layer provided on the support film, the transfer layer being peelable from the support film on the support film. A retransfer printer that transfers images to a transfer medium, especially as a retransfer printer that selects and transfers a desired diffracted image from a strip-shaped intermediate transfer film on which a plurality of diffraction images are repeatedly arranged. Demonstrate practical effects.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an example of an intermediate transfer film of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 6 are perspective views illustrating a part of a detection mark detection unit constituting a retransfer printer of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a detection mark detection unit constituting the retransfer printer of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic side view for explaining an example of the retransfer printer of the present invention.

The intermediate transfer film of the present invention is, for example, as shown in a plan view of FIG. 1A and a side cross-sectional view of FIG. A diffractive structure layer (12) and an adhesion / image receiving layer (14) are provided as a transfer layer (16) through a peelable protective layer (11), and the longitudinal direction (P) of the diffractive structure layer (12). The diffraction image A (2A), the diffraction image B (2B), and the diffraction image C (2C) are sequentially and repeatedly formed for each frame (20), and these diffraction images (2A, 2B, 2C) are formed. An intermediate transfer film (1) in which detection marks A (3a), detection marks B (3b), and detection marks C (3c), each having a different spatial frequency or directionality, are sequentially formed for each frame (20). ).

  In addition, for example, as shown in FIG. 1B, it was formed by thin film forming means such as vacuum deposition so as to cover the fine uneven pattern forming the diffraction image B (2B) and the detection mark B (3b). A transmissive thin film layer (13) may be provided, and a transfer image (15) obtained by primary transfer using a transfer ribbon may be formed on the outermost adhesion / image receiving layer (14).

  As described above, the three diffraction images A, B, and C (2A, 2B, and 2C) are repeatedly arranged in order for each frame (20) in the longitudinal direction (P), and each frame on which these diffraction images are formed. Since three detection marks A, B, and C (3a, 3b, and 3c) having different spatial frequencies and directivities are formed, the three diffraction images A, B, and C (2A and 2B) are formed. 2C), when a desired diffraction image is selected and transferred to a transfer medium (not shown), either the spatial frequency or directionality in the frame (20) on which the desired diffraction image is formed is selected. The intermediate transfer film (1) is capable of detecting a different detection mark and selecting a desired diffraction image.

The retransfer printer of the present invention receives, for example, one light emitting element (40) and diffracted light obtained by diffracting light from the light emitting element (40) as shown in the perspective view of FIG. A detection mark detection unit including two light receiving elements A, B, and C (30A, 30B, and 30C), for example, three types formed on the frame of the intermediate transfer film (1) shown in FIG. A desired detection mark (3a) is selected from the detection marks (3a, 3b, 3c) having different spatial frequencies or directivities of the three light receiving elements A, B, C (30A, 30B, 30C) shown in FIG. The light is selectively detected by one light receiving element A (30A), and a desired diffraction image A (2A) in the same frame as the detected detection mark (3a) is selected, and the diffraction image A (2A) is selected. ) To be transferred medium (not shown) A retransfer printer for transferring to.

  Also, for example, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3, one light emitting element (40) and three light receiving elements A, B, C (30A, 30B, 30B) that receive diffracted light from the light emitting element (40). 30C), for example, three detection marks (3a, 3b) having different spatial frequencies or directions formed on the frame of the intermediate transfer film (1) shown in FIG. 3c), a desired detection mark (3b) is selectively selected by one light receiving element B (30B) from among the three light receiving elements A, B, C (30A, 30B, 30C) shown in FIG. The desired diffraction image B (2B) in the same frame as the detected diffraction grating mark (3b) is selected, and the diffraction image B (2B) is transferred to a transfer medium (not shown). Can also be a retransfer printer

  Similarly, a desired detection mark (3c) is selected from the detection marks (3a, 3b, 3c) having different spatial frequencies or directivity shown in FIG. 1 (a), for example, a perspective view of FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the light receiving element A, B, C (30A, 30B, 30C) is selectively detected by one light receiving element C (30C), and is the same as the detected detection mark (3c). A retransfer printer that selects a desired diffraction image C (2C) in the frame and transfers the diffraction image C (2C) to a transfer medium (not shown) may be used.

  Further, for example, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 5, a detection mark detection unit including one light emitting element (40) and two light receiving elements A and B (30A and 30B) can be used. Can be a retransfer printer that selectively detects a desired detection mark (3a) from two detection marks (3a, 3b) having different spatial frequencies by a single light receiving element A (30A). .

  Thus, for example, the detection mark detection unit includes one light-emitting element (40) and a plurality of light-receiving elements that receive diffracted light from the light-emitting element (40). Thus, a desired detection mark can be selectively detected, and thus a re-transfer printer that can select a diffraction image in the same frame as the detection mark and efficiently re-transfer the image to the transfer medium.

Further, the retransfer printer of the present invention receives, for example, three light emitting elements A, B, and C (40A, 40B, and 40C) and diffracted light from these light emitting elements as shown in the perspective view of FIG. The detection mark detection unit including one light receiving element (30) allows any one of three spatial frequencies or directions formed on the frame of the intermediate transfer film (1) shown in FIG. Three light-emitting elements A, B, and C that emit diffracted light from one detection mark (3a, 3b, 3c) to a single light-receiving element (30) shown in FIG. (40A, 40B, 40C) is selectively detected by the light emitting element A (40A), and a desired diffraction image A (2A) in the same frame as the detected detection mark (3a) is selected, The diffraction image A (2 ) Can be a retransfer printer allowed to transfer to a transfer medium (not shown).

  Thus, for example, by forming a detection mark detection unit including a plurality of light emitting elements and one light receiving element (30) that receives diffracted light from the plurality of light emitting elements, A desired detection mark can be selectively detected by one light-emitting element among a plurality of light-emitting elements, so that a diffraction image within the same frame as this detection mark can be selected and efficiently retransferred to a transfer medium. It can be a retransfer printer.

Furthermore, the retransfer printer of the present invention includes, for example, one light emitting element (40) and three light receiving elements A that receive diffracted light from the light emitting element (40) as shown in the perspective view of FIG. , B, C (30A, 30B, 30C), for example, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 7, the detection mark detection unit (50) has two guides at the bottom. The guide roller (52) has, for example, an irradiation axis (46) from the light emitting element (40) and a light receiving axis (36 to the light receiving element A (30A) shown in the perspective view of FIG. intersection of) (34) are arranged to come onto the detection mark of the intermediate transfer film (3a), can be re-transfer printer that secure by integrating its light receiving element and the light-emitting element.

  In this way, the detection mark detection unit (50) guides the intermediate transfer film (1) to be fed from above by the two guide rollers (50) at the bottom, and the intermediate transfer film (1) Detection can be stabilized by suppressing vibration and shaking of the detection surface, and a guide roller (52) is arranged so that the detection mark (2b) is at the intersection of the diffracted light irradiation axis and the light receiving axis. The elements (not shown), the light receiving element (not shown), and the detection mark (2b) are integrated so that the relative positions of the three elements do not change. Adjustment of various mechanisms is not required, and a retransfer printer that can easily perform various operations can be obtained.

  The process of re-transferring and forming a desired diffraction image on a booklet such as a passport by the re-transfer printer having the above function will be described in detail. For example, as shown in the schematic side view of FIG. A desired page of the booklet as the transfer medium (5) is opened and set on the tray (60). Subsequently, a desired detection mark is detected by the detection mark detection unit (50) on the intermediate transfer film (1) on which a diffraction image such as a traveling hologram is formed, and a frame having the diffraction image corresponding thereto is detected as a platen roll (62). Wrap around.

  After the ink ribbon (61) is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer film (1) wound around the platen roll (62) and the image pattern is primarily transferred from the ink ribbon (61) side by the thermal head (63), The clamp (64) is opened and the intermediate transfer film (1) is conveyed downstream. At this time, the positioning mark simultaneously printed by the primary transfer is detected by the transfer mark sensor (65), and the frame having the image pattern obtained by the primary transfer is positioned so as to be directly below the heat roller (66).

  Subsequently, the heat roller (66) is rotated while being pressed against the booklet as the transfer target (5), and the diffraction image and image pattern in the desired frame of the intermediate transfer film (1) are transferred to the desired page surface of the booklet. Can be re-transferred to a booklet with a forgery prevention measure such as a hologram.

  Below, the material of each layer which comprises the intermediate transfer film (1) of this invention, a manufacturing method, etc. are demonstrated.

  First, the support film (10) constituting the intermediate transfer film (1) of the present invention is required to have heat resistance without deformation or the like with respect to heat pressure due to thermal transfer. For example, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, Examples thereof include those selected singly from synthetic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl alcohol, paper, and synthetic paper, and composites selected from these. In addition, the thickness of 2 to 100 μm can be used in consideration of operability and workability, but the thickness is about 6 to 50 μm from the viewpoint of handling properties such as transferability to the transfer target (22). preferable.

  The peelable protective layer (11) is provided to more effectively transfer the hologram, the adhesion / image receiving layer (14), etc. to the transfer target (5). Any resin can be used as long as it is a material that can be easily peeled off from the support film (10), but in consideration of flexibility and foil breakage, a thermoplastic resin is preferable. Thermoplastic polyacrylate, chlorinated rubber resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, cellulose resin, chlorinated polyprone resin, epoxy resin, polyester resin, nitrocellulose resin, styrene acrylate resin, poly Ether resins, polycarbonates, etc. can be used alone or in combination. In addition, considering wax breakage and wear resistance, petroleum wax, -BASED wax such as various waxes, metal salts such as stearic acid higher fatty acid, and a lubricant such as silicone oil, fluororesin powder, may be added to polyethylene powder, silicon particles or the like.

  The peelable protective layer (11) is formed by adding a wax or the like to a single compound selected from the above resin group or a composite, and dissolving and dispersing the coating solution in a solvent such as toluene or methyl isobutyl ketone. The coating method, knife coating method, curtain coating method, die coating method and the like can be used to form a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 50 μm.

  In addition, the diffraction structure layer (12) on which a diffraction image such as a hologram or a fine uneven pattern of a detection mark is formed has good embossing formability, hardly causes press unevenness, provides a bright reproduction image, and protects peelability. Resins having good adhesion to the layer (11) and the permeable thin film layer (13) are good, for example, thermoplastic resins such as polyurethane, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, unsaturated polyester resins, melamine resins, epoxy resins, Thermosetting resins such as urethane (meth) acrylate, polyester (meth) acrylate, polyol (meth) acrylate, and melamine (meth) acrylate, or a mixture thereof can be used.

  The diffractive structure layer (12) is formed by using a coating solution in which a single or composite selected from the resin group is dissolved and dispersed in a solvent compatible with the resin, gravure method, roll coating method, knife coating method, It can be formed in a thickness range of 0.5 to 50 μm by a curtain coating method, a die coating method or the like.

  In addition, a fine uneven pattern constituting a diffraction mark such as a relief hologram formed on the diffraction structure layer (12), a detection mark made of a diffraction grating, or the like is obtained by diffracting the press plate on which the fine uneven pattern is formed. It can be formed by heating and pressing on the structural layer (12).

Further, the transmissive thin film layer (13) provided on the diffraction pattern such as the hologram or the fine uneven pattern of the detection mark is higher than the refractive index (1.3 to 1.7) of the diffraction structure layer (12). A transparent material, for example, an inorganic material such as Sb ₂ S ₃ , Fe ₂ O ₃ , TiO ₂ , CdS, CeO ₂ , ZnS, SiO, Si ₂ O ₃ , ZnO, and the formation method thereof is a vacuum deposition method. In addition, known film forming means such as sputtering and ion plating can be applied, and the film thickness is preferably in the range of 10 nm to 1000 nm.

  Examples of the adhesion and image receiving layer (14) include polyesters such as linear saturated polyesters, vinyl chloride resins such as polyvinyl chloride and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, polyacrylic acid, and polyacrylic acid-2. -Acrylic resins such as naphthyl, polymethyl acrylate, poly-2-methoxyethyl polyacrylate, isobornyl polyacrylate, polymethacrylomethyl, polyacrylonitrile, methyl polymethacrylate, polystyrene, polydivinylbenzene, styrene-butadiene Examples thereof include vinyl resins such as copolymers.

  The adhesion and image-receiving layer (14) is formed by using a coating solution prepared by dissolving and dispersing a single compound or a composite selected from the above resin group in a solvent compatible with these resins, a gravure method, a roll coating method, a knife coating method. It can be formed in a thickness range of 0.5 to 50 μm by a curtain coating method, a die coating method or the like.

  Further, as the transfer image (15), in addition to the transfer ribbon, various transfer recording methods using an electrophotographic method (toner transfer, etc.), an ink jet method, a photopolymerization recording material, and the like can be applied. For the intermediate transfer sheet, the above-mentioned transfer ribbon method is suitable, and the transfer ribbon includes a sublimation (heat transferable) dye, a resin-type melt type in which a pigment is dispersed, and a wax melt-type transfer ribbon. Yes, any method is acceptable, but recently, a resin-type melt type in which a pigment having excellent heat resistance and weather resistance is dispersed has become the mainstream.

  This pigment dispersion type transfer ribbon will be described on behalf of the method for producing the intermediate transfer sheet of the present invention. First, four color pigments (yellow, cyan, magenta, black) are each copolymerized with vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate. Disperse in resin to prepare pigment ink, apply on a 6 μm thick polyethylene terephthalate film using a gravure coater so that each color is arranged alternately, and fit into resin type melt with 4 color pigment layers Manufactures transfer ribbons.

  Note that the characters, figures, barcodes, etc. formed in the above black color may be used as optical character identification (OCR), so that the PCS (Print Contrast Signal) value when it is the final product is 0. It is required to adjust the black pigment concentration and the film thickness as appropriate so as to be 6 or more. Further, a magnetic material may be added and used as magnetic ink character identification (MICR).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an intermediate transfer film of the present invention, in which (a) is a plan view thereof, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of a BB plane of (a). It is a perspective view explaining an example of a part of the detection mark detection unit constituting the retransfer printer of the present invention. It is a perspective view explaining the other example of a part of detection mark detection unit which comprises the retransfer printer of this invention. It is a perspective view explaining the other example of a part of detection mark detection unit which comprises the retransfer printer of this invention. It is a perspective view explaining the other example of a part of detection mark detection unit which comprises the retransfer printer of this invention. It is a perspective view explaining the other example of a part of detection mark detection unit which comprises the retransfer printer of this invention. It is a perspective view explaining an example of a detection mark detection unit constituting the retransfer printer of the present invention. It is a side schematic diagram explaining an example of a retransfer printer of the present invention. It is the side schematic diagram explaining an example of the conventional general retransfer printer. It is a sectional side view explaining an example of the conventional general intermediate transfer film.

1. Intermediate transfer film 2A, 2B, 2C ... Diffracted images A, B, C
3a, 3b, 3c ... Diffraction grating marks A, B, C
5. Transfer medium 10 ... Support film 11 ... Peelable protective layer 12 ... Diffraction structure layer 13 ... Transparent thin film layer 14 ... Adhesion and image receiving layer 15 ... Transfer image 16 ... Transfer layer 20 Frame 30 Light receiving element 30A, 30B, 30C Light receiving element A, B, C
34 ... Intersection of irradiation axis and light receiving axis 36 ... Light receiving axis 40 ... Light emitting element 40A, 40B, 40C ... Light emitting element A, B, C
46 ... Irradiation axis 50 ... Detection mark detection unit 52 ... Guide roll 60 ... Tray 61 ... Ink ribbon 62 ... Platen roll 63 ... Thermal head 64 ... Clamp 65 ... Transfer mark sensor 66 ... Heat Roller a ... Intermediate transfer film b ... Base material c ... Heating medium f ... Heat-resistant base sheet g ... Peelable protective layer h ... Drum i ... Thermal head j ... Image transfer device k ... Transfer Ribbon l ... Image receiving / adhesive layer m ... Relief forming layer n ... Transparent thin film layer o ... Transfer layer z ... Retransfer printer

Claims (5)

A transfer layer that can be peeled off from the support film is provided on a belt-like support film, and the layer structure of the transfer layer is at least a diffraction image of either a hologram or a diffraction grating from the side close to the support film. A plurality of diffraction images different in units of frames along the longitudinal direction of the support film, and different diffraction patterns in the frames A plurality of detection marks in which a plurality of images are arranged and the plurality of frames are repeatedly arranged along the longitudinal direction, each corresponding to the plurality of diffraction images, each having a different spatial frequency or directionality There is a re-transfer print on the intermediate transfer film in which detection marks corresponding to the diffraction image for each frame are arranged corresponding to each frame along the longitudinal direction. There is,
At least image forming means for forming an image on the image receiving layer located on the frame of the intermediate transfer film, and at the time of image formation for aligning the image receiving layer and the image forming portion of the image forming means when forming the image Alignment means, for retransfer, alignment of the image receiving layer and the transfer target is performed so that the surface of the image receiving layer on which the image is formed overlaps the transfer target region of the transfer target. Means, retransfer means for applying heat and pressure in a state where the image receiving layer and the transfer target are aligned and overlapped for the retransfer, and the intermediate transfer film for the image formation and retransfer. Provided with intermediate transfer film supply and recovery means for supply and recovery,
Prior to the image formation, the retransfer printer detects one of the detection marks and identifies which detection mark, thereby selecting one unused frame corresponding to a desired diffraction image. An image is formed on a frame having a desired diffraction image by cooperating with at least the alignment means at the time of image formation,
The frame selection means includes a plurality of light emitting elements for irradiating the detection mark with light and one or more light receiving elements for receiving either diffracted light reflected by the detection mark or diffracted light transmitted through the detection mark. Equipped with a detection mark detection unit with
The detection unit selectively detects the detection mark by detecting the diffracted light from any one of the light emitting elements with the light receiving element due to a difference in spatial frequency or directionality of the detection mark. And
A retransfer printer that selects a diffraction image in the same frame as a detected detection mark . A transfer layer that can be peeled off from the support film is provided on a belt-like support film, and the layer structure of the transfer layer is at least a diffraction image of either a hologram or a diffraction grating from the side close to the support film. A plurality of diffraction images different in units of frames along the longitudinal direction of the support film, and different diffraction patterns in the frames A plurality of detection marks in which a plurality of images are arranged and the plurality of frames are repeatedly arranged along the longitudinal direction, each corresponding to the plurality of diffraction images, each having a different spatial frequency or directionality There is a re-transfer print on the intermediate transfer film in which detection marks corresponding to the diffraction image for each frame are arranged corresponding to each frame along the longitudinal direction. There is,
At least image forming means for forming an image on the image receiving layer located on the frame of the intermediate transfer film, and at the time of image formation for aligning the image receiving layer and the image forming portion of the image forming means when forming the image Alignment means, for retransfer, alignment of the image receiving layer and the transfer target is performed so that the surface of the image receiving layer on which the image is formed overlaps the transfer target region of the transfer target. Means, retransfer means for applying heat and pressure in a state where the image receiving layer and the transfer target are aligned and overlapped for the retransfer, and the intermediate transfer film for the image formation and retransfer. Provided with intermediate transfer film supply and recovery means for supply and recovery,
Prior to the image formation, the retransfer printer detects one of the detection marks and identifies which detection mark, thereby selecting one unused frame corresponding to a desired diffraction image. An image is formed on a frame having a desired diffraction image by cooperating with at least the alignment means at the time of image formation,
The frame selection means includes one light emitting element that irradiates the detection mark with light and a plurality of light receiving elements that receive either the diffracted light reflected by the detection mark or the diffracted light transmitted through the detection mark. Detection mark detection unit
The detection unit selectively detects the detection mark by detecting with any one of the plurality of light receiving elements due to a difference in spatial frequency or directionality of the detection mark ,
A retransfer printer that selects a diffraction image in the same frame as a detected detection mark . The retransfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the detection mark is made of a diffraction structure layer having the same structure as the corresponding diffraction image.   The retransfer printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the diffractive structure layer corresponding to the plurality of diffracted images is different in at least a spatial frequency or directionality of the diffractive structure. .   The detection mark detection unit has two guide rollers at the bottom, and the guide roller is arranged so that the intersection of the irradiation axis of the light emitting element and the light receiving axis of diffracted light is on the detection mark. The retransfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the retransfer printer is provided.