JP5104157B2 - Image forming method, image transfer medium, and information recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming method, an image transfer medium, and an information recording body.

As an image forming device used to make cards with images formed on plastic recording media such as cash cards, employee cards, student cards, individual membership cards, residence cards, various driver's licenses, various qualification certificates, etc. An apparatus of a sublimation type thermal transfer system is known (see Patent Document 1).
In this apparatus, the ink applied to the ink donor film is transferred to the intermediate transfer film by the first heating unit to form an ink image, and the ink image transferred to the intermediate transfer film is received by the second heating unit. An image is formed by retransfer to the body.

  In these methods, there is known a thermal transfer continuous sheet that prints special colors such as gold and silver (colors that cannot be expressed by mixing the three primary colors yellow, magenta, and cyan) (see Patent Document 2). In this continuous sheet, each layer containing dyes of yellow, magenta, and cyan, which are the three primary colors, and a black dye layer are provided on the sheet, and further, a special color layer is provided.

On the other hand, instead of the sublimation thermal transfer method, image formation is performed by once forming an image on an image transfer medium having an image receiving layer on the support surface by an electrophotographic method, and then transferring the image to a plastic recording medium or the like. A method has also been proposed (see Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-0667019 JP-A-8-207452 JP 2005-227377 A

The present invention firstly provides an image forming method capable of satisfactorily forming an image formed by an image forming material and an image formed by an image receiving layer in an image transfer medium in a desired shape on the recording medium, and the image forming method. It is an object to provide an information recording body obtained by an image forming method.
Second, an image forming method capable of satisfactorily forming an image of an image receiving layer in an image transfer medium in a desired shape on a recording medium, and an information recording body obtained by the image forming method are provided. The purpose is to do.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image transfer medium that can be suitably used in the above-described image forming method and can satisfactorily form a glittering image.

The above-mentioned subject is achieved by the following present invention.
That is, the invention according to claim 1 uses an image transfer medium having an image-receiving layer containing a pigment on at least one surface of a support, and an image containing at least a release agent on the surface provided with the image-receiving layer. An image forming step of forming an image by an electrophotographic method depending on a forming material, a polymerization step of superimposing a recording medium on a surface on which the image of the image transfer medium is formed, and heating the laminate A heating and pressurizing step of applying pressure, and removing the region corresponding to the image portion of the image receiving layer together with the support from the laminate, and transferring the region corresponding to the non-image portion of the image receiving layer to the recording medium And a removing step.

The invention according to claim 2 uses an image transfer medium having an image receiving layer containing a pigment on at least one surface of a support, and an image portion containing at least a release agent on the surface provided with the image receiving layer. A covering image forming step of forming a covering image by an electrophotographic method with a covering material, and a first laminated body in which a covering image removing medium is superimposed on a surface of the image transfer medium on which the covering image is formed. A superimposing step, a first heating and pressurizing step for heating and pressurizing the first laminated body, a non-image of the coated image and the image receiving layer together with the coated image removing medium from the first laminated body. A first removing step for removing the area corresponding to the image forming portion, and a second laminate by superimposing the recording medium on the surface of the image transfer medium where the area corresponding to the image portion of the image receiving layer remains. 2 polymerization step and the second laminate A second hot pressing step of heating and pressing, a second removal step of removing the support from the second stack, which is an image forming method having.

The invention according to claim 3 is a support, on at least one surface of the support, Ri name contains the bright pigment, and superposing a recording medium or coating the image removing medium on the surface opposite to the support In this case, an image portion in which the recording medium or the covering image removing medium is superposed via an image formed by an electrophotographic method with an image forming material or an image portion covering material containing at least a release agent. Then, after heating and pressurizing the laminate, it can be peeled off at the interface with the image, while in the non-image portion where the recording medium or the coated image removal medium is superimposed without passing through the image, And an image-receiving layer that can be peeled off at the interface with the support after the laminate is heated and pressurized .

The invention according to claim 4 is an image transfer medium in which the particle size of the glitter pigment contained in the image receiving layer according to claim 3 is 3 μm or more and 500 μm or less.

The invention according to claim 5 is the film according to claim 3 or claim 4 , wherein the bright pigment is at least one film selected from titanium oxide, silicon oxide, iron oxide and tin oxide on a flaky substrate. An image transfer medium having a layer.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the support according to any one of the third to fifth aspects is from 50 μm to 200 μm, the image receiving layer contains a polyester resin, and the image receiving layer is An image transfer medium formed on at least one surface of the support via a release layer.

The invention according to claim 7, support according to any one of claims 3 to 6, an image transfer medium which is manufactured by biaxial stretching.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming step of forming an image by an electrophotographic method with an image forming material containing at least a release agent on the surface provided with the image receiving layer, and the surface on which the image is formed. And a superposition step of superposing recording media to form a laminate, a heating and pressurizing step of heating and pressurizing the laminate, and from the laminate, together with the support, corresponding to an image portion of the image receiving layer. 8. The image forming method according to claim 3, further comprising: a removing step of removing the region and transferring the region corresponding to the non-image portion of the image receiving layer to the recording medium. An image transfer medium.
The invention according to claim 9 is a covering image forming step of forming a covering image by an electrophotographic method with an image portion covering material containing at least a release agent on the surface provided with the image receiving layer, and the covering image A first superposition step of superposing a coated image removal medium on the formed surface to form a first laminate, a first heating and pressurizing step of heating and pressurizing the first laminate, and A first removal step of removing a region corresponding to the non-image portion of the cover image and the image receiving layer from the first laminate, and a region corresponding to the image portion of the image receiving layer remain together with the cover image removing medium. A second superposition step in which a recording medium is superimposed on the surface to form a second laminate, a second heating and pressurizing step for heating and pressurizing the second laminate, and the second laminate. A second removal step of removing the support from the body. An image transfer medium according to any one of claims 3 to 7 used for forming methods.

The invention according to claim 10 is an information recording body produced by the image forming method according to claim 1 or claim 2 .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image formed by the image forming material and an image formed by the image receiving layer in the image transfer medium can be favorably formed in a desired shape on the recording medium.

In addition, according to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to more easily and satisfactorily form an image using an image forming material.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, an image formed by the image receiving layer in the image transfer medium can be favorably formed in a desired shape on the recording medium.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, the image can be and well formed more simply a by receiving layer of the image transfer medium.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image transfer medium that can be suitably used in the image forming method according to the first or second aspect and can satisfactorily form a glittering image.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to form an image having a metallic luster with a higher luminance than in the case where the particle size is not taken into consideration.

According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5 , compared with the case where it does not have the said structure, the image transfer medium which can form a brilliant image more favorably can be provided.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image transfer medium capable of easily and satisfactorily transferring an image receiving layer containing a glittering pigment from a support to a recording medium.

According to the invention of claim 7 , even in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, it is possible to provide an image transfer medium capable of forming an image satisfactorily without causing a paper jam or running failure.

  According to the invention of claim 10, an image having an image formed by the image forming material and an image formed by the image receiving layer in the image transfer medium or an image formed by the image receiving layer in the image transfer medium is favorably formed in a desired shape. An information recording medium can be provided.

<Image Forming Method According to First Embodiment>
The image forming method according to the first embodiment, which is a preferred aspect, uses an image transfer medium having an image receiving layer containing a pigment on at least one surface of a support, and at least on the surface provided with the image receiving layer. An image forming step of forming an image by an electrophotographic method with an image forming material containing a release agent, and a polymerization step of superimposing a recording medium on the image-formed surface of the image transfer medium to form a laminate And heating / pressurizing step for heating / pressurizing the laminate, and removing the region corresponding to the image portion of the image receiving layer together with the support from the laminate, corresponding to the non-image portion of the image receiving layer. And a removal step of transferring the region to the recording medium .

First, the image forming method according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus used in the image forming method according to the first embodiment. An image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a collating apparatus 12 and a laminating apparatus 14 (laminating unit).
The collating device 12 superimposes an image transfer medium storage unit 32, a recording medium storage unit 34 that stores a recording medium 22 of the same size as the image transfer medium 20, and the image transfer medium 20 and the recording medium 22 that have already been imaged. A collating portion (positioning portion) 36 for positioning the image transfer medium, an image transfer medium transport path 40 for supplying the image transfer medium 20 having been formed from the image transfer medium storage portion 32 to the collating portion 36, and a collating portion from the recording medium storage portion 34. A recording medium conveyance path 42 for supplying the recording medium 22 to 36. 2A, the image receiving layer 64 is formed on one surface of the support 66, and an image is already formed on the surface of the image receiving layer 64 by the image forming material 62 (image). The image transfer medium 20 that has been formed) is stored.

  As the image transfer medium conveyance path 40 and the recording medium conveyance path 42, a plate-shaped member and a roll-shaped conveyance body (conveyance roll) for conveying the image-transferred image transfer medium 20 or the recording medium 22 on the surface thereof are provided. It may be configured, or may be configured by a rotating belt-shaped conveyance body (conveyance belt). In accordance with the discharge of the image-formed image transfer medium 20 from the image transfer medium storage unit 32 or the discharge of the recording medium 22 from the recording medium storage unit 34, the respective carriers are driven to form the image-formed image transfer medium 20. Alternatively, the recording medium 22 is conveyed to the collating unit 36.

  The recording medium storage unit 34 in which the recording medium 22 is accommodated is provided with a pickup roll 24, and the recording medium 22 is ejected by driving the pickup roll 24, and the paper feed roll 26 is driven to pass through the recording medium conveyance path 42. The recording medium 22 is conveyed to the collating unit 36.

  The image transfer medium storage unit 32 stores the image-formed image transfer medium 20 with the image forming surface facing downward. The image transfer medium 20 is discharged by driving the pickup roll 28, and the sheet feed roll 30 is driven, and the image is transferred to the collating unit 36 immediately after the recording medium 22 is conveyed through the image transfer medium conveyance path 40. The formed image transfer medium 20 is conveyed. The image transfer medium 20 that has exited the discharge section of the conveyance path 40 is installed so that the image surface faces downward, and is supplied to the collating section 36 by its own weight and overlapped with the recording medium 22.

The collating unit 36 is provided at the same height as the discharge unit of the recording medium conveyance path 42 from the recording medium storage unit 34, and the vertical direction of the discharge unit of the image transfer medium conveyance path 40 from the image transfer medium storage unit 32. It is provided at a lower position. Further, the collating portion 36 has two side walls orthogonal to the bottom surface, and has tampers provided in parallel with the two side wall surfaces.
The recording medium 22 and the image-formed image transfer medium 20 that have been transported to the collating unit 36 as described above are overlapped by the collating unit 36 with the image forming surface of the image transfer medium 20 and the recording medium. The laminated bodies 68 shown in FIG. 2B are formed by being pressed against each other by the tamper 36 and pressed against the wall surfaces of the two sides that are orthogonal (superposition step). Thereafter, the laminate 68 is conveyed to the laminating apparatus 14.

  The laminating apparatus 14 includes a pair of heating belts 46 and 48. In the laminating apparatus 14, the laminated body 68 of the image-formed image transfer medium 20 and the recording medium 22 is inserted into and passed through a contact portion (clamping portion) between the pair of heating belts 46 and 48. ), A heating / pressurizing process is performed from both sides of the image transfer medium 20 side and the recording medium 22 side as indicated by arrows (heating and pressing step).

  The heating / pressurizing method in the laminating apparatus 14 is not particularly limited to the method using the belt pairs 46 and 48, and any conventionally known various laminating techniques can be suitably employed. For example, the laminated body 68 is inserted into a contact portion (clamping portion) such as a roll pair to heat and press the laminate 68 using a laminating technique in which both are thermally melted and thermally fused, a hot press technique, or the like. You can also.

The heating temperature in the heating and pressurizing step is preferably 70 ° C. or higher and 130 ° C. or lower, and more preferably 80 ° C. or higher and 110 ° C. or lower. The pressure is preferably 100 kN / ^{m 2} or more 2000 kN / ^{m 2} or less, more preferably 500 kN / ^{m 2} or more 1500kN / ^{m 2} or less.

The laminated body 68 that has been subjected to the heating and pressure treatment is discharged to the discharge unit 56. The laminated body 68 discharged to the discharge unit 56 is cooled to below the glass transition temperature of the recording medium 22, and then the support body 66 in the image transfer medium of the laminated body 68 is peeled off, whereby FIG. As shown, the image receiving layer 64 in the region corresponding to the image portion (the portion where the image is formed by the image forming material 62) is removed together with the support 66 (removal step).
In addition, as a peeling method of the said support body 66, the method of forcibly applying force using the peeling method using a well-known peeling apparatus, a peeling nail | claw, and a peeling board (baffle) can be used.

  By the removal step, an image formed by the image forming material 62 and an image receiving layer 64 in a region corresponding to a non-image portion (a portion where no image is formed by the image forming material 62) are formed on the surface of the recording medium 22. It remains and a final image is formed.

-Peeling force-
Next, the image transfer medium, the image forming material, and the recording medium used in the first embodiment will be described in more detail. Note that the image transfer medium, the image forming material, and the recording medium are required to have the following relationships (1) to (3).
(1) Peeling force (support / image-receiving layer)> Peeling force (image-receiving layer / image forming material)
(2) Peeling force (recording medium / image forming material)> Peeling force (image receiving layer / image forming material)
(3) Peeling force (recording medium / image receiving layer)> Peeling force (support / image receiving layer)

Here, the peeling force represents a peeling force that occurs when A and B are peeled after the heating and pressurizing step in the case of “peeling force (A / B)”. It can be measured by this method.
For the peeling force, the image transfer medium that has been first subjected to the heating and pressing step is cut into a width of 25 mm, and one end thereof is peeled off with a cutter or the like to produce a test piece. After holding the support side of this test piece between clamps and fixing it, the peeled film side is pinched with another clamp, and it is peeled by measuring the pulling force while pulling in a 180 degree direction with respect to the support. You can ask for power.
In this specification, the determination as to whether or not the above formulas (1) to (3) are satisfied was made based on the value calculated by the method for measuring the peeling force.

In the image forming process in the image forming method according to the first embodiment, an image is formed on the image transfer medium using the image forming material, and then the image forming material is recorded in the polymerization process and the heating and pressing process. Adhere to the medium. By satisfying the above formulas (1) to (3), in the removal step, the area corresponding to the image area is peeled off at the interface between the image forming material and the image receiving layer, and the image forming material remains on the surface of the recording medium. The image receiving layer is removed together with the support. In the region corresponding to the non-image area, the image receiving layer is peeled off at the interface between the image receiving layer and the support, and the image receiving layer remains on the surface of the recording medium.
From the viewpoint of satisfying the above expressions (1) and (2), it is essential that the image forming material used in the first embodiment contains a release agent. Further, the image receiving layer of the image transfer medium preferably contains a material having releasability with respect to an image forming material described later. Further, from the viewpoint of satisfying the above formula (3), the support preferably has a release layer on the image receiving layer forming side surface.

Moreover, it is more preferable that the value of each peeling force is in the following range.
Specifically, the peeling force (support / image receiving layer) is preferably 5 N / m or more and 200 N / m or less, and particularly preferably 10 N / m or more and 100 N / m or less.
The peeling force (image receiving layer / image forming material) is preferably 2 N / m or more and 100 N / m or less, and particularly preferably 5 N / m or more and 50 N / m or less.
The peeling force (recording medium / image forming material) is preferably 50 N / m or more, and particularly preferably 100 N / m or more.
The peeling force (recording medium / image receiving layer) is preferably 50 N / m or more, and particularly preferably 100 N / m or more.

-Image transfer media-
The image transfer medium used in the first embodiment includes (a) a support, and (b) an image receiving layer containing a pigment on at least one side of the support. Further, as described above, the support preferably has (c) a release layer on the image-receiving layer-forming surface (that is, the image-receiving layer is formed on the support via the release layer). Further, the image receiving layer preferably contains a material having releasability with respect to an image forming material described later.

(A) Support The support that can be used for the image transfer medium used in the image forming method according to the first embodiment is not particularly required to have light transmittance. Here, the light transmissive property means, for example, a property of transmitting a certain amount of light in the visible light region, and is transparent so that the image can be viewed through the support from at least the surface opposite to the surface on which the image is formed. I just need it.

  Suitable examples of the support include paper (plain paper, coated paper, etc.), metal (aluminum, etc.), plastic, and ceramics (alumina, etc.). There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a shape of this support body, Although it can select from a well-known shape as a support body, a film form is preferable.

  As the support, a plastic film can be preferably used. Among these, polyacetate film, cellulose triacetate film, nylon film, polyester film, polycarbonate film, polysulfone film, polystyrene film, polyphenylene sulfide film, polyphenylene ether film, cyclohexane film, which are light transmissive films that can be used as OHP films. Olefin films, polypropylene films, polyimide films, cellophane, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin films, and the like can be preferably used.

  Among the above-mentioned various plastic films, polyester film, particularly PETG obtained by copolymerizing by replacing about half of the ethylene glycol component of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) using ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid with 1,4-cyclohexane methanol component. In addition, an amorphous polyester called A-PET that is obtained by mixing polycarbonate with the PETG and alloying it, and PET that is not biaxially stretched can be preferably used.

  The polyester resin obtained by copolymerizing at least the ethylene glycol, terephthalic acid, and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol component (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “PETG resin”) forms an image receiving layer on the surface of the support. When the PETG resin is used for the surface of the support, the image receiving layer provided in contact with the surface of the support is excellent in compatibility with components such as a resin contained in the coating liquid used at the time. Can firmly adhere to each other and prevent the image receiving layer from peeling off.

The support used in the present invention is preferably composed of two or more layers from the viewpoint of heat pressurization (laminate) with the image support described later.
In this case, for example, it is preferable that at least one of the layers forming the outer surface of the support contains PETG resin, and this layer may be a layer made of only PETG resin. More preferably, it is composed of a layer containing a PETG resin and a layer made of other components. As a material constituting this layer, it is preferable to use a polyester-based resin having a softening point temperature higher than that of PETG resin. As this material, polycarbonate, polyarylate, and a mixture or copolymer thereof, or polyethylene is used. Terephthalate (PET) or the like is desirable. These supports are preferably biaxially stretched.

  The polycarbonate is a polycondensate obtained from bisphenols and carbonic acid, and the polyarylate is a polyester obtained by polycondensation of bisphenol and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid.

  Examples of the bisphenols include bisphenol A (2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane), bisphenol C (4,4 ′-(1-methylethylidene) bis (2-methylphenol)), bisphenol AP (4 , 4 ′-(1-phenylethylidene) bisphenol), bisphenol Z (4,4′-cyclohexylidenebisphenol), 4,4′-cyclohexylidenebis (3-methylphenol), 5,5 ′-(1 -Methylethylidene) (1,1'-biphenyl) -2-ol, (1,1'-biphenyl) -4,4'-diol, 3,3'-dimethyl (1,1'-biphenyl) -4, 4'-diol, 4,4 '-(1,4-phenylenebis (1-methylethylidene)) bisphenol), 4,4'-(1,4-phenyle) Bis (1-methylethylidene) bis (2-methylphenol)), 4,4 '-(1,3-phenylenebis (1-methylethylidene) bis (2-methylphenol)), bisphenol S (4,4' -Bis (dihydroxydiphenylsulfone), etc. are mentioned, but those of bisphenol A are often used, and these may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Examples of the aromatic dicarboxylic acid include terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, itaconic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, icodic acid diacid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, diphenic acid, dodecane A diacid, cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, etc. are mentioned. These raw materials are not necessarily used alone, and two or more of them may be copolymerized. Among these, it is preferable to use a mixture with a terephthalic acid component and / or an isophthalic acid component. In the case of such a mixture, the mixing ratio can be freely selected, but the range of terephthalic acid component / isophthalic acid component = 9/1 to 1/9 (molar ratio) is preferable. In this respect, a range of 7/3 to 3/7 (molar ratio), more preferably 1/1 (molar ratio) is more preferable.

  Although the manufacturing method of the said support body is not specifically limited, It can produce using well-known methods, such as a co-extrusion method and the bonding method. In particular, those produced by coextrusion are desirable because of the strong adhesion between the respective layers. For example, the support is a laminate of the above-described polycarbonate, polyarylate, copolymer thereof, or film 1 (I layer) made of PET and film 2 (II layer) made of PETG resin on one or both sides thereof. For example, it can be manufactured as follows.

  First, as a method of laminating film 2 (II layer) on one side or both sides of film 1 (I layer), a composition constituting film 1 (I layer) and a composition constituting film 2 (II layer) Can be obtained by the coextrusion method of extruding while being laminated from the same die in a molten state after being fed to separate extruders.

  The unstretched film can be used as a support as it is, but the unstretched film is further stretched between rolls having a speed difference (roll stretching) or stretched by being held by a clip ( Biaxial orientation treatment may be performed by tenter stretching, stretching by inflation with air pressure (inflation stretching), or the like, and this may be used as a support.

In general, when producing a support, after co-extrusion, it enters a longitudinal stretching step, stretches between two or many rolls having different peripheral speeds, and adjusts to a target film thickness to wind. Taken. In the case of biaxial stretching, the film that has passed through the above process is introduced into the tenter as it is, and is stretched 2.5 times to 5 times in the width direction. A preferable stretching temperature at this time is in a range of 100 ° C. or more and 200 ° C. or less.
The biaxially stretched film thus obtained is subjected to heat treatment as necessary. The heat treatment is preferably performed in a tenter, and it is particularly preferable to perform the heat treatment while relaxing in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  In addition to the plastic film, paper can be preferably used as the support as described above. Examples of the paper include chemical pulp: hardwood bleached kraft pulp, hardwood unbleached kraft pulp, hardwood bleached sulfite. Examples include virgin bleached chemical pulp produced by chemical treatment of wood and other fiber materials such as pulp, softwood bleached kraft pulp, softwood unbleached kraft pulp, softwood bleached sulfite pulp, and soda pulp, followed by a bleaching process. . Among these, a pulp having high whiteness is particularly preferable. Waste paper pulp includes waste paper pulp, fine paper, high-quality coated paper, medium-quality paper that has been dissociated from unprinted waste paper such as white, special white, medium white, and white loss generated in bookbinding, printing factories, cutting offices, etc. , Flat coated paper, letterpress, intaglio, printing, etc. on medium coated paper, reprinted paper, etc., electrophotographic system, thermal system, thermal transfer system, pressure sensitive recording paper, ink jet recording system, waste paper printed with carbon paper, water based, oily Examples include waste paper pulp that has been deinked by an optimal method after dissociating waste paper and newspaper waste paper written with ink or pencil. Among these, waste paper pulp is particularly preferable.

The thickness of the support is preferably in the range of 50 μm to 200 μm, and more preferably in the range of 75 μm to 150 μm.
Further, the surface of the support on the side where the image receiving layer is provided preferably has a small surface roughness. Specifically, the surface roughness Ra (JIS-B0601 (1994)) is preferably 1 μm or less, More preferably, it is 0.1 μm or less.

(B) Image-Receiving Layer / Pigment The image-receiving layer of the image transfer medium in the image forming method according to the first embodiment is also a material for forming a final image finally obtained by the image forming method, and the required final image. It is necessary to add a pigment (colorant) corresponding to the above. The pigment added to the image receiving layer is not particularly limited, and any pigment can be used.
In particular, it is possible to add bright pigments such as gold, silver, bronze, and pearl colors, and pigments of special colors that cannot be reproduced with yellow, magenta, and cyan to the image receiving layer. is there. By adding these pigments, for example, special colors other than the color by subtractive color mixing using the three primary colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan applied to the electrophotographic method can be imparted to the final image.

  Here, the “brightness” means to show optical properties such as metallic luster, pearl luster, retroreflection, optical interference, hologram and the like.

Examples of the bright pigment include titanium oxide, silicon oxide, iron oxide, tin oxide, zirconium oxide, etc. on the surface of flake (scale) mica, titanium dioxide, silicate glass, borate glass, etc. In particular, a material in which a film layer formed by mixing, mixing, or mixing various materials is particularly preferable. The size of the flaky pigment is preferably 0.1 μm or more and 1 μm or less, and particularly preferably 0.1 μm or more and 0.3 μm or less. The particle size is preferably 3 μm or more and 500 μm or less, particularly preferably 5 μm or more and 60 μm or less.
In addition, the said thickness and particle size can be measured with the following method, and the numerical value as described in this specification is measured with the following method. A Coulter Counter TA-II type (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) can be used as a particle size measuring device. As a measuring method, a measurement sample is added in a range of 0.5 g to 50 mg in 2 ml of a 5% by mass aqueous solution of a surfactant (preferably sodium alkylbenzenesulfonate) as a dispersant. This is added to an electrolytic solution of 100 ml to 150 ml. The electrolytic solution in which the sample is suspended is subjected to a dispersion treatment for 1 minute with an ultrasonic disperser, and a volume average distribution and a number average distribution are obtained by the Coulter Counter TA-II type. From these volume average distribution and number average distribution, the volume average particle diameter can be obtained.

  In particular, by applying a flaky pigment that satisfies the above requirements, the pigment is arranged in a layer along the support of the image transfer medium, and as a whole, it has a bright color (for example, a golden, silver, or bronze hue). The color of the interference color from the multilayer thin film or the color of the pearl tone in which the hue changes depending on the incident angle (viewing angle) of light is more favorably developed. These produce various interference colors by adjusting the thickness of the coating layer of the substrate in the pigment, and are called “flip-flop effects”.

  In addition, as a pigment added to the image receiving layer, a white pigment such as titanium oxide, a pigment emitting a fluorescent color, or the like may be used. In addition, metal flakes such as aluminum flakes, nickel powder, gold powder, and silver powder can be used as they are as colorants, and pigments and dyes may be mixed and used. Examples of other pigments include iron oxide, carbon black, cyanine pigments, and quinacridone pigments. Examples of the dye include azo dyes, anthraquinone dyes, indigoid dyes, and still benzene dyes. These materials are preferred as the particles are smaller.

-Polyester resin A heat-meltable polyester resin is preferably used for the image receiving layer. In general, a polyester resin can be produced by a reaction between a polyvalent hydroxy compound and a polybasic carboxylic acid or a reactive acid derivative thereof. Examples of the polyvalent hydroxy compound constituting the polyester include diols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, and neopentyl glycol. However, it is particularly preferable to use ethylene glycol and neopentyl glycol as the polyester.

  Examples of the polybasic carboxylic acid include malonic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, alkyl succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, glutaconic acid, and cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid. , Isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, and other divalent carboxylic acids, among which isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid are particularly preferably utilized. In general, phthalic acid has structural isomers of isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid. Therefore, in the production of polyester, both of the above are necessarily mixed in half.

  As a particularly preferred formulation, the ratio of ethylene glycol and neopentyl glycol (ethylene glycol: neopentyl glycol) in the polyvalent hydroxy compound is in the range of 3: 7 to 1: 9 in molar ratio.

  Moreover, the number average molecular weight of the polyester is preferably in the range of 12,000 or more and 45,000 or less, and more preferably in the range of 20000 or more and 30000 or less.

-Releasable material Further, as described above, it is desirable that the image receiving layer contains a material having a releasability with respect to the image forming material (releasable material). Examples of the releasable material include releasable materials such as natural and synthetic waxes, which are low adhesion materials, releasable resins, reactive silicone compounds, and modified silicone oils.
Specifically, natural wax such as carnauba wax, beeswax, montan wax, paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, low molecular weight polyethylene wax, low molecular weight oxidized polyethylene wax, low molecular weight polypropylene wax, low molecular weight oxidized polypropylene wax, high grade Examples include synthetic waxes such as fatty acid waxes, higher fatty acid ester waxes, and sazol waxes, and these are not limited to single use but can be used in combination.

In addition, as the releasable resin, silicone resins, fluororesins, modified silicone resins that are modified products of silicone resins and various resins (for example, polyester-modified silicone resins, urethane-modified silicone resins, acrylic-modified silicone resins, polyimide-modified silicones) Resin, olefin-modified silicone resin, ether-modified silicone resin, alcohol-modified silicone resin, fluorine-modified silicone resin, amino-modified silicone resin, mercapto-modified silicone resin, carboxy-modified silicone resin), thermosetting silicone resin, and photo-curable silicone resin. Can be added.
The modified silicone resin is preferable because it has high affinity with a toner resin used as an image forming material, the heat-meltable polyester resin, and the like, and is appropriately mixed, compatible, and melt-mixed.

  Further, a reactive silane compound and a modified silicone oil may be mixed for lower adhesion.

  These releasable materials such as wax and releasable resin may coexist in the form of particles, as in the case of the heat-meltable polyester resin particles, but are preferably added to the polyester resin. It is preferable to use it in a state of being dispersed and compatible and taken into the polyester resin.

  In the image receiving layer, the content of the releasable material is preferably 1 part by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less, and preferably 5 parts by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the polyester resin. It is particularly preferred.

-Surface resistivity The image transfer medium used in the first embodiment has an outermost surface resistivity of the image receiving layer provided on the support surface of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10. The range is preferably ¹³ Ω / □ or less, and more preferably 1.0 × 10 ⁹ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10 ¹¹ Ω / □ or less.
When the image receiving layer is provided only on one side of the support, the surface resistivity of the support surface on the side where the image receiving layer of the support is not provided is 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ or more and 1.0. The range is preferably 10 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □ or less, and more preferably 1.0 × 10 ⁹ Ω / □ or more and 1.0 × 10 ¹¹ Ω / □ or less.
The surface resistivity is measured in accordance with JIS-K6911 (1995) using a circular electrode (for example, “HR probe” of Hiresta IP manufactured by Mitsubishi Yuka Co., Ltd.) in an environment of 23 ° C. and 55% RH. can do.
In addition, in the image transfer medium according to the first embodiment, when only one surface has a surface resistivity in the above range, the surface is preferably a surface on the side where an image is formed.

In controlling the surface resistivity of the outermost surface of the image receiving layer provided on the surface of the support within the range of 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ to 1.0 × 10 ¹³ Ω / □, It is preferable to add a polymer conductive agent, a surfactant, conductive metal oxide particles, etc. as a charge control agent. In controlling the surface resistivity of the support surface within the above range, if a plastic film is used as the support, for example, a polymer conductive agent, surfactant, conductive Adding metal oxide particles, etc. into the resin, applying a surfactant to the plastic film surface, depositing a metal thin film, or adding an appropriate amount of a surfactant to the adhesive, etc. It is preferable to adjust with.

  Here, examples of the surfactant that can be used include cationic surfactants such as polyamines, ammonium salts, sulfonium salts, phosphonium salts, and betaine amphoteric salts, anionic surfactants such as alkyl phosphates, and fatty acids. Nonionic surfactants such as esters are exemplified. In particular, when an image is formed on an image transfer medium by an electrophotographic method, among these surfactants, a cationic surfactant having a large interaction with a recent negatively charged toner for electrophotography is preferable.

  Of the cationic surfactants, quaternary ammonium salts are preferred. As the quaternary ammonium salts, compounds represented by the following general formula (I) are preferable.

In the formula, R ¹ represents an alkyl group, alkenyl group, or alkynyl group having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, and R ² represents an alkyl group, alkenyl group, or alkynyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. R ³ , R ⁴ and R ⁵ may be the same or different and each represents an aliphatic group, an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group. An aliphatic group means a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group, alkenyl group, or alkynyl group. The aromatic group represents a benzene monocyclic or condensed polycyclic aryl group. These groups may have a substituent such as a hydroxyl group. A represents an amide bond, an ether bond, an ester bond, a phenyl group, or a single bond. X ⁻ represents a halogen element, sulfate ion, or nitrate ion, and these ions may have a substituent.

Examples of the conductive metal oxide particles include ZnO, SnO ₂ , In ₂ O ₃ , MgO, BaO, and MoO ₃ . These may be used alone or in combination. The metal oxide preferably further contains a different element, such as Al and In for ZnO, Nb and Ta for TiO, and Sb, Nb and halogen for SnO ₂ . Those containing elements (doping) are preferred. Of these, SnO ₂ doped with Sb is particularly preferable.

Other additives From the viewpoint of improving transportability, it is preferable to add a matting agent to the image receiving layer. Examples of the resin having lubricity used in the matting agent include polyolefins such as polyethylene; fluororesins such as polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride, and polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon (registered trademark)). Specific examples include low molecular weight polyolefin waxes (for example, polyethylene waxes, molecular weights of 1000 to 5000), high density polyethylene waxes, paraffinic or microcrystalline waxes.
Examples of the fluororesin include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) dispersion.

Further, it is preferable to add a spherical filler to the image receiving layer. The spherical filler is not limited, but when it is composed of organic resin particles, specifically, styrenes such as styrene, vinyl styrene and chlorostyrene; mono-types such as ethylene, propylene, butylene and isobutylene. Olefins; vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, vinyl benzoate, vinyl butyrate; methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, Esters of α-unsaturated fatty acid monocarboxylic acids such as ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate; vinyl ethers such as vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl butyl ether; vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl hexyl keto , Vinyl ketones such as vinyl isopropenyl ketone; can be exemplified isoprene, 2-chlorobutadiene and the like by polymerizing one or more diene monomers obtained homopolymer or copolymer.
Among these, styrenes, esters of α-unsaturated fatty acid monocarboxylic acid, etc. are preferable, and when these hot-melt resins are used as fillers, the gloss can be obtained by coating with a solvent that does not dissolve these resins. Although it can be used as a filler for the purpose of control, preferably, a thermosetting resin, a photocurable resin, or an electron beam curable resin having a crosslinked structure by adding a crosslinking agent or the like to these thermomeltable resins. A finely divided material is more preferably used.

  When the spherical filler constituting the image receiving layer is composed of inorganic particles, specific examples include mica, talc, silica, calcium carbonate, zinc white, halocytoclay, kaolin, hydrochloric magnesium carbonate, Examples thereof include quartz powder, titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, and alumina.

  As the shape of the filler, spherical particles are preferable, but plate-shaped, needle-shaped, and indefinite shapes can be used as necessary. Further, the volume average particle diameter of the filler is preferably 20 μm or less, but particularly preferably in the range of 0.5 μm or more and 15 μm or less in consideration of the film thickness of the image receiving layer.

  The mass ratio of the spherical filler to the binder in the image-receiving layer (filler: binder) is preferably in the range of 0.3: 1 to 3: 1, preferably 0.5: 1 to 2: 1. A range is more preferable.

In addition, a light-resistant material may be added to the image receiving layer depending on circumstances. As the light-resistant material, a commercially available ultraviolet absorber or the like can be used. The material to be added is selected from those having good dispersion stability in the composition and not denatured by light irradiation. For example, in the case of organic materials, salicylic acid systems such as phenyl salicylate, p-tert-butylphenyl salicylate, p-octylphenyl salicylate; 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4- Benzophenone series such as octyloxybenzophenone and 2-hydroxy-4-dodecyloxybenzophenone; 2- (2′-hydroxy-5′-methylphenyl) 2H-benzotriazole, 2- (2′-hydroxy-5′-tert-) Benzotriazoles such as butylphenyl) benzotriazole, 2- (2′-hydroxy-3′-tert-butyl-5′-methylphenyl) -5-chlorobenzotriazole; 2-ethylhexyl-2-cyano-3,3 '-Diphenyl acrylate Cyanoacrylate and ethyl 2-cyano-3,3'-diphenyl acrylate; and the like materials and the like of.
Examples of inorganic materials include oxide particles of zinc oxide and titanium oxide, and metal oxide particles such as iron oxide and cerium oxide.

  As said ultraviolet absorber, the said organic material is preferable especially, 0.01 mass part or more and 40 mass parts or less with respect to 100 mass parts of polyester resins in an image receiving layer, Preferably it is 0.1 mass part or more and 25 mass parts It is preferable to add in the following range. Moreover, it is preferable to use 2 or more types of ultraviolet absorbers not only in 1 type.

In some cases, it is also preferable to add a hindered amine light stabilizer or an antioxidant to the image receiving layer.
As the light-resistant material, a commercially available antioxidant or the like can be used for the image receiving layer. The material to be added is selected from those having good dispersion stability in the composition and not denatured by light irradiation, like the ultraviolet absorber. For example, a phosphoric acid type, a sulfur type, a phenol type, a hindered amine type antioxidant, etc. are mentioned.
Specific examples of the phosphoric acid antioxidant include trimethyl phosphite, toluethyl phosphite, tri-n-butyl phosphite, trioctyl phosphite, tridecyl phosphite, tristearyl phosphite, trioleyl phosphite, Tristridecyl phosphite, tricetyl phosphite, dilauryl hydrogen phosphite, diphenyl monodecyl phosphite, diphenyl mono (tridecyl) phosphite, tetraphenyl dipropylene glycol diphosphite, 4,4′-butylidene-bis [ 3-methyl-6-t- (butyl) phenyl-di-tridecyl] phosphite, distearyl pentaerythritol diphosphite, ditridecyl pentaerythritol diphosphite, bisnonylphenyl pentaerythris Ritol diphosphite, diphenyloctyl phosphite, tetra (tridecyl) -4,4′-isopropylidene diphenyl diphosphite, tris (2,4-di-t-butylphenyl) phosphite, di (2,4- And phosphite compounds such as di-t-butylphenyl) pentaerythritol diphosphite.

  As the trivalent organophosphorus compound of the phosphoric acid antioxidant, all known compounds can be used. For example, JP-B Nos. 51-40589, -25064, 50-35097, 49-20928, Those described in JP-A-48-22330 and JP-A-51-35193 can also be used.

  Examples of the sulfur-based antioxidant include the following compounds. 3,3′-thiodipropionic acid-di-n-dodecyl, 3,3′-thiodipropionic acid-di-myristyl, 3,3′-thiodipropionic acid-di-n-octadecyl, 2-mercaptobenzo Imidazole, pentaelsulfol-tetrakis- (β-lauryl, urylthiopropionate), ditridecyl-3,3′-thiodipropionate, dimethyl 3,3′-thiodipropionate, octadecyl thioglycolate, phenothiazine , Β, β′-thiodipropionic acid, thioglycolic acid-n-butyl, thioglycolic acid ethyl, thioglycolic acid-2-ethylhexyl, thioglycolic acid isooctyl, thioglycolic acid-n-octyl, di-t-dodecyl -Disulfide, n-butyl sulfide, di-n-amyl disulfide, n-dode Rusarufaido, n- octadecyl sulfide, and the like p- thiocresol.

  Examples of the phenolic antioxidant include the following compounds. 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol (BHT), 2,6-di-t-butylphenol, 2,4-di-methyl-6-t-butylphenol, butylhydroxyphenol, 2,2′- Methylene bis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4,4′-thiobis (3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), bisphenol A, DL-α-tocopherol, styrenated phenol, styrenated cresol, 3, 5-di-t-butylhydroxybenzaldehyde, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxymethylphenol, 2,6-di-s-butylphenol, 2,4-di-t-butylphenol, 3,5- Di-t-butylphenol, ot-butoxyphenol, ot-butylphenol, mt-butylphenol, pt- Tylphenol, o-isobutoxyphenol, on-propoxyphenol, o-cresol, 4,6-di-t-butyl-3-methylphenol, 2,6-dimethylphenol, 2,3,5,6- Tetramethylphenol, 3- (3 ′, 5′-di-t-butyl-4′-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid stearyl ester, 2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenol, 2,4,6-trimethylphenol 2,4,6-tris (3 ′, 5′-di-t-butyl-4′-hydroxybenzyl) mesitylene, 1,6-hexanediol-bis [3- (3,5-di-t-butyl) -4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], 2,2-thio-diethylenebis [3- (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], 2,2-thiobis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-benzyl phosphate, on-propoxyphenol, o-cresol, 4,6 -Di-t-butyl-3-methylphenol, 2,6-dimethylphenol, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylphenol, 3- (3 ', 5'-di-t-butyl-4'-hydroxy Phenyl) propionic acid stearyl ester, 2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenol, 2,4,6-trimethylphenol, 2,4,6-tris (3 ′, 5′-di-t-butyl-4 ′ -Hydroxybenzyl) mesitylene, 1,6-hexanediol-bis [3- (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], 2,2-thio-diethyle Bis [3- (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], 2,2-thiobis (4-methyl-6-t-butylphenol), 3,5-di-t-butyl- 4-hydroxy-benzyl phosphate-diethyl ester, 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxylbenzylbenzene, n-octadecyl-3- ( 3 ′, 5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, 2-t-butyl-6 (3′-t-butyl-5′-methyl-2-hydroxybenzyl) -4-methylphenyl acrylate, 4,4′-butylidene-bis (3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), hydroquinone, 2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone, tetramethylhydroxyl Emissions, and the like.

Examples of the hindered amine antioxidant include the following compounds. Bis (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate, bis (1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate, 1- {2- [3- (3 5-Di-t-butyl-4-hydrophenyl) propionyloxy] ethyl} -4- (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl Pyridine, 8-benzyl-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-3-octyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro [4,5] undecane-2,4-dione, benzoyloxy-2,2,6 6-tetramethylpiperidine, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinol, tetrakis (2,2,6,6-teto-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl / decyl) -1,2,3,4 -Butanteteto There is such as carboxylate.
These antioxidants may be used alone or in admixture of two or more.

(C) Release layer As described above, the image transfer medium in the first embodiment preferably has a release layer on the surface of the support on the side where the image receiving layer is formed.
The release layer contains a releasable material. The releasable material is for controlling the image receiving layer to be released particularly well and remain on the surface of the recording medium after the heating and pressurizing step in the non-image portion of the image transfer medium.

  The releasable material is not particularly limited, but a silicone hard coat material is preferable. The silicone hard coat material is composed of a condensate resin containing at least a silane composition, or a mixed composition of these and a colloidal silica dispersion. Moreover, in order to improve adhesiveness with a support body, it is desirable to further contain an organic resin.

  The silane composition is specifically an organosilicon compound, and includes a silane compound, a fluorine-containing silane compound, an isocyanate silane compound, and the like, and these undergo a condensation reaction to form a resin composition.

Silane compounds include Si (OCH ₃ ) ₄ , CH ₃ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , HSi (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , (CH ₃ ) ₂ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₂ , CH ₃ SiH (OCH ₃ ) ₂ , C ₆ H ₅ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , Si (OC ₂ H ₅ ) ₄ , CH ₃ Si (OC ₂ H ₅ ) ₃ , (CH ₃ ) ₂ Si (OC ₂ H ₅ ) ₂ , H ₂ Si (OC _{2 H 5) 2, C 6 H} 5 Si (OC 2 H 5) 3, (CH 3) 2 CHCH 2 Si (OCH 3) 3, CH 3 (CH 3) 11 Si (OC 2 H 5) 3, CH 3 Alkoxysilanes such as (CH ₂ ) ₁₅ Si (OC ₂ H ₅ ) ₃ and CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₁₇ Si (OC ₂ H ₅ ) ₃ ; silazanes such as (CH ₃ ) ₃ SiNHSi (CH ₃ ) ₃ Special silylating agents such as ((CH ₃ ) SiNH) ₂ CO, tert-C ₄ H ₉ (CH ₃ ) ₂ SiCl; silane coupling agents; And silane compounds such as HSC ₃ H ₆ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ ; and hydrolysates and partial condensates thereof.

  Examples of the silane coupling agent include vinyl silanes such as vinyltris (β-methoxyethoxy) silane, vinyltriethoxysilane, and vinyltrimethoxysilane; acrylic silanes such as γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane; β- (3, Epoxy silanes such as 4-epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane; N-β- (aminoethyl) -γ-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane And aminosilanes such as N-phenyl-γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane;

Examples of the fluorine-containing silane compounds include CF ₃ (CH ₂ ) ₂ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , C ₆ F ₁₃ C ₂ H ₄ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , and C ₇ F ₁₅ CONH (CH ₂ ) _3. Si (OC ₂ H ₅ ) ₃ , C ₈ F ₁₇ C ₂ H ₄ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , C ₈ F ₁₇ C ₂ H ₄ SiCH ₃ (OCH ₃ ) ₂ , C ₈ F ₁₇ C ₂ H ₄ Si ( ON = C (CH ₃ ) (C ₂ H ₅ )) ₃ , C ₉ F ₁₉ C ₂ H ₄ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , C ₉ F ₁₉ C ₂ H ₄ Si (NCO) ₃ , (NCO) ₃ SiC ₂ H ₄ C ₆ F ₁₂ C ₂ H ₄ Si (NCO) ₃ , C ₉ F ₁₉ C ₂ H ₄ Si (C ₂ H ₅ ) (OCH ₃ ) ₂ , (CH ₃ O) ₃ SiC ₂ H ₄ C ₈ Fluorine-containing silane compounds such as F ₁₆ C ₂ H ₄ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ , (CH ₃ O) ₂ (CH ₃ ) SiC ₉ F ₁₈ C ₂ H ₄ Si (CH ₃ ) (OCH ₃ ) _{2, and the} like Addition of Silane compounds, such as a hydrolyzate or its partial condensate, can be illustrated.

Examples of the isocyanate silane compounds include (CH ₃ ) ₃ SiNCO, (CH ₃ ) ₂ Si (NCO) ₂ , CH ₃ Si (NCO) ₃ , vinylsilyl triisocyanate, C ₆ H ₅ Si (NCO) ₃ , Si (NCO) ₄ , C ₂ H ₅ OSi (NCO) ₃ , C ₈ H ₁₇ Si (NCO) ₃ , C ₁₈ H ₃₇ Si (NCO) ₃ , (NCO) ₃ SiC ₂ H ₄ (NCO) ₃ etc. it can.

  Examples of the condensate resin of the silane-based composition include curable silicone resins such as thermosetting (condensation type and addition type) and photo-curable curable silicone resins. It becomes as follows.

Among the thermosetting silicone resins, as a condensation-type curable silicone resin, a polysiloxane such as polydimethylsiloxane having a silanol group at the terminal is used as a base polymer, and polymethylhydrogensiloxane is blended as a crosslinking agent. Reacts with curable silicone resins synthesized by heat condensation in the presence of organic acid metal salts such as organotin catalysts and amines, and polydiorganosiloxanes terminated with reactive functional groups such as hydroxyl groups and alkoxy groups. Examples thereof include curable silicone resins synthesized by synthesis, and polysiloxane resins synthesized by condensing silanol obtained by hydrolyzing a trifunctional or higher functional chlorosilane or a mixture of these with a 1,2-functional chlorosilane.
The condensation type is classified into a solution type and an emulsion type in terms of form, and any of them can be suitably used.

Among the thermosetting silicone resins, as an addition-type curable silicone resin, a polysiloxane such as polydimethylsiloxane containing a vinyl group is used as a base polymer, and polydimethylhydrogensiloxane is blended as a crosslinking agent. Examples thereof include a curable silicone resin synthesized by reaction and curing in the presence of a platinum catalyst.
The addition type is classified into a solvent type, an emulsion type, and a solventless type in terms of form, and any of them can be suitably used.

  Examples of the thermosetting silicone resin obtained by the condensation type and addition type curing include, for example, pure silicone resin, silicone alkyd resin, silicone epoxy resin, silicone polyester resin, silicone acrylic resin, silicone phenol resin, silicone urethane resin, and silicone. A melamine resin etc. are mentioned suitably.

  Examples of the photocurable silicone resin include a curable silicone resin synthesized using a photocationic catalyst, and a curable silicone resin synthesized using a radical curing mechanism. Moreover, the modification | denaturation obtained by carrying out photocuring reaction of the low molecular-weight polysiloxane which has a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group etc. couple | bonded with the silicon atom, and an alkyd resin, a polyester resin, an epoxy resin, an acrylic resin, a phenol resin, a polyurethane, or a melamine resin. Silicone resin is preferably used. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  As the curable silicone resin, an acrylic-modified silicone resin (a resin obtained by photocuring the acrylic resin and a low molecular weight polysiloxane) and a thermosetting silicone resin are particularly preferable.

In the acrylic-modified silicone resin, it is preferable to adjust the surface hardness by freely controlling the ratio of the acrylic chain to the silicone chain, the curing conditions thereof, and the like. For the above reasons, it is desirable to use a thermosetting silicone resin, particularly an acrylic-modified silicone resin.
As the curable silicone resin, both an acrylic-modified silicone resin and a thermosetting silicone resin may be contained. When both the acrylic-modified silicone resin and the thermosetting silicone resin are contained, the intermediate properties can be expressed depending on the content ratio, curing conditions, addition amount, and the like.

  When the curable silicone resin containing both an acrylic modified silicone resin and a thermosetting silicone resin is used, the content ratio (acrylic modified silicone resin / thermosetting silicone resin) is curable. Since it differs depending on the type of silicone resin and the like, it cannot be defined generally, but the range of 1/100 to 100/1 is preferable, and the range of 1/10 to 10/1 is more preferable.

  Moreover, when using what contains both acrylic modified silicone resin and thermosetting silicone resin as said curable silicone resin, as the combination, for example, the combination of acrylic modified silicone resin and silicone alkyd resin, acrylic A combination of a modified silicone resin and a pure silicone resin, or a combination of an acrylic modified silicone resin, a silicone alkyd resin, and a pure silicone resin is preferred.

  The molecular weight of the curable silicone resin is preferably in the range of 10,000 to 1,000,000 in terms of weight average molecular weight. The proportion of phenyl groups in all organic groups in the curable silicone resin is preferably in the range of 0.1 mol% to 50 mol%.

The silicone-based hard coat material preferably further contains colloidal silica in the range of 5 parts by mass or more and 25 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the solid content of the condensate resin of the silane composition. More preferably, it is the range of 10 mass parts or more and 15 mass parts or less.
These colloidal silicas are usually in the form of an aqueous dispersion or an aqueous / organic solvent dispersion. These production methods are shown, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 4,914,143, 3,986,997, 5,503,935, and 4,177,315.
Further, these colloidal silicas have an average particle diameter of less than 10 nanometers (nm) when observed with a transmission electron microscope or the like, and at least 80% of colloidal silica particles based on the particle volume. Has a diameter in the range of 6 nm to 9 nm.

In addition to the above (b) image receiving layer and (c) release layer, (a) other layers can be formed on the support.
A light reflection adjusting layer can be further provided on the surface of the image receiving layer. The light reflection adjusting layer is an amount of light that reaches the recording medium through the image receiving layer and is reflected again by the image receiving layer in the information recording body manufactured by the image forming method according to the first embodiment. The layer to be adjusted. That is, it is provided for the purpose of making the concealing effect function so as not to be affected by the color of the material surface (that is, the surface of the recording medium) facing the laminate surface.

For example, in the case of a black light reflection adjusting layer, by absorbing the light reaching the recording medium, the scattered light from the recording medium is eliminated and the saturation of the image receiving layer is increased. On the other hand, in the case of the white light reflection adjusting layer, since it is scattered light from the recording medium, it is whitened as a whole. In this case, the image receiving layer is white when viewed from the front in total reflection, but when the image receiving layer is viewed obliquely from a different viewing angle, it changes to a colored surface corresponding to the interference color of various pigments.
For example, a card before printing is white as called a white card, and a black light reflection adjusting layer is often provided. Also, taking advantage of this property, images such as letters, symbols, and pictures are made on the image receiving layer with black ink, etc., and these images are colored even when viewed from the front using the difference in the amount of light reflected from the recording medium. The image can be raised like watermark technology. In particular, in a card, the contrast between the image portion and the non-image portion becomes difficult to easily resolve and copy with a color copier, and can be used as one means for preventing forgery.

-Coating of each layer Next, the manufacturing method of the image transfer medium used for 1st Embodiment is demonstrated.
The image receiving layer containing the above-described composition or the like can be formed on the surface of the support by the following method. For example, when the image receiving layer is directly formed on the support surface, a polyester resin, a pigment, a releasable material, a filler, etc., which are the composition of the image receiving layer, are mixed using an organic solvent or water, Disperse with a device such as a sonic wave, wafer blower, attritor or sand mill to adjust the coating solution. The coating liquid can be formed by coating or impregnating the surface of the support as it is.

  Application or impregnation methods include blade coating, wire bar coating, spray coating, dip coating, bead coating, air knife coating, curtain coating, roll coating, kiss reverse coating, reverse roll coating. Conventionally used methods such as a method, a squeeze coating method, a die coating method, a comma coating method, a fountain reverse coating method, and a gravure coating method can be employed.

  Moreover, in preparation of the said coating liquid, a solvent is not specifically limited. Solvents that bring out compatibility between the polyester resin copolymerized with ethylene glycol, terephthalic acid and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol components and the resin in the image-receiving layer may be those used in the preparation of known coating liquids. If it does not specifically limit. Specific examples include aliphatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylene, halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride and chlorobenzene, ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone and cyclohexanone, other solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, ethyl acetate and mixtures of these solvents, and other poor ones. A mixed solvent with a solvent may be used.

  The drying for forming the image receiving layer on the surface of the support may be air drying, but can be easily performed by heat drying. As a drying method, a generally used method such as a method of putting in an oven, a method of passing through an oven, or a method of contacting with a heating roller can be adopted.

  Further, when a release layer or other layer is formed, it can be formed by applying or impregnating the coating layer after preparing the coating layer, as in the method for forming the image receiving layer.

  Thus, the film thickness of the image receiving layer formed on the surface of the support is preferably in the range of 0.1 μm to 20 μm, and more preferably in the range of 1.0 μm to 10 μm. The film thickness of the release layer is preferably in the range of 0.05 μm to 2.0 μm, and more preferably in the range of 0.2 μm to 1.0 μm. The thickness of the light reflection adjusting layer is preferably in the range of 0.1 μm to 20 μm, and more preferably in the range of 1.0 μm to 10 μm.

-Image forming process and image forming material-
In the image forming process in the first embodiment, as a method for forming an image, it adopts known methods electronic photographic scheme. In the following, a method for forming an image will be described with reference to electronic photographic method.

  In the image formation on the image transfer medium by the electrophotographic method, first, the surface of the electrophotographic image carrier (photoreceptor) is charged and charged, and then the obtained image information is exposed on the surface of the image carrier. Then, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to exposure is formed. Next, the electrostatic latent image is visualized and developed with toner (toner image is formed) by supplying toner as an image forming material from the developing device to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier. Further, the formed toner image is transferred to the surface of the image transfer medium on which the image receiving layer is formed, and finally, the toner is fixed on the surface of the image receiving layer by heat or pressure to form an image of the image forming material. The

  In the first embodiment, the image formed on the image receiving layer of the image transfer medium needs to be a reversed image (mirror image). In this case, when forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier, The image information exposed on the surface of the image carrier is preferably provided as mirror image information.

  The toner image formed on the surface of the image transfer medium is preferably fixed so that the temperature of the surface of the image transfer medium is equal to or lower than the melting temperature of the toner. Considering the melting temperature of normal toner, it is preferable that the surface temperature of the image transfer medium be 130 ° C. or lower, more preferably 110 ° C. or lower.

  In addition, it is desirable that the fixing device is remodeled / adjusted so that the image transfer medium is compensated for the stiffness of the image transfer medium in the fixing device, or the guide is brought into contact with the film edge portion.

  Next, the image forming material used in the image forming step will be described. As the image forming material, “toner” is used when an electrophotographic method is used for forming an image. These image forming materials are required to contain at least a release agent.

  In the following, a toner used for electrophotography, which is a particularly preferable embodiment, will be described. The toner can be produced using, for example, known components such as a binder resin, a colorant, and a charge control agent, and a release agent as described above. It is not particularly limited by the production method, and can be produced by a known method such as kneading and pulverizing method, emulsion polymerization aggregation method, suspension polymerization method or the like.

  Here, examples of the release agent include low molecular weight polypropylene, low molecular weight polyethylene, and wax. As the wax, paraffin wax and derivatives thereof, montan wax and derivatives thereof, microcrystalline wax and derivatives thereof, Fischer-Tropsch wax and derivatives thereof, polyolefin wax and derivatives thereof, and the like can be used. Derivatives include oxides, polymers with vinyl monomers, graft modified products, and the like. In addition, alcohols, fatty acids, plant waxes, animal waxes, mineral waxes, ester waxes, acid amides, and the like can be used. Among these, polyolefin wax is particularly preferable.

  The content of the release agent in the toner is preferably 1.0 part by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less, and 5.0 parts by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the binder resin. It is particularly preferred.

-Information recording medium-
Next, an information recording body obtained by the image forming method according to the first embodiment will be described.
In the information recording body, at least one side of the recording medium is subjected to heat and pressure treatment on the image surface of the image transfer medium on which the image is formed on the surface of the image receiving layer. An information recording body on which image information is recorded by peeling the support of the medium from the recording medium and transferring the image forming material of the image area and the image receiving layer of the non-image area to the recording medium.

  As an aspect of the information recording body, for example, (i) an image sheet, an image panel, or the like in which an image is transferred to a recording medium by heat and pressure processing from an image transfer medium having an image corresponding to information formed on the surface It is possible to read at least information by using at least one means selected from an electric means, a magnetic means, and an optical means, which is arranged in at least one of the recording media and (ii) the recording medium. Such as an IC card, a magnetic card, an optical card, or a combination of these, including an information chip, and a configuration such as an information recording body that stores predetermined information and can communicate with or without contact with an external device. Can be mentioned.

  In the information recording body shown in (i) above, the image may partially or wholly serve as information having some kind of identification function, and includes an image that functions as identifiable information such as image information and character information. If it does not specifically limit. Further, the identification of the image as information is not particularly limited as to whether or not it can be visually identified, and may be mechanically identifiable.

  In the information recording body shown in (ii) above, the information chip has information having some kind of identification function, and at least one means selected from electrical means, magnetic means, and optical means is used. If it is readable by this, it will not be specifically limited. This information chip may be dedicated to reading information, but may be one that can both read and write information (including “rewriting”) as necessary. A specific example of this information chip is an IC chip (semiconductor circuit), for example.

  Note that the image formed when the above-described information chip is used as the information source of the information recording body is not particularly limited as to whether or not a part or the whole of the image has information having some identification function.

On the other hand, information included in an image or an information chip is not particularly limited as long as it can be identified, but may include variable information. The variable information means that information of individual information recording bodies is different among a plurality of information recording bodies manufactured according to the same standard or standard.
For example, when the image includes variable information, the image corresponding to the variable information can be different for each information recording medium.

  Further, the variable information may include personal information. In this case, the above information record can be applied to cash cards, employee cards, student cards, individual membership cards, residence cards, various driver's licenses, various qualification certificates, etc. The information includes, for example, a face photograph, personal verification image information, name, address, date of birth, and combinations thereof.

Here, the recording medium used in the first embodiment will be described. Examples of the recording medium include metals, plastics, and ceramics, and these are preferably in the form of sheets.
Among these, as the recording medium, a plastic sheet is preferable, and in particular, it is preferably opaque so that an image formed when an information recording medium is formed, and a whitened plastic sheet is typically used.

  As the resin for the plastic sheet, those that can be used for the support of the image transfer medium can be used. Specifically, polyacetate film, cellulose triacetate film, nylon film, polyester film, polycarbonate film, polystyrene film, polyphenylene sulfide film, polypropylene film, polyimide film, cellophane, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin film, etc. It can be preferably used.

Among these, polyester films, particularly those called PETG in which about half of the ethylene glycol component of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is replaced with 1,4-cyclohexanemethanol component, and those obtained by mixing polycarbonate with the PET and alloying them. Furthermore, an amorphous polyester called A-PET, which is PET that is not biaxially stretched, can be used more preferably.
It is preferable that at least the surface of the recording medium on which the image is transferred contains PETG.

  Considering the use of chlorine-free base materials, the polystyrene resin sheet, ABS resin sheet, AS (acrylonitrile-styrene) resin sheet, PET sheet, and polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene can be used as additional materials. A sheet in which a hot melt adhesive such as polyester or EVA is added to the sheet can also be preferably used.

  As a method for whitening the plastic, a method in which a white pigment, for example, metal oxide particles such as silicon oxide, titanium oxide, and calcium oxide, an organic white pigment, and polymer particles are mixed in the film can be used. Further, the surface of the plastic sheet can be made uneven by subjecting the surface of the plastic sheet to sandblasting or embossing, and the plastic sheet can be whitened by light scattering due to the unevenness.

  As the recording medium, a sheet made of a plastic having a thickness in the range of 75 μm to 1000 μm is preferably used, and a PETG sheet having a thickness in the range of 100 μm to 750 μm is more preferable.

When the final information recording body is used as an IC card or the like, a recording medium having a semiconductor circuit inside or on the surface can be used.
As a method for incorporating a semiconductor circuit in a recording medium, a method called an inlet in which the semiconductor circuit is fixed is sandwiched between sheet materials constituting the recording medium, and heat fusion is integrated by heat press. Is preferably used. Further, it is also possible to arrange a semiconductor circuit directly without the inlet sheet and to perform heat fusion integration by the method described above.

In addition, it is possible to incorporate the semiconductor circuit by the method described above by bonding the sheets constituting the recording medium using an adhesive such as hot melt, regardless of the heat fusion. However, the present invention is not limited to these. For example, any method for incorporating a semiconductor circuit in an IC card can be applied as a method for manufacturing the recording medium.
Furthermore, if there is no problem in use as an information recording body, it is possible to arrange the semiconductor circuit so that it is exposed not on the inside of the recording medium but on the surface.

  When the information recording body is used not only as an IC card but also as a magnetic card, an antenna, a magnetic stripe, an external terminal, etc. are embedded in the recording medium as necessary. Moreover, a magnetic stripe, a hologram, etc. may be printed and required character information may be embossed.

<Image Forming Method According to Second Embodiment>
The image forming method according to the second embodiment, which is a preferred mode, uses an image transfer medium having an image receiving layer containing a pigment on at least one side of a support, and at least on the surface provided with the image receiving layer. A coated image forming step of forming a coated image with an image portion coating material containing a release agent, and a coated image removing medium superimposed on the surface on which the coated image of the image transfer medium is formed, the first laminate A first superposition step, a first heating and pressurizing step for heating and pressurizing the first laminated body, and the coated image and the image receiving member together with the coated image removing medium from the first laminated body. A first removal step of removing a region corresponding to a non-image portion of the layer, and a second lamination by superimposing a recording medium on a surface of the image transfer medium where the region corresponding to the image portion of the image receiving layer remains. A second polymerization step to form a body, and before A second hot pressing step of heating and pressing the second laminate, and a second removal step of removing the support from the second laminate, the.

First, the image forming method according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus used in the image forming method according to the second embodiment. The image forming apparatus 110 illustrated in FIG. 3 includes a peeling device 111, a collating device 112, and a laminating device 114 (laminating unit).
The peeling device 111 includes an image transfer medium storage unit 132, a feed roll 115 of the coated image removal medium 118, a heating roll pair 117 disposed on the downstream side of the image transfer medium 120 in the conveying direction of the image transfer medium storage unit 132, and the heating roll pair. 117, a peeling roll 119 disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the coated image removal medium 118 and the image transfer medium 120, and a take-up roll 116 disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction of the coated image removal medium 118 of the peeling roll 119. ing. The coated image removing medium 118 is sent from the feed roll 115 to the take-up roll 116 through the heating roll pair 117 and the peeling roll 119 by a drive motor (not shown).

In the image transfer medium storage section 132, an image receiving layer 164 is formed on one surface of the support 166 as shown in FIG. 4A, and a coated image is already formed on the surface of the image receiving layer 164 by the image area coating material 162. The image transfer medium 120 that has been subjected to the (coating image forming step) is stored.
The image transfer medium storage unit 132 stores the image transfer medium 120 on which the covering image has been formed with the covering image forming surface facing downward. The image transfer medium 120 is discharged by driving the pickup roll 128, and the paper feed roll 130 is driven to convey the coated image-formed image transfer medium 120 to the contact portion of the two rolls of the heating roll pair 117.

The image transfer medium 120 conveyed to the contact portion of the heating roll pair 117 is overlapped with the coated image removal medium 118 (first superposition step), and a laminate 170 shown in FIG. 4B is formed.
In addition, the laminated body 170 is overlaid and inserted into and passed through the contact portion (clamping portion) of the heating roll pair 117, whereby the image transfer medium 20 side and the coated image are shown as indicated by arrows in FIG. Heating / pressurizing treatment is performed from both sides on the removal medium 118 side (first heating and pressurizing step).

  The first heating / pressurizing method in the peeling apparatus 111 is not particularly limited by the heating roll pair 117, and any conventionally known various laminating techniques can be suitably employed. For example, by inserting the laminate 170 through a contact portion (clamping portion) such as a belt pair, a heating / pressurizing process is performed using a laminating technique in which both are thermally melted and thermally fused, a hot press technique, or the like. You can also.

The heating temperature in the first heating and pressurizing step is preferably 70 ° C. or higher and 130 ° C. or lower, and more preferably 80 ° C. or higher and 110 ° C. or lower. The pressure is preferably 100 kN / ^{m 2} or more 2000 kN / ^{m 2} or less, more preferably 500 kN / ^{m 2} or more 1500kN / ^{m 2} or less.

Thereafter, the laminate 170 is conveyed to the peeling roll 119 as the coated image removing medium 118 is conveyed. In the peeling roll 119, the coated image removing medium 118 is peeled from the image transfer medium 120 of the laminated body 170, and as shown in FIG. 4C, the coated image removing medium 118 and the image portion (covered image forming portion) are used. The image receiving layer 162 and the image receiving layer 164a in the region corresponding to the non-image portion are removed (first removal step).
Thereafter, the image transfer medium 120 from which the covering image has been removed is conveyed to the collating device 112 through the image transfer medium conveyance path 140.

  The collating apparatus 112 stores an image transfer medium conveyance path 140 that supplies the image transfer medium 120 from which the coated image has been removed from the peeling apparatus 111 to the collating section 136, and a recording medium 122 that stores the recording medium 122 having the same size as the image transfer medium 120. The medium storage unit 134, the collating unit (positioning unit) 136 for positioning the image transfer medium 120 and the recording medium 122 with the covering image removed, and the recording medium 122 is supplied from the recording medium storage unit 134 to the collating unit 136. A recording medium conveyance path 142 to be used.

  The image transfer medium conveyance path 140 and the recording medium conveyance path 142 include a plate-shaped member and a roll-shaped conveyance body (conveyance roll) for conveying the image transfer medium 120 or the recording medium 122 on the surface thereof. It may also be configured by a rotating belt-like conveyance body (conveyance belt). When the coated image removed image transfer medium 120 is transported from the peeling device 111 or discharged from the recording medium storage unit 134 of the recording medium 122, the respective transport bodies are driven, and the coated image removed image transfer medium 120 or The recording medium 122 is conveyed to the collating unit 136.

The recording medium storage unit 134 in which the recording medium 122 is accommodated is provided with a pickup roll 124, and the recording medium 122 is ejected by driving the pickup roll 124, and the paper feeding roll 126 is driven to pass through the recording medium conveyance path 142. The recording medium 122 is conveyed to the collating unit 136 at a timing immediately before the image transfer medium 120 with the coated image removed is conveyed.
Further, the image transfer medium 120 after removal of the coated image that has exited the discharge portion of the image transfer medium conveyance path 140 is set so that the image receiving layer forming surface faces downward, and is supplied to the collating portion 136 by its own weight. Overlaid on the recording medium 122.

The collating unit 136 is provided at the same height as the discharge unit of the recording medium conveyance path 142 from the recording medium storage unit 134 and is provided at a position vertically below the discharge unit of the image transfer medium conveyance path 140. Further, the collating portion 136 has two side walls orthogonal to the bottom surface, and has tampers provided in parallel with the two side wall surfaces.
The recording medium 122 and the coated image-removed image transfer medium 120 conveyed to the collating unit 136 as described above are overlapped with the image receiving layer forming surface of the image transfer medium 120 and the recording medium by the collating unit 136. By being pressed against the wall surfaces of the two sides perpendicular to each other by the tamper of the mating portion 136, they are positioned with respect to each other (second superposition step), and a laminate 168 shown in FIG. 4D is formed. Thereafter, the laminate 168 is conveyed to the laminating apparatus 114.

  The laminating apparatus 114 includes a pair of heating belts 146 and 148. In the laminating apparatus 114, the laminated body 168 of the image transfer medium 120 with the coated image removed and the recording medium 122 is inserted into and passed through the contact portion (clamping portion) between the pair of heating belts 146 and 148, thereby allowing the laminate (168) to pass (FIG. 4). As shown by arrows in D), a heating / pressurizing process is performed from both sides of the image transfer medium 120 and the recording medium 122 (second heating and pressing process).

  The heating / pressurizing method in the laminating apparatus 114 is not particularly limited to the method using the belt pairs 146 and 148, and any of various conventionally known laminating techniques can be suitably employed. For example, the laminated body 168 is inserted into a contact portion (clamping portion) such as a roll pair so that both are heat-melted and heat-bonded to each other by using a laminating technique or a hot press technique. You can also.

The heating temperature in the second heating and pressurizing step is preferably 70 ° C. or higher and 130 ° C. or lower, and more preferably 80 ° C. or higher and 100 ° C. or lower. The pressure is preferably 100 kN / ^{m 2} or more 2000 kN / ^{m 2} or less, more preferably 500 kN / ^{m 2} or more 1500kN / ^{m 2} or less.

The stacked body 168 that has been subjected to the heating and pressurizing treatment is discharged to the discharge unit 156. After the stacked body 168 discharged to the discharge portion 156 is cooled to below the glass transition temperature of the recording medium 122, the support 166 in the image transfer medium of the stacked body 168 is peeled off, whereby FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the support 166 is removed (second removal step).
In addition, as a peeling method of the said support body 166, the method of forcedly applying force using the peeling method using a well-known peeling apparatus, a peeling nail | claw, and a peeling board (baffle) can be used.

  By the second removal step, the image formed by the image receiving layer (image receiving layer corresponding to the image portion) 164b remains on the surface of the recording medium 122, and a final image is formed.

-Peeling force-
Next, the image transfer medium, the image forming material, and the recording medium used in the second embodiment will be described in more detail. Note that the image transfer medium, the image forming material, and the recording medium are required to have the following relationships (4) to (7).
(4) Peeling force (support / image receiving layer)> Peeling force (image receiving layer / image part coating material)
(5) Peeling force (Coated image removal medium / Image part coating material)
> Peeling force (image receiving layer / image part coating material)
(6) Peeling force (Coated image removal medium / image receiving layer)
> Peeling force (support / image-receiving layer)
(7) Peeling force (recording medium / image receiving layer)> Peeling force (support / image receiving layer)
The peeling force is as shown in the section of the first embodiment.

In the image forming process in the image forming method according to the second embodiment described above, a coated image is formed on the image transfer medium with the image portion coating material, and then the first superposition process and the first heating and pressing process. Then, the image portion coating material adheres to the coated image removing medium. Further, the image receiving layer in the region corresponding to the image portion remaining on the image transfer medium from which the coated image has been removed is adhered to the recording medium in the second superposition step and the second heating and pressing step.
By satisfying the above equations (4) to (6), in the first removal step, the area corresponding to the image area is peeled off at the interface between the image area coating material and the image receiving layer, and the image receiving layer is the surface of the support. And the image part coating material is removed together with the coating material removal medium. Further, the region corresponding to the non-image portion is peeled off at the interface between the image receiving layer and the support, and the image receiving layer is removed together with the coating material removing medium surface.
Further, by satisfying the above expression (7), in the second removal step, the area corresponding to the image portion is peeled off at the interface between the image receiving layer and the support, and the image receiving layer remains on the surface of the recording medium.

Moreover, it is more preferable that the value of each peeling force is in the following range.
Specifically, the peeling force (support / image receiving layer) is preferably 10 N / m or more and 500 N / m or less, and particularly preferably 20 N / m or more and 200 N / m or less.
The peeling force (image receiving layer / image part coating material) is preferably 5 N / m or more and 200 N / m or less, and particularly preferably 10 N / m or more and 100 N / m or less.
The peeling force (coated image removal medium / image portion coating material) is preferably 50 N / m or more, and particularly preferably 100 N / m or more.
The peeling force (support / image-receiving layer) is preferably 10 N / m or more and 500 N / m or less, and particularly preferably 20 N / m or more and 200 N / m or less.
The peeling force (recording medium / image receiving layer) is preferably 50 N / m or more, and particularly preferably 100 N / m or more.

As the “image transfer medium” used in the second embodiment, the image transfer medium that can be used in the first embodiment can be applied as it is.
Further, the “cover image forming step” in the second embodiment can apply the image forming step in the first embodiment as it is, and the “image portion covering material” is an image that can be used in the first embodiment. The forming material can be applied as it is.
Furthermore, the “coated image removal medium” in the second embodiment can be applied as it is, except that the shape of the recording medium that can be used in the first embodiment is changed to be applicable to the peeling apparatus.

-Information recording medium-
Next, an information recording body obtained by the image forming method according to the second embodiment will be described.
In the information recording body, the image surface of the image transfer medium having a coated image formed on the surface of the image receiving layer is subjected to a first heat and pressure treatment on at least one surface of the coated image removing medium, and the image portion coating material After cooling and solidification, the coated image removing medium is peeled off from the image transfer medium, and the image part coating material and the non-image part image-receiving layer are removed by the coated image removing medium, and then the image transfer medium having the coated image removed is received. After the layer forming surface is subjected to the second heat and pressure treatment on at least one surface of the recording medium and the image receiving layer is cooled and solidified, the support of the image transfer medium is peeled off from the recording medium, and the image receiving layer of the image portion is It is an information recording body on which image information is recorded by being transferred to a recording medium.

As an aspect of this information recording body, the aspect in the information recording body obtained by the image forming method according to the first embodiment described above can be mentioned as it is.
In addition, as the “recording medium” in the second embodiment, the recording medium that can be used in the first embodiment can be applied as it is.

  Hereinafter, the first and second embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

Example 1
-Image forming device-
As the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 was used.

-Recording media-
As a recording medium used for image formation, a white PETG (manufactured by Mitsubishi Plastics, Diafix WHI), a thickness of 760 μm, and a size processed in advance to an A4 size was used.

-Transfer film 1-1
A transfer film (image transfer medium) having a two-layer structure comprising a support and an image receiving layer was used.
A PET film (Lumirror T60, biaxial stretching treatment, thickness: 100 μm, width: 300 mm, length: 5 m) manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc. was used as the support.
The image-receiving layer is composed of 10 parts by mass of a urethane-modified polyester resin (manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd., UR-4122), a golden pearl pigment (a bright pigment having a particle size of 10 μm or more and 60 μm or less in which a titanium dioxide coating layer is provided on a mica surface of a flake, 8 parts by weight of Nippon Koken Kogyo Co., Ltd., Pearl Glaze MY-100R) was added to 30 parts by weight of a mixture of cyclohexanone and methyl ethyl ketone in a mass ratio of 10:90, and stirred well, using an image-receiving layer coating solution. It formed by apply | coating to the single side | surface of the said PET film using a wire bar so that the thickness after drying might be set to 10 micrometers.

  After the transfer film 1-1 was cut into a size of 297 mm × 210 mm, Fuji Xerox's DocuPrint C3540 (electrophotographic color printer) was used on the image receiving layer side as a product name: EA-HG toner (released by Fuji Xerox). A color image excluding the gold portion was printed on A4 size.

-Image formation-
The color image printed transfer film 1-1 was set in the image transfer medium storage unit 32 of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. The temperature of the heating / pressurizing treatment in the laminating apparatus 14 was set by setting the belt 46 to 150 ° C. and the belt 48 to 150 ° C., and laminating at a feed rate of 10 mm / s. Next, after sufficiently cooling the laminate 68 of the transfer film 1-1 and the recording medium discharged to the discharge portion 56, the support 66 is peeled off from the end by hand to form a final image on the recording medium. did.

-Evaluation-
A good toner image was transferred to the image portion (the portion where the image was formed with toner), and the image receiving layer was transferred well to the non-image portion.

Further, the luminance of the golden pearl image of the final image formed on the recording medium was evaluated according to the following criteria. The results are shown in Table 1.
[Luminance]
The brightness was determined by visual sensory evaluation of a glittering image. The following five-step evaluation was performed on 10 evaluators.
1. Very bad Bad Normal 4. Good Next, the average value was obtained and evaluated according to the following criteria.
× ・ ・ ・ When the average value is less than 2 △ ・ ・ ・ When 2 or more and less than 4 ○ ・ ・ ・ When 4 or more

(Comparative Example 1)
-Gold developer-
(toner)
Polyester-based binder resin 86.7 parts by mass
(Particle size: 5 μm or more and 30 μm or less) 13.3 parts by mass The above components were kneaded with a biaxial kneader and then pulverized and classified to obtain toner particles having a volume average particle size of 7 μm. To 100 parts by mass of the obtained toner particles, 1 part by mass of silica particles having a particle size of 40 nm surface-treated with hexamethyldisilazane is added, and silica particles 1 having a particle size of 20 nm that have been surface-treated with trimethoxydecylsilane Part by mass was added and mixed with a Henschel mixer. After that, sieving was performed with a sieve having a mesh size of 45 μm.

(Career)
Cu-Zn-Fe core (volume average particle diameter 50 μm) 100 parts by mass Fluorine-containing acrylic polymer 0.5 part by mass The above components are mixed in a kneader and dried to obtain a carrier having a volume average particle diameter of 50 μm. It was.

(Developer)
The toner and carrier were mixed at a mass ratio of 10: 100 to prepare a gold developer.

-Transfer film 1-2
As the transfer film (image transfer medium) 1-2, a PET film (manufactured by Toray Industries Inc., Lumirror T60, thickness: 100 μm, A4 size) was used.
In DocuPrint C3540 manufactured by Fuji Xerox, the toner mounted in the product as the toner of three colors of yellow, magenta and cyan is used as it is, while using the gold developer prepared by the above method instead of the black developer, A color image including a golden portion was printed on the transfer film 1-2.
Subsequently, an image was formed by the method described in Example 1 except that the above transfer film 1-2 was used.

-Evaluation-
The toner image of the image portion (the portion where the image was formed with toner) including the golden portion was transferred to the recording medium. Further, the luminance was evaluated by the method described in Example 1.

(Comparative Example 2)
-Transfer film 1-3
A transfer film (image transfer medium) having a two-layer structure comprising a support and an image receiving layer was used.
As the support, a PET film (manufactured by Toray Industries, Lumirror T60, thickness: 100 μm, A4 size) was used.
The material used in Example 1 was used for the image receiving layer, and it was formed by applying to one side of the support using a wire bar so that the thickness after drying was 10 μm.

  After this transfer film 1-3 is cut into a size of 297 mm × 210 mm, Fuji Xerox DocuColor 1255 (electrophotographic color printer) (the toner does not contain a release agent) is used on the image receiving layer side, and the A4 size is obtained. A color image excluding the golden part was printed.

-Image formation-
An image was formed by the method described in Example 1 except that the above transfer film 1-3 was used.

-Evaluation-
The image portion (the portion where the image was formed with toner) was transferred with the toner or gold bar color mottled and with a rough surface. The non-image area was transferred with a mottled gold bar color and a rough surface.
Further, the luminance was evaluated by the method described in Example 1.

(Example 2)
-Image forming device-
As the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus 110 shown in FIG. 3 is used. In addition, as the covering image removal medium 118, a PET film (manufactured by Toray, Lumirror T60, thickness: 50 μm, width: 300 mm, length: 10 m) was used.

-Image formation-
As the recording medium and transfer film, the recording medium and transfer film 1-1 shown in Example 1 were used.
The color image printed transfer film 1-1 was set in the image transfer medium storage unit 132 of the image forming apparatus 110 shown in FIG. 3, and the recording medium was set in the recording medium storage unit 134. The temperature of the 1st heating and pressurizing process in the peeling apparatus 111 set the heating roll pair 117 to 120 ° C., and the feed rate was 10 mm / s, and the first removal step was performed. Further, the temperature of the heating / pressurizing treatment in the laminating apparatus 114 was set to 150 ° C. for the belt 146 and 150 ° C. for the belt 148, and laminating was performed at a feed rate of 10 mm / s. Next, after sufficiently cooling the laminate 168 of the transfer film 1-1 and the recording medium discharged to the discharge unit 156, the support 166 is peeled off from the end by hand to form a final image on the recording medium. did.

-Evaluation-
First, in the first removal step, in a region (image portion) where a covering image (image formed with toner) is formed, the covering image is transferred to the covering image removing medium, and in the non-image portion, an image receiving layer. Was transferred well.
Further, in the recording medium on which the final image was formed, the image receiving layer was satisfactorily transferred at the image portion.

  Further, the luminance was evaluated by the method described in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 2 below.

(Comparative Example 3)
-Image formation-
As the recording medium and transfer film, the recording medium and transfer film 1-3 shown in Comparative Example 2 were used.
An image was formed by the method described in Example 2 except that the above transfer film 1-3 was used.

-Evaluation-
First, in the first removal step, a part of the covering image remained in the image portion, a part of the image receiving layer was transferred, and the surface was rough. In the non-image area, a part of the image receiving layer was transferred and the surface was rough. In addition, in the recording medium on which the final image was formed, the image portion was a rough image with a partial color loss.
Further, the luminance was evaluated by the method described in Example 1.

(Example 3)
<Preparation of resistance adjustment layer solution A-1>
Acrylic polymer solution that is a cationic antistatic agent (manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd .: Elecondo QO-101, solid content concentration 50 mass%) 100 parts by mass of cross-linked acrylic spherical particles (manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd .: MX-) 180, average particle diameter: 1.8 μm) 0.5 parts by mass and 200 parts by mass of ethanol were mixed and sufficiently stirred to prepare a resistance adjustment layer solution A-1 for controlling the surface resistivity.

<Preparation of image-receiving layer coating solution B-1>
20 parts by mass of a polyester resin (Toyobo Co., Ltd .: Byron 245), 2 parts by mass of a surfactant (Nippon Yushi Co., Ltd .: Elegan 264WAX), a golden pigment ((silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide on the surface of the flake mica) In addition, 24 parts by mass of a particle having a coating layer containing iron oxide and tin oxide and having a particle size of 10 μm or more and 60 μm or less (manufactured by Nippon Koken Kogyo Co., Ltd .: MC-305R) is sufficiently added to a solvent of 50 parts by mass of methyl ethyl ketone. The mixture was stirred to prepare an image receiving layer coating solution B-1.

<Preparation of transfer film 2-1>
On one side of biaxially stretched PET (PET50 T-60 manufactured by Toray Industries Inc., thickness 50 μm) as a support, the resistance adjustment layer solution A-1 is applied using a wire bar and dried at 120 ° C. for 1 minute. A resistance adjustment layer having a thickness of 0.5 μm was formed.
Further, the image-receiving layer coating liquid B-1 was applied to the uncoated surface of the support opposite to the resistance adjusting layer surface using a wire bar, dried at 120 ° C. for 1 minute, and a gold film having a thickness of 10 μm. An image receiving layer was formed to prepare a transfer film 2-1.
The surface resistivity of the transfer film 2-1 was 2.8 × 10 ⁸ Ω / □ on the resistance adjustment layer surface and 2.6 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □ on the image receiving layer surface.

  Next, after the transfer film 2-1 was cut into A4 size (210 mm × 297 mm), an electrophotographic color printer (manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., trade name: DocuPrint C3540 (contains wax as a release agent in the toner) on the image receiving layer side. ) Was used to print a color image excluding the golden part on A4 size.

<Image formation>
The color image printed transfer film 2-1 is placed in the image transfer medium storage unit 32 of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 in a white PETG sheet (Mitsubishi Resin Co., Ltd .: Diafix WHI, thickness 760 μm, A4 size) was set in the recording medium storage unit 34. The temperature of the heating / pressurizing treatment in the laminating apparatus 14 was set by setting the belt 46 to 140 ° C. and the belt 48 to 140 ° C., and laminating at a feed rate of 6 mm / s. Next, after sufficiently cooling the laminate 68 of the transfer film 2-1 and the recording medium discharged to the discharge unit 56, the support 66 is peeled off from the end by hand to form a final image on the recording medium. did.

-Evaluation-
A good toner image was transferred to the image portion (the portion where the image was formed with toner), and the image receiving layer was transferred well to the non-image portion.
Further, the luminance was evaluated by the method described in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 3 below.

Example 4
<Preparation of image-receiving layer coating solution B-2>
20 parts by mass of a polyester resin (manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd .: Byron 885), 2.5 parts by mass of a surfactant (manufactured by Nippon Oil & Fats Co., Ltd .: Elegan 264WAX), a golden pigment ((titanium dioxide on the surface of the mica) The particle size provided with a coating layer containing iron oxide is 10 μm or more and 60 μm or less, 20 parts by mass of Nippon Koken Kogyo Co., Ltd .: MC-306, and spherical acrylic resin particles (manufactured by Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd .: XX-) as filler. 179W, average particle size 15 μm) 5 parts by mass was added to a solvent of 60 parts by mass of methyl ethyl ketone and sufficiently stirred to prepare image-receiving layer coating solution B-2.

<Preparation of transfer film 2-2>
A transfer film 2-2 having a gold image-receiving layer formed by the method shown in Example 3 except that the colored coating solution B-2 was used in place of the image-receiving layer coating solution B-1 in Example 3. Was made.
The surface resistivity of this transfer film 2-2 was 7.8 × 10 ⁹ Ω / □ on the image receiving layer surface.
Next, a final image was formed by the method shown in Example 3 except that the transfer film 2-2 was used.

-Evaluation-
A good toner image was transferred to the image portion (the portion where the image was formed with toner), and the image receiving layer was transferred well to the non-image portion.
Further, the luminance was evaluated by the method described in Example 1.

(Example 5)
<Preparation of image-receiving layer coating solution B-3>
Silver pigment instead of the gold pigment of Example 4 ((particle diameter of 10 μm to 60 μm with a coating layer containing titanium dioxide and tin oxide on the surface of thin mica, manufactured by Nihon Koken Kogyo Co., Ltd .: ME-100R) An image-receiving layer coating solution B-3 was prepared by the method described in Example 4 except that.

<Preparation of transfer film 2-3>
A transfer film 2 having a silver image-receiving layer formed by the method described in Example 3, except that the image-receiving layer coating liquid B-3 was used instead of the image-receiving layer coating liquid B-1 in Example 3. -3 was produced.
The surface resistivity of the transfer film 2-3 was 6.7 × 10 ⁹ Ω / □ on the image receiving layer surface.
Next, a final image was formed by the method shown in Example 3 except that the transfer film 2-3 was used.

-Evaluation-
A good toner image was transferred to the image portion (the portion where the image was formed with toner), and the image receiving layer was transferred well to the non-image portion.
Further, the luminance was evaluated by the method described in Example 1.

(Example 6)
<Preparation of image-receiving layer coating solution B-4>
In place of the gold pigment of Example 3, a bronze color pigment ((particle diameter of 10 μm to 60 μm with a coating layer containing titanium dioxide and tin oxide on the surface of flake mica, manufactured by Nippon Koken Kogyo Co., Ltd .: MC-500 The image receiving layer coating solution B-4 was prepared by the method described in Example 3 except that.

<Preparation of transfer film 2-4>
A transfer film having a bronze-colored image-receiving layer formed by the method described in Example 3, except that the image-receiving layer coating solution B-4 was used instead of the image-receiving layer coating solution B-1 in Example 3. 2-4 were produced.
The surface resistivity of this transfer film 2-4 was 3.1 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □ on the image receiving layer surface.
Next, a final image was formed by the method shown in Example 3 except that the transfer film 2-4 was used.

-Evaluation-
A good toner image was transferred to the image portion (the portion where the image was formed with toner), and the image receiving layer was transferred well to the non-image portion.
Further, the luminance was evaluated by the method described in Example 1.

(Example 7)
<Preparation of transfer film 2-5>
On the untreated surface side of biaxially stretched PET (Panac PET100 SG-2, thickness 101 μm) provided with a releasable thermosetting resin layer (release layer) containing a fluororesin as a release agent on one side, The coating liquid A-1 used in Example 3 was applied using a wire bar and dried at 120 ° C. for 1 minute to form a resistance adjustment layer having a thickness of 0.5 μm.
Further, the image receiving layer coating liquid B-1 is applied to the release treatment surface of the substrate opposite to the coating surface using a wire bar, dried at 120 ° C. for 1 minute, and a gold image receiving film having a thickness of 10 μm. A layer was formed to prepare a transfer film 2-5.
The surface resistivity of this transfer film 2-5 was 6.4 × 10 ¹² Ω / □ on the image receiving layer surface.
Next, a final image was formed by the method shown in Example 3 except that the transfer film 2-5 was used.

-Evaluation-
The support could be peeled off more easily, a good toner image was transferred to the image area (the area where the image was formed with toner), and the image receiving layer was transferred well to the non-image area.
Further, the luminance was evaluated by the method described in Example 1.

(Examples 8 to 10)
<Preparation of transfer films 2-6 to 2-8>
The method described in Example 7 was used except that the image receiving layer coating liquids B-2, B-3, and B-4 used in Examples 4 to 6 were used instead of the image receiving layer coating liquid B-1. Then, a gold, silver, and bronze image-receiving layer having a thickness of 10 μm was formed to prepare transfer films 2-6, 2-7, and 2-8.
The surface resistivity of each of the transfer films 2-6, 2-7, and 2-8 is 8.3 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □, 6.2 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω / □, and 9 × 10 ¹² Ω / □ on the surface of the image receiving layer, respectively. It was □.
Next, a final image was formed by the method shown in Example 3 except that the transfer films 2-6, 2-7, and 2-8 were used.

-Evaluation-
The support could be peeled off more easily, a good toner image was transferred to the image area (the area where the image was formed with toner), and the image receiving layer was transferred well to the non-image area.
Further, the luminance was evaluated by the method described in Example 1.

(Example 11)
<Preparation of image-receiving layer coating solution B-5>
In Example 3, instead of the golden pigment of the image-receiving layer coating liquid B-1, a yellow pigment ((the particle diameter of 10 μm or more and 60 μm or less provided with a coating layer containing titanium dioxide and tin oxide on the mica surface of the flakes, An image-receiving layer coating solution B-5 was prepared by the method described in Example 3 except that it was made by Nippon Koken Kogyo Co., Ltd. (MY-100R).

<Preparation of transfer film 2-9>
A transfer film 2 having a yellow image-receiving layer formed by the method described in Example 7 except that the image-receiving layer coating solution B-5 was used instead of the image-receiving layer coating solution B-1 in Example 7. 9 was produced.
The surface resistivity of this transfer film 2-9 was 5.7 × 10 ¹² Ω / □ on the image receiving layer surface.

  Next, after the transfer film 2-9 was cut into an A4 size (210 mm × 297 mm), the image receiving layer side was blacked into an A4 size using an electrophotographic color printer (manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., trade name: DocuColor1256GA). A solid image and a black mirror image were printed to prepare a transfer film 2-9 ′.

The transfer film 2-9 ′ on which the image-receiving layer surface of the transfer film 2-9 and the black solid image and the black mirror image image were formed on the front and back surfaces of the white PETG sheet were laminated by the method described in Example 3 and cooled. The back support was peeled off to form the final image.
As a result, the surface to which the non-image forming surface was transferred was white when viewed from the front, and became a variable color that changed to a pearl gold color when viewed from an oblique direction. Moreover, the black solid part and the mirror image part looked like a golden image from any angle.

(Example 12)
<Preparation of image-receiving layer coating solution B-6>
In Example 3, instead of the golden pigment of the image-receiving layer coating liquid B-1, a purple pigment ((a particle size of 5 μm or more and 30 μm or less provided with a coating layer containing titanium dioxide and tin oxide on the mica surface of the flakes) Image-receiving layer coating solution B-6 was prepared by the method described in Example 3 except that it was changed to (brilliant pigment) manufactured by Nippon Koken Kogyo Co., Ltd .: MV-100RF.

<Preparation of transfer film 2-10>
A transfer film 2 having a purple image-receiving layer formed by the method described in Example 7 except that the image-receiving layer coating solution B-6 was used instead of the image-receiving layer coating solution B-1 in Example 7. 10 was produced.
The surface resistivity of this transfer film 2-10 was 7.1 × 10 ¹² Ω / □ on the image receiving layer surface.

  Next, a black solid image and a black mirror image were printed on the transfer film 2-10 by the method described in Example 11 to produce a transfer film 2-10 '.

A final image was formed by the method described in Example 11 except that the above transfer films 2-10 and 2-10 ′ were used.
As a result, the surface to which the non-image forming surface was transferred was white when viewed from the front, and became a variable color that changed to pearly purple when viewed from an oblique direction. Further, the black solid part and the mirror image part looked purple as viewed from any angle.

(Example 13)
<Preparation of image-receiving layer coating solution B-7>
In Example 3, instead of the golden pigment of the image-receiving layer coating liquid B-1, a green pigment ((a particle size of 10 μm or more and 60 μm or less provided with a coating layer containing titanium dioxide and tin oxide on the mica surface of the flakes) Image-receiving layer coating solution B-7 was prepared by the method described in Example 3 except that it was changed to (brilliant pigment) manufactured by Nippon Koken Kogyo Co., Ltd .: MG-2100R).

<Preparation of transfer film 2-11>
A transfer film 2 having a green image-receiving layer formed by the method described in Example 7, except that the image-receiving layer coating solution B-7 was used instead of the image-receiving layer coating solution B-1 in Example 7. 11 was produced.
The surface resistivity of this transfer film 2-11 was 6.9 × 10 ¹² Ω / □ on the image receiving layer surface.

  Next, a black solid image and a black mirror image were printed on the transfer film 2-11 by the method described in Example 11 to produce a transfer film 2-11 '.

A final image was formed by the method described in Example 11 except that the transfer films 2-11 and 2-11 ′ were used.
As a result, the surface onto which the non-image forming surface was transferred was white when viewed from the front, and became a variable color that changed to pearl green when viewed from an oblique direction. Further, the black solid part and the mirror image part looked green as viewed from any angle.

(Example 14)
<Preparation of image-receiving layer coating solution B-8>
In Example 3, instead of the golden pigment of the image-receiving layer coating liquid B-1, a blue pigment ((a particle size of 10 μm or more and 60 μm or less provided with a coating layer containing titanium dioxide and tin oxide on the mica surface of the flakes) Image-receiving layer coating solution B-8 was prepared by the method described in Example 3 except that it was changed to (brilliant pigment) Nippon Koken Kogyo Co., Ltd .: MB-2100R).

<Preparation of transfer film 2-12>
A transfer film 2 having a blue image-receiving layer formed by the method described in Example 7 except that the image-receiving layer coating solution B-8 was used instead of the image-receiving layer coating solution B-1 in Example 7. 12 was produced.
The surface resistivity of this transfer film 2-12 was 5.8 × 10 ¹² Ω / □ on the image receiving layer surface.

  Next, a black solid image and a black mirror image were printed on the transfer film 2-12 by the method described in Example 11 to produce a transfer film 2-12 '.

A final image was formed by the method described in Example 11 except that the above transfer films 2-12 and 2-12 ′ were used.
As a result, the surface to which the non-image forming surface was transferred was white when viewed from the front, and changed to pearl blue when viewed from an oblique direction. Moreover, the black solid part and the mirror image part looked blue when viewed from any angle.

Below, the preferable aspect of this invention is shown. First, the image forming method of the present invention includes:
<1> An electrophotographic image transfer medium having an image receiving layer containing a pigment on at least one side of a support, and an image forming material containing at least a release agent on the surface provided with the image receiving layer. An image forming process for forming an image by a method , a polymerization process for superposing a recording medium on a surface of the image transfer medium on which an image is formed, and a heating and pressurizing process for heating and pressurizing the stacked body And removing the region corresponding to the image portion of the image receiving layer together with the support from the laminate, and transferring the region corresponding to the non-image portion of the image receiving layer to the recording medium. An image forming method. With this configuration, it is possible to satisfactorily form an image with an image forming material and an image with an image receiving layer in an image transfer medium in a desired shape on a recording medium. In addition, with this configuration, an image made of an image forming material can be formed more easily and satisfactorily.
<2> on at least one side of a support, using an image transfer medium having an image receiving layer containing a pigment, said image-receiving layer is provided face, the image portion covering material containing at least a releasing agent, electron A covering image forming step of forming a covering image by a photographic method , and a first superposing step of superimposing the covering image removing medium on the surface of the image transfer medium on which the covering image is formed to form a first laminate. A region corresponding to a non-image portion of the coated image and the image receiving layer together with the coated image removing medium from the first laminated body, and a first heating and pressing step of heating and pressurizing the first laminated body And a second superposition step in which the recording medium is superposed on the surface of the image transfer medium on which the area corresponding to the image portion of the image receiving layer remains to form a second laminate. And heating / pressurizing the second laminate A second hot pressing step, a second removal step of removing the support from the second stack, which is an image forming method having. With this configuration, an image formed by the image receiving layer in the image transfer medium can be favorably formed in a desired shape on the recording medium. In addition, with this configuration, an image made of an image forming material can be formed more easily and satisfactorily.

The image transfer medium of the present invention is
<3> a support, on at least one surface of the support, Ri name contains the bright pigment, the and the support was a laminate by superimposing recording medium or coating the image removing medium to the surface of the opposite side At the time, in the image portion in which the recording medium or the covering image removing medium is overlaid through an image formed by an electrophotographic method with an image forming material or an image portion covering material containing at least a release agent, the laminate Can be peeled off at the interface with the image after heating and pressurizing, while the laminated body is heated in a non-image portion where the recording medium or the coated image removing medium is superimposed without passing through the image. An image transfer medium having an image receiving layer that can be peeled off at the interface with the support after being pressed . By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to provide an image transfer medium that can be suitably used in the image forming method described in <1> or < 2 > and can form a glossy image satisfactorily.
< 4 > The image transfer medium according to < 3 >, wherein the glitter pigment contained in the image receiving layer has a particle size of 3 μm or more and 500 μm or less. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to form an image having higher brightness and a metallic luster than when the particle size is not taken into consideration.
< 5 > The above < 3 > or < 4 >, wherein the glitter pigment has at least one film layer selected from titanium oxide, silicon oxide, iron oxide and tin oxide on a flaky substrate. The image transfer medium described in 1. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to provide an image transfer medium capable of forming a glittering image more satisfactorily than in the case where the configuration is not provided.
< 6 > The support has a thickness of 50 μm or more and 200 μm or less, the image receiving layer contains a polyester resin, and the image receiving layer is formed on at least one surface of the support via a release layer. The image transfer medium according to any one of 3 > to < 5 >. With this configuration, it is possible to provide an image transfer medium capable of easily and satisfactorily transferring an image receiving layer containing a glittering pigment from a support to a recording medium.
< 7 > The image transfer medium according to any one of < 3 > to < 6 >, wherein the support is produced by biaxial stretching. With this configuration, it is possible to provide an image transfer medium capable of forming an image satisfactorily without causing a paper jam or running failure even in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
<8> An image forming step of forming an image by an electrophotographic method using an image forming material containing at least a release agent on the surface on which the image receiving layer is provided; and a recording medium on the surface on which the image is formed. A superimposing step to form a laminate, a heating and pressurizing step for heating and pressurizing the laminate, and removing the region corresponding to the image portion of the image receiving layer together with the support from the laminate, The image transfer medium according to any one of <3> to <7>, which is used in an image forming method having a removing step of transferring a region corresponding to a non-image portion of the image receiving layer to the recording medium. is there.
<9> On the surface on which the image-receiving layer is provided, on the surface on which the covering image is formed, and a covering image forming step in which a covering image is formed by an electrophotographic method using an image part covering material containing at least a release agent. A first superimposing step of superimposing the coated image removing medium to form a first laminate, a first heating and pressurizing step of heating and pressurizing the first laminate, and the first laminate A first removal step of removing the area corresponding to the non-image portion of the image and the image-receiving layer together with the image-removing medium, and recording on the surface where the area corresponding to the image portion of the image-receiving layer remains. A second superposing step of superposing the medium to form a second laminate, a second heating and pressing step of heating and pressurizing the second laminate, and the second laminate to the support. And a second removal step for removing the film. The image transfer medium according to any one of <3> to <7>.

In addition, the information recording body of the present invention,
<10> An information recording material produced by the image forming method according to <1> or <2> . With this configuration, an information recording medium in which an image having an image formed by an image forming material and an image formed by an image receiving layer in the image transfer medium, or an image formed by the image receiving layer in the image transfer medium is favorably formed in a desired shape. Can be provided.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the image forming apparatus used for the image forming method of this invention. (A) is the image transfer medium in the image forming step of the image forming method of the present invention, (B) is the laminate in the polymerization step and heating and pressing step of the image forming method of the present invention, and (C) is the present invention. It is sectional drawing showing the recording medium and transfer medium in the removal process of this image forming method. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the image forming apparatus used for the image forming method of this invention. (A) is the image transfer medium in the coated image forming step of the image forming method of the present invention, and (B) is the first polymerization step and the first heating and pressing step of the image forming method of the present invention. (C) is the coated image removal medium and transfer medium in the first removal step of the image forming method of the present invention, and (D) is the second polymerization step and second of the image forming method of the present invention. (E) is a sectional view showing the recording medium and transfer medium in the second removal step of the image forming method of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

10, 110 Image forming apparatus 12, 112 Collating apparatus 14, 114 Laminating apparatus 20, 120 Image transfer medium 22, 122 Recording medium 24, 124, 28, 128 Pickup roll 26, 126, 30, 130 Paper feed roll 32, 132 Image transfer medium storage section 34, 134 Recording medium storage section 36, 136 Collating section 40, 140 Image transfer medium transport path 42, 142 Recording medium transport path 46, 48, 146, 148 Heating belt pair 56, 156 Discharge section 62 Image Forming material 64 Image receiving layer 66, 166 Support body 68, 168 Laminate 111 Peeling device 115 Feed roll 116 Winding roll 117 Heating roll pair 118 Coated image removing medium 119 Peeling roll 162 Image part coating material 164 Image receiving layer 164a In non-image part Image receiving layer 164b in the corresponding area Image receiving layer 170 laminated body

Claims (10)

Using an image transfer medium having an image receiving layer containing a pigment on at least one side of a support, and using an image forming material containing at least a release agent on the surface provided with the image receiving layer, an image is obtained by electrophotography. Forming an image;
A polymerization step of superimposing a recording medium on the image-formed surface of the image transfer medium to form a laminate;
A heating and pressurizing step of heating and pressurizing the laminate;
Removing the region corresponding to the image portion of the image receiving layer together with the support from the laminate, and transferring the region corresponding to the non-image portion of the image receiving layer to the recording medium ;
An image forming method comprising: Using an image transfer medium having an image receiving layer containing a pigment on at least one side of a support, and an image portion coating material containing at least a release agent on the surface provided with the image receiving layer, by electrophotography A covering image forming step for forming a covering image;
A first superposition step in which a coated image removing medium is superimposed on the surface of the image transfer medium on which a coated image is formed to form a first laminate;
A first heating and pressurizing step of heating and pressurizing the first laminate;
A first removal step of removing a region corresponding to the non-image portion of the covering image and the image receiving layer together with the covering image removing medium from the first laminate;
A second superposition step of superimposing a recording medium on the surface of the image transfer medium where the region corresponding to the image portion of the image receiving layer remains to form a second laminate;
A second heating and pressurizing step of heating and pressurizing the second laminate,
A second removal step of removing the support from the second laminate;
An image forming method comprising: A support;
On at least one surface of the support, Ri name contains the bright pigment, and the when the support having a laminate by superimposing recording medium or coating the image removing medium to the surface of the opposite side, at least a release agent In an image area in which the recording medium or the coated image removal medium is overlaid through an image formed by an electrophotographic method using an image forming material or an image area coating material containing In the non-image area where the recording medium or the coated image removal medium is superimposed without the image being interposed, the support can be applied after heating and pressurizing the laminate. An image receiving layer capable of peeling at the interface with the body ;
An image transfer medium comprising: 4. The image transfer medium according to claim 3 , wherein the particle size of the glitter pigment contained in the image receiving layer is 3 μm or more and 500 μm or less. The said luster pigment has at least 1 or more types of film layers selected from a titanium oxide, a silicon oxide, an iron oxide, and a tin oxide on a flaky board | substrate, The Claim 3 or Claim characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. The image transfer medium according to 4 . The thickness of the support is from 50 μm to 200 μm, the image receiving layer contains a polyester resin, and the image receiving layer is formed on at least one surface of the support via a release layer. image transfer medium according to any one of claims 3 to 5. It said support, the image transfer medium according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that it is produced by biaxial stretching. An image forming step of forming an image by an electrophotographic method with an image forming material containing at least a release agent on the surface provided with the image receiving layer;
A polymerization step of superposing a recording medium on the surface on which the image is formed to form a laminate;
A heating and pressurizing step of heating and pressurizing the laminate;
Removing the region corresponding to the image portion of the image receiving layer together with the support from the laminate, and transferring the region corresponding to the non-image portion of the image receiving layer to the recording medium;
8. The image transfer medium according to claim 3, wherein the image transfer medium is used in an image forming method comprising: A coated image forming step of forming a coated image by an electrophotographic method with an image part coating material containing at least a release agent on the surface provided with the image receiving layer;
A first superposition step in which a coated image removing medium is superimposed on the surface on which the coated image is formed to form a first laminate;
A first heating and pressurizing step of heating and pressurizing the first laminate;
A first removal step of removing a region corresponding to the non-image portion of the covering image and the image receiving layer together with the covering image removing medium from the first laminate;
A second superposition step of superimposing a recording medium on the surface of the image receiving layer corresponding to the image area remaining to form a second laminate;
A second heating and pressurizing step of heating and pressurizing the second laminate,
A second removal step of removing the support from the second laminate;
8. The image transfer medium according to claim 3, wherein the image transfer medium is used in an image forming method comprising: Information recording medium, characterized in that it is produced by the image forming method according to claim 1 or claim 2.

Images