JP6617436B2 - Image forming method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming body in which two different images are formed on one surface of a transparent substrate and a method for producing the same, and more particularly to an image forming body capable of observing different images on the front and back of a transparent substrate.

  Various media such as paper, plastic film, discs such as CD-ROM, and glass plates have come to be used as media for recording and displaying images including characters. When forming a color image with these media, if the paper is paper, the color of the image is reproduced using paper white. On the other hand, when the background is not white, such as a plastic film or CD-ROM, a concealing layer and a white layer are provided so that the image is not affected by the background, and an image is formed thereon.

  When an image is formed on one surface of the transparent film in this way, there is a problem that the image cannot be correctly viewed from the back surface. For example, advertisements attached to car windows of trains and buses, product labels attached to transparent plastic bottles, and the like can be mentioned.

  In order to solve these problems, it has been considered to print differently on the front and back. One is a method of printing from each side of the media. However, this method of printing on both sides has a drawback that it becomes necessary to reverse the front and back at the time of printing, or to use a printing machine having a printing mechanism corresponding to each of the front and back, resulting in high cost. In addition, since printing is performed on both sides of the media, there is a problem that the friction resistance is poor and the suitability for advertisement of a car window is low.

  Therefore, a method for forming different images from one side of the media has been proposed (Patent Document 1). In this method, a thermal transfer ink layer for forming a first image is provided on a transparent support, a metal vapor deposition film is provided thereon as a concealing layer, and a thermal transfer ink layer for forming a second image is provided thereon. Is. The image created by this method can be arranged so that the printed surface is protected by the support, and the above problem can be solved. However, since this method is a thermal transfer method, it has a disadvantage that color gradation expression is poor and smooth and rich color reproduction is impossible.

JP-A-10-181230

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming body in which images formed on the front and back of a transparent substrate can be correctly viewed from the front and back directions, and a method for manufacturing the same. To do.

The invention according to claim 1 is a sublimable dye receiver having a first dye-dyed layer formed on one surface of a transparent substrate, and a first image-forming dye layer on one surface of a support. And heating with a thermal head using a laminate of the second dye-dyed layer and the white hiding layer, a second image-forming dye layer, and an image-forming medium having a protective layer formed in a surface sequence. An image forming method for forming an image, comprising:
The upper surface of the first dye-dyed layer of the sublimation dye receiver and the upper surface of the first image-forming dye layer of the image-forming medium are opposed to each other and heated with a thermal head from above. A sublimable dye is transferred to the first dye-dyed layer to form a first image;
The laminate of the second dye dyeing layer and the white hiding layer is then transferred by heating with a thermal head,
Thereafter, the upper surface of the second dye dyeing layer and the upper surface of the second image forming dye layer of the image forming medium are overlapped with each other and heated with a thermal head from above to sublimation dye. To the second dyed layer to form a second image,
Further, the image is characterized in that the protective layer of the image forming medium is superposed on the entire surface of the second dye-dyed layer on which the second image is formed, and the protective layer is laminated by heating with a thermal head. It is a forming method.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the first and second images are respectively provided on the upper and lower sides of the transparent base material on the one surface of the transparent base material, the other side of the transparent base material is provided. The first image can be observed from the surface side, and the second image can be observed from the one surface side. Further, by forming the first and second images differently, different images can be observed on the front and back of the transparent substrate, and an image forming body having a new design can be provided. Furthermore, by using a sublimable dye for image formation, gradation expression can be imparted to the image, and an image forming body having excellent design properties with more expressive power can be provided.

  Further, according to claim 2, by providing an adhesive layer on the protective layer, it can be easily bonded to a transparent transfer object. For example, the transparent transfer object has a curved surface. Even different images can be displayed on the front and back.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the binder resin constituting the first dye dyeing layer and the white hiding layer contains the same kind of thermoplastic resin, so that the first dye dyeing is performed by heat transfer with a thermal head. Compatibility between the layer and the white hiding layer is increased, and adhesion between the two layers is improved. Thereby, an image forming body having high reliability can be provided.

  Further, according to claim 4, a sublimable dye receiver having a first dye-dyed layer formed on one surface of a transparent substrate, and a first image-forming dye on one surface of a support. Layer, a laminate of a second dye dyeing layer and a white hiding layer, a second image forming dye layer, and an image forming medium in which a protective layer is formed in a surface sequential manner, whereby the first dye is used. All of these steps can be easily performed by the thermal head from the formation of an image on the dyeing layer, the formation of a white hiding layer, the formation of an image on the second dyeing layer, and the formation of a protective layer.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming body in which images formed on the front and back surfaces of a transparent substrate can be correctly viewed from the front and back directions, and a method for manufacturing the image forming body.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming body of the present invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming body of the present invention. (A) It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows one Embodiment of the sublimable dye receptor which concerns on this invention. (B) It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows one Embodiment of the image forming medium which concerns on this invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram showing one embodiment of a manufacturing process of an image forming body of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image-forming body according to the present invention has a first dye-dyed layer 2, a white hiding layer 4, a second dye-dyed layer 5 on one surface of the transparent substrate 1, An image forming body formed by sequentially laminating a protective layer 7, wherein a first image 3 is formed on the first dye-dyed layer 2, and a second image 6 is formed on the second dye-dyed layer 5. It is formed from a sublimable dye, and is characterized in that the second image 6 is observed from one side of the transparent substrate 1 and the first image 3 is observed from the other side.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the image forming body of the present invention can be easily bonded to a transparent transfer body by providing an adhesive layer 8 on the protective layer 7, for example, a transparent transfer target. Different images can be displayed on the front and back of a structure having a curved surface.

  The image forming body according to the present invention is formed from the sublimable dye receiver 10 and the image forming medium 20 shown in FIG. The manufacturing method will be described later with reference to FIG.

(Sublimation dye acceptor)
As shown in FIG. 3A, the sublimable dye receiver 10 according to the present invention is obtained by forming a first dye dyeing layer 2 on a transparent substrate 1.

  The transparent substrate 1 used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it has heat resistance and mechanical strength that can withstand heat processing by a thermal head in addition to light transmittance. Examples thereof include synthetic resins such as glass, polyester, polyarylate, polyurethane, polyimide, cellulose derivative, polyethylene, and acrylic. Among these, a polyethylene terephthalate film (hereinafter referred to as PET film) is preferable.

  Examples of the first dye dyeing layer 2 include polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, halogenated polymers such as polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene, and the like. -Vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl polymers such as polyacrylic esters, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, copolymers of olefins such as ethylene and propylene and other vinyl monomers, celluloses such as ionomers and cellulose diacetates Examples thereof include a layer made of a resin, polycarbonate or the like. Particularly preferred is a vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer layer.

(Image forming medium)
As shown in FIG. 3B, the image forming medium 20 according to the present invention has a first image forming dye layer, a second dye dyeing layer, and a white hiding layer on one surface of the substrate 11. The laminate, the second image forming dye layer, and the protective layer are formed in the surface order. In addition, sensor marks (not shown) relating to the respective layers for determining the image forming position are formed.

Since the base material 11 is required to have heat resistance and strength not to be softened and deformed by heat pressure in thermal transfer, for example, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polypropylene, cellophane, acetate, polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyimide, polyvinyl alcohol, aromatic polyamide. , Synthetic resin films such as aramid and polystyrene, and papers such as condenser paper and paraffin paper can be used alone or in combination. Among these, a polyethylene terephthalate film is preferable in consideration of physical properties, workability, cost, and the like. Further, the thickness can be in the range of 2 to 50 μm in consideration of operability and workability, but in consideration of handling properties such as transfer suitability and workability, the thickness is about 2 to 12 μm. preferable.

  Although not shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable to provide a heat-resistant layer on the other surface of the substrate 11 (opposite the surface on which the second dye dyeing layer 5 and the like are formed). The heat-resistant layer is composed of, for example, a functional additive that imparts releasability and slipperiness, and a binder, and can be cured with a curing agent as necessary. The thickness of the heat-resistant layer is preferably about 0.1 to 2 μm, although it depends on the material configuration used. Examples of heat-resistant layers include acrylic oligomer UV-cured products, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyacetals, polyamides, polyimides, and other synthetic resins with release agents such as silicone oil added, and silicones copolymerized. be able to. Moreover, even if it adds a filler as needed, there is no problem, and examples of the filler to be added include silicone powder, silica, and various resin powders.

  The first image-forming dye layer and the second image-forming dye layer are usually printed with yellow, magenta, and cyan inks using a sublimation dye ink in order to express full color gradation. It is divided into three color areas and is formed in a surface sequential manner. The first and second dye dyeing layers are composed of at least a sublimable dye and a binder, and a thickness of about 1 μm (dry thickness) is appropriate. Black can be represented by transferring these three colors so as to overlap each other.

  Examples of the sublimable dye used in the present invention include yellow (Y) components such as Solvent Yellow 56, 16, 30, 93, 33, Disperse Yellow 201, 231, 33, and the like. The magenta (M) component is C. I. Disperse thread 60, C.I. I. Disperse violet 26, C.I. I. Solvent Red 27, or C.I. I. Solvent Red 19 etc. are mentioned. As the cyan (C) component, C.I. I. Disperse Blue 354, C.I. I. Solvent Blue 63, C.I. I. Solvent Blue 36, or C.I. I. Disperse Blue 24 and the like.

  Examples of the binder include cellulose resins such as ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxy cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, and cellulose acetate, and polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and polyacrylamide. Vinyl resin, polyester resin, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer resin, phenoxy resin and the like can be used. Furthermore, reactive resins such as phenol, melamine, epoxy, isocyanate, and glyoxal resin can be used as the curable resin.

  Next, the white hiding layer 4 will be described. Although the white concealment layer 4 is not shown in FIG. 3, the concealment for preventing interference between the white layer as the base of the image and two overlapping images (the first image 3 and the second image 6 shown in FIG. 1). Composed of layers.

  The white layer is mainly composed of a white pigment and a binder resin. Examples of white pigments include titanium oxide and zinc oxide. Titanium oxide includes rutile type titanium oxide and anatase type titanium oxide, but either type may be used. In addition, a filler can be used as an additive in the white layer, for example, inorganic fillers such as silica, alumina, clay, talc, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, acrylic resin, epoxy resin, polyurethane resin, phenol resin, Examples thereof include resin particles (plastic pigment) such as melamine resin, benzoguanamine resin, fluorine resin, and silicone resin.

  Any resin may be used as the binder resin, and examples thereof include acrylic resins, cellulose resins, polyester resins, vinyl resins, polyurethane resins, polycarbonate resins, and partially cross-linked resins thereof. Above all, for the purpose of improving the adhesion between the first dye dye layer 2 and the second dye dye layer 5, the same vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer as the resin used for the dye dye layer is used. Coalescence is preferred.

  In addition to the binder resin and the white pigment, a fluorescent whitening agent can be added to the white layer. As the fluorescent whitening agent, a conventionally known compound having a fluorescent whitening effect such as a stilbenzene series or a pyrazoline series can be used. The white layer adjusts the solid content ratio of the white pigment (the filler added if necessary) and the binder resin, that is, the P / V (Pigment / Vehicle) ratio and the thickness of the white layer 6. By this, moderate whiteness and concealment can be provided. The P / V ratio between the white pigment and the binder resin is preferably about 0.5 to 2.0, and the thickness of the white layer is preferably about 0.5 to 2.0 μm in a dry state.

  The concealing layer can be formed by applying a concealing pigment such as carbon black or an Al pigment and a coating liquid composed mainly of a binder. As the pigment, Al pigments such as carbon black, aluminum oxide, and aluminum hydroxide are preferably used because of their high hiding properties.In addition, for example, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, barium sulfate, talc, kaolin, Examples include inorganic pigments such as clay, calcined kaolin, and bronze powder, and organic pigments such as styrene microballs, nylon powder, polyethylene powder, phthalocyanine, and metal salts of phthalocyanine.

  The binder resin is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include acrylic resins, cellulose resins, polyester resins, vinyl resins, polyurethane resins, and polycarbonate resins.

  In addition to the pigment and binder, an additive may be added to the coating liquid for forming the concealing layer, if necessary. As a method for coating, a conventionally known method, for example, gravure coating, gravure reverse coating, roll coating or the like can be used, and the coating amount is preferably about 2 to 30 μm at the time of drying.

  Examples of the second dye dyeing layer include polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, halogenated polymers such as polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene / vinyl acetate. Copolymers, vinyl polymers such as polyacrylic esters, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, copolymers of olefins such as ethylene and propylene and other vinyl monomers, cellulose resins such as ionomers and cellulose diacetates, polycarbonate And the like. Particularly preferred is a vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer layer.

  The protective layer 7 is formed on the entire surface of the dye-dyed layer 5 on which the second image 6 is formed, and imparts durability from ultraviolet rays or the like. At the same time, since it needs to be formed on the transferred body by a process called a thermal transfer method, in general, it has both the original performance as a protective layer such as ultraviolet absorption and adhesiveness to the transferred body. It is necessary.

The protective layer 7 is composed of a functional additive such as an ultraviolet absorber and a binder resin.
Examples of functional additives include benzophenone, benzotriazole, benzoate, UV absorbers represented by triazines, light stabilizers represented by hindered amines, antioxidants represented by hindered phenols, and fluorescent enhancement. A white agent, an antistatic agent, etc. can be mentioned.

  The binder resin is not particularly limited as long as it has heat melting properties. For example, styrene resins such as polystyrene and poly-α-methylstyrene, acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, and polyethyl acrylate. Resin, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal and other vinyl resins, polyester resin, polyamide resin, epoxy resin, polyurethane resin, petroleum resin, ionomer, ethylene- Synthetic resins such as acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, cellulose derivatives such as nitrocellulose, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate propionate, rosin, rosin modified maleic acid resin, ester gum, polyisobutylene rubber, butyl Beam, styrene - acrylonitrile rubbers, natural resins and derivatives of synthetic rubber polychlorinated olefins such as carnauba wax, waxes such as paraffin wax - butadiene rubber, butadiene. Among these, acrylic resins, polyesters, and epoxy resins are preferable.

  Further, the protective layer 7 can be constituted by a laminate composed of a plurality of layers, and can have a peeling function of easily peeling from the base material and transferring it to the transfer target. As a constituent material of the release layer imparting this release function, for example, a functional additive imparting releasability and slipperiness, a binder resin, and the like are used, and the thickness of the layer is about 0.3 to 3 μm (dry Thickness) is appropriate.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the image forming body according to the present invention will be described based on FIG.

  The image forming body of the present invention can be obtained by transferring a dye to a dye dyeing layer using the thermal energy of a thermal head found in a general sublimation printer.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, first, the first dye dyeing layer 2 is formed on one surface of the transparent substrate 1. As a forming method, the ink composition for forming the first dye dyeing layer 2 is applied by a known coating method, for example, by a gravure coating method, and dried to obtain a sublimable dye receptor 10. Make it.

  Next, the first image-forming dye layer 9a and the first dye-dyed layer 2 of the sublimation dye receiver 10 are formed using the image-forming medium 20 shown in FIG. The first image 3 is formed (dyed) on the first dye-dyed layer 2 of the sublimable dye receiver 10 by using a thermal head.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, the white color of the image forming medium 20 is formed on the entire surface of the first dye-stained layer 2 on which the first image 3 has been formed (image forming region of the transparent substrate 1). The laminate of the hiding layer 4 and the second dye dyeing layer 5 is thermally transferred by the thermal head with the white hiding layer 4 as the lower layer. At this time, a release layer may be provided between the base material 11 and the second dye dyeing layer 5 in order to facilitate peeling from the base material 11.

  The white hiding layer 4 formed in this way preferably has a transmittance of 20% or less in the wavelength region of 400 to 700 nm, whereby the first image formed on the lower side of the white hiding layer 4 Becomes invisible from the upper side of the white hiding layer 4.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4D, the second dye layer 9 b of the image forming medium 20 is opposed to the second dye dyeing layer 5 formed on the transparent substrate 1. Overlap, a second image 6 is formed (dyed) on the second dye-stained layer 5 by a thermal head.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (e), the entire surface including the second image formed above (transparent substrate 1).
The image forming area of the present invention can be produced by forming the protective layer 7 thermally transferred by a thermal head. The image forming body produced in this way has the first image 3 from the other surface side of the transparent substrate 1 and the second image from the one surface side by interposing the white hiding layer 4, respectively. Can be observed independently without obstructing the image.

  As described above, the present invention forms a first image 3 by dyeing a sublimable dye on the first dye-dyed layer 2 on the transparent substrate 1, and entirely or selectively concealing the white. The layer 4 and the second dye dyeing layer 5 are transferred, the sublimation dye is dyed again to form the second image 6, and further the protective layer 7 is formed so that the reflected light is reflected on the transparent substrate. The present invention is an image forming body in which different images can be observed on the front and back sides and a manufacturing method thereof.

  This makes it possible to form different images on the front and back of the image viewed using reflected light through the white hiding layer without significantly changing the configuration of the conventional sublimation printer. Thus, it is possible to easily form a variety of printed materials and to further expand the development of designs using a transparent substrate.

  The present invention can be used for interior and exterior materials having a function as a partition board having different design properties on the front and back sides, through the white hiding layer, in images viewed using reflected light. it can.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Transparent base material 2 ... 1st dye dyeing layer 3 ... 1st image 4 ... White hiding layer 5 ... 2nd dye dyeing layer 6 ... 2nd image 7 ... Protective layer 8 ... Adhesive layer 9a ... 1st image forming dye layer 9b ... 2nd image forming dye layer 10 ... sublimation dye receptor 11 ... substrate 20 ... image forming medium

Claims (1)

A sublimable dye receiver having a first dye dye layer formed on one side of a transparent substrate, and a first image forming dye layer and a second dye dye layer on one side of a support. Image forming method in which an image is formed by heating with a thermal head using an image forming medium in which a laminate of a white hiding layer, a second image forming dye layer, and a protective layer are formed in a surface sequential manner. There,
The upper surface of the first dye-dyed layer of the sublimable dye receiver and the upper surface of the first image-forming dye layer of the image-forming medium are opposed to each other and heated with a thermal head from above. A sublimable dye is transferred to the first dye-dyed layer to form a first image;
The laminate of the second dye dyeing layer and the white hiding layer is then transferred by heating with a thermal head,
Thereafter, the upper surface of the second dye dyeing layer and the upper surface of the second image forming dye of the image forming medium are opposed to each other and heated with a thermal head from above to form a sublimation dye. Transfer to the second dyed layer to form a second image;
Further, the image is characterized in that a protective layer of the image forming medium is superposed on the entire surface of the second dye-dyed layer on which the second image is formed, and the protective layer is laminated by heating with a thermal head. Forming method.

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