JP6915757B1 - Manufacturing method of printed matter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately transfer a transfer layer of a region to be transferred onto a transfer target, and to accurately remove the transfer layer of a region to be removed, and then transfer the removed transfer layer onto the transfer target. Provided is a method for producing a printed matter that can be transferred. SOLUTION: A transfer foil preparation step of preparing a transfer foil 10 having a transfer layer 4 provided on one surface of a support 1 and heat expanding on one surface of a base material by heating at a predetermined temperature. A step of preparing a heat transfer sheet for preparing a heat transfer sheet provided with a heat seal layer including an expansion region, and a heat seal layer for heating the heat seal layer and transferring the heat seal layer to a selected region of the transfer layer 4. It includes a transfer step and a transfer step of the transfer layer in which the selected region of the transfer layer 4 is transferred onto the transfer target via the heat seal layer after the transfer of the heat seal layer. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing a printed matter and a thermal transfer sheet used for producing the printed matter.

Conventionally, in the production of a printed matter by a thermal transfer method, a thermal transfer image receiving sheet in which a receiving layer is provided on a base material or a transfer layer in which a release layer and a receiving layer are laminated in this order on the base material is used from the base material. An intermediate transfer medium or the like provided so as to be peelable is used. In the former case, the printed matter can be produced by forming a thermal transfer image on the receiving layer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet by using the thermal transfer sheet provided with the color material layer. In the latter case, a thermal transfer sheet provided with a color material layer is used to once form a thermal transfer image on the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer medium, and then the transfer layer containing the receiving layer is used as a predetermined transfer target. By transferring, it is possible to produce a printed matter in which a thermal transfer image is formed on the transferred object. Further, by using a protective layer transfer sheet provided with a transferable transparent protective layer on a base material, the protective layer is transferred onto a transferable body or the like on which a thermal transfer image is formed, thereby printing a printed matter. The durability of the thermal transfer image can be improved.

In particular, when an intermediate transfer medium is used to form a thermal transfer image on the design surface of an IC card or a magnetic card, for example, if the thermal transfer image is formed on the external contact terminal area of the IC module, the magnetic tape, the sign panel area, or the like, Communication characteristics, magnetic reading characteristics, writing characteristics, etc. may deteriorate. Therefore, it is necessary to surely avoid these regions and form a thermal transfer image only in a necessary portion, or to remove a part of the transfer layer corresponding to these regions in advance. For the same reason, the protective layer of the thermal transfer image should be formed only in the necessary region, or a part of the transferable protective layer corresponding to the unnecessary region should be removed in advance. is necessary.

In Patent Document 1, a peel-off layer is provided on a base material that has been easily adhered to a thermal transfer sheet, and the peel-off layer and the transfer portion of the intermediate transfer medium come into contact with each other while improving the adhesion between the base material and the peel-off layer. Described is a thermal transfer sheet capable of removing a transfer portion in a predetermined region from an intermediate transfer medium by repeatedly heating in such a manner. Further, in Patent Document 2, the molten layer is transferred to a part on the removal region of the transfer layer, the removal region of the transfer layer is removed by the peel-off layer, and the transfer layer from which the removal region is removed is transferred. The method of forming the printed matter to be transferred to is described in. As described above, in the peel-off of the transfer layer and the transferable protective layer of the intermediate transfer medium, it is necessary to suppress the remaining part of the transfer layer in the predetermined region to be removed as much as possible, but there is still room for improvement at present. Is left.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-326865 JP-A-2017-71217

The present disclosure has been made in view of such a situation, and after accurately transferring the transfer layer of the region to be transferred onto the transfer target and accurately removing the transfer layer of the region to be removed. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a printed matter capable of transferring a transfer layer after removal onto a transfer target. In addition, the transfer layer of the region to be transferred is accurately transferred onto the transfer target, and the transfer layer of the region to be removed is accurately removed, and then the removed transfer layer is transferred onto the transfer target. An object of the present invention is to provide a heat transfer sheet that can be produced.

The method for producing a printed matter according to the present embodiment is a transfer foil having a transfer layer provided on one surface of a support, a thermal transfer sheet having a heat seal layer provided on one surface of a base material, and a transfer to be transferred. A method for producing a printed matter, which comprises a step of transferring a part of a transfer layer of a transfer foil onto a transfer body using a body, wherein the transfer foil having the transfer layer provided on one surface of a support is provided. The preparation step of the transfer foil to be prepared, the preparation step of the heat transfer sheet for preparing the heat transfer sheet provided with the heat seal layer including the heat expansion region expanding by heating at a predetermined temperature on one surface of the base material, and the above-mentioned. The heat seal layer is heated to a predetermined heating temperature to transfer the heat seal layer to the transfer layer, and after the heat seal layer is transferred, the selected region of the transfer layer is heated. The transfer step of the transfer layer, which is transferred onto the transfer material via the seal layer, is included.

Further, the method for producing a printed matter according to the present embodiment includes a transfer foil having a transfer layer provided on one surface of a support, a thermal transfer sheet having a peel-off layer provided on one surface of a base material, and a cover. A printed matter including a step of removing a removal region of a transfer foil by a peel-off layer of a thermal transfer sheet using a transfer body, and a step of transferring the transfer layer remaining after the removal region is removed onto the transfer target. The transfer foil preparation step of preparing a transfer foil having a transfer layer provided on one surface of the support, and (1) expansion on the same surface of the base material by heating at a predetermined temperature. A thermal transfer sheet provided with a heat-sealing layer including a heat-expandable region and a peel-off layer, or (2) thermal expansion that expands on one surface of a first base material by heating at a predetermined temperature. The preparation step of the heat transfer sheet for preparing the first heat transfer sheet provided with the heat seal layer including the region and the second heat transfer sheet provided with the peel-off layer on one surface of the second base material, and the above-mentioned The peel-off layer is heated after the transfer step of the heat seal layer in which the heat seal layer is heated to a predetermined heating temperature and the heat seal layer is transferred to the removal region of the transfer layer, and the transfer of the heat seal layer is performed. A removal step of removing the removed region of the transfer layer via a heat seal layer, and a transfer step of the transfer layer for transferring the transfer layer remaining after the removal region is removed onto the transfer target. include.

Further, in the method for producing a printed matter according to another embodiment of the present embodiment, the heat seal layer has a laminated structure including a first heat seal layer and a second heat seal layer, and the second heat seal layer is the first heat seal layer. It is arranged closer to the base material than the heat seal layer, the heat expansion region is included in the first heat seal layer, and the first heat seal layer is at a predetermined temperature more than the second heat seal layer. The degree of expansion due to heating may be large.

Further, in the method for producing a printed matter according to another embodiment of the present embodiment, the heat seal layer further has a third heat seal layer, and the third heat seal layer is made from the base material rather than the first heat seal layer. The first heat-sealing layer may be arranged far away, and the degree of expansion due to heating at the predetermined temperature may be larger than that of the third heat-sealing layer.

Further, in the method for producing a printed matter according to the present embodiment, a transfer foil having a transfer layer provided on one surface of a support, a thermal transfer sheet having a peel-off layer provided on one surface of a base material, and a cover. A printed matter including a step of removing a removal region of a transfer layer of a transfer foil by a peel-off layer of a thermal transfer sheet using a transfer body, and a step of transferring the transfer layer from which the removal region has been removed onto a transfer target. A transfer foil preparation step of preparing a transfer foil having a transfer layer provided on one surface of a support, and heat that expands on one surface of a base material by heating at a predetermined temperature. The step of preparing the thermal transfer sheet for preparing the thermal transfer sheet provided with the peel-off layer including the expansion region, the peel-off layer is heated, the peel-off layer is transferred to the removal region of the transfer layer, and after the transfer, the peel-off layer is transferred. The process includes a removal step of removing the removed region of the transfer layer via the transfer layer, and a transfer step of the transfer layer for transferring the transfer layer remaining after the removal region is removed onto the transfer target.

Further, in the method for producing a printed matter according to another embodiment of the present embodiment, the peel-off layer has a laminated structure including a first peel-off layer and a second peel-off layer, and the second peel-off layer is more than the first peel-off layer. Arranged near the substrate, the thermal expansion region is included in the first peel-off layer, and the first peel-off layer has a larger degree of expansion due to heating at a predetermined temperature than the second peel-off layer. May be good.

Further, in the method for producing a printed matter according to another embodiment of the present embodiment, the peel-off layer further has a third peel-off layer, and the third peel-off layer is arranged farther from the base material than the first peel-off layer. The first peel-off layer may have a larger degree of expansion due to heating at a predetermined temperature than the third peel-off layer.

Further, in the method for producing a printed matter according to another embodiment of the present embodiment, the transfer foil is an intermediate transfer medium in which a transfer layer including a receiving layer is provided on one surface of the support, and the transfer foil preparation step. May include the step of forming a thermal transfer image on the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer medium.

Further, in the method for producing a printed matter according to another embodiment of the present embodiment, the thermal transfer sheet is provided with a color material layer and a heat seal layer on the same surface of the base material, and forms the thermal transfer image. In this step, the color material layer of the thermal transfer sheet may form a thermal transfer image on the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer medium.

Further, in the method for producing a printed matter according to the present embodiment, an intermediate transfer medium in which a transfer layer including a receiving layer is provided on one surface of a support, a coloring material layer and peel-off on one surface of a base material. A step of removing the removal region of the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium by the peel-off layer of the thermal transfer sheet by using the thermal transfer sheet provided with the layer and the transferred body, and the transfer layer remaining after the removal region is removed. A method for producing a printed matter including a step of transferring onto a transfer target, wherein a transfer layer is provided on one surface of a support, and a thermal expansion region that expands by heating at a predetermined temperature is formed. Including, a step of preparing an intermediate transfer medium for preparing an intermediate transfer medium, a step of preparing a thermal transfer sheet for preparing a thermal transfer sheet provided with a coloring material layer and a peel-off layer on one surface of a base material, and the above-mentioned intermediate transfer. The step of forming a thermal transfer image in which a thermal transfer image is formed while heating on the receiving layer of the medium at a first temperature lower than the predetermined temperature, and the removal region of the transfer layer are heated at a second temperature equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature. Then, the removal step of removing the removal region from the transfer layer by the peel-off layer while expanding the thermal expansion region of the removal region, and the transfer layer remaining after the removal region is removed, are transferred. Includes a transfer step of the transfer layer to be transferred onto.

Further, in the method for producing a printed matter according to another embodiment of the present embodiment, the thermal expansion region may contain hollow particles having thermal expansion property.

Further, in the thermal transfer sheet according to the present embodiment, a thermal transfer image is formed on the transfer layer with respect to the intermediate transfer medium provided with the transfer layer on one surface of the support, and a part of the transfer layer is transferred. A thermal transfer sheet used before retransferring to the body, wherein a heat seal layer having a thermal expansion region containing hollow particles having thermal expansion is provided on one surface of the base material, and the heat is said. The expansion region can be expanded by heating at a predetermined temperature.

Further, in the heat transfer sheet according to another embodiment of the present embodiment, the heat seal layer has a laminated structure including a first heat seal layer and a second heat seal layer, and the second heat seal layer is the first heat seal layer. The thermal expansion region is included in the first heat-sealing layer, and the first heat-sealing layer expands by heating at a predetermined temperature more than the second heat-sealing layer. May be large.

According to the present embodiment, the transfer layer of the region to be transferred is accurately transferred onto the transfer target, and the transfer layer of the region to be removed is accurately removed, and then the transfer layer after removal is obtained. It is possible to provide a method for producing a printed matter that can be transferred onto a transfer target. In addition, the transfer layer of the region to be transferred is accurately transferred onto the transfer target, and the transfer layer of the region to be removed is accurately removed, and then the transfer layer after removal is transferred onto the transfer target. A heat transfer sheet that can be provided can be provided.

It is sectional drawing explaining the structure of the transfer foil of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the structure of the thermal transfer sheet of 1st Embodiment. It is a top view explaining the structure of the thermal transfer sheet of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the transfer process of the heat seal layer of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the transfer process of the transfer layer of 1st Embodiment. It is a top view explaining the structure of the thermal transfer sheet of 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the removal process of 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the structure of the thermal transfer sheet of 3rd Embodiment. It is a top view explaining the structure of the thermal transfer sheet of 3rd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the transfer process of the heat seal layer of 3rd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the removal process of 3rd Embodiment and the transfer process of a transfer layer. It is sectional drawing explaining another example of the transfer process of the transfer layer of 3rd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the process of forming the thermal transfer image of 4th Embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the removal process of 4th Embodiment. It is sectional drawing explaining the transfer process of the heat seal layer of the modification 1 and the transfer process of a transfer layer. It is sectional drawing explaining the transfer process of the heat seal layer of the modification 2 and the transfer process of a transfer layer. It is sectional drawing explaining the removal process of the modification 3. FIG. It is sectional drawing explaining the case where the transfer foil of the modification 4 is a protective layer transfer sheet. It is sectional drawing explaining the transfer process of the transfer layer of the modification 4. FIG.

Hereinafter, an example of the method for producing the printed matter and the thermal transfer sheet of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings and the like. However, the method for producing a printed matter and the thermal transfer sheet of the present disclosure are not limited to the embodiments and examples described below.

The figures shown below are schematically shown. Therefore, the size and shape of each part, the illustration of the thickness of each layer in the cross-sectional view, and the like are exaggerated as appropriate for easy understanding. Further, in each drawing, hatching showing a cross section of the member is omitted as appropriate. Numerical values such as dimensions of each member and material names described in the present specification are examples of embodiments, and are not limited thereto, and can be appropriately selected and used. In the present specification, terms that specify shapes and geometric conditions, such as parallel, orthogonal, and vertical, are intended to include substantially the same state in addition to their strict meanings. Further, for convenience of explanation, the phrase "upper" or "lower" may be used for explanation, but the vertical direction may be reversed, and the same applies to the horizontal direction.

1. 1. First Embodiment The first embodiment relating to the method for producing a printed matter and the thermal transfer sheet of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the transfer foil 10 of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the thermal transfer sheet 20 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a plan view for explaining the configuration of the thermal transfer sheet 20. Hereinafter, each step related to the configuration of the transfer foil 10 and the thermal transfer sheet 20 and the method for manufacturing the printed matter will be described.

(A) Transfer Foil As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer foil 10 is formed by laminating the transfer layer 4 on one surface of the support 1. In the present embodiment, the transfer layer 4 is an intermediate transfer medium 10 in which the release layer 2 and the receptor layer 3 are laminated in order from the side closer to the support 1. However, the transfer foil 10 is not limited to such an intermediate transfer medium, and may be, for example, a protective layer transfer sheet having a protective layer as the transfer layer 4. The case of using it as a protective layer transfer sheet will be described later.

(I) Support The support 1 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is not particularly limited as a material, and for example, polyester having high heat resistance such as polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, polypropylene, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, and polyethylene derivatives. Stretched or unstretched films of plastics such as polyamide and polymethylpentene can be used. Further, among these, alloys of two or more kinds of materials or laminated ones may be used.

The thickness of the support 1 can be appropriately selected depending on the required rigidity, heat resistance, etc., but is preferably in the range of 3 μm or more and 30 μm or less, and preferably in the range of 4 μm or more and 15 μm or less. It is more preferable to have.

(Ii) Transfer layer The transfer layer 4 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 includes the receptor layer 3, and the receptor layer 3 is laminated farthest from the support 1. The intermediate transfer medium 10 may be composed of only the support 1 and the receiving layer 3, and a plurality of layers of different materials may be provided between the support 1 and the receiving layer 3, but usually, the supporting 1 is used. A release layer 2 is often provided between the and the receiving layer 3 in order to improve the transferability of the receiving layer 3. Hereinafter, the receiving layer 3 and the peeling layer 2 will be described.

(Iii) Receptor layer The receptive layer 3 constituting the transfer layer 4 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is not particularly limited as a material, and a receptive layer known to be used for the intermediate transfer medium can be appropriately selected and used. .. For example, polyolefins such as polypropylene, halogenated resins such as polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetates, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers or vinyl resins such as polyacrylic acid esters, Polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate, copolymers of olefins such as polystyrene, polyamide, ethylene or propylene and other vinyl polymers, cellulose resins such as ionomer or cellulose diastase, solvent-based resins such as polycarbonate and acrylic resins. Can be used. Among these, polyester and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer are preferably used, and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer is more preferable. Further, the receiving layer 3 may contain the single material mentioned above, or may contain two or more kinds.

The receiving layer 3 may contain a mold release agent together with the above resin component. Examples of the release agent include solid waxes such as polyethylene wax, amide wax, and Teflon (registered trademark) powder, fluorine-based or phosphate ester-based surfactants, silicone oil, reactive silicone oil, and curable silicone oil. Various modified silicone oils and various silicone resins can be used.

The thickness of the receiving layer 3 can be, for example, in the range of 1 μm or more and 10 μm or less.

(Iv) Release layer The transfer layer 4 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 may include a release layer 2 in order to improve the transferability or the release property of the transfer layer 4. The peeling layer 2 is laminated at a position sandwiched between the support 1 and the receiving layer 3. Examples of the material of the release layer 2 include waxes, silicone wax, silicone resin, silicone-modified resin, fluororesin, fluorine-modified resin, polyvinyl alcohol resin, acrylic resin, polyester resin, heat-crosslinkable epoxy-amino resin, and heat. Crosslinkable alkyd-amino resin or the like can be used. Further, the release layer 2 may contain the single material mentioned above, or may contain two or more kinds.

The thickness of the release layer 2 can be, for example, in the range of 0.5 μm or more and 5 μm or less.

(B) Thermal Transfer Sheet As shown in FIG. 2, the thermal transfer sheet 20 is provided with the heat seal layer 14 on one surface of the base material 5, and the back surface layer 6 is provided on the other surface of the base material 5. Takes the configuration provided with. Hereinafter, the configuration of the thermal transfer sheet 20 will be described.

(I) Base material The base material 5 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 is not particularly limited as a material. For example, thin paper such as glassin paper, condenser paper or paraffin paper, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide. , Polyetherketone or polyethersulfone and other highly heat resistant polyesters, polypropylene, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, polyethylene derivatives, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, polyamide, polyimide, polymethylpentene or plastics such as ionomer Stretched or unstretched film can be used. Further, the base material 5 may contain the single material mentioned above, or may contain two or more kinds.

The thickness of the base material 5 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, in the range of 2 μm or more and 10 μm or less.

(Ii) Back surface layer By forming the back surface layer 6 on the surface of the base material 5 opposite to the surface on which the heat seal layer 14 is laminated, adhesion to the thermal head or the like in the thermal transfer step is prevented. , The slipperiness can be improved.

Examples of the back layer 6 include cellulose resins such as ethyl cellulose, hydroxycellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose vinegar butyrate, nitrocellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like. Acrylic resins such as vinyl resin, polymethyl methacrylate, ethyl polyacrylate, polyacrylamide, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer, polyamide, polyvinyltoluene, kumaron inden resin, polyester, polyurethane, silicone-modified or fluorine-modified urethane, etc. Resin or synthetic resin can be used. Further, the back layer 6 may contain the single material mentioned above, or may contain two or more kinds.

Further, in order to improve the heat resistance of the back layer 6, a resin having a hydroxyl group-based reactive group is used among the above resins, and polyisocyanate or the like is used as a cross-linking agent in combination with the cross-linked resin layer. It is preferable to do so. Further, in order to impart slidability with the thermal head, a solid or liquid mold release agent or lubricant may be added to the back layer 6 to provide heat-resistant slipperiness. Examples of the release agent or lubricant include various waxes such as polyethylene wax and paraffin wax, higher aliphatic alcohols, organopolysiloxanes, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and nonionic surfactants. Activators, fluorine-based surfactants, organic carboxylic acids and their derivatives, fluorine-based resins, silicone resins, talc, fine particles of inorganic compounds such as silica, and the like can be used. The amount of the lubricant contained in the back layer 6 can be, for example, in the range of 5% by weight or more and 50% by weight or less, and more preferably in the range of 10% by weight or more and 30% by weight or less.

(Iii) Heat Sealing Layer The heat sealing layer 14 is a layer formed on one surface of the base material 5 that is melted or softened by heating and can be transferred onto the transfer layer 4. Further, the heat seal layer 14 of the present disclosure has a thermal expansion region that greatly expands when heated to a predetermined temperature or higher. In the present embodiment, the thermal expansion region is uniformly arranged on the entire heat-sealing layer 14, but as described in a modification described later, the heat-sealing layer has a multi-layer structure and is a part of the heat-sealing layer. A thermal expansion region may be formed only in the layer. Further, the thermal expansion region may be arranged only in a specific range in the same layer.

As described above, since the heat seal layer 14 needs to have both the property of being melted by heating and being transferable to the transfer layer 4 and the property of being thermally expanded by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher, these are satisfied. The material will be described below.

First, as components necessary for imparting the property of melting by heating to the heat seal layer 14, for example, an ultraviolet absorber copolymer, an acrylic resin, a methacrylic resin, an epoxy resin, a polyester, a polycarbonate, a polyamide, and an ethylene-vinyl acetate Copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polybuden, polyisobutylene, petroleum resin, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, vinylidene chloride resin, polyamide, fluorine There are resins, polyvinyl formal resins, polyvinyl butyral, acetyl cellulose resins, nitrocellulose resins, heat-meltable resins such as polyvinyl acetate and ethyl cellulose, microcrystallin wax, carnauba wax, paraffin wax and the like. Furthermore, there are various types such as Fisher Tropsch wax, various low molecular weight polyethylenes, wood wax, beeswax, whale wax, Ibotaro, wool wax, cellac wax, candelilla wax, petrolactam, polyester wax, partially modified wax, fatty acid ester, fatty acid amide, etc. Wax etc. can be used. In addition, polyurethane such as acrylic urethane resin, gelatin, polyethylene auxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, purulan, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, dextran, dextrin, polyacrylic acid and its salts, agar, κ-carrageenan, λ-carrageenan, ι- Carrageenan, casein, xantene gum, locust bean gum, alginic acid, gum arabic, polyalkylenoxide copolymers described in JP-A-7-195826 and JP-A-7-9757, or JP-A-62- Resins such as homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl monomers having a carboxyl group and a sulfonic acid group described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 245260 can also be used. Among these, polyester, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, and acrylic resin are preferably used, and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer is more preferable.

On the other hand, as will be described later, the heat seal layer 14 hardly expands in a temperature environment lower than a predetermined temperature, expands only when heated above a predetermined temperature, and then expands even when the temperature drops. It is preferable to have the property of being able to maintain. As described above, as a material having a property that the degree of expansion differs greatly between the low temperature region and the high temperature region with a predetermined temperature as a boundary, for example, a hollow portion containing a leavening agent inside an outer shell made of a thermoplastic resin or the like is provided. Examples thereof include hollow particles having thermal expansion properties. By adjusting the relationship between the softening point of the outer shell of the hollow particles and the vapor pressure of the leavening agent composed of the volatile organic solvent contained in the hollow, the temperature at which foaming and expansion are started and the maximum can be achieved. Various hollow particles having different expansion temperatures and the like are commercially available. The hollow particles are also referred to as a heat-expandable microsphere, a heat-expandable microballoon, and the like. As the material constituting the hollow particles, for example, organic foam particles which are foams such as crosslinked styrene-acrylic resin, inorganic hollow glass bodies and the like can be used as the hollow particles.

Regarding the size of the hollow particles, the average particle size before heating and foaming is, for example, in the range of 0.1 μm or more and 90 μm or less, and preferably in the range of 6 μm or more and 18 μm or less. When the average particle size is within this range, the effect of changing the shape of the heat seal layer due to thermal expansion can be sufficiently obtained. In addition, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of particle-derived transfer defects, so-called missing parts, in the thermal transfer image of the receiving layer. In the present disclosure, the "average particle size" refers to an aqueous dispersion in which hollow particle components are dispersed in water, and the aqueous dispersion of the hollow particles is dried to form a dried product, which is then permeated. Observe hollow particles (100 particles) in a dry body with a type electron microscope (manufactured by Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation), measure the outer diameter (outer diameter) of each particle on the outer surface side, and average those values. The average particle size is used.

Further, the degree of hollowness of the hollow particles is preferably in the range of 30% to 80%, more preferably in the range of 50% to 80%, in the average hollow ratio in the thermal expansion region. When the average hollow ratio is in the range of 30% to 80%, the effect of changing the shape of the heat seal layer due to thermal expansion can be sufficiently obtained. In addition, the thickness of the outer shell is maintained in an appropriate range, and it is possible to suppress crushing at the time of painting or printing due to the outer shell becoming too thin. In the present disclosure, the "average hollow ratio" is defined by adjusting an aqueous dispersion in which hollow particle components are dispersed in water, and the aqueous dispersion of the hollow particles is dried to form a dried product, which is then permeated. Observe the particles (100 particles) that make up the hollow particle component in the dried body with a type electron microscope (manufactured by Hitachi High-Technologies Co., Ltd.), measure the inner surface side diameter (inner diameter) of each particle, and measure them. Was averaged to obtain the average particle diameter. Then, the volume of the hollow portion is determined from the average particle inner diameter, and the average hollow ratio is calculated by dividing the value by the apparent volume of the particles from the average particle diameter (particle outer diameter) and multiplying by 100.

As described above, the heat seal layer 14 is required to have both a property of being melted by heating and being transferable to the transfer layer 4 and a property of being thermally expanded by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher. Therefore, the above-mentioned component for thermal melting and the component that thermally expands at a predetermined temperature or higher can be mixed, or both can be formed as separate layers to form a laminate of these. It may be configured as such.

(Iv) Color Material Layer As shown in FIG. 3, the thermal transfer sheet 20 has a hue on the same surface of the base material 5 adjacent to the surface on which the heat seal layer 14 described in FIG. 2 is arranged. A plurality of different color material layers 15 may be provided in a surface-sequential manner. In the present embodiment, the color material layer 15 composed of the yellow color material layer (Y), the magenta color material layer (M), and the cyan color material layer (C), and the heat seal layer 14 are provided in a surface-sequential manner. .. The color material layer 15 contains a color material and a binder resin. As the coloring material and the binder resin, those conventionally known in the field of the sublimation type thermal transfer sheet can be appropriately selected and used.

(C) Description of Manufacturing Method of Printed Material Next, the manufacturing method of the printed matter according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

(I) Preparation Step of Transfer Foil In the preparation step of the transfer foil of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the release layer 2 and the receiving layer 3 constituting the transfer layer 4 are formed on one surface of the support 1. This is a step of preparing an intermediate transfer medium 10 which is a transfer foil 10 laminated in order. The peeling layer 2 and the receiving layer constituting the support 1 and the transfer layer 4

Although the material composition of 3 is as described above, the release layer 2 is not essential, and layers other than the release layer 2 may be further added between the support 1 and the receiving layer 3.

(Ii) Preparation Step of Thermal Transfer Sheet In the preparation step of the thermal transfer sheet of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of heat seal layers 14 and a plurality of different hues are formed on one surface of the base material 5. This is a step of preparing a thermal transfer sheet 20 in which the color material layers 15 are sequentially provided on the same surface and the back surface layer 6 is provided on the other surface of the base material 5. The color material layer 15 may be a layer having only a single color. Further, as described above, the heat seal layer 14 has both a property of being melted by heating and being transferable to the transfer layer 4 and a property of being thermally expanded by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher.

(Iii) Heat Seal Layer Transfer Step The heat seal layer transfer step of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4A, the intermediate transfer medium 10 which is the transfer foil 10 and the thermal transfer sheet 20 are overlapped and heated by the thermal head 31 from the back surface layer 6 side of the thermal transfer sheet 20, and a part of the heat seal layer 14 is intermediate. It is a figure explaining the process of transferring to the transfer medium 10 side. Further, FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a state in which a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 is transferred to a part region of the receiving layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 after the step.

Each hue surface of the color material layer 15 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 is laminated in advance on the receiving layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10, and heating to a predetermined position by the thermal head 31 is repeated for each hue to determine a predetermined value. The thermal transfer image 16 is formed. The surface of the receiving layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 on which the thermal transfer image 16 is formed and the surface of the heat seal layer 14 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 are overlapped with each other as shown in FIG. 4A, and the thermal head By heating to a predetermined position by 31, a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 of the heated portion is transferred to the receiving layer 3 side of the intermediate transfer medium 10 as shown in FIG. 4 (b).

At this time, a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 transferred to the receiving layer 3 side has a predetermined temperature, that is, a temperature at which the thermal expansion region of the heat seal layer 14 starts to start thermal expansion or higher. Since it is added from the thermal head 31, the thickness of a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 after transfer is larger than the thickness of the original unheated heat seal layer 14. In this way, the thermal head 31 can thermally expand only the predetermined region by heating the thermal expansion region of the heat seal layer 14 at a predetermined temperature only for the predetermined region.

In the present embodiment, by heating a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 to a predetermined temperature by the thermal head 31, the part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 expands and its thickness becomes larger than the other parts. .. Therefore, as compared with the case where the heat-sealing layer having no thermal expansion region is used, the load of the part 14A of the heat-sealing layer 14 pressing against the receiving layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 becomes larger, so that the part 14A and the receiving layer are larger. Adhesion with 3 is improved. In addition, only a part 14A of the expanded heat seal layer 14 can be accurately transferred to the receiving layer 3 side, and extra transfer in the surrounding region where transfer is not scheduled is suppressed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, a part of the receiving layer 3 and the peeling layer 2 of the transfer layer 4 located under the part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 of the intermediate transfer medium 10, that is, the middle. When the receiving layer 3 is viewed from a position vertically separated from the surface of the receiving layer 3 of the transfer medium 10, 4A, which is a region of the transfer layer 4 that overlaps with a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14, or the receiving layer 3. The regions 3A and 2A of the layer 3 and the peeling layer 2 are designated as the selection region 7. In this case, in the layer transfer step of the transfer in the subsequent step, the selected region 7 is selectively transferred to the final transferred body 17, so that a predetermined printed matter is produced. In the present embodiment, the entire heat-sealing layer 14 is a thermal expansion region, and foamable hollow particles that thermally expand by heating at a predetermined temperature are substantially evenly dispersed in a binder resin imparted with meltability. I'm using one.

(Iv) Transfer Step of Transfer Layer The transfer step of the transfer layer of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a step of transferring the selected region 7 of the heat seal layer 14 shown in FIG. 4B to a transfer body 17 such as a card. Further, FIG. 5B is a diagram showing that the selected region 7 has been transferred to the transferred body 17.

As shown in FIG. 5A, in the intermediate transfer medium 10 in which a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 is transferred to the receiving layer 3 and the transferred body 17 such as a card, the surface on the receiving layer 3 side is the transferred body 17. It is stacked so that it abuts on the surface of. In that state, it is sequentially fed between the heat roller 32 and the pressurizing roller 33 by the conveying means, and a predetermined heat pressure is applied. As a result, a part 14A of the heat seal layer is melted and softened and transferred to the transferred body 17 side. Further, the selection region 7 that abuts on the opposite side of the part 14A of the heat seal layer is also peeled off from the part of the release layer 2 because the adhesion between the part 14A and the receiving layer 3 is large, and is formed in the selection area. It is easily and accurately transferred to the transferee 17 side via the part 14A. In this way, the production of the imprint 18 as shown in FIG. 5B is completed.

Further, since the thickness of a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 is increased due to expansion, the pressure applied by the heat roller 32 and the pressure roller 33 is increased, so that the transfer of the selected region 7 to the transferred body 17 is good. Can be done. Further, a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 has appropriate elasticity because it has hollow particles, and the formed image is distorted when the pressure applied by the heat roller 32 and the pressure roller 33 is increased, or conversely. When the pressure is weak, it is possible to effectively suppress the appearance of blanks in the formed image.

As described above, in the method for producing a printed matter of the first embodiment, transfer is prepared by preparing an intermediate transfer medium 10 in which a release layer 2 and a receiving layer 3 constituting the transfer layer 4 are provided on one surface of the support 1. Preparation of the thermal transfer sheet for preparing the thermal transfer sheet 20 provided with the heat seal layer 14 including the thermal expansion region capable of expanding by heating at a predetermined temperature on one surface of the foil preparation step and the base material 5. Has a process.

Further, a transfer step of the heat seal layer in which a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 including the heat expansion region is selectively heated and the part 14A is transferred to the transfer layer 4, and a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 It includes a transfer step of the transfer layer in which a part of the transfer layer 4 corresponding to the above is transferred onto the transferred body 17 via the selection region 7.

As a result, a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 thermally expands, so that the load for pressing the receiving layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 can be increased, and the adhesion between the part 14A and the receiving layer 3 can be improved. can. Further, since the adhesion between the partial 14A and the receiving layer 3 is large, the selection region 7 that abuts on the opposite side of the partial 14A of the heat seal layer 14 is easily and accurately covered with the partial 14A. It can be transferred to the transfer body 17 side. Therefore, according to the method for producing a printed matter of the present embodiment, the transfer layer in the region to be transferred can be accurately transferred onto the transfer target.

2. Second Embodiment Next, the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of the thermal transfer sheet of the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration and process of the transfer foil 10 and the thermal transfer sheet 20A of the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step relating to the configuration of the transfer foil 10 and the thermal transfer sheet 20A and the method for producing the printed matter will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

(A) Transfer Foil As shown in FIG. 7A, the transfer foil 10 is an intermediate transfer medium 10 having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(B) Thermal Transfer Sheet As shown in FIG. 6, the thermal transfer sheet 20A of the present embodiment is provided with a peel-off layer 24 instead of the heat seal layer 14 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 of the first embodiment. Different from the embodiment. In addition, a plurality of color material layers 15 having different hues may be sequentially provided on the same surface of the base material 5 adjacent to the surface on which the peel-off layer 24 is arranged, which is the configuration of the first embodiment. Is the same as. Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, the thermal transfer sheet 20A is provided with the peel-off layer 24 on one surface of the base material 5, and the back surface layer 6 is provided on the other surface of the base material 5. Take the configured configuration. The peel-off layer 24 will be described below.

(I) Peel-off layer The peel-off layer 24 is a layer for removing a part of the peeling layer 2 and the receiving layer 3 which are the transfer layers 4 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 in the present embodiment. Further, the peel-off layer 24 of the present embodiment has a thermal expansion region that thermally expands when heated to a predetermined temperature or higher, similarly to the heat seal layer 14 of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the thermal expansion region is uniformly arranged in the entire peel-off layer 24, but as described in a modification described later, the peel-off layer has a multi-layer structure and only a part of the peel-off layer is formed. A thermal expansion region may be formed in the area. Further, the thermal expansion region may be arranged only in a specific range in the same layer.

The component of the peel-off layer 24 in consideration of the performance of removing a part of the transfer layer 4 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is not particularly limited, and a known thermoplastic resin or the like can be appropriately selected and used. Such materials include, for example, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, acrylic resin, polyester, polyamide, styrene acrylic resin, styrene-vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, butyral resin, epoxy resin, polyamide. Resin and the like can be mentioned. Among them, polyester, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, acrylic resin, and mixed resin of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer and acrylic resin are preferable in that they have good peel-off property, and polyester resin and vinyl chloride-acetic acid are preferable. Vinyl copolymers and acrylic resins are particularly preferable. Further, the peel-off layer 24 may contain the single material mentioned above, or may contain two or more kinds.

On the other hand, the peel-off layer 24 needs to have a property that the degree of expansion differs greatly between the low temperature region and the high temperature region with a predetermined temperature as a boundary, as in the heat seal layer 14 of the first embodiment. Examples of the material include hollow particles having thermal expansion and a binder as described above. As described above, the peel-off layer 24 is required to have both a peel-off performance capable of adhering to a part of the transfer layer 4 by heating and removing the peel-off layer 24 and a property of thermal expansion by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher. Therefore, the component for realizing the peel-off performance as described above and the component that thermally expands at a predetermined temperature or higher can be mixed, or both are formed as separate layers and these are laminated. It may be a body structure.

The method for forming the peel-off layer 24 is also not particularly limited, and a coating liquid for the peel-off layer to which the above-mentioned resin and additives such as an inorganic or organic filler added as needed are added is prepared, and the coating for the peel-off layer is applied. The working liquid can be formed by applying and drying on the base material 5 or an arbitrary layer provided on the base material 5 by a known means such as a gravure coat, a gravure reverse coat, and a roll coat.

The thickness of the peel-off layer 24 is not particularly limited, but in consideration of the film strength of the peel-off layer 24, the layer in contact with the peel-off layer 24, the adhesiveness between the peel-off layer 24 and the intermediate transfer medium 10, and the like, 0. The range is preferably 1 μm or more and 4 μm or less, and more preferably 0.2 μm or more and 2 μm or less.

(C) Description of Manufacturing Method of Printed Material Next, the manufacturing method of the printed matter according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

(I) Preparation Step of Transfer Foil In the preparation step of the transfer foil of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7A, the release layer 2 and the receiving layer forming the transfer layer 4 on one surface of the support 1 3 is a step of preparing the intermediate transfer medium 10 which is the transfer foil 10 laminated in this order, which is the same as that of the first embodiment.

(Ii) Preparation Step of Thermal Transfer Sheet In the preparation step of the thermal transfer sheet of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (a), the peel-off layer 24 and the hue are different on one of the same surfaces of the base material 5. This is a step of preparing a thermal transfer sheet 20A in which a plurality of color material layers 15 are sequentially provided on the same surface and a back surface layer 6 is provided on the other surface of the base material 5. As described above, the peel-off layer 24 has a property of adhering to the transfer layer 4 by heating and removing a part of the transfer layer 4, and a property of thermal expansion by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher.

(Iii) Removal Step The removal step of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). First, as shown in FIG. 7A, the thermal transfer sheet 20A and the intermediate transfer medium 10 which is the transfer foil 10 are overlapped so that the surface of the peel-off layer 24 and the surface of the receiving layer 3 are in contact with each other. However, it is not necessary for the two to be overlapped to the extent that they are completely pressed against each other, and they may be in contact with each other to the extent that an overload is hardly applied, or they may be arranged with a minute gap.

In such a state, the thermal head 31 heats the heat transfer sheet 20A from the back layer 6 side to a predetermined temperature. At this time, a part 24A of the selectively heated peel-off layer 24 has a predetermined temperature, that is, a temperature at which the thermal expansion region of the peel-off layer 24 starts to start thermal expansion or a temperature higher than that from the thermal head 31. Therefore, the thickness of a part 24A of the peel-off layer 24 after heating is larger than the thickness of the original unheated peel-off layer 24. In this way, the thermal head 31 can thermally expand only the predetermined region by heating the thermal expansion region of the peel-off layer 24 at a predetermined temperature only for the predetermined region.

At this time, since only a part 24A of the expanded peel-off layer is pressed against the receiving layer 3 side of the intermediate transfer medium 10 while being heated, the part 24A is in a state of being strongly adhered to the receiving layer 3. On the contrary, the other regions hardly adhere to the receiving layer 3 because the overload is hardly applied to the receiving layer 3 side. When the receiving layer 3 is viewed from a part of the receiving layer 3 and the peeling layer 2 of the transfer layer 4 of the intermediate transfer medium 10, that is, at a position vertically separated from the surface of the receiving layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10. 4A, which is a region of the transfer layer 4 arranged at a position overlapping with a part 24A of the peel-off layer of the thermal transfer sheet 20A, or 3A and 2A, which are regions of the receiving layer 3 and the peeling layer 2, are removed. The removal region 8 to be removed from the transfer layer 4 by In this case, in the transfer step of the transfer layer after the removal step, the transfer layer 4 other than the removal region 8 is selectively transferred to the final transferred body 17, so that a predetermined printed matter is produced.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, by peeling the thermal transfer sheet 20A from the intermediate transfer medium 10, the part 4A of the transfer layer 4, which is the removal region 8 corresponding to the part 24A of the peel-off layer 24, is said to be the same. It is removed from the transfer layer 4 to the peel-off layer 24 side via a part 24A. Also in this embodiment, the entire peel-off layer 24 is a thermal expansion region, and foamable hollow particles that thermally expand by heating at a predetermined temperature are dispersed substantially evenly in the resin imparted with removal suitability. You are using the one with the configuration.

(Iv) Transfer Step of Transfer Layer The transfer step of the transfer layer of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (b) and 7 (c). As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the intermediate transfer medium 10 from which the removed region 8 has been removed is superposed on the transferred body 17 and heated in the same manner as shown in FIG. 5 (a) in the first embodiment. It is sequentially fed between the roller 32 and the pressure roller 33, and a predetermined heat pressure is applied.

As a result, the transfer layer 4 from which the removal region 8 has been removed in advance is transferred to the transfer target 17. In the removal step described above, the thermal expansion of a part 24A of the peel-off layer 24 enables accurate and strong adhesion to the receiving layer 3, and as a result, the removal region 8 is accurately removed. Therefore, in the transfer step of the transfer layer, the printed matter 18A in which a predetermined image is stably formed only in a necessary region without being greatly affected by the thermal pressure conditions of the heat roller 32 and the pressure roller 33. Obtainable.

As described above, in the method for producing a printed matter of the second embodiment, a transfer foil for preparing an intermediate transfer medium 10 in which a release layer 2 and a receiving layer 3 which are transfer layers 4 are provided on one surface of a support 1. And the preparation step of the thermal transfer sheet for preparing the thermal transfer sheet 20A provided with the peel-off layer 24 including the thermal expansion region capable of expanding by heating at a predetermined temperature on one surface of the base material 5. Has.

Further, a part 24A of the peel-off layer 24 including the thermal expansion region is selectively heated and thermally expanded, and the part 4A of the transfer layer is used as the removal region 8 via the part 24A of the peel-off layer 4 It includes a removal step of removing from the heat and a transfer step of a transfer layer in which the transfer layer 4 from which the removal region 8 has been removed is transferred onto the transferred body 17.

As a result, a part 24A of the peel-off layer 24 is thermally expanded, so that the load for pressing the receiving layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 can be increased, and the adhesion between the part 24A and the receiving layer 3 can be improved. .. Further, since the adhesive force between the partial 24A and the receiving layer 3 is large, the partial 4A of the transfer layer 4 that comes into contact with the partial 24A of the peel-off layer 24 can be easily moved through the partial 24A of the peel-off layer 24. Can be removed accurately.

As a result, only the image of the required region can be transferred to the transfer body 17 side. Therefore, according to the method for producing a printed matter of the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately remove the transfer layer in the region to be removed and then transfer the removed transfer layer onto the transfer target.

3. 3. Third Embodiment Next, the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a variation of the thermal transfer sheet of the third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of the thermal transfer sheet of the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the transfer step of the heat seal layer of the present embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the removal step and the transfer step of the transfer layer of the present embodiment. Further, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing variations of the printed matter of the present embodiment. Hereinafter, each step relating to the configuration of the transfer foil and the thermal transfer sheet and the method for producing the printed matter will be described focusing on the differences from the first and second embodiments.

(A) Transfer Foil As shown in FIG. 10A, the transfer foil 10 is an intermediate transfer medium 10 having the same configuration as that of the first and second embodiments, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(B) Thermal transfer sheet The thermal transfer sheet of the present embodiment includes (1) a peel-off layer 24B and a heat seal layer including a thermal expansion region capable of expanding by heating at a predetermined temperature on the same surface of the base material 5. When composed of the thermal transfer sheet 20B provided with 14 and, or (2) a heat including a thermal expansion region capable of expanding by heating at a predetermined temperature on one surface of the first base material 5A. There are two cases in which it is composed of a first thermal transfer sheet 25 provided with a seal layer 14 and a second thermal transfer sheet 26 provided with a peel-off layer 24B on one surface of the second base material 5B. .. Back layers 6, 6A and 6B are laminated on the surfaces of the base material 5, the first base material 5A and the second base material 5B opposite to the heat seal layer 14 or the peel-off layer 24B, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 9, in the case of the thermal transfer sheet 20B provided with both the peel-off layer 24B and the heat seal layer 14, a plurality of color material layers having different hues are formed on the same surface of the base material 5. It is the same as the configuration of the first and second embodiments that 15 may be provided in a surface-sequential manner. Further, in the thermal transfer sheet 20B, a heat seal layer 1 and a peel-off layer 24B are sequentially provided on one surface of the base material 5, following a plurality of color material layers 15 having different hues, and a base. The back layer 6 is provided on the other surface of the material 5.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, a mode in which the first thermal transfer sheet 25 having the heat seal layer 14 and the second thermal transfer sheet 26 having the peel-off layer 24B are used separately is the first aspect. Substantially in the process of using the thermal transfer sheet 20B provided with both the peel-off layer 24B and the heat seal layer 14, except that the work of replacing the thermal transfer sheet 25 and the second thermal transfer sheet 26 with the thermal transfer printer is added. There is no difference.

Further, the cross-sectional structure of the first thermal transfer sheet 25 is the same as the cross-sectional structure of the portion of the thermal transfer sheet 20B provided with both the peel-off layer 24B and the heat seal layer 14 in FIG. 8 (a) where the heat seal layer 14 is arranged. The cross-sectional structure of the second thermal transfer sheet 26 is the same as the cross-sectional structure of the portion of the thermal transfer sheet 20B of FIG. 8A in which the peel-off layer 24B is arranged. Further, in this case, the plurality of color material layers 15 having different hues can be provided on the first thermal transfer sheet 25 side, but may be provided on a thermal transfer sheet separate from the first thermal transfer sheet 25. The heat seal layer 14 and the peel-off layer 24B will be described below.

(I) Heat-seal layer The heat-seal layer 14 of the present embodiment may have the same structure as that of the first embodiment, and has the property of being melted by heating and transferable to the transfer layer 4 and having a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. It suffices if it is satisfied that it also has the property of thermally expanding by heating. Therefore, the component for thermal melting as described above and the component for thermal expansion at a predetermined temperature or higher can be mixed, or both can be formed as separate layers to form a laminate of these. It may be configured as such.

(I) Peel-off layer The peel-off layer 24B of the present embodiment is different from the peel-off layer 24 of the second embodiment in that it does not have a thermal expansion region that thermally expands when heated to a predetermined temperature or higher. In the present embodiment, since the heat seal layer 14 has a thermal expansion region, the peel-off layer 24B is selected by considering only the performance of removing a part of the transfer layer 4 of the intermediate transfer medium 10. Just do it. As the component of such a peel-off layer 24, those exemplified in the second embodiment can be used. However, similarly to the heat seal layer 14, a peel-off layer 24B having the same specifications as the peel-off layer 24 having a thermal expansion region may be used.

(C) Description of Manufacturing Method of Printed Material The manufacturing method of the printed matter according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

(I) Preparation Step of Transfer Foil In the preparation step of the transfer foil of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10A, the release layer 2 and the receiving layer forming the transfer layer 4 on one surface of the support 1 3 is a step of preparing the intermediate transfer medium 10 which is the transfer foil 10 laminated in this order, and is the same as the first and second embodiments.

(Ii) Preparation step of the thermal transfer sheet The preparation step of the thermal transfer sheet of the present embodiment is, as described above, heating at a predetermined temperature on the same surface of the (1) base material 5 shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 9 (a). When the thermal transfer sheet 20B provided with the heat seal layer 14 including the thermal expansion region capable of expanding and the peel-off layer 24B not including the thermal expansion region is prepared, and FIGS. 8 (b) and 8 (c). ), And (2) a first thermal transfer sheet 25 provided with a heat seal layer 14 including a thermal expansion region capable of expanding by heating at a predetermined temperature on one surface of the first base material 5A. The case is divided into the case of preparing the second thermal transfer sheet 26 in which the peel-off layer 24B is provided on one surface of the second base material 5B.

(Iii) Transfer Step of Heat Seal Layer The transfer step of the heat seal layer of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10 when the heat transfer sheet 20B is used. First, as shown in FIG. 10A, the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the thermal transfer sheet 20B are overlapped and heated by the thermal head 31 from the back side of the thermal transfer sheet 20B, and a part or all of the heat seal layer 14 is intermediate transferred. Transfer to the medium 10 side. Each hue surface of the color material layer 15 of the thermal transfer sheet 20B is laminated in advance on the receiving layer 3 of the intermediate transfer medium 10, and heating to a predetermined position by the thermal head 31 is repeated for each hue to determine a predetermined value. The thermal transfer image 16 is formed.

Here, unlike the transfer step of the heat seal layer of the first embodiment, at least two steps of temperature setting are performed for heating to a predetermined position by the thermal head 31. That is, the heat seal layer 14 can be transferred to the receiving layer 3 side of the intermediate transfer medium 10, but the first temperature is set to be lower than the predetermined temperature which is the starting temperature at which the heat expansion region of the heat seal layer 14 greatly expands. This is a setting in which the heat seal layer 14 is transferred to the receiving layer 3 side of the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the second temperature is set to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature at which the heat expansion region of the heat seal layer 14 is greatly expanded.

In this way, the heat seal layer 14 can be transferred to the transfer layer 4 in different forms by setting the temperature applied to the thermal head 31 in two ways, the first temperature and the second temperature. For example, with the temperature setting of the thermal head 31 as the first temperature, a region other than the region to be selectively thermally expanded in the heat seal layer 14 is transferred to the transfer layer 4 side. After that, the temperature setting of the thermal head 31 is switched to the second temperature, and the selected region is heated to transfer the selected region to the transfer layer 4 side. As a result, the heat seal layer 14 transferred to the transfer layer 4 is in a state in which a portion that is enlarged in the thickness direction due to thermal expansion and a portion that is hardly thermally expanded are mixed.

For example, in FIG. 10A, when the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the thermal transfer sheet 20B are overlapped and heated by the thermal head 31 from the back surface side of the thermal transfer sheet 20B, the thermal head 31 is applied to the back layer 6 of the thermal transfer sheet 20B. It is assumed that heat is applied while moving the positions A, B, C, D, and E along the position. Here, it is assumed that the position of the thermal head 31 is heated at the first temperature at the positions A, B, D, and E, and is heated at the second temperature only at the position C.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 10B, a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 corresponding to the position C of the thermal head 31 is transferred to the receiving layer 3 by heating at a second temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. The thermal expansion region greatly expands and forms a state in which it protrudes in the thickness direction. On the other hand, the other portion of the heat seal layer 14 heated at the first temperature remains almost unexpanded even after being transferred to the receiving layer 3. Therefore, since regions having different thicknesses are generated in the transferred heat seal layer 14, a partially convex shape may be formed on the surface of the heat seal layer 14.

(Iv) Removal Step The removal step of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C. First, as shown in FIG. 11A, the thermal transfer sheet 20B and the intermediate transfer medium 10 are overlapped so that the surface of the peel-off layer 24B and the surface of the receiving layer 3 are in contact with each other. However, it is not necessary to overlap the two to the extent that they are completely pressed against each other, and a part 14A, which is a convex portion of the heat seal layer 14 transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer medium 10, is arranged so as to be in close contact with the peel-off layer 24B. Just do it.

In this state, the thermal head 31 heats the heat transfer sheet 20B from the back surface layer 6 side to a predetermined temperature. At this time, the peel-off layer 24B should be heated in a region corresponding to a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 transferred to the surface of the stacked intermediate transfer medium 10, but a wider region is heated. You may.

The convex portion 14A of the heat seal layer 14 transferred to the transfer layer 4 and 4A, which is a part of the transfer layer 4 arranged in the thickness direction with respect to the convex portion 14A, are softened while the heated peel-off layer 24B is in close contact with the convex portion 14A. By adhering, it firmly adheres to the peel-off layer 24B. Further, in other regions, even if the peel-off layer 24B is heated, the heat seal layer 14 does not come into close contact with the peel-off layer 24B, and the possibility of accidentally peeling off is low.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11B, by moving the thermal transfer sheet 20B in the direction away from the intermediate transfer medium 10, a part 4A of the transfer layer 4 is adhered to the peel-off layer 24B side from the transfer layer 4. It is removed as the removal area 8.

(Iv) Transfer Step of Transfer Layer The transfer step of the transfer layer of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 (b) and 11 (c). As shown in FIG. 11B, the intermediate transfer medium 10 from which the transfer layer 4A has been removed is superposed on the transferred body 17 and heated in the same manner as shown in FIG. 5A in the first embodiment. It is sequentially fed between the roller 32 and the pressure roller 33, and a predetermined heat pressure is applied. As a result, the transfer layer 4 other than the region previously removed as the removal region 8 is transferred to the transfer target 17.

In the removal step described above, the peel-off layer 24B accurately removes a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 transferred to the transfer layer 4 and a part 4A of the transfer layer 4 which is a removal region 8 accompanying the heat seal layer 14. There is. Therefore, in the transfer step of the transfer layer, a printed matter 18B in which a predetermined image is stably formed only in a necessary region is obtained without being greatly affected by the thermal pressure conditions of the heat roller 32 and the pressure roller 33. be able to.

Further, in the present embodiment, the transfer to the transferred body 17 is performed with the heat seal layer 14 transferred to the surface of the receiving layer 3 of the transfer layer 4 other than the removal region 8. Therefore, the adhesion of the transfer layer 4 to the transferred body 17 is improved, and the quality of the printed matter 18B is stabilized.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, when forming an image on the transferred body 17, an arbitrary convex portion is formed on the heat seal layer 14 in conjunction with or regardless of the arrangement of the thermal transfer image 16. 14B can be generated. This is realized by sandwiching the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the transferred body 17 in layers between the heat roller 32 and the pressure roller 33, and changing the temperature applied to the heat roller 32 when a predetermined heat pressure is applied. can. That is, the surface is uneven by changing the temperature at which the heat seal layer 14 transferred to the intermediate transfer medium 10 by the heat roller 32 is heated to generate a portion where the heat seal layer 14 is thermally expanded and a portion where the heat seal layer 14 is not thermally expanded. It is possible to manufacture a printed matter 18C having the three-dimensional surface of.

The above description describes the thermal transfer sheet 20B, but it goes without saying that the method using the first thermal transfer sheet 25 and the second thermal transfer sheet 26 is the same for steps other than the thermal transfer sheet preparation step. Nor.

As described above, the method for producing a printed matter according to the third embodiment includes a transfer foil preparation step for preparing an intermediate transfer medium 10 having a transfer layer 4 provided on one surface of the support 1, and (1) a group. A thermal transfer sheet 20B or (2) first A first thermal transfer sheet 25 provided with a heat seal layer 14 including a thermal expansion region capable of expanding by heating at a predetermined temperature on one surface of the base material 5A, and one of the second base material 5B. It has a second thermal transfer sheet 26 provided with a peel-off layer 24B on the surface, and a thermal transfer sheet preparation step for preparing the second thermal transfer sheet 26.

Further, a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 including the thermal expansion region is selectively heated, and a transfer step of the heat seal layer for transferring the part 14A to the transfer layer 4 and a part of the peel-off layer 24B are heated. A removal step of removing a part 4A of the transfer layer 4 from the transfer layer 4 as a removal region 8 and a transfer layer 4 from which the removal region 8 has been removed are transferred onto the transferred body 17. It includes a transfer step of a transfer layer.

As a result, the heat seal layer 14 can be transferred from the thermal transfer sheet 20B or the first thermal transfer sheet 25 to the transfer layer 4 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 without thermal expansion over the entire surface, and is thermally expanded. Only the desired region can be selectively thermally expanded after transfer. Then, when removing a part of the transfer layer 4 including a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 by the peel-off layer 24B, it is easily and accurately removed by utilizing the fact that the convex portion due to thermal expansion is formed. can.

Therefore, the accurately formed removal region 8 enables the transfer of the transfer layer 4 to the transfer target 17 to be performed accurately on the required region. Further, since the transfer layer 4 can be transferred via the non-expanded heat seal layer 14, the adhesion of the transfer layer 4 to the transferred body 17 is improved. Further, the heat seal layer 14 can be partially thermally expanded when the transfer layer 4 is transferred to the transfer body 17, and a highly designed printed matter 18C having an uneven surface can be produced.

4. Fourth Embodiment Next, the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a step of preparing the intermediate transfer medium and a step of forming a thermal transfer image according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a removal step and a transfer step of the transfer layer of the present embodiment.

(A) Transfer Foil As shown in FIG. 13 (a), the transfer foil 10B has a different structure of the transfer layer 4B from the transfer foil 10 of the first to third embodiments. This point will be described below.

(I) Transfer layer The transfer layer 4B of the intermediate transfer medium 10B contains a receiving layer 3B, and the receiving layer 3 is laminated farthest from the support 1. That is, the receiving layer 3 constitutes the other surface with respect to the support 1 that constitutes one surface of the intermediate transfer medium 10B. The intermediate transfer medium 10B may be composed of only the support 1 and the receiving layer 3B, or a plurality of layers of different materials may be provided between the support 1 and the receiving layer 3B, but usually, the supporting 1 is used. A release layer 2 is often provided between the and the receiving layer 3B in order to improve the transferability of the receiving layer 3B. Hereinafter, the receiving layer 3B will be described.

(Ii) Receiving layer The receiving layer 3B constituting the transfer layer 4B of the intermediate transfer medium 10B includes the heat seal layer 14 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment in addition to the components of the receiving layer known to be used for the intermediate transfer medium. Like the peel-off layer 24 of the form, it has a thermal expansion region that expands thermally when heated to a predetermined temperature or higher. In the present embodiment, the thermal expansion region is uniformly arranged over the entire receiving layer 3B, but the receiving layer may have a multi-layer structure and the thermal expansion region may be formed only in a part of the layers. .. Further, the thermal expansion region may be arranged only in a specific range in the same layer. However, the receiving layer 3B itself does not have to have a thermal expansion region. For example, the transfer layer 4B of the intermediate transfer medium 10B is arranged in the order of the release layer 2, the protective layer, and the receiving layer 3B from the side closer to the support 1. It may be a laminated structure. In this case, the thermal expansion region can be arranged in the protective layer instead of the receptor layer 3B, and the receptor layer 3B itself can be prevented from thermal expansion. As the protective layer, the same material as that used for the protective layer 27 described in the modified example 4 described later may be selected, or other materials may be selected. All of the following descriptions of the receiving layer 3B can be replaced with the above description of the protective layer adjacent to the receiving layer 3B.

As described above, since the receiving layer needs to have the property of thermal expansion by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher in addition to the suitability as a normal receiving layer, the first implementation is carried out as a component as a normal receiving layer. This can be realized by containing thermally expandable hollow particles having a hollow portion containing a leavening agent inside an outer shell made of a thermoplastic resin or the like as described in the heat seal layer 14 of the form.

(B) Thermal Transfer Sheet The thermal transfer sheet 20C of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the case where the heat seal layer 14 is replaced with the peel-off layer 24B in FIG. 3, and is formed on the same surface of the base material 5, for example. , The color material layer 15 composed of the yellow color material layer (Y), the magenta color material layer (M), and the cyan color material layer (C), and the peel-off layer 24B are arranged in a surface order. Further, as for the cross-sectional structure of the region where the peel-off layer 24B is arranged, the peel-off layer 24B is provided on one surface of the second base material 5B shown in FIG. 8C shown in the third embodiment. It has the same structure as the second thermal transfer sheet 26.

(C) Description of Manufacturing Method of Printed Material The manufacturing method of the printed matter according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

(I) Preparation step of the intermediate transfer medium In the preparation step of the intermediate transfer medium of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13A, the release layer 2 and the release layer 2 forming the transfer layer 4B on one surface of the support 1 This is a step of preparing an intermediate transfer medium 10B, which is a transfer foil 10B in which the receiving layer 3B is laminated in this order. The receiving layer 3B is different from the receiving layer 3 of the transfer layer 4 of the first to third embodiments in that it has a thermal expansion region that expands thermally when heated to a predetermined temperature or higher.

(Ii) Preparation Step of Thermal Transfer Sheet In the thermal transfer sheet preparation step of the present embodiment, in the thermal transfer sheet having the same configuration as that of the thermal transfer sheet 26 of the third embodiment, a plurality of thermal transfer sheets having different hues are formed on the same surface of the base material 5. This is a step of preparing a thermal transfer sheet 20C in which the color material layer 15 is further provided in a surface-sequential manner.

(Iii) Thermal Transfer Image Forming Step The thermal transfer image forming step of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 13A, the thermal transfer sheet 20C having the coloring material layer 15 on one surface and the intermediate transfer medium 10B are overlapped and heated by the thermal head 31 from the back side of the thermal transfer sheet 20C. , The thermal transfer image 16 is transferred to the receiving layer 3B, which is the transfer layer 4B of the intermediate transfer medium 10. When performing for a plurality of hues, the thermal transfer sheet 20C is sequentially moved, and heating by the thermal head 31 is repeated for each hue to form a predetermined thermal transfer image 16.

The heating by the thermal head 31 in this case is adjusted so that the thermal expansion region of the receiving layer 3B becomes a first temperature lower than a predetermined temperature at which the thermal expansion does not occur significantly. Therefore, at the stage when the thermal transfer image 16 is formed, the surface of the receiving layer 3B is flat and no local thermal expansion occurs.

(Iv) Removal Step The removal step of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 (b), 13 (c), and 14 (a). First, as shown in FIG. 13B, the thermal head 31 is heated at a predetermined position in a state where the thermal transfer sheet 20C and the intermediate transfer medium 10B are in contact with each other. At this time, heating is performed only at the position corresponding to the removal region 8 which is the region to be removed of the transfer layer 4B. It is adjusted to be the second temperature of. Therefore, only the thermal expansion region of the removal region 8 expands, and the surface of the receiving layer 3B projects convexly.

As shown in FIGS. 13 (b), 13 (c), and 14 (a), when the thermal transfer sheet 20C is then moved away from the intermediate transfer medium 10B, the removal region 8 expands and adheres to the peel-off layer 24B. A part 4C of the transfer layer constituting the above, that is, a part 3C of the receiving layer 3B and a part 2A of the peeling layer 2 are removed from the transfer layer 4B.

(Iv) Transfer Step of Transfer Layer The transfer step of the transfer layer of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 (a), 14 (b) and 14 (c). As shown in FIG. 14A, the intermediate transfer medium 10B from which the removal region 8 has been removed is superposed on the transferred body 17 and heated in the same manner as shown in FIG. 5A in the first embodiment. It is sequentially fed between the roller 32 and the pressure roller 33, and a predetermined heat pressure is applied. As a result, the transfer layer 4B other than the region previously removed as the removal region 8 is transferred to the transfer target 17.

In the removal step described above, the peel-off layer 24B accurately removes the removal region 8, that is, a part 4C of the transfer layer 4B. Therefore, in the transfer step of the transfer layer, a printed matter 18D in which a predetermined image is formed only in a necessary region is stably obtained without being greatly affected by the thermal pressure conditions of the heat roller 32 and the pressure roller 33. be able to.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14C, when forming an image on the transferred body 17, the transfer layer 4B is arbitrarily linked to or independently of the arrangement of the thermal transfer image 16. The convex portion 4D of the above can be generated. The convex portion 4D is generated when the upper peeling layer 2 is pushed up by the convex portion 3D due to the expansion of the receiving layer 3B to form the convex portion 2D. This is realized by sandwiching the intermediate transfer medium 10 and the transferred body 17 in layers between the heat roller 32 and the pressure roller 33, and changing the temperature applied to the heat roller 32 when a predetermined heat pressure is applied. can. That is, by changing the temperature at which the heat seal layer 14 transferred to the intermediate transfer medium 10 by the heat roller 32 is heated to generate a portion of the receiving layer 3B that thermally expands and a portion that does not thermally expand, the surface becomes uneven. A printed matter 18E having a three-dimensional surface can be manufactured.

As described above, in the method for producing a printed matter of the fourth embodiment, a transfer layer 4B is provided on one surface of the support 1, and a thermal expansion region capable of expanding by heating at a predetermined temperature is provided. The step of preparing the intermediate transfer medium including the intermediate transfer medium 10B and the preparation of the thermal transfer sheet 20C in which the color material layer 15 and the peel-off layer 24B are provided on one of the same surfaces of the base material 5 are prepared. It has a process.

Further, the step of forming the thermal transfer image 16 for forming the thermal transfer image 16 while heating on the receiving layer 3B of the intermediate transfer medium 10B at a first temperature lower than the predetermined temperature, and the removal region 8 of the transfer layer 4B at a predetermined temperature or higher. A removal step of heating at a second temperature to remove the thermal expansion region of the removal region 8 from the transfer layer 4B by the peel-off layer 24B while expanding the thermal expansion region, and a transfer layer 4B from which the removal region 8 has been removed are placed on the transferred body 17. It includes a transfer step of a transfer layer to be transferred.

As a result, the thermal transfer sheet 20C does not need to be provided with a heat seal layer, and only needs to be provided with a normal peel-off layer 24B and a coloring material layer 15. Further, since the transfer layer 4B of the intermediate transfer medium 10B includes a thermal expansion region that can be expanded by heating at a predetermined temperature, the portion corresponding to the removal region 8 is heated by the thermal head 31 to form the removal region 8. The adhesion to the peel-off layer 24B is improved, and the removal region 8 can be easily and accurately removed.
As a result, only the necessary region of the transfer layer 4B is reliably transferred to the transfer target 17. In addition, a part of the transfer layer 4B can be thermally expanded when the transfer layer 4B is transferred to the transferred body 17, and a highly designed printed matter 18E having an uneven surface can be produced.

5. Modifications The first embodiment described above can be modified and modified in various ways, which are also within the scope of the present disclosure. Some modifications are given below.

(A) Modification 1
FIG. 15 shows two of the first heat seal layer 11 in which the heat seal layer 14C expands by heating at a predetermined temperature and the second heat seal layer 12 which hardly expands by heating in the method for producing a printed matter of the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the process of the modification 1 about the thermal transfer sheet 20D which has a layer structure.

As shown in FIG. 15A, in the thermal transfer sheet 20D of the first modification, the heat seal layer 14C is provided on one surface of the base material 5, and the back layer is provided on the other surface of the base material 5. 6 is provided. The heat seal layer 14C has a two-layer structure of a first heat seal layer 11 and a second heat seal layer 12, and the second heat seal layer 12 is arranged near the base material 5.

The first heat-seal layer 11 has the same structure as the heat-seal layer 14 of the first embodiment, and has a property of being melted by heating and being transferable to the transfer layer 4 and a property of being thermally expanded by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher. It is required to have both. On the other hand, the second heat-sealing layer 12 may contain a component for thermal melting, which does not have the property of thermally expanding by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher.

The method of manufacturing the printed matter in this modification is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. However, in the heat-seal transfer step, as shown in FIG. 15 (b), a part of the heat-seal layer 14C transferred to the transfer layer 4 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is located farthest from the receiving layer 3. It is a part 12A of the heat seal layer 12, and a part 11A of the first heat seal layer 11 is arranged on the side close to the receiving layer 3.

Further, in the transfer step of the transfer layer, as shown in FIG. 15C, the portion in contact with the transferred body 17 becomes a part 12A of the second heat seal layer 12. It is conceivable that the first heat-sealing layer 11 contains heat-expandable hollow particles as a heat-expanding region. In this case, due to the presence of a large number of expanded hollow particles, the first heat-sealing layer 11 of the first heat-sealing layer 11 Fine irregularities are formed on the surface. On the other hand, since the second heat seal layer 12 does not need to include such a thermal expansion region, the surface of the second heat seal layer 12 can be finished more smoothly than the first heat seal layer 11. be.

As a result, the first heat-sealing layer 11 including the thermal expansion region and the second heat-sealing layer 12 that does not need to include the thermal expansion region are laminated in a predetermined order, as in the heat-sealing layer 14C. The adhesion of the transfer layer 4 can be improved when the image is finally formed on the transferred body 17. Therefore, it contributes to the quality improvement of the final printed matter 18F.

The second heat-sealing layer 12 does not need to be configured so as not to expand at all with respect to heating, but at least the first heat-sealing layer 11 including a heat-expanding region capable of expanding by heating at a predetermined temperature. It suffices that the degree of expansion due to heating at a predetermined temperature is larger than that of the second heat seal layer 12.

(B) Modification example 2
Next, based on FIG. 16, in the method for producing a printed matter of the first embodiment, the heat seal layer 14D has a first heat seal layer 11 that expands by heating at a predetermined temperature and a second heat that hardly expands by heating. A modification 2 of the thermal transfer sheet 20E having a three-layer structure of the seal layer 12 and the third heat seal layer 13 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 16A, in the thermal transfer sheet 20E of the second modification, the heat seal layer 14D is provided on one surface of the base material 5, and the back layer is provided on the other surface of the base material 5. 6 is provided. The heat seal layer 14D has a three-layer structure of a first heat seal layer 11, a second heat seal layer 12, and a third heat seal layer 13, and the second heat seal layer 12 is arranged closest to the base material 5. And the third heat seal layer 13 is arranged farthest from the base material 5.

Similar to the first modification, the first heat seal layer 11 is required to have both a property of being melted by heating and being transferable to the transfer layer 4 and a property of being thermally expanded by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher. On the other hand, the second heat-sealing layer 12 and the third heat-sealing layer 13 may contain components for thermal melting that do not have the property of thermally expanding by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher.

The method of manufacturing the printed matter in this modification is basically the same as that of the first embodiment and modification 1. However, in the heat seal transfer step, as shown in FIG. 16B, a part of the heat seal layer 14D transferred to the transfer layer 4 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 has a tip portion farthest from the receiving layer 3. It is a part 12A of the 2 heat seal layer 12, and a part 13A of the third heat seal layer 13 is arranged on the side closest to the receiving layer 3. Therefore, a part of the heat seal layer 14D adheres to the receiving layer 3 via a part 12A of the second heat seal layer 12.

Further, in the transfer step of the transfer layer, as shown in FIG. 16C, the portion in contact with the transferred body 17 becomes a part 12A of the second heat seal layer 12. Therefore, for the same reason as in the first modification, the adhesion of the transfer layer 4 can be improved when the image is formed on the transferred body 17. Further, in this modification, in the heat seal transfer step, as shown in FIG. 16B, a part of the heat seal layer 14D transferred to the transfer layer 4 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is a third heat seal. Since it adheres to the receiving layer 3 via a part 13A of the layer 13, the adhesion to the transfer layer 4 can be improved for the same reason as that of the second heat seal layer 12. Therefore, the selected region 7 to be selectively transferred can be easily and accurately transferred, which contributes to the quality improvement of the final printed matter 18G.

The third heat seal layer 13 is the same as the second heat seal layer 12, and does not need to be configured so as not to expand at all with respect to heating, but at least heat that can be expanded by heating at a predetermined temperature. The first heat seal layer 11 including the expansion region may have a larger degree of expansion due to heating at a predetermined temperature than the third heat seal layer 13. Further, a plurality of heat-sealing layers including a heat-expanding region and a plurality of other heat-sealing layers may be laminated.

(C) Modification 3
FIG. 17 shows a first peel-off layer 21 in which the peel-off layer 24 expands by heating at a predetermined temperature, and a second peel-off layer 22 and a third peel-off layer that hardly expand by heating in the method for manufacturing a printed matter of the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the process of the modification 3 about the thermal transfer sheet 20F which has a three-layer structure of 23.

As shown in FIG. 17A, in the thermal transfer sheet 20F of the modified example 3, the peel-off layer 24C is provided on one surface of the base material 5, and the back layer is provided on the other surface of the base material 5. 6 is provided. The peel-off layer 24C has a three-layer structure of a first peel-off layer 21, a second peel-off layer 22, and a third peel-off layer 23, and the second peel-off layer 22 is arranged closest to the base material 5 to form a third peel-off layer. The layer 23 is arranged farthest from the base material 5.

The first peel-off layer 21 has the same configuration as the peel-off layer 24 of the second embodiment, and has both a property of being able to remove a part of the transfer layer 4 by heating and a property of thermal expansion by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher. Is required. On the other hand, the second peel-off layer 22 and the third peel-off layer 23 may contain components for having removal performance, which do not have the property of thermally expanding by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher.

The method of manufacturing the printed matter in this modification is basically the same as that of the second embodiment. However, in the removal step, as shown in FIG. 17B, a part of the peel-off layer 24C that adheres to the removal region 8 of the transfer layer 4 of the intermediate transfer medium 10 is a part 23A of the third peel-off layer 23. ..

The first peel-off layer 21 may contain thermally expandable hollow particles as a thermal expansion region. In this case, the surface of the first peel-off layer 21 is due to the presence of a large number of expanded hollow particles. Fine irregularities are formed on the surface. On the other hand, since the second peel-off layer 22 and the third peel-off layer 23 do not need to include such a thermal expansion region, the surfaces of the second peel-off layer 22 and the third peel-off layer 23 are more than the first peel-off layer 21. Can be finished smoothly.

As a result, in the removing step, the peel-off layer 24C is adhered to the base material 5 via the second peel-off layer 22, so that the adhesion between the peel-off layer 24C and the base material 5 is improved. Further, since the peel-off layer 24C adheres to a part 3A of the receiving layer 3 which is the removal region 8 via the third peel-off layer 23, the removal region 8 peels off when the removal region 8 is removed in the removal step. The peeling from the layer 24C is suppressed, and the removal can be easily and accurately performed. Therefore, the quality of the final printed matter can be improved.

The second peel-off layer 22 and the third peel-off layer 23 do not need to be configured so as not to expand at all with respect to heating, but at least include a thermal expansion region capable of expanding by heating at a predetermined temperature. The 1 peel-off layer 21 may have a larger degree of expansion due to heating at a predetermined temperature than the second peel-off layer 22 and the third peel-off layer 23. Further, the peel-off layer including the thermal expansion region and the other peel-off layers may be laminated in a plurality of layers.

(D) Modification example 4
18 and 19 are views for explaining the process in the modified example 4 in which the transfer foil is not the intermediate transfer medium but the protective layer transfer sheet 10C in the method for producing the printed matter of the first embodiment.

(A) Transfer Foil As shown in FIG. 18A, the protective layer transfer sheet 10C, which is the transfer foil 10C, is formed by laminating the transfer layer 4 on one surface of the support 1. In this modification, the transfer layer 4 is formed by laminating the protective layer 27 and the adhesive layer 28 in order from the side closer to the support 1.
(I) Support The support 1 of the protective layer transfer sheet 10C is not particularly limited as a material. For example, polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyarylate, polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyimide, polyetherimide, cellulose derivative, polyethylene , Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polypropylene, polystyrene, acrylic, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, nylon, polyether ether ketone, polysulfone, polyether sulfone, tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroalkyl Various plastic films or sheets such as vinyl ether copolymer, polyvinyl fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride and the like can be used. Further, the support 1 may contain the single material mentioned above, or may contain two or more kinds.

The thickness of the support 1 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, in the range of 2 μm or more and 100 μm or less.

(Ii) Protective layer The protective layer 27 of the protective layer transfer sheet 10C is not particularly limited as a material, and a protective layer known in the field of the protective layer transfer sheet can be appropriately selected. As components of the protective layer 27, for example, polyester, polycarbonate, acrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, ultraviolet absorbing resin, epoxy resin, polystyrene, polyurethane, acrylic urethane resin, resins obtained by modifying each of these resins with silicone, and each of these. A mixture of resins, an ionizing radiation curable resin, an ultraviolet absorbing resin and the like can be used. Among them, it is preferable to use an acrylic resin, a polyester, and a vinyl chloride resin, and it is more preferable to use an acrylic resin and a polyester.

By containing the ionizing radiation curable resin, the protective layer 27 can improve the plasticizer resistance and the scratch resistance. Known ionizing radiation curable resins can be used. For example, a radically polymerizable polymer or oligomer is crosslinked and cured by ionizing radiation irradiation, a photopolymerization initiator is added as necessary, and an electron beam or ultraviolet rays are used. A polymer-crosslinked product can be used. Further, since the protective layer 27 contains an ultraviolet absorbing resin, it is possible to impart light resistance to the printed matter.

As the ultraviolet absorbing resin, for example, a resin obtained by reacting and binding a reactive ultraviolet absorber to a thermoplastic resin or the above-mentioned ionizing radiation curable resin can be used. More specifically, it is added-polymerizable to a conventionally known non-reactive organic ultraviolet absorber such as salicylate-based, benzophenone-based, benzotriazole-based, substituted acrylonitrile-based, nickel chelate-based, and hindered amine-based. Those having a reactive group such as a bond (for example, vinyl group, acryloyl group, metaacryloyl group, etc.), alcoholic hydroxyl group, amino group, carboxyl group, epoxy group, isocyanate group can be used.
(Iii) Adhesive layer The adhesive layer 28 is not always essential, but the adhesive layer 28 is between the support 1 and the protective layer 27 in order to improve the adhesion between the transfer layer 4 and the transfer layer 17 when the transfer layer 4 is transferred to the transferred body 17. May include. Examples of the components of the adhesive layer 28 include acrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl acetate resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-acrylic copolymer, polyester, and polyamide.

The thickness of the adhesive layer 28 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, in the range of 0.1 μm or more and 5 μm or less.

(B) Explanation of Method for Producing Printed Material As shown in FIG. 18 (b), the protective layer transfer sheet 10C of this modification is overlapped with the thermal transfer sheet 20 in the same manner as the intermediate transfer medium 10 of the first embodiment. .. Here, the adhesive layer 28 of the protective layer transfer sheet 10C and the heat seal layer 14 of the thermal transfer sheet 20 are in contact with each other.

Here, by heating the heat transfer sheet 20 from the back surface side to a predetermined position by the thermal head 31, a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 of the heated portion is transferred to the adhesive layer 28 of the protective layer transfer sheet 10C. NS.

At this time, a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 transferred to the adhesive layer 28 side is subjected to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature from the thermal head 31, so that the thermal expansion region of the part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 is greatly expanded. However, the size in the thickness direction also increases. Then, as shown in FIG. 18C, the thermal transfer sheet 20 is peeled off from the protective layer transfer sheet 10C. This completes the transfer process of the heat seal layer.

Next, a part 4A of the transfer layer 4 was transferred in advance to the protective layer transfer sheet 10C to which a part 14A of the heat seal layer 14 in which the thermal expansion region was expanded was transferred, as shown in FIG. 5 (b). It is superposed on the transfer target 17, sandwiched between the heat roller 32 and the pressure roller 33 as shown in FIG. 5A, and a predetermined thermal pressure is applied. As a result, as shown in FIG. 19, the transfer layer 4 includes a part 28A of the adhesive layer 28 and a part 27A of the protective layer 27 via a part 14A of the heat seal layer on the upper layer of the part 4A of the transfer layer. It is possible to obtain a printed matter 18H in which a part of 4E is laminated.

As described above, a modified example in which the intermediate transfer medium 10 is replaced with the protective layer transfer sheet 10C has been described by taking the first embodiment as an example, but the same replacement is also possible in other embodiments and modified examples. .. For example, as in the second embodiment, a part of the protective layer transfer sheet 10C is removed as a removal region, the region where the protective layer is not desired to be provided on the transferred body is removed in advance, and then the protective layer is transferred. It is also possible to manufacture a printed matter transferred to the body.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, parts or% are based on mass.

1. 1. Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet and Intermediate Transfer Medium As shown in Table 1, various thermal transfer sheets with different combinations of the back layer, the heat seal layer and the peel-off layer were prepared. Further, as shown in Table 2, various intermediate transfer media in which the combination of the release layer, the protective layer and the receiving layer was changed were prepared. The details of each thermal transfer sheet and each intermediate transfer medium will be described below.

(A) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 1-1 A polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 6 μm is used as a base material, and a peel-off layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition is applied onto one surface of the base material to a thickness of 1 μm when dried. It was applied and dried so as to form a peel-off layer. Further, a thermal transfer sheet 1 having a peel-off layer is formed by applying a coating liquid for a back layer having the following composition on the other surface of the base material so as to have a thickness of 0.8 μm when dried and drying to form a back layer. I got -1.

<Coating liquid for peel-off layer 1>
15 parts of polyester aqueous dispersion (solid content 34%, Tg 67 ° C) (Byronal (registered trademark) MD-1200 Toyobo Co., Ltd.)
・ 5 parts of heat-expandable hollow particles (Kureha Microsphere (registered trademark) M330 Kureha Corporation)
・ 80 copies of water

<Coating liquid for back layer>
-Polyvinyl butyral 2nd part (Eslek (registered trademark) BX-1 Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.)
-Polyisocyanate 9.2 parts (Bernock (registered trademark) D750 DIC Corporation)
-Phosphate ester-based surfactant 1.3 parts (Prysurf (registered trademark) A208N Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.)
・ Talc 0.3 part (Micro Ace (registered trademark) P-3 Japan Talc Industry Co., Ltd.)
・ Toluene 43.6 parts ・ Methyl ethyl ketone 43.6 parts

(B) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 1-2 In the same manner as the thermal transfer sheet 1-1, except that the coating liquid 1 for the peel-off layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1-1 was changed to the coating liquid 2 for the peel-off layer having the following composition. A thermal transfer sheet 1-2 was obtained.

<Coating liquid 2 for peel-off layer>
15 parts of polyester aqueous dispersion (solid content 34%, Tg 67 ° C) (Byronal (registered trademark) MD-1200 Toyobo Co., Ltd.)
・ 5 parts of heat-expandable hollow particles (Matsumoto Microsphere (registered trademark) F-30 Matsumoto Yushi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)
・ 80 copies of water

(C) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 1-3 In the same manner as the thermal transfer sheet 1-1, except that the peel-off layer coating liquid 1 of the thermal transfer sheet 1-1 was changed to the peel-off layer coating liquid 3 having the following composition. Thermal transfer sheets 1-3 were obtained.

<Coating liquid 3 for peel-off layer>
15 parts of polyester aqueous dispersion (solid content 34%, Tg 67 ° C) (Byronal (registered trademark) MD-1200 Toyobo Co., Ltd.)
・ 5 parts of heat-expandable hollow particles (Matsumoto Microsphere (registered trademark) FN-80GS Matsumoto Yushi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)
・ 80 copies of water

(D) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 1-4 In the same manner as the Thermal Transfer Sheet 1-1, except that the peel-off layer coating liquid 1 of the thermal transfer sheet 1-1 was changed to the peel-off layer coating liquid 4 having the following composition. Thermal transfer sheets 1-4 were obtained.

<Coating liquid 4 for peel-off layer>
15 parts of polyester aqueous dispersion (solid content 34%, Tg 67 ° C) (Byronal (registered trademark) MD-1200 Toyobo Co., Ltd.)
・ 5 parts of heat-expandable hollow particles (Matsumoto Microsphere (registered trademark) FN-80GS Matsumoto Yushi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)
・ 80 copies of water

(E) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 1-A In the same manner as Thermal Transfer Sheet 1-1, except that the coating liquid 1 for the peel-off layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1-1 was changed to the coating liquid A for the peel-off layer having the following composition. A thermal transfer sheet 1-A was obtained.

<Coating liquid A for peel-off layer>
20 parts of polyester aqueous dispersion (solid content 34%, Tg 67 ° C) (Byronal (registered trademark) MD-1200 Toyobo Co., Ltd.)
・ 80 copies of water

(F) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 2-1 A polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 6 μm was used as a base material, and a coating liquid 1 for a heat seal layer having the following composition was applied on one surface of the base material to 1 μm when dried. It was applied to a thickness and dried to form a peel-off layer. Further, a thermal transfer sheet having a heat seal layer is formed by applying a coating liquid for a back layer having the above composition on the other surface of the base material so as to have a thickness of 0.8 μm when dried and drying to form a back layer. 2-1 was obtained.

<Coating liquid 1 for heat seal layer>
15 parts of polyester aqueous dispersion (solid content 34%, Tg 67 ° C) (Byronal (registered trademark) MD-1200 Toyobo Co., Ltd.)
・ 5 parts of heat-expandable hollow particles (Kureha Microsphere (registered trademark) M330 Kureha Corporation)
・ 80 copies of water

(G) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 2-2 The same applies to the thermal transfer sheet 1-1 except that the coating liquid 1 for the heat seal layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1-1 is changed to the coating liquid 2 for the heat seal layer having the following composition. A thermal transfer sheet 1-2 was obtained.

<Coating liquid 2 for heat seal layer>
15 parts of polyester aqueous dispersion (solid content 34%, Tg 67 ° C) (Byronal (registered trademark) MD-1200 Toyobo Co., Ltd.)
・ 5 parts of heat-expandable hollow particles (Matsumoto Microsphere (registered trademark) F-30 Matsumoto Yushi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)
・ 80 copies of water

(H) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 2-3 The same applies to the thermal transfer sheet 1-1 except that the coating liquid 1 for the heat seal layer of the thermal transfer sheet 1-1 is changed to the coating liquid 3 for the heat seal layer having the following composition. A thermal transfer sheet 1-3 was obtained.

<Coating liquid 3 for heat seal layer>
15 parts of polyester aqueous dispersion (solid content 34%, Tg 67 ° C) (Byronal (registered trademark) MD-1200 Toyobo Co., Ltd.)
・ 5 parts of heat-expandable hollow particles (Matsumoto Microsphere (registered trademark) FN-80GS Matsumoto Yushi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)
・ 80 copies of water

(I) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 2-4 Same as Thermal Transfer Sheet 1-1 except that the coating liquid 1 for the heat seal layer of the Thermal Transfer Sheet 1-1 was changed to the coating liquid 4 for the heat seal layer having the following composition. A thermal transfer sheet 1-4 was obtained.

<Coating liquid 4 for heat seal layer>
15 parts of polyester aqueous dispersion (solid content 34%, Tg 67 ° C) (Byronal (registered trademark) MD-1200 Toyobo Co., Ltd.)
・ 5 parts of heat-expandable hollow particles (Matsumoto Microsphere (registered trademark) FN-80GS Matsumoto Yushi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)
・ 80 copies of water

(J) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 3-1 A polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 6 μm was used as a base material, and a back coating liquid having the above composition was dried to a thickness of 0.8 μm on one surface of the base material. It was applied and dried so as to form a back layer. Further, on the other surface of the base material, the coating liquid 1 for the heat seal layer having the above composition and the coating liquid B for the peel-off layer having the following composition are each applied and dried so as to have a thickness of 1 μm when dried. , The heat seal layer and the peel-off layer were formed surface-sequentially to obtain a thermal transfer sheet 3-1 having the heat-seal layer and the peel-off layer.

<Coating liquid B for peel-off layer>
・ 10 parts of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (Solvine (registered trademark) C5R Nissin Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.)
・ 10 parts of acrylic resin (Dianal (registered trademark) BR-83 Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation)
・ Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) 80 parts

(K) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 3-2 The same applies to the thermal transfer sheet 3-1 except that the coating liquid 1 for the heat seal layer of the thermal transfer sheet 3-1 is changed to the coating liquid 2 for the heat seal layer having the above composition. A thermal transfer sheet 3-2 was obtained.

(L) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 3-3 The same applies to the thermal transfer sheet 3-1 except that the coating liquid 1 for the heat seal layer of the thermal transfer sheet 3-1 is changed to the coating liquid 3 for the heat seal layer having the above composition. A thermal transfer sheet 3-3 was obtained.

(M) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 3-4 The same applies to the thermal transfer sheet 3-1 except that the coating liquid 1 for the heat seal layer of the thermal transfer sheet 3-1 is changed to the coating liquid 4 for the heat seal layer having the above composition. A thermal transfer sheet 3-4 was obtained.

(N) Preparation of Thermal Transfer Sheet 3-A Same as for Thermal Transfer Sheet 3-1 except that the coating liquid 1 for the heat seal layer of the thermal transfer sheet 3-1 was changed to the coating liquid A for the heat seal layer having the above composition. A thermal transfer sheet 3-A was obtained.

(O) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium 1 A polyethylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 16 μm is used as a base material, and a coating liquid 1 for a release layer having the following composition is applied onto the base material so as to have a thickness of 1 μm when dried. , Dried to form a peeling layer. Next, a protective layer coating liquid 1 having the following composition was applied onto the peeling layer so as to have a thickness of 5 μm when dried, and dried to form a protective layer. Further, a coating liquid 1 for a receiving layer having the following composition is applied onto the protective layer so as to have a thickness of 1.5 μm when dried, and dried to form a receiving layer, whereby a release layer and a protective layer are formed on the substrate. , An intermediate transfer medium 1 in which the receiving layers were laminated in this order was obtained.

<Coating liquid for release layer 1>
-29 parts of acrylic resin (Dianal (registered trademark) BR-87 Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation)
・ Part 1 of polyester (Byron (registered trademark) 200 Toyobo Co., Ltd.)
・ Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) 35 parts ・ Toluene 35 parts

<Coating liquid for protective layer 1>
・ 30 parts of polyester (Byron (registered trademark) 200 Toyobo Co., Ltd.)
・ 35 parts of methyl ethyl ketone ・ 35 parts of toluene

<Coating liquid for receiving layer 1>
・ 20 parts of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer (Solvine (registered trademark) CNL Nisshin Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.)
・ Silicone oil 1 part (X-22-3000T Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)
-Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) 79 parts

(P) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium 2 The intermediate transfer medium is the same as the intermediate transfer medium 1 except that the protective layer coating liquid 1 of the intermediate transfer medium 1 is changed to the protective layer coating liquid 2 having the following composition. I got 2.

<Coating liquid for protective layer 2>
・ 100 parts of heat-expandable hollow particles (Kureha Microsphere (registered trademark) M330 Kureha Corporation)
・ Aqueous polyurethane (solid content 37%) 30 parts (Neo Sticker (registered trademark) 400 NICCA CHEMICAL CO., LTD.)
・ 80 copies of water

(Q) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium 3 The intermediate transfer medium is the same as the intermediate transfer medium 1 except that the protective layer coating liquid 1 of the intermediate transfer medium 1 is changed to the protective layer coating liquid 3 having the following composition. I got 3.

<Coating liquid for protective layer 3>
・ 100 parts of heat-expandable hollow particles (Matsumoto Microsphere (registered trademark) F-30 Matsumoto Yushi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)
・ Aqueous polyurethane (solid content 37%) 30 parts (Neo Sticker (registered trademark) 400 NICCA CHEMICAL CO., LTD.)
・ 80 copies of water

(R) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium 4 The intermediate transfer medium is the same as the intermediate transfer medium 1 except that the protective layer coating liquid 1 of the intermediate transfer medium 1 is changed to the protective layer coating liquid 4 having the following composition. I got 4.

<Coating liquid for protective layer 4>
100 parts of heat-expandable hollow particles (Matsumoto Microsphere (registered trademark) FN-80GS Matsumoto Yushi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)
・ Aqueous polyurethane (solid content 37%) 30 parts (Neo Sticker (registered trademark) 400 NICCA CHEMICAL CO., LTD.)
・ 80 copies of water

(S) Preparation of Intermediate Transfer Medium 5 The intermediate transfer medium is the same as the intermediate transfer medium 1 except that the protective layer coating liquid 1 of the intermediate transfer medium 1 is changed to the protective layer coating liquid 5 having the following composition. I got 5.

<Coating liquid 5 for protective layer>
・ 100 parts of heat-expandable hollow particles (Expansel (registered trademark) 031-40 Nippon Philite Co., Ltd.)
・ Aqueous polyurethane (solid content 37%) 30 parts (Neo Sticker (registered trademark) 400 NICCA CHEMICAL CO., LTD.)
・ 80 copies of water

2. Test Method As shown in Table 2, the combination of the thermal transfer sheet and the intermediate transfer medium was changed to produce a printed matter under the following printer conditions and transfer target conditions, and these were produced in Examples 1 to 16 and Comparative Example 1, It was set to 2. Details of each Example and Comparative Example will be described.

(Printer printing conditions)
Thermal head: KEE-57-12GAN2-STA (manufactured by Kyocera Corporation)
Average resistance of heating element: 3303 (Ω)
Main scanning direction Print density: 300 (dpi)
Sub-scanning direction print density: 300 (dpi)
1 line period: 2.0 (msec.)
(Condition 1) Printing start temperature: 100 (° C)
(Condition 2) Printing start temperature: 200 (° C)

(Retransfer condition)
Laminator: Lami Packer LPD3212 (manufactured by Fujipla)
Temperature: 145 ° C
Speed: 0.8 (set value)

(Material composition of card base material)
-Polyvinyl chloride compound (degree of polymerization 800) 100 parts (containing about 10% of additives such as stabilizers)
・ 10 parts of white pigment (titanium oxide) ・ 0.5 part of plasticizer (DOP)

(A) Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Example 1 In the combination of the intermediate transfer medium and the thermal transfer sheet shown in Table 2, the energy of 255/255 gradation was applied according to the condition 2 under the above printer printing conditions to obtain the thermal transfer sheet. A part of the transfer layer in which the peel-off layer is heated and the release layer, the protective layer, and the receiving layer are laminated in this order (hereinafter, a part of the transfer layer is referred to as a "predetermined region"). Removed. Further, the intermediate transfer medium from which the predetermined region was removed was combined with a card having the above material composition as the transfer material, and heated while being sandwiched between a heat roller and a pressure roller under the retransfer conditions of the printer to obtain a printed matter. ..

(B) Examples 5 to 8 In the combination of the intermediate transfer medium and the thermal transfer sheet shown in Table 2, the energy of 255/255 gradation is applied according to the condition 2 under the above printer printing conditions to form the heat seal layer of the thermal transfer sheet. A part was heated, and a part of the region (hereinafter, a part of the transfer layer is referred to as a "predetermined region") was transferred to the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer state. Further, the intermediate transfer medium to which the predetermined region is transferred is combined with the card having the above material composition as the transfer material, and heated while being sandwiched between the heat roller and the pressure roller under the retransfer conditions of the printer to obtain a printed matter. rice field.

(C) Examples 9 to 12 and Comparative Example 2 Using the combination of the intermediate transfer medium and the thermal transfer sheet in Table 2, the energy of 255/255 gradation is applied according to the condition 1 under the above printer printing conditions, and first, thermal transfer is performed. The heat-sealed layer of the sheet was transferred onto the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer medium. Next, the intermediate transfer medium to which the heat seal layer is transferred and the thermal transfer sheet having the peel-off layer prepared above are combined, and energy of 255/255 gradation is applied according to the condition 2 under the above printer printing conditions to form a release layer. , A part of the region of the transfer layer in which the protective layer and the receiving layer were laminated in this order (hereinafter, a part of the region of the transfer layer is referred to as a "predetermined region") was removed. Further, the intermediate transfer medium from which the predetermined region was removed was combined with a card having the above material composition as the transfer material, and heated while being sandwiched between a heat roller and a pressure roller under the retransfer conditions of the printer to obtain a printed matter. ..

(D) Examples 13 to 16 In the combination of the intermediate transfer medium and the thermal transfer sheet in Table 2, the energy of 255/255 gradation is applied according to the condition 2 under the above printer printing conditions, and the peeling layer, the protective layer, and the receiving layer are received. A part of the transfer layer in which the layers were laminated in this order (hereinafter, a part of the transfer layer is referred to as a "predetermined region") was removed. Further, the intermediate transfer medium from which the predetermined region was removed was combined with a card having the above material composition as the transfer material, and heated while being sandwiched between a heat roller and a pressure roller under the retransfer conditions of the printer to obtain a printed matter. ..

3. 3. Evaluation Results Table 3 shows the results of evaluation of Examples 1 to 16 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2. Each evaluation item and judgment criteria will be described below.

(A) Peel-off property (judgment criteria)
A: The transfer layer corresponding to the "predetermined region" has been accurately removed.
B: A part of the transfer layer corresponding to the "predetermined region" remains slightly, or the transfer layer is removed so as to slightly protrude the "predetermined region", but there is no problem in use.
NG: The transfer layer is removed so as to extend far beyond the “predetermined region”.

(B) Retransferability (judgment criteria)
A: The "predetermined region" is accurately re-transcribed.
B: The "predetermined region" slightly protrudes and is re-transcribed, but it is at a level where there is no problem in use.
NG: The "predetermined region" is greatly extended and re-transcribed.

(C) Adhesion to the transfer target (judgment criteria)
A: The transferred body and the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer medium are adhered to each other.
B: Adhesion between the transfer target and the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer medium is weak, but there is no problem in use.
NG: Adhesion between the transferred material and the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer medium is weak and cannot be used.

(D) Evaluation Results As shown in Table 3, in Examples 1 to 4 according to the configuration of the second embodiment in which a heat-expanding region is provided in the peel-off layer and contains heat-expandable hollow particles, depending on the type of hollow particles, the amount may vary. However, the peel-off property was clearly better than that of Comparative Example 1 in which the thermal expansion region was not provided in the peel-off layer. In Examples 5 to 8 according to the configuration of the first embodiment in which the heat-sealed layer was provided with a heat-expandable region and contained heat-expandable hollow particles, there was no problem in retransferability.

Further, in Examples 9 to 12 according to the configuration of the third embodiment, the heat-sealing layer is provided with a heat-expandable region, contains heat-expandable hollow particles, and a part of the transfer layer is removed by the peel-off layer. Although some differences were observed depending on the type of hollow particles, the peel-off property was clearly better than that of Comparative Example 2 in which the thermal expansion region was not provided in the heat seal layer. Further, in Examples 13 to 16 according to the configuration of the fourth embodiment, the transfer layer of the intermediate transfer medium is provided with a heat expansion region, contains heat-expandable hollow particles, and a part of the transfer layer is removed by a peel-off layer. Although there were some differences depending on the type of hollow particles, both the peel-off property and the adhesion to the transferred material were good.

1 Support 2, 2A, 2B Release layer 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D Receptive layer 4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E Transfer layer 5 Base material 5A First base material 6 Back layer 6A Second Base material 7 Selected area 8 Removal area 10, 10B, 10C Transfer foil, intermediate transfer medium, protective layer Transfer sheet 11, 11A First heat seal layer 12, 12A Second heat seal layer 13, 13A Third heat seal layer 14, 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D Heat seal layer 15 Color material layer 16 Thermal transfer image 17 Transferee 18, 18A, 18B, 18C, 18D, 18E, 18F, 18G, 18H Imprint 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, 20F Thermal transfer sheet 21, 21A 1st thermal transfer sheet 22 2nd peel-off layer 23, 23A 3rd peel-off layer 24, 24A, 24B, 24C Peel-off layer 25 1st thermal transfer sheet 26 2nd thermal transfer sheet 27, 27A Protective layer 28, 28A Adhesive layer 31 Thermal head 32 Heat roller 33 Pressurized roller

Claims (10)

A transfer foil with a transfer layer on one surface of the support,
A thermal transfer sheet in which a heat seal layer is provided on one surface of a base material,
And with the transcribed
A method for producing a printed matter, which comprises a step of transferring a selected region of a transfer layer of a transfer foil onto a transfer target.
A transfer foil preparation step for preparing a transfer foil having a transfer layer provided on one surface of the support, and a transfer foil preparation step.
A thermal transfer sheet preparation step of preparing a thermal transfer sheet in which a heat seal layer including a thermal expansion region that expands by heating at a predetermined temperature is provided on one surface of the base material.
A transfer step of the heat seal layer in which the heat seal layer is heated to a predetermined heating temperature and the heat seal layer is transferred to a selected region of the transfer layer.
A method for producing a printed matter, comprising a transfer step of a transfer layer in which a region including the selected region of the transfer layer is transferred onto a transfer target via the heat seal layer after the transfer of the heat seal layer. A transfer foil with a transfer layer on one surface of the support,
A thermal transfer sheet with a peel-off layer on one surface of the substrate,
And with the transcribed
A method for producing a printed matter, which comprises a step of removing a removal region of a transfer layer of a transfer foil by a peel-off layer of a thermal transfer sheet, and a step of transferring the transfer layer remaining after the removal region is removed onto a transfer target. And
A transfer foil preparation step for preparing a transfer foil having a transfer layer provided on one surface of the support, and a transfer foil preparation step.
(1) A thermal transfer sheet or a thermal transfer sheet provided with a heat seal layer including a thermal expansion region that expands by heating at a predetermined temperature and a peel-off layer on the same surface of the base material.
(2) A first thermal transfer sheet provided with a heat seal layer including a thermal expansion region that expands by heating at a predetermined temperature on one surface of the first base material, and on one surface of the second base material. A second thermal transfer sheet provided with a peel-off layer, a process of preparing the thermal transfer sheet, and a process of preparing the thermal transfer sheet.
A transfer step of the heat seal layer in which the heat seal layer is heated and the heat seal layer is transferred to the removal region of the transfer layer.
After the transfer of the heat seal layer, the peel-off layer is heated to a predetermined heating temperature, and the removal region of the transfer layer is removed via the heat seal layer.
A method for producing a printed matter, which comprises a transfer step of a transfer layer for transferring the transfer layer remaining after the removal region is removed onto a transfer target. The heat seal layer has a laminated structure including a first heat seal layer and a second heat seal layer.
The second heat seal layer is arranged closer to the base material than the first heat seal layer.
The thermal expansion region is included in the first heat seal layer, and the thermal expansion region is included in the first heat seal layer.
The method for producing a printed matter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first heat-sealing layer has a larger degree of expansion due to heating at a predetermined temperature than the second heat-sealing layer. The heat seal layer further has a third heat seal layer.
The third heat seal layer is arranged farther from the base material than the first heat seal layer.
The method for producing a printed matter according to claim 3, wherein the first heat-sealing layer has a larger degree of expansion due to heating at a predetermined temperature than the third heat-sealing layer. Using a transfer foil having a transfer layer on one surface of the support, a thermal transfer sheet having a peel-off layer on one surface of the substrate, and an object to be transferred, a region for removing the transfer layer of the transfer foil. Is a method for producing a printed matter, which comprises a step of removing with a peel-off layer of a thermal transfer sheet and a step of transferring the transfer layer remaining after the removal region is removed onto a transfer target.
A transfer foil preparation step for preparing a transfer foil having a transfer layer provided on one surface of the support, and a transfer foil preparation step.
A thermal transfer sheet preparation step of preparing a thermal transfer sheet provided with a peel-off layer including a thermal expansion region that expands by heating at a predetermined temperature on one surface of the base material.
The peel-off layer is heated to a predetermined heating temperature, the peel-off layer is adhered to the removal region of the transfer layer, and after the transfer, the region including the removal region of the transfer layer is removed via the peel-off layer. Process and
A method for producing a printed matter, which comprises a transfer step of a transfer layer for transferring the transfer layer remaining after the removal region is removed onto a transfer target. The peel-off layer has a laminated structure including a first peel-off layer and a second peel-off layer.
The second peel-off layer is arranged closer to the base material than the first peel-off layer.
The thermal expansion region is included in the first peel-off layer, and the thermal expansion region is included in the first peel-off layer.
The method for producing a printed matter according to claim 5, wherein the first peel-off layer has a larger degree of expansion due to heating at a predetermined temperature than the second peel-off layer. The peel-off layer further has a third peel-off layer.
The third peel-off layer is arranged farther from the base material than the first peel-off layer.
The method for producing a printed matter according to claim 6, wherein the first peel-off layer has a larger degree of expansion due to heating at a predetermined temperature than the third peel-off layer. The transfer foil is an intermediate transfer medium in which a transfer layer including a receptor layer is provided on one surface of the support.
The method for producing a printed matter according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the transfer foil preparation step includes a step of forming a thermal transfer image on the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer medium. The thermal transfer sheet is provided with a color material layer and a heat seal layer on the same surface of the base material.
The method for producing a printed matter according to claim 8, wherein in the step of forming the thermal transfer image, the thermal transfer image is formed on the receiving layer of the intermediate transfer medium by the color material layer of the thermal transfer sheet. The method for producing a printed matter according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the thermal expansion region contains hollow particles having thermal expansion property.

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