JPH0550774A - Accepting layer transfer sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form a high-quality and -density image having no hickey and shortage of dot even on rough paper or the like having no surface smoothness by a method wherein a dye accepting layer and an intermediate layer are provided on a surface of a base film, and the intermediate layer is made of a resin having a Tg temperature of a specific range. CONSTITUTION:An accepting layer transfer sheet consists of a base film 1, a release layer, which is provided on one surface of the base film 1 as required, an accepting layer 2, an intermediate layer 3, and an adhesive layer 4 which is provided as required. The intermediate layer 3 prevents fibers or the like exposed on the surface of paper or the like serving as a transfer medium from being exposed on the surface of the transferred accepting layer. This film is a resin having a Tg temperature of -20 +4 deg.C, such as polyurethane resin or polyester resin, and esp. preferably a resin exhibiting a tensile elongation at break of 5-50% when it is formed into the intermediate layer 3. In this manner, superior cushioning characteristics are obtained, fibers and unevenness are prevented from being exposed on the surface of the transferred accepting layer even if the transfer medium is a rough paper or the like, and a high- quality and -density image having no hickey and shortage of dot can be formed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a receptive layer transfer sheet, and more specifically, even if a transfer target material having a coarse mesh, white spots,
The present invention relates to a receptive layer transfer sheet that provides a dye receptive layer capable of forming a high-quality image without defects such as chips.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various thermal transfer methods have been known. Among them, a sublimable dye is used as a recording agent, which is carried on a base film such as paper or plastic film to form a thermal transfer sheet, which is used as a dye receiving sheet. There have been proposed methods for forming various full-color images on a transfer material such as a paper or a plastic film provided with a layer. In this case, the thermal head of the printer is used as the heating means, and a large number of three-color or four-color dots are transferred to the transfer material by heating for an extremely short time, and the full-color image of the original is formed by the multi-color dots. Is to be reproduced. The image formed in this way is extremely clear because the coloring material used is a dye and has excellent transparency, so the resulting image has excellent reproducibility of intermediate colors and gradation, and It is possible to form a high quality image which is similar to the image obtained by the offset printing or gravure printing and which is comparable to the full color photographic image.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However,
The transferable material capable of forming an image by the above method is limited to a dye-stainable plastic sheet or a paper having a dye-receptive layer provided in advance, and an image cannot be directly formed on ordinary plain paper. There's a problem. Of course, even ordinary plain paper can be image-formed by forming a receptive layer on the surface thereof, but this is generally costly. For example, postcards, memos, notepapers, and reports. It is difficult to apply to general off-the-shelf transfer materials such as paper. As a method of solving such a problem, when an image is to be formed on a ready-to-be-transferred material such as plain paper, as a method of easily forming a dye receiving layer only on a necessary portion thereof, a receiving layer transfer sheet Is known (see, for example, JP-A-62-264994).

However, in the case of using the receptor layer transfer sheet as described above, there are few problems in the case of processed paper having a smooth surface, but in the case of rough plain paper, postcards and other paper, fibers are not present on the surface. Since it is exposed and lacks the smoothness of the surface, the transfer of the receiving layer is not carried out uniformly and unevenness occurs, or the fibers of the paper are exposed on the surface of the receiving layer. As a result, the image formed on the transferred receiving layer suffers from white spots and chips, which makes it impossible to obtain a high-quality image. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a receptive layer transfer sheet which solves the above-mentioned problems and is capable of forming a high-quality and high-density image without white spots and defects even on rough paper whose surface is not smooth. It is to be.

[0005]

The above object can be achieved by the present invention described below. That is, the present invention is characterized in that a dye receiving layer and an intermediate layer are provided on one surface of a base film in the order described, and the intermediate layer is made of a resin having Tg of -20 ° C to + 40 ° C. A transfer sheet for the receiving layer, a tensile break elongation of the intermediate layer in the range of 5 to 50%, and the intermediate layer for the intermediate layer are made of an acrylic resin emulsion. A characteristic receiving layer transfer sheet.

[0006]

[Function] By forming the intermediate layer of the receiving layer transfer sheet from a resin having specific physical properties, excellent cushioning properties are imparted,
Even when the fibers are transferred to a rough paper or the like exposed on the surface, the fibers and the unevenness do not appear on the surface of the transfer receiving layer, and it is possible to form a high-quality and high-density image without white spots or chips.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following preferred embodiments. One example of the receptor layer transfer sheet of the present invention is, as schematically shown in FIG. 1, a release layer (not shown), a receptor layer 2, and an intermediate layer 3 which are provided on one surface of a base film 1 as required. And an adhesive layer 4 provided as necessary. The receptive layer thermal transfer sheet of the present invention is not limited to the example of FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. 2, it is necessary for the layers provided on one surface of the long base film 1 to be face-sequential. Accordingly, the dye layer 7 of one color or a plurality of colors via the adhesive layer 6, for example,
Yellow (7Y), magenta (7M), cyan (7C)
It also includes a configuration in which each black (not shown) dye layer is provided as necessary, and a configuration (not shown) in which the transfer protection layer 8 and the adhesive layer 9 are similarly provided on the transfer protection layer 8 in the same manner. 5
And 10 are back layers.

As the base material film used in the image-receiving layer transfer sheet of the present invention, the same base material film as used in the conventional thermal transfer sheet can be used as it is, and other materials can be used. There is no particular limitation. Specific examples of preferable base film include thin paper such as glassine paper, capacitor paper, paraffin paper, polyester, polypropylene, cellophane, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, nylon, polyimide, polyvinylidene chloride. , A plastic such as an ionomer, or a base film in which these are combined with the preceding paper. The thickness of the base film can be appropriately changed depending on the material so that the strength, heat resistance and the like are appropriate, but the thickness is preferably 3 to 100 μm.

Prior to the formation of the receiving layer, it is preferable to form a release layer on the surface of the base film. The release layer is formed of a release agent such as water-soluble resin, hydrophilic resin, waxes, silicone wax, silicone resin, fluororesin, acrylic resin and the like. The forming method may be the same as the forming method of the receiving layer described later, and the thickness thereof is about 0.01 to 5 μm. When a matte receiving layer is desired after transfer, it may be formed into a matte surface by incorporating various particles in the release layer or by using a base film having the release layer side surface matt treated. I can. Of course, when the substrate film as described above has an appropriate releasability, it is not necessary to form the release layer.

The dye receiving layer formed on the surface of the substrate film receives the sublimable dye transferred from the thermal transfer sheet after transferring the receiving layer to any transfer material, and maintains the formed image. It is for the purpose. Examples of the resin for forming the dye receiving layer include polyolefin resin such as polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer, halogenated polymer such as polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylic ester. Etc., vinyl polymers, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, etc. polyester resins, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, ethylene, propylene and other monomers, binary or ternary copolymer resins, ionomers , Cellulose-based resins such as cellulose diacetate, polycarbonates, and the like, and particularly preferred are vinyl-based resins and polyester-based resins.

Preferred releasing agents to be mixed with the above resins include silicone oils, phosphate ester type surfactants and fluorine type surfactants, with silicone oils being preferable. As the silicone oil, a modified silicone oil such as epoxy modified, alkyl modified, amino modified, carboxyl modified, alcohol modified, fluorine modified, alkylaralkyl polyether modified, epoxy / polyether modified, polyether modified is desirable. As the release agent, one type or two or more types are used. or,
The amount of the releasing agent added is preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the resin for forming the dye receiving layer. If the addition amount range is not satisfied, problems such as fusion of the thermal transfer sheet and the dye receiving layer or deterioration of printing sensitivity may occur. By adding such a releasing agent to the dye receiving layer, the releasing agent bleeds out on the surface of the receiving layer after transfer to form a releasing layer.

The receptive layer may be prepared by dissolving one of the above-mentioned base film and the above-mentioned resin with necessary additives such as a release agent dissolved in a suitable organic solvent or an organic solvent. It is formed by applying and drying the dispersion dispersed in water by a forming means such as a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, and a reverse roll coating method using a gravure plate. When forming the dye receiving layer,
Kaolin clay, for the purpose of improving foil breakage of the receptor layer,
Fillers such as calcium carbonate and finely divided silica can be added. The dye-receptive layer formed as described above may have any thickness, but generally has a thickness of 1 to 50 μm.
Further, such a dye receiving layer is preferably a continuous coating, but it may be formed as a discontinuous coating by using a resin emulsion or resin dispersion.

In the present invention, an intermediate layer is provided on the surface of the dye receiving layer. The intermediate layer has a function of preventing the fibers and the like exposed on the surface of the transfer material such as paper from being exposed on the surface of the transfer receiving layer, and is preferably a film having a high elasticity to some extent. Such a coating has a Tg of -20 ° C to +4.
Resins at 0 ° C, such as polyurethane resin, polyester resin, acrylic resin, polyethylene resin, butadiene rubber, epoxy resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, polyamide resin, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, ethylene, propylene, etc. Examples thereof include binary or ternary copolymer resins of monomers, ionomers, and the like, and particularly preferable are resins having a tensile elongation at break of 5 to 50% when formed in the intermediate layer. Further, the above resin can be used as an emulsion emulsified in water to form an intermediate layer as a discontinuous film, and in this way, a film that is soft and has cushioning properties and has good foil breakage during transfer can be obtained. It is possible to do so, which is preferable. If the Tg exceeds + 40 ° C or if the resin has a tensile elongation at break of less than 5%, sufficient cushioning properties cannot be obtained, and color loss or chipping of the dye may occur during image formation after transfer. If the Tg is too low or the tensile elongation is too large, there is a problem that foil breakage at the time of transfer is bad and foil residue occurs. The tensile rupture elongation was applied by coating a resin solution on release paper so that the dry thickness would be 10 μm, forming a film, cutting the release paper to a size of 10 cm × 1 cm, and then peeling off the film. It was measured by "Tensilon" manufactured by Co., Ltd.

The intermediate layer formed as described above generally has a thickness of about 0.1 to 30 μm, but as shown in FIG. In the case of using a thermal transfer sheet, the thickness of the dye layer is usually several μm, and if the transfer receiving layer is too thick, it may be wrinkled due to the difference in thickness when it is wound into a roll and stored or when it is rewound during image formation. Such problems may occur. In this case, in order to solve such a problem, it is preferable that the total thickness of the dye receiving layer + the intermediate layer + the adhesive layer is formed as thin as possible. For example, the thickness of the intermediate layer is about 1 to 10 μm. Keep the other layers as thin as possible, making the total thickness 3
It is preferably about 30 μm. Even if the overall thickness is reduced in this way, since the intermediate layer is a film having high elasticity, it is possible to suppress the harmful effects of the fibers exposed on the surface of the paper during transfer of the receiving layer.

In the present invention, an adhesive layer may be provided on the surface of the above-mentioned intermediate layer in order to improve transferability. These adhesive layers are applied and dried with a solution of a resin having good adhesiveness at the time of heating, such as polyamide resin, acrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer resin, epoxy resin, polyester resin, etc. By doing so, it is preferably formed to a thickness of about 0.5 to 10 μm. In the present invention, it is also preferable to provide fine irregularities on the surface of the intermediate layer or the adhesive layer to prevent blocking when the transfer sheet is wound on a roll and stored. A foaming agent or bubbles may be contained in the intermediate layer or the adhesive layer to impart excellent cushioning properties to the transfer receiving layer. Further, a white pigment such as titanium oxide or a fluorescent whitening agent may be included to transfer the layer. It is also possible to impart excellent whiteness and hiding power to the receptor layer.

Using the receptor layer transfer sheet as described above,
The material to be transferred for transferring the transfer layer including the receiving layer is not particularly limited, and may be any sheet such as plain paper, high-quality paper, tracing paper, plastic film, etc., and in terms of shape, a card, Any of postcards, passports, letter papers, report papers, notebooks, catalogs and the like may be used, and particularly, it is applicable to plain paper and rough paper having a rough surface. The transfer method of the transfer layer is a general printer equipped with a thermal head for thermal transfer, a hot stamper for transfer foil, a heat roll, or any other heating method capable of heating the intermediate layer or the adhesive layer to a temperature at which the adhesive layer is activated. Pressurizing means may be used.

[0017]

EXAMPLES Next, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples. In the text, “part” or “%” is based on weight unless otherwise specified. Example 1 The surface of a 25 μm thick polyester film (trade name “Lumirror”, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) was coated with a coating liquid for a receiving layer having the following composition by a bar coater at a rate of 5.0 g / m ² when dried. Then, after temporary drying with a dryer, it is dried in an oven at 100 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a dye receiving layer, and the following intermediate layer coating liquid is applied on the receiving layer at a rate of 4 g / m ² when dried. Then, the adhesive layer coating liquid described below is applied and dried in the same manner at a rate of ² g / m ² during drying to form an adhesive layer, which is further crosslinked at 120 ° C. for 10 minutes to form a book. The receiving layer transfer sheet of the invention was obtained. Composition of coating liquid for receiving layer ; vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (VYHD, manufactured by Union Carbide) 100 parts Epoxy-modified silicone (KF-393, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 6 parts Amino-modified silicone (KS-343, Shin-Etsu) Chemical industry) 6 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 400 parts

Coating liquid composition for intermediate layer : Acrylic emulsion (AE-120, manufactured by Japan Synthetic Rubber, Tg = -10 ° C.) 100 parts Coating liquid composition for adhesive layer ; Polymethylmethacrylate resin (BR-106, Mitsubishi) Rayon) 100 parts Titanium oxide (TCA-888, Tochem Products, TCA888, average particle size 0.2 μm) 50 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 300 parts

Example 2 The receiving layer transfer of the present invention was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the following coating liquid was used in place of the intermediate layer coating liquid in Example 1 (thickness 3 g / m ² ). A sheet was formed. Composition of coating liquid for intermediate layer : Polyester resin (Chemit KS7017W5, manufactured by Toray, Tg = -11 ° C) 100 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 400 parts Example 3 Coating liquid for intermediate layer in Example 1 Instead of the above, the following coating liquid was used (thickness: 2 g / m ² ) and otherwise the same as in Example 1 to form a receptor layer transfer sheet of the present invention. Composition of coating liquid for intermediate layer : Polyurethane resin (E-701, manufactured by Takeda Yakuhin Kogyo, Tg = + 2 ° C.) 100 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 500 parts Example 4 Coating for intermediate layer in Example 1 The receiving layer transfer sheet of the present invention was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the following coating liquid was used (thickness: 2 g / m ² ) instead of the coating liquid. Composition of coating liquid for intermediate layer : Polyurethane resin (E-760, Takeda Yakuhin Kogyo, Tg = + 33 ° C.) 100 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 400 parts

Comparative Example 1 A receiving layer transfer sheet of Comparative Example was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the following coating liquid was used in place of the intermediate layer coating liquid in Example 1. Composition of coating liquid for intermediate layer : Acrylic emulsion (AE-336, manufactured by Nippon Synthetic Rubber, Tg = -48 ° C) 100 parts Comparative Example 2 Instead of the coating liquid for intermediate layer in Example 1, the following coating liquid was used. A receptive layer transfer sheet of Comparative Example was formed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the above was used. Composition of coating liquid for intermediate layer : Acrylic emulsion (HD-11, manufactured by Toagosei Kagaku, Tg = 90 ° C.) 100 parts Comparative Example 3 Receiving layer transfer of Comparative Example as in Example 1 except that no intermediate layer was formed. A sheet was formed.

On the other hand, a 6 μm-thick polyethylene terephthalate film having a back surface subjected to a heat treatment was prepared by preparing a dye layer ink having the following composition, and the dry coating amount was 1.0 g / m ^2.
Coated with a wire bar and dried, and then drop a few drops of silicone oil (X-4414003A, made by Shin-Etsu Silicone) on the back side with a dropper, then spread it over the entire surface and apply a back surface treatment to obtain a thermal transfer sheet. It was Ink composition for dye layer : Disperse dye (Kayaset Blue 714, manufactured by Nippon Kayaku) 4.0 parts Ethyl hydroxycellulose (manufactured by Hercules) 5.0 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio (1/1) 80.0 parts) Dioxane 10.0 parts The receptive layer transfer sheet and plain paper were superposed, and the receptive layer was transferred using a heat roll.Then, the thermal transfer sheet was superposed on the surface of the receptive layer and a thermal head was used. A cyan image was formed by printing under the conditions of an output of 1 W / dot, a pulse width of 0.3 to 0.45 msec, and a dot density of 3 dots / mm.Table 1 shows the quality of the cyan image obtained above. ..

[0022]

[Table 1]

Example 5 A polyethylene terephthalate film (manufactured by Toray) having a thickness of 4.5 μm and having a heat resistant slipping layer formed on the back surface and the other surface having been subjected to a mold release treatment, has a width of 30 cm and an interval. 90c
m coating solution for receiving layer having the following composition with a bar coater at a ratio of 2 μm when dried, tentatively dried with a dryer, and then dried in an oven at 100 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a dye receiving layer, Further, using the following intermediate layer coating liquid and adhesive layer coating liquid on the surface, the total thickness of the intermediate layer and the adhesive layer (receiving layer + intermediate layer + adhesive layer) was 8 g / in the same manner as in Example 1.
m ² ) was formed. Receptor layer coating liquid composition Vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer resin (VYHD, manufactured by Union Carbide) 100 parts Epoxy-modified silicone (KF-393, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 8 parts Amino-modified silicone (X-22-343, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 8 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 400 parts Coating liquid composition for intermediate layer ; Acrylic emulsion (AE-621, manufactured by Japan Synthetic Rubber, Tg = 0 ° C.) Coating for adhesive layer Liquid composition Acrylic resin (BR-106, made by Mitsubishi Rayon) 100 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 300 parts

Subsequently, a coating liquid for an adhesive layer having the following composition and 3
Each color dye layer coating liquid is prepared, and the coating liquid for the adhesive layer and the coating liquid for the dye layer are dried in the order of 30 cm each on the surface of the base film on which the receiving layer is not formed. Of 0.5 μm and 1.0 μm, respectively, were applied and dried by a gravure coater to obtain a composite thermal transfer sheet of the present invention. Adhesive layer coating liquid composition: Polyester resin (Adcoat 335A) 35 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 65 parts Yellow Dye layer coating liquid composition : Disperse dye (Macrolex Yellow 6G, Bayer) 5.5 parts Polyvinyl butyral resin (S-REC BX-1, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) 4.5 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 89.0 parts In the same manner, the magenta dye layer coating liquid is a disperse dye. (C.
I. Disperse Red 6G) and a cyan dye layer coating solution were prepared using disperse dyes (CI Solvent blue 63).

Example 6 In Example 5, dyeing was further carried out from a coating solution for protective layer having the following composition.
2g / m dry coating amount on the surface next to the material layer^TwoTransferable protective layer
Was formed to obtain a composite thermal transfer sheet of the present invention. Composition of coating liquid for protective layer : Polyester resin (Vylon 600, manufactured by Toyobo) 20.0 parts Epoxy-modified silicone (KF-393, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical) 0.5 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 80.0 parts The composite of the present invention described above. The receiving layer side of the thermal transfer sheet and the postcard
Output 1W / dot using the thermal head
Pulse width 0.3 to 0.45 msec., Dot density 3 dots
The transfer of the receptive layer under the condition of
Yellow signal obtained by color separation of the original on the surface of the receiving layer
Is printed, and a yellow dye layer is overlaid to form a yellow image.
Formed. Furthermore, the magenta signal is added to the image area obtained above.
To change the magenta dye to a similar cyan signal.
Transfer more cyan dye to form a full-color image,
Further, in the case of Example 6, the protective layer was transferred onto the image surface.
As a result, a full-color image excellent as in Examples 1 to 4 was obtained.
The image was obtained.

[0026]

[Effects] According to the present invention as described above, by forming the intermediate layer of the receiving layer transfer sheet from a resin having specific physical properties, even if the fibers are transferred to a coarse paper or the like with the surface exposed, the fibers and irregularities are not formed. It is possible to form a high-quality and high-density image that does not appear on the surface of the transfer receiving layer and has no white spots or defects. or,
When the composite thermal transfer sheet is used, the total thickness of the transferable receiving layer can be reduced.

[0027]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a cross section of a receiving layer transfer sheet of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a cross section of a receiving layer transfer sheet of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Base Film 2: Receptive Layer 3: Intermediate Layer 4: Adhesive Layer 5: Back Layer 6: Adhesive Layer 7: Dye Layer 8: Protective Layer 9: Adhesive Layer 10: Back Layer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A dye-receptive layer and an intermediate layer are provided on one surface of a base film in the order described, and the intermediate layer is made of a resin having a Tg of −20 ° C. to + 40 ° C. Receiving layer transfer sheet. 2. A dye-receptive layer and an intermediate layer are provided in this order on one side of a base film, and the tensile breaking elongation of the intermediate layer is in the range of 5 to 50%. And a receptive layer transfer sheet. 3. A receptor layer transfer sheet comprising a base film and a dye-receptive layer and an intermediate layer provided on one side of the substrate film in this order, the intermediate layer comprising an emulsion of an acrylic resin. .. 4. The receptive layer transfer sheet according to claim 1, further comprising a dye layer and / or a transfer protection layer formed in a frame-sequential manner.