JPH07242072A - Thermal transfer recording method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry out uniform heating, obtain good thermal response and obviate preheating by performing the transfer of a receiving layer having an image formed thereto to a receiving material by using a line heater. CONSTITUTION:The transfer of a receiving layer having an image formed thereto is performed using a line heater. The line heater is constituted by providing a heat resistance layer 5, a heating resistor 2, electrodes 3 and an abrasion-resistant layer 4 on a radiation substrate 1 so that the heat resistance layer 5 is formed so as to be protuberant on the radiation substrate 1. The heating resistor 2 is formed into a linear shape and, when a current is supplied to the heating resistor 2 through the electrodes 3, the part held between the left and right electrodes 3 of the heating resistor 2 generates heat. Upwardly diffused heat is transmitted to an intermediate transfer recording medium and a receiving material through the abrasion-resistant layer 4 and downwardly diffused heat is transmitted to the radiation substrate through the heat resistance layer 5. The heat resistance layer 5 achieves a function properly suppressing the diffusion of heat to the radiation substrate 1. As a result, uniform heating becomes possible and a control part can be simplified as compared with a thermal head. Further, thermal response is good and preheating becomes unnecessary and an apparatus can be miniaturized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording method and apparatus having means for transferring a receiving layer of an intermediate transfer recording medium on which thermal transfer recording has been carried out, to an object to be transferred.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a thermal transfer sheet having a color material layer provided on one surface of a base sheet, and a transfer target provided with an image receiving layer as needed are used as a heating device such as a thermal head. Pressing against the platen to selectively heat the heat generation part of the heating device according to the image information, transferring the color material contained in the color material layer of the thermal transfer sheet to the transfer target, and recording the image. A thermal transfer method has been proposed. Among them, the heat-sensitive melting transfer method and the heat-sensitive sublimation transfer method are widely used. The heat-sensitive melt transfer method uses a thermal transfer sheet in which a hot-melt ink layer in which a coloring material such as a pigment is dispersed in a heat-melting wax or a binder such as a resin is carried on a base material sheet such as a plastic film. This is an image forming method in which energy corresponding to image information is applied to a heating device such as a head to transfer a color material together with a binder onto a transfer target such as paper or a plastic sheet. An image formed by the heat-sensitive melt transfer method has high density and excellent sharpness, and is suitable for recording binary images such as characters and line drawings. Also, using a thermal transfer sheet of yellow, magenta, cyan, black, etc.,
It is also possible to form a multicolor or color image by superposing and recording on the transfer target. The thermal sublimation transfer method is
A dye layer in which a sublimable dye used as a coloring material is dissolved or dispersed in a binder resin is carried on a base sheet such as a plastic film, and a thermal transfer sheet is provided, and an image receiving layer is provided on a support such as paper or a plastic sheet. By applying energy corresponding to the image information to a heating device such as a thermal head, the sublimable dye contained in the dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet is transferred to the image receiving layer on the transfer target. Is a method of recording an image. In the thermal sublimation transfer method, the transfer amount of the dye can be controlled in dot units of the thermal head according to the amount of energy applied to the thermal transfer sheet, so that gradation reproduction by density gradation becomes possible. Further, since the coloring material used is a dye, the formed image has transparency and is excellent in the reproducibility of the intermediate color when the dyes of different colors are superposed. Therefore, 3 colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, or 4 with black added
It is possible to form a high-quality full-color image by recording these three or four colors on an image-receiving paper by using a color thermal transfer sheet.

However, according to the above method, sublimation transfer can be performed on a special paper having a receiving layer, but sublimation transfer is directly performed on a transfer target such as plain paper having no receiving layer to obtain a high quality image. It was almost impossible to get. Therefore,
In order to enable image formation on any transferred material, first, the above-mentioned thermal transfer sheet is used on the image receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium in which the image receiving layer is releasably provided on the substrate sheet. There is also known a method of forming an image and then heating an intermediate transfer recording medium to transfer the image-receiving layer having the image formed thereon onto an arbitrary transfer target (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-2387).
91). In the transfer target to which the image is transferred by this method, the dye image surface is on the transfer target side and the receiving layer covers the dye image side, so that the durability of the dye image is improved. Also,
In order to transfer the receptor layer having a dye image from such an intermediate transfer recording medium, a thermal head, a hot stamper, a heat roll, etc. are usually used as a heating means.

[0004]

By the way, in the method of transferring and forming the receiving layer by using the thermal head, the thermal head is heated and cooled in a pulsed manner and this is repeated, and the thermal head is also used for pixel scanning in the main scanning direction. Since a large number of heating resistors are arranged in a unit, a non-heating portion is generated between the electrodes in the main scanning direction, and uniform heating is difficult, so cracks are likely to occur in the transferred receiving layer. If a crack is generated in the receiving layer, oxygen easily enters through the crack, which is disadvantageous in terms of weather resistance and causes deterioration of durability. Further, in the method of transferring and forming the receiving layer using a hot stamper or a heat roll, it takes time to reach a predetermined temperature. Therefore, in order to speed up the responsiveness of printing, the stamper or heat roll is heated even during non-printing ( It is necessary to preheat), which results in a large power consumption, a safety problem, and a large size of the device because of the large number of parts. In the transfer of the receiving layer, if too much heat is applied, the surface will be embossed, and if the heat is not sufficient, the adhesion of the receiving layer to the transferred material will be insufficient. Is difficult to control. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer recording method and apparatus which can solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and which can perform uniform heating, have good thermal response and do not require preheating.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a thermal transfer sheet in which a heat transferable color material layer is provided on at least one surface of a base sheet, and a receiving layer on at least one surface of the base sheet. The provided intermediate transfer recording medium is pressure-contacted between the thermal head and the platen so that the color material layer and the receiving layer overlap each other, and the thermal head generates heat in accordance with the image data, and the thermal transfer property contained in the color material layer. In the thermal transfer recording method, in which an image is formed by the transfer of the coloring material of 1 to the receiving layer, and the image formed on the intermediate transfer recording medium is transferred onto the transfer receiving material together with the receiving layer, the receiving layer on which the image is formed Is performed using a line heater. Further, it is characterized in that the heating temperature of the line heater is detected by a temperature sensitive element to control the temperature. Further, in the thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention, the intermediate transfer recording medium having the image-receiving layer formed on at least one surface of the base material sheet and the transfer target are pressed together between the platen and the image is transferred. It is characterized by having at least a line heater for transferring the formed receptive layer onto a transfer target and a line heater driving means. The thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention is a thermal transfer sheet having a heat transferable color material layer provided on at least one surface of a base material sheet and an intermediate layer having a receiving layer provided on at least one surface of the base material sheet. A transfer unit that transfers the transfer recording medium, and the transferred thermal transfer sheet and intermediate transfer recording medium
A thermal head for pressing the platen to heat the heat transfer sheet by generating heat according to the image data and transferring the heat transferable color material contained in the color material layer to the receiving layer,
A line heater and a line heater driving means for pressing the intermediate transfer recording medium on which the image is formed and the transfer receiving body between the second platen and transferring the receiving layer on which the image is formed onto the transfer receiving body. At least. Further, a temperature sensing element is arranged in the line heater, and a control means for controlling energization to the line heater according to a detection result of the temperature sensing element is provided.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a color material is transferred from a thermal transfer sheet to an intermediate transfer recording medium to form an image, and then a line heater is used to transfer the receiving layer on which the image is formed to a transfer target. Therefore, the heating can be performed more uniformly than the thermal head, and the control unit can be simplified compared to the thermal head. In addition, it has better thermal response than hot stampers and heat rolls, preheating is not required, and the device can be downsized. Further, by detecting the temperature with the temperature sensitive element and controlling the temperature, the surface temperature can be precisely controlled.

[0007]

1 and 2 are sectional views showing the structure of a thin film type line heater used for transferring a receiving layer of an intermediate transfer recording medium, and FIG. 3 shows the structure of a thick film type line heater used for transferring a receiving layer. The cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 4 is a plan view of the line heater. FIG. 1a shows the structure of a thin film line heater. In this line heater, a heat resistance layer 5, a heat generation resistor 2, an electrode 3, and an abrasion resistant layer 4 are provided on a heat dissipation substrate 1. The heat dissipation substrate 1 is made of ceramics or the like, and the heat resistance layer 5 is made of glass or the like and is formed on the heat dissipation substrate 1 so as to be raised.
The thickness of the top is 20 to 150 μm, and the thermal conductivity is 0.1 to 2
Watt / m · deg is suitable. The heating resistor 2 is T
a ₂ N, W, Cr, Ni-Cr, SnO ₂ etc.,
It is formed into a line using thin film forming technology such as vacuum deposition, CVD, and sputtering, and has a thickness of 0.05 to 3 μm.
Is appropriate. The electrode 3 is made of Al or the like, and the heating resistor 2
It is formed for the purpose of energizing the thermal resistance layer 5 excluding the ridge of the swell, and the thickness is suitably 0.1 to 3 μm. The abrasion resistant layer 4 is made of Ta ₂ O ₃ or the like, but a layer having oxidation resistance may be provided on the electrode side to form a two-layer structure. Thickness is 1
20 μm is suitable. When the heating resistor 2 of the line heater shown in FIG. 1a is energized through the electrode 3, the portions sandwiched by the left and right electrodes 3 of the heating resistor 2 generate heat, and the generated heat mainly diffuses in the vertical direction. . The heat diffused upward is transmitted to the intermediate transfer recording medium and the transferred body that are pressed against the line heater through the abrasion resistant layer. On the other hand, the heat diffused downward is transmitted to the heat dissipation substrate 1 via the thermal resistance layer 5. The heat resistance layer 5 plays a role of appropriately suppressing heat diffusion from the heat generating resistor 2 to the heat dissipation substrate 1. If the thermal resistance of the thermal resistance layer 5 is too small, the amount of heat transferred to the abrasion resistant layer becomes small, resulting in poor thermal efficiency and excessive power for heating the intermediate transfer recording medium and the transferred material to a desired temperature. You will need it. Further, if the thermal resistance of the thermal resistance layer 5 is too large, the thermal responsiveness of the line heater decreases. Therefore, in order to set the thermal resistance of the thermal resistance layer 5 to an appropriate value, it is necessary to appropriately select the thermal conductivity, the thermal capacity and the thickness of the thermal resistance layer. Note that a temperature sensitive element may be arranged on or on the back side of the heat dissipation board. The temperature-sensitive element detects the temperature and controls it by a temperature controller (not shown) based on the detected temperature, thereby enabling precise temperature control of the surface temperature. As the temperature sensitive element, a thermistor,
A thermocouple etc. are mentioned.

FIG. 2a shows another preferred embodiment of the thin film line heater. It is the same as FIG. 1a except that a flat thermal resistance layer 5 is provided on the heat dissipation substrate 1. The line heater of FIG. 1 is called a partial glaze type, and the line heater of FIG. 2 is called a full glaze type. However, the partial glaze type has better contact with the transfer target than the full glaze type, so it is faster and more uniform. Printing is possible. FIG. 3a shows an example of the structure of a thick film type line heater. The heat generating resistor 2, the electrode 3, and the abrasion resistant layer 4 are provided on the heat dissipation substrate 1. The heat dissipation substrate 1 is made of ceramics or the like, and the heat generating resistor 2 is Pd.
It is made of a resistor paste such as -Ag or RuO ₂ and is formed in a line shape by screen printing or the like. A suitable thickness is 0.1 to 20 μm. The electrode 3 is made of Au or the like and has a thickness of 0.1 to 10 μm. Abrasion resistant layer 4
Is made of glass or the like, and a suitable thickness is 0.1 to 15 μm. Since this structure can be formed by the printing technique, the cost can be reduced by mass production. Not only the line heater having the above structure, but also a ceramic resistor or a resin obtained by kneading a conductive filler or a resin obtained by processing a conductive resin into a linear shape as an exothermic resistor with an electrode attached is used. Alternatively, an abrasion resistant layer may be provided to protect the heating resistor against sliding with the film, if necessary.

The electrode structure of the line heater is as shown in FIG. 4a shows a case where the electrodes 3 are provided on both sides of the heating resistor 2 in parallel with the longitudinal direction thereof, and in FIG. 4b, the electrodes 11 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the heating resistor 2. As shown in FIG. The structure is provided at both ends, and either structure may be used. The cross-sectional views shown in FIGS. 1a, 2a and 3a are A- of a line heater of the type of FIG. 4a.
It is a sectional view between A '.

The cross-sectional structure of the line heater shown in the plan view of FIG. 4b is shown in FIGS. 1b and 3b. In FIG. 4b, electrodes are provided at both ends in the main scanning direction, so BB ′
1b and 3b showing the cross section of FIG. 1b, there is no electrode between the heating resistor and the abrasion resistant layer.
The configurations are the same as those in FIG. 3a.

The size of the heating element varies depending on the width of the printing area in the main scanning direction and is about 100 mm in A6 length and about 210 mm in A4 length. Further, the distance between the electrodes, that is, the length of the heating resistor in the sub-scanning direction (feed direction) is
It can be appropriately selected according to the resistance value of the heating resistor and the contact time with the intermediate transfer recording medium, but it is 10 μm to 10 m.
It is desirable that it is about m.

FIG. 5a is a diagram for explaining thermal transfer recording using the line heater of the present invention, which uses an apparatus in which an image receiving layer transfer section using the line heater is independently configured. The thermal transfer film 20 is unwound from the unwinding roll 21 and wound up by the winding roll 22. The intermediate transfer recording medium 23 is unwound from the unwinding roll 24 and wound up by the winding roll 25. These are pressed into contact with the thermal head 26 and the platen 27 in the sublimation image transfer section, and the thermal transfer film is heated according to the image data by using the thermal head 26 to transfer the coloring material to the image receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium. To form a thermal transfer image. However, although the transfer of the color material is performed from the back side of the thermal transfer film in FIG. 5a, it may be performed from the back side of the intermediate transfer recording medium. Next, the intermediate transfer recording medium 23 on which the image is formed is pressed against the transfer target between the line heater 29 and the platen 30 in the image receiving layer transfer device, and the intermediate transfer recording medium 23 is used by using the line heater 29. Is heated from the back surface thereof, and the image receiving layer on which the image is formed is transferred to the transfer target body 28. At this time, a temperature-sensitive element (not shown) may be arranged in the line heater 29, and the temperature of the line heater 29 is detected by the temperature-sensitive element, and the energization to the line heater is controlled according to the detection result. Precise temperature control is possible. When the adhesiveness between the receiving layer and the transferred material is poor, an adhesive layer may be provided between them for transfer.

FIG. 5b is a view for explaining another embodiment of thermal transfer recording using the line heater of the present invention, in which the sublimation image transfer section and the image receiving layer transfer section are integrally formed in one apparatus. The device is used. The thermal transfer film 20 is unwound from the unwinding roll 21 and wound up by the winding roll 22. The intermediate transfer recording medium 23 is unwound from the unwinding roll 24 and wound up by the winding roll 25. These are pressed into contact with the thermal head 26 and the platen 27 in the sublimation image transfer section, and the thermal transfer film is heated according to the image data by using the thermal head 26 to transfer the coloring material to the image receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium. To form a thermal transfer image. However, although the transfer of the color material is performed from the back side of the thermal transfer film in FIG. 5B, it may be performed from the back side of the intermediate transfer recording medium. Next, the intermediate transfer recording medium 23 on which the image is formed is conveyed to the image receiving layer transfer section. The intermediate transfer recording medium 23 and the transferred material 28 are pressed against each other between the line heater 29 and the platen 30, and are heated from the back surface of the intermediate transfer recording medium 23 using the line heater 29 to receive an image on which an image is formed. Layer to be transferred 2
8 is transferred and formed. At this time, a temperature sensitive element 31 may be arranged in the line heater 29, and the temperature of the line heater 29 is detected by the temperature sensitive element 31, and the energization to the line heater is controlled according to the detection result, so that the surface Precise temperature control is possible.

A film feeding mechanism using a seamless film may be provided in order to reduce the load on the intermediate transfer recording medium due to the sliding of the intermediate transfer recording medium and the line heater. Polyimide or the like can be used for the seamless film. FIG. 6 shows an example in which a film feed mechanism using a seamless film is provided.
The tension roller 41 conveys the seamless film 42, and the line heater 29 passes through the seamless film 42.
The intermediate transfer recording medium 23 is heated by. By interposing this seamless film, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of wrinkles, improve the transportability, and eliminate the need to provide a heat-resistant slip layer on the intermediate transfer recording medium if an appropriate material is selected, thus reducing costs. You can

The transfer area of the image receiving layer to the transferred material is changed by changing the shape of the heating element of the line heater, turning on / off the energy applied to the line heater, and patterning the transfer area in the feeding direction such as raising and lowering the line heater. It can be controlled.

FIG. 7 shows an example of an intermediate transfer recording medium used in the present invention, in which an image receiving layer 51 is removably provided on one surface of a base sheet 50. The base sheet 50 of the intermediate transfer recording medium is not limited to a material having a microvoid layer such as a synthetic paper such as a polyolefin-based or polystyrene-based synthetic paper, and the same base sheet as that used for a conventional thermal transfer sheet is used as it is. Can be used. Specific examples of the preferable substrate sheet include glassine paper, capacitor paper,
Thin paper such as paraffin paper, polyethylene terephthalate,
High heat-resistant polyester such as polyethylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, and polyether sulfone, polypropylene, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, polyethylene derivatives, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, polyamide Examples include stretched or unstretched films of plastics such as polyimide, polymethylpentene, and ionomer, and laminates of these materials. The thickness of the base sheet 50 is
It can be appropriately selected depending on the material so that the strength, thermal conductivity, heat resistance, etc. are appropriate, but it is usually 1 to 100 μm.
Those of about m are preferably used.

The image receiving layer 51 is composed of at least a binder resin, and various additives such as a release agent may be added if necessary. It is preferable to use a binder resin that is easily dyed with a sublimation dye, such as polyolefin resin such as polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl resin such as polyacrylic acid ester, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene. Polyester resins such as isophthalate and polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, copolymers of olefins such as ethylene and propylene with other vinyl monomers, ionomers, cellulose resins such as cellulose diacetate, polycarbonates. Resins and copolymers thereof can be used, and among these, vinyl resins and polyester resins are particularly preferably used.

The image receiving layer 51 is preferably blended with a release agent in the above resin in order to prevent heat fusion with the thermal transfer sheet. As the release agent, silicone oil, phosphoric acid ester-based surfactant, fluorine-based compound and the like can be used, and among these, silicone oil is particularly preferably used. The amount of the release agent added is preferably 0.2 to 30 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin forming the image receiving layer. The image receiving layer 51 is prepared by adding a necessary additive such as a release agent to the resin on the base sheet 50 and dissolving the resin in an appropriate organic solvent or dispersing the dispersion in an organic solvent or water. For example, the coating can be performed by a usual method such as a bar coater, a gravure printing method, a gravure reverse printing method, a screen printing method, or a roll coating.
The coating amount is preferably such that the film thickness after coating and drying is 0.1 to 10 μm.

As shown in FIG. 8, for the purpose of preventing thermal fusion between the intermediate transfer recording medium and a heating device such as a thermal head or a line heater, and improving slidability, a base sheet of the intermediate transfer recording medium. A heat resistant slipping layer 52 may be provided on the other surface of the image receiving layer 51 on which the image receiving layer 51 is provided. Examples of the resin used for the heat resistant slipping layer 52 include ethyl cellulose, hydroxy cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose resin such as nitrified cotton, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral,
Vinyl-based resins such as polyvinyl acetal and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, acrylic-based resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl acrylate, polyacrylamide, acrylonitrile / styrene copolymer, polyamide resins, vinyltoluene resins, coumarone indene resins, polyester-based resins Resin, polyurethane resin, silicone modified urethane,
Fluorine-modified urethane or the like can be used. In addition, these resins may be mixed and used. In order to further improve heat resistance, a resin having a reactive group such as a hydroxyl group among the above resins and a crosslinking agent such as polyisocyanate may be used together to form a crosslinked resin layer. Further, in order to provide slidability with the heating device, a solid or liquid mold release agent or lubricant may be added to the heat resistant slipping layer 52 to provide heat resistant slipping property. Examples of release agents or lubricants include various waxes such as polyethylene wax and paraffin wax, higher aliphatic alcohols, organopolysiloxanes, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, nonionic surfactants. It is possible to use an activator, a fluorine-based surfactant, an organic carboxylic acid and its derivative, a fluorine-based resin, a silicone-based resin, fine particles of an inorganic compound such as talc and silica. The preferable amount of the lubricant added to the heat resistant slipping layer 52 is 5 to 50% by weight, particularly preferably about 10 to 30% by weight, based on the total solid content of the heat resistant slipping layer. The heat resistant slipping layer 52 can be formed by a method similar to that of the above image receiving layer, and its thickness is preferably about 0.1 to 10 μm.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the image receiving layer 51
A release layer 53 may be provided between the base sheet 50 and the image receiving layer 51 in order to control the peeling performance of the image receiving layer 51 from the base sheet 50. The release layer 53 is separated from the release layer 53, and the release layer 53 is the base sheet 5
It remains on the 0 side. The release layer 53 is composed of a composition in which a release material is added to the binder resin as needed, or a resin having releasability. When the release layer is formed by adding a release material to the binder resin as needed, usable binder resins include polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, and polybutyl acrylate, which are thermoplastic resins. Acrylic resin such as polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral and other vinyl resin, ethyl cellulose,
Nitrocellulose, a cellulose derivative of cellulose acetate, or an unsaturated polyester resin which is a thermosetting resin, a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, an aminoalkyd resin, or the like, and the release layer is one or more of the above resins. Can be composed of a composition consisting of Examples of the releasing material include waxes, silicone wax, silicone-based resin, melamine resin, fluorine-based resin and other releasing agents, talc, fine silica powder, and lubricants such as surfactants and metal soaps. Etc. can be used. When the release layer is composed of a resin having releasability, silicone resin, melamine resin, fluorine resin, etc. can be used, and polysiloxane segment is included in the resin molecule of acrylic resin, vinyl resin, polyester resin, etc. A graft polymer grafted with a releasable segment such as a fluorocarbon segment may be used, and can be composed of a composition comprising one or more of the above resins. The release layer 53 can be formed by the same method as that for the image receiving layer, and its thickness is preferably 0.1 to 5 μm.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, an image protective layer 54 is provided between the base sheet 50 and the image receiving layer 51 for the purpose of protecting the image receiving layer 51 which is transferred together with the image on the transferred material. It may be provided. This image protection layer 54 is located on the outermost surface of the image receiving layer 51 on the transfer target when it is transferred onto the transfer target together with the image receiving layer 51, and has weather resistance of the image and durability against fingerprints, chemicals, etc. Improve.

The image protection layer 54 is composed of at least a binder resin and has an appropriate peeling property from the base sheet 50.
After the image is transferred onto the transfer target together with the image receiving layer 51, a resin composition having desired physical properties is selected as a surface protective layer of the image receiving layer 51. Generally, cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, and cellulose acetate, acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, and polybutyl acrylate, polyvinyl chloride,
Thermoplastic resins of vinyl polymers such as vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer and polyvinyl butyral, and thermosetting resins such as unsaturated polyester resins, polyurethane resins and aminoalkyd resins can be used as the image protective layer resin. When abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, and stain resistance are particularly required for the image-formed product on which the image receiving layer is transferred,
An ionizing radiation curable resin can also be used as the image protective layer resin. In addition, a lubricant for improving the scratch resistance of the image formed product, a surfactant for preventing contamination, an ultraviolet absorber for improving weather resistance, an antioxidant, etc. may be added to the resin. . The image protective layer 54 can be formed in the same manner as the above-mentioned image receiving layer and has a thickness of 0.1.
˜20 μm is preferred. Further, although not shown in the drawing, the release layer 53, the image protection layer 54, and the image receiving layer 51 are formed on the base material 50.
It is also possible to use an intermediate transfer recording medium having a configuration in which the above are provided in this order.

As the thermal transfer sheet used in the present invention, a known thermal transfer sheet used in a melt transfer system or a sublimation transfer system can be used as it is. 3 colors of yellow, magenta and cyan (or 4 with black added)
When a color image is formed by overlapping transfer of (colors), three types (or four types) of thermal transfer sheets each having a color material layer of three colors (or four colors) may be used, or as shown in FIG. A thermal transfer sheet in which three colors are separately applied in a frame order may be used. In addition, the image formation of characters, line drawings, etc. uses a thermal transfer sheet of the melt transfer system, the thermal transfer sheet of the sublimation transfer system is used for the formation of photographic images, etc. Is also possible. Also in this case, as shown in FIG. 11, the hot-melt ink layer and the dye layers of three colors of yellow, magenta and cyan may be provided on the same thermal transfer sheet in a frame sequential manner. Any conventionally known means can be used as a means for applying heat energy when the color material is transferred to the image receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium. Since the image finally obtained in the present invention has a mirror image relationship with the image formed on the intermediate transfer recording medium, the image formed on the intermediate transfer recording medium is formed as an image in which the left and right sides are inverted in advance. There is a need.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, by transferring the image receiving layer of the intermediate transfer recording medium by using the line heater, uniform heating is possible as compared with the thermal head, and the control is simplified. . Further, the thermal responsiveness is improved as compared with a hot stamper, a heat roll, etc., and it becomes possible to perform more precise control of the surface temperature. Simplifies the device,
It can be made compact. By changing the shape of the heating element, turning on / off the energy applied to the line heater, and controlling the patterning of the transfer area in the feed direction such as up / down of the line heater, the transfer area of the image receiving layer can be changed relatively easily. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a thin film line heater used for transferring an image receiving layer.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a thin film line heater used for transferring an image receiving layer.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a thick film type line heater used for transferring an image receiving layer.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a line heater.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a thermal transfer recording apparatus using a line heater for transferring an image receiving layer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which a film feeding mechanism using a seamless film is provided.

7 to 10 are cross-sectional views showing the structure of an intermediate transfer recording medium.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the structure of a thermal transfer sheet which is separately applied in a frame-sequential manner.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Heat dissipation substrate, 2 ... Heating resistor, 3 ... Electrode, 4 ... Oxidation resistant layer, 5 ... Wear resistant layer, 6, 7 ... Thermal resistance layer, 8 ... Wear resistant layer and oxidation resistant layer, 10, 11 ... electrode, 12 ... overcoat layer, 20 ... thermal transfer sheet, 23 ... intermediate transfer recording medium, 2
9 ... Line heater, 31 ... Thermistor, 40 ... Driving roller, 41 ... Tension roller, 42 ... Seamless film, 50 ... Base material sheet, 51 ... Image receiving layer, 52 ... Heat resistant slipping layer, 53 ... Release layer, 54 … Image protection layer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A thermal transfer sheet having a heat transfer color material layer provided on at least one surface of a base sheet, and an intermediate transfer recording medium having a receiving layer provided on at least one surface of the base sheet. Is pressed against the thermal head and the platen so that the color material layer and the receiving layer overlap, the thermal head generates heat according to the image data, and the heat transferable color material contained in the color material layer moves to the receiving layer. In the thermal transfer recording method of forming an image on the intermediate transfer recording medium and transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer recording medium onto a transfer receiving material together with the receiving layer, transfer of the image forming receiving layer to the transfer receiving material is performed. A thermal transfer recording method characterized by using a line heater. 2. The temperature control is performed by detecting the heating temperature of the line heater with a temperature sensitive element.
The thermal transfer recording method described in. 3. A receptor layer on which an image is formed while pressing an intermediate transfer recording medium having a receptor layer on which an image is formed on at least one surface of a substrate sheet and a platen between the medium and the platen. A thermal transfer recording apparatus having at least a line heater for transferring the image onto a transfer target and a line heater driving means. 4. A thermal transfer sheet having a heat transferable color material layer provided on at least one surface of a base sheet, and an intermediate transfer recording medium having a receiving layer provided on at least one surface of the base sheet. Transporting means, and the transported thermal transfer sheet and intermediate transfer recording medium are pressed against each other between the first platen, and heat is generated according to image data to heat the thermal transfer sheet to transfer heat contained in the color material layer. A thermal head for transferring a coloring material having color characteristics to the receiving layer, an intermediate transfer recording medium on which an image is formed, and a transfer target material between the second platen and the thermal transfer head, and the receiving layer on which the image is formed is covered. A thermal transfer recording apparatus having at least a line heater for transferring onto a transfer body and a line heater driving means. 5. A temperature sensitive element is arranged in the line heater,
The control means for controlling the energization of the line heater according to the detection result of the temperature sensitive element is provided.
Or the thermal transfer recording apparatus according to 4.