JPH0740673A - Receiving layer transfer sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a receiving layer transfer sheet having a transfer-type resin layer containing dye receiving layer formed on one surface of a long base film wherein the transfer-type resin layer is transferred with a sharp edge into a desired shape by setting the tensile strength of the whole transfer-type resin layer to be not larger than a specific value. CONSTITUTION:A transfer-type resin layer containing a dye receiving layer is formed at one surface of a long base film of this receiving layer transfer sheet. The tensile strength of the whole transfer-type resin layer is set to be not larger than 200kg/cm<2>. Dye layers of a single color or a plurality of colors are sequentially formed face by face on the transfer-type resin layer. Moreover, a transfer protective layer is provided along the surface of the dye layers. Accordingly, the transfer-type resin layer is transferred with a sharp edge into a desired shape in this transfer sheet.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a receptor layer transfer sheet, and more particularly to a receptor layer transfer sheet capable of forming a high quality color image by a thermal transfer method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various thermal transfer methods have been known. Among them, a sublimation dye is used as a recording agent, and this is carried on a base material film such as paper or plastic film to form a thermal transfer sheet, which is used as a dye transfer material. There has been proposed a method of forming various full-color images on a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet such as a layer-provided paper or plastic film. 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 thermal transfer image-receiving sheet by heating for an extremely short time, and the full-color image of the original is formed by the multicolor dots. Is to be reproduced.

The thermal transfer image-receiving sheet capable of forming an image by the above method is limited to a dye-dyeable plastic sheet or a paper having a dye-receiving layer provided in advance, and an image can be directly formed on ordinary plain paper. There is a problem that you cannot do it. 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, stationery, and reports. It is difficult to apply to general off-the-shelf transfer materials such as paper. As a method for solving such a problem, when an image is to be formed on a ready-to-be-transferred material such as plain paper, a receiving layer transfer sheet is a method for easily forming a dye receiving layer only on a necessary portion thereof. Is known (see, for example, JP-A-62-264994). As a method for further simplifying the operation, each dye layer of yellow, cyan, magenta and, if necessary, black is formed face-sequentially on the surface of a long base film, and a dye receiving layer is further formed on the same base film. There is known a receiving layer transfer sheet that forms a full-color image by first transferring the receiving layer to a transfer material and then transferring the dye of each color to the receiving layer, and further for protecting the formed dye image. There is also proposed a receptor layer transfer sheet in which the protective layer of 1) is further provided in a frame order.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention When the above-mentioned transfer layer transfer sheet is used to transfer and form a dye-receptive layer in a pattern only in a necessary area of a postcard or the like, the ends of the pattern shape are neat and linear. Alternatively, the dye-receiving layer is formed of a resin having a relatively high molecular weight and a high melting point so as not to be fused with the dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet during thermal transfer. For this reason, there is a problem that the foil break is not sharp, and the edges of the dye-receptive layer transferred in a pattern are notched or transferred in an unintended shape. When an image is formed on the dye receiving layer whose edges are not sharp, the edges of the image itself are not uniform,
There is a problem that a satisfactory transferred image cannot be formed.

The problem of foil breakage as described above can be solved to some extent by adding a white pigment, a filler, or air bubbles to the dye receiving layer. In this case, the transferable resin layer is used. There is a problem that the strength of the film and the foil-holding property with respect to the base film are deteriorated. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above conventional problems and to provide a receptor layer transfer sheet in which a transferable resin layer is transferred to a desired shape with a sharp edge.

[0006]

The above object can be achieved by the present invention described below. That is, the present invention is a receptor layer transfer sheet in which a transferable resin layer containing a dye receiving layer is formed on one surface of a long base film, and the tensile strength of the entire transferable resin layer is 200 Kg / cm ² or less. And a receptive layer transfer sheet.

[0007]

[Function] By setting the tensile strength of the entire transfer resin layer of the transfer layer transfer sheet to 200 Kg / cm ² or less, a transfer layer transfer sheet capable of transferring the transfer resin layer to a desired shape with sharp edges can be obtained. Can be provided.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments. The receptor layer transfer sheet of the present invention has a release layer, if necessary, formed on one surface of a long base material film, and a transferable resin layer comprising a dye receptor layer and an adhesive layer is provided thereon, and If necessary, a releasable heat resistant slipping layer is provided on the back surface of the base film, and the tensile strength of the entire transferable resin layer is 200 Kg / cm ² or less. Further, in a preferred embodiment, an intermediate layer can be provided between the cushion layer and the barrier layer between the dye receiving layer and the adhesive layer. In addition, the receptor layer transfer sheet of the present invention comprises a dye layer of one color or a plurality of colors, for example, a yellow dye layer, a magenta dye, and a cyan dye layer and / or a black dye layer and / or a transfer layer on one surface of a long base film. The thermal protection sheet may be an integral type thermal transfer sheet in which the protective layer is provided in the surface of the transferable resin layer including the dye receiving layer in a frame-sequential manner.

As the base material film used in the present invention, the same base material film as that used in the conventional thermal transfer sheet can be used as it is, and other materials can be used without any particular limitation. Specific examples of the preferable base film include thin paper such as glassine paper, condenser 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 these substrate films can be appropriately changed according to the material so that the strength, heat resistance and the like are appropriate, but the thickness is preferably 3 to 100 μm. Incidentally, on the back surface of the substrate film, in addition to preventing fusion of the thermal head and improving the running property, the adhesive layer described below does not stick when the receptor layer transfer sheet of the present invention is wound into a roll. It is preferable to form a releasable heat resistant slipping layer. The releasable heat resistant slipping layer is formed from a releasing agent such as a curable silicone oil, a curable silicone wax, a silicone resin, a fluororesin or an acrylic resin. The formation method may be the same as the formation method of the dye receiving layer described later, and the thickness thereof is 0.1 to
About 3 μm is sufficient.

In the receiving layer transfer sheet of the present invention, the dye receiving layer formed on the surface of the base film is formed by receiving a sublimable dye which is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet after being transferred to any thermal transfer image receiving sheet. It is for maintaining the image that is displayed. Prior to the formation of the receiving layer (or protective layer), it is preferable to form a release layer on the surface of the base film. Such a release layer is made of wax, silicone wax,
It is formed from a release agent such as a silicone resin, a fluorine resin, or an acrylic resin. The forming method may be the same as the forming method of the dye receiving layer, and the thickness thereof is about 0.5 to 5 μm.
If 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.

As the resin for forming the dye receiving layer,
For example, polyolefin resin such as polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer, halogenated polymer such as polyvinylidene chloride, vinyl acetate, vinyl polymer such as polyacrylic ester, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, etc. Polyester resins, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, copolymer resins of olefins such as ethylene and propylene with other vinyl monomers, ionomers, cellulosic resins such as cellulose diacetate, polycarbonates, etc. are particularly preferable. Those are vinyl resins and polyester resins. Preferred releasing agents to be mixed with the above resins include silicone oils, phosphate ester type surfactants, fluorine type surfactants and the like, but silicone oils are preferable. Examples of the silicone oil include epoxy-modified, alkyl-modified,
A modified silicone oil such as amino-modified, carboxyl-modified, alcohol-modified, fluorine-modified, alkylaralkylpolyether-modified, epoxy-polyether-modified or polyether-modified is desirable.

As the release agent, one type or two or more types are used. The amount of the release agent added is preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the dye-receiving layer forming resin. If the addition amount range is not satisfied, problems such as fusion of the thermal transfer sheet and the dye receiving layer or reduction 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 heat resistant slipping layer. The receiving layer is obtained by adding a necessary additive such as a release agent to the above resin through a release layer, if necessary, on one surface of the above-mentioned base film, in an appropriate organic solvent. It is formed by applying and drying a dispersion that is dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent or 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. The dye receiving layer formed as described above may have any thickness, but generally 1 to 10
The thickness is 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 a resin dispersion.

In the present invention, an adhesive layer is provided on the surface of the receiving layer in order to improve the transferability of these layers. For these adhesive layers, for example, a known pressure-sensitive adhesive, heat-sensitive adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive is used. In particular, a heat-sensitive or pressure-sensitive adhesive that has no adhesiveness at room temperature or pressure and exerts an adhesive force only when heated or pressed is preferable, and in this case, when the resulting receptor layer transfer sheet is wound in a roll shape. Also, the problem of blocking with the back surface of the base film is unlikely to occur. The heat-sensitive or pressure-sensitive adhesive is, for example, a resin having a relatively low melting point such as a polyamide resin, an acrylic resin, a vinyl chloride resin, a vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer resin, or a polyester resin, or a microcapsule of these resins. It is a mixture of the above-mentioned pressure-sensitive adhesives, and exerts adhesiveness by heating or microcapsules are destroyed by pressurization and exerts excellent adhesiveness. As the adhesive, known rubber-based, acrylic-based, silicone-based, etc. adhesives are used. The thickness of the formed adhesive layer is preferably 0.5 to
It is about 10 μm.

Further, in the present invention, an intermediate layer can be provided between the receiving layer and the adhesive layer. Examples of the material forming the intermediate layer include polyurethane resin, acrylic resin, polyethylene resin, butadiene rubber, and epoxy resin. The thickness of the intermediate layer is 2-10μ
About m is preferable. The method of forming the intermediate layer may be the same as that of the above-mentioned receiving layer. The above-mentioned adhesive layer and intermediate layer may contain a white pigment, an optical brightener and / or bubbles (or a foaming agent). These white pigments and fluorescent whitening agents improve the whiteness of the receiving layer after transfer and conceal the pale yellow color of the paper which is the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, and the bubbles (or foaming agent) are the receiving layer. It has a function of imparting good cushioning property to. As a method of incorporating these additives, a white pigment or the like may be incorporated in the coating liquid used when forming each layer. In this case, the protective layer should be transparent or translucent.

In the receptor layer transfer sheet of the present invention, the dye layer may be formed in a surface sequential manner on the surface of the above-mentioned substrate film at a predetermined interval. The dye layer is a layer in which the dye is carried by an arbitrary binder resin. As the dye to be used, any of the dyes used in conventionally known thermal transfer sheets can be effectively used in the present invention and is not particularly limited. For example, some preferred dyes include red dyes such as MS RedG, Macrole
x Red Violet R, CeresRed7
B, Samaron Red HBSL, Resoli
n RedF3BS and the like, and as the yellow dye, holon brilliant yellow 6GL, PTY-5.
2, Macrolex Yellow 6G and the like, and as the blue dye, Kayaset Blue 714, Waxolin Blue AP-FW, Holon Brilliant Blue SR,
MS blue 100 etc. are mentioned.

As the binder resin for supporting the dye as described above, any conventionally known binder resin can be used, and preferred examples include ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxycellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl cellulose and acetic acid. Cellulose, cellulosic resins such as cellulose acetate butyrate,
Polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl resins such as polyacrylamide, polyesters, and the like. Among these, cellulose-based,
Acetal-based, butyral-based, polyester-based and the like are preferable from the viewpoints of heat resistance, dye migration, and the like. Further, the dye layer may also contain various conventionally known additives as required.

Such a dye layer is preferably prepared by adding the above-mentioned sublimable dye, binder resin and other optional components to a suitable solvent to dissolve or disperse each component to prepare a dye layer forming coating or ink. Then, this is applied on the above-mentioned substrate film in a frame-sequential manner and dried to form. The dye layer thus formed has a thickness of about 0.2 to 5.0 μm, preferably about 0.4 to 2.0 μm, and the sublimable dye in the dye layer contains 5% by weight of the dye layer. Suitably it is present in an amount of ˜90% by weight, preferably 10 to 70% by weight.

The relationship between the transferable resin layer containing the dye receiving layer and the dye layer is not particularly limited, but for example, the transferable resin layer in which one unit contains the receiving layer → Y → M → C → Bk → protective layer is in this order. Is common, but is not limited thereto. The dyes of the respective hues are usually provided in the same area, but the transferable resin layer (or protective layer) including the dye receiving layer depends on the type of thermal transfer image-receiving sheet and the durability required for the image. May be required to be transferred twice or more, so that it can be formed in a larger area. The method of forming the transferable resin layer (or protective layer) including the dye receiving layer or the intermediate layer may be the same as in the case of the receiving layer transfer sheet except that it is provided in a frame sequential manner. The transferable protective layer can be formed in the same manner as the dye receiving layer as described above, but the formation of the intermediate layer is unnecessary, and the transferable protective layer allows an image to be observed through the layer. Therefore, it is necessary to be transparent or semi-transparent. The material for forming the protective layer and the adhesive layer formed on the surface of the protective layer, the forming method, the thickness and the like may be the same as in the case of the receiving layer.

In the present invention, in the above-mentioned receiving layer transfer sheet, the tensile strength of the entire transferable resin layer is 200 Kg / c.
m ² or less, preferably 20 to 180 kg / cm ² . As a method for reducing the tensile strength of the entire transferable resin layer to 200 Kg / cm ² or less, a transferable resin layer in which a resin having a relatively low molecular weight is used as a resin for forming the dye receiving layer, the intermediate layer and the adhesive layer , A dye-receptive layer is formed from a mixture of resins having low compatibility, a dye-receptive layer is formed from an emulsion, and a drying temperature is lowered to form a dye-receptive layer into a microscopically heterogeneous layer. Examples thereof include a method of mixing receptive resin particles, a white pigment, an inorganic filler, and the like, a method of combining these methods, and the like. If the tensile strength of the entire transferable resin layer exceeds 200 Kg / cm ² , the object of the present invention is not achieved, and if the tensile strength is too low, various durability of the finally obtained transferred image is deteriorated. Therefore, in the present invention, the tensile strength of the entire transferable resin layer is preferably ²⁰ to 180 Kg / cm ² .

The material to be transferred for transferring the receptor layer and forming an image using the receptor layer transfer sheet or the integral receptor layer transfer sheet as described above is not particularly limited. For example, plain paper, It may be any sheet such as high quality paper, tracing paper, plastic film, etc., and in terms of shape, cards, postcards, passports, letter paper, report paper,
Any of notebooks, catalogs, etc. may be used, and it is particularly applicable to plain paper and rough paper having a rough surface. Transfer method of the receiving layer and the protective layer, a general printer equipped with a thermal head for thermal transfer, a hot stamper for transfer foil,
Any heating and pressing means capable of heating to a temperature at which the adhesive layer is activated, such as a heat roll, may be used. Any conventionally known means can be used as an image forming method. For example, by controlling the recording time with a recording device such as a thermal printer (for example, a video printer VY-100 manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.), 5 ~ 100mJ / mm
^The intended purpose can be sufficiently achieved by applying about ² heat energy.

Next, a method of using the receiving layer transfer sheet of the present invention and an image forming method will be described. In the method of transferring the dye receiving layer with the same thermal head, first, the surface of the adhesive layer of the transferable resin layer formed in front of the yellow dye layer is made to face the transfer material such as plain paper. Heat and / or pressure suitable for bonding the adhesive layers are applied over the entire surface from the back by a thermal head. By this heat or pressure, the adhesive layer and the receiving layer are simultaneously transferred and adhered to the surface of the material to be transferred. Next, the receiving layer transfer sheet is advanced to align the yellow dye layer with the surface of the transferred dye receiving layer, and heat corresponding to the heat transfer temperature of the dye in the dye layer is applied imagewise from the thermal head to form a yellow image. Then, a magenta dye is transferred from the magenta dye layer and a cyan dye is transferred from the cyan dye layer, respectively, imagewise to form a full-color image on the dye receiving layer. When a transfer head for transferring a transferable resin layer including a receptive layer is used together with the thermal head, the transfer head is subjected to a large amount of heat and / or pressure, and the heating and / or pressure is increased. As a result, sufficient transfer is possible even with a transfer target material having a rough surface. Of course, other pressing means such as a pressing roll may be used instead of the transfer head. The image forming method is the same as above.

[0022]

EXAMPLES Next, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. In the text, parts and% are based on weight unless otherwise specified. Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 Ratio of 0.5 g / m ² when dried by a bar coater with a coating solution having the following composition on the surface of a polyethylene terephthalate film (manufactured by Toray) having a thickness of 4.5 μm. Was applied, and after temporary drying with a dryer, it was dried in an oven at 100 ° C. for 30 minutes to form a releasable heat resistant slipping layer. Releasable coating composition for heat resistant slipping layer Curable silicone oil (KS-770A, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 100 parts Curing catalyst (CAT-PL8, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1 part Toluene 400 parts Next coating below A release layer, a dye receiving layer and an adhesive layer were formed from the working solution (the coating order is the order described). The release layer was formed by applying a coating solution having the following composition at a rate of 0.5 g / m ² when dried by a bar coater, temporarily drying with a dryer, and then drying in an oven at 100 ° C. for 30 minutes. .

Composition of coating liquid for release layer Acetoacetal resin (KS-1, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) 100 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 400 parts Dye receiving layer is coated with a coating liquid having the following composition. It is applied by a coater at a rate of 3.0 g / m ² when dried, provisionally dried by a dryer, and then dried in an oven at 100 ° C for 30 minutes to form an intermediate layer and an adhesive layer. Was similarly applied and dried at a rate of 3.0 g / m ² and dried.

Composition of coating liquid for dye receiving layer 100 parts of resin described in Table 1 Epoxy-modified silicone (KF-393, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 5 parts Amino-modified silicone (KP-343, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 5 parts Fluorescence Whitening agent (Ubitex OB, manufactured by Ciba Geigy) 0.1 part Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 400 parts Composition of coating solution for intermediate layer ; 100 parts of resin shown in Table 1 Titanium oxide (TCA-888, Tochem Products) 100 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 400 parts Adhesive layer coating liquid composition ; Resin described in Table 1 100 parts Thermo-expandable microcapsules (F-30VS, Matsumoto Yushi-Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) ) 50 parts Isopropyl alcohol / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 500 parts

Example 6 In the same manner as in Example 5, a release layer, a receiving layer and an adhesive layer were formed with a width of 30 cm and an interval of 90 cm,
Next, on the surface where the receiving layer and the adhesive layer are not formed, the ink for dye layer having the following composition is applied in the order of yellow, magenta and cyan with a width of 30 cm in a dry coating amount of 1.0 g / m.
^It was coated with a gravure coater so as to be ² and dried to obtain a receptor layer transfer sheet of the present invention.

Ink composition for yellow dye layer : Disperse dye (CIDisperse Yellow 201) 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 Ink composition for magenta dye layer : Disperse dye (CIDisperse Red60) 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 Ink composition for cyan dye layer : Disperse dye (Kayaset Blue 714, manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) 4.0 parts Ethyl hydroxycellulose (manufactured by Hercules) 5.0 parts Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 80 0.0 parts Dioxane 10.0 parts

Using each of the receiving layer transfer sheets of the above Examples and Comparative Examples, a rectangular dye receiving layer of 50 mm × 50 mm was transferred to the back surface of a postcard, and its edge was examined with an optical microscope. The results described in 1. were obtained.

[Table 1] I: Vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer (1000AS,
Electrochemical) II: Acrylic resin (BR-87, Mitsubishi Rayon) III: Polyester resin (Vylon 200, Toyobo) IV: Polyester resin (UE-3200, Unitika) V: Polyvinyl acetal resin (BL-1, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. VI: Acrylic resin (Acridic A409, Dainippon Ink) VII: Polyvinyl acetal resin (KS-5, Sekisui Chemical) VIII: Polyurethane resin (Takelac E760, Takeda Chemicals) Measuring method of tensile strength : Transfer The resinous resin layer from the substrate, 1
cm × 5 cm sample was prepared, and a tensile speed of 1 cm / mim. It was measured at.

[0028]

[Effect] According to the present invention as described above, the transferable resin layer is transferred to a desired shape with a sharp edge by setting the tensile strength of the entire transferable resin layer of the receptor layer transfer sheet to 200 Kg / cm ² or less. It is possible to provide a receptive layer transfer sheet that can be used.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A receptor layer transfer sheet comprising a long base film and a transfer resin layer containing a dye receiving layer formed on one surface thereof, wherein the tensile strength of the entire transfer resin layer is 200 kg.
/ Cm ² or less, a receptor layer transfer sheet characterized in that. 2. The receptor layer transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein dye layers of one color or a plurality of colors are sequentially formed on the transferable resin layer in a frame-sequential manner. 3. The receptive layer transfer sheet according to claim 1, further comprising a transferable protective layer provided in a frame sequential manner.