JPH0761151A - Image receptor for thermal transfer recording - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image receptor for thermal transfer recording capable of easily making a seal conformed to size of multi-image in a thermal transfer device. CONSTITUTION:On a seal base material 5 of an image receptor sheet 2 and an adhesive layer 6, dividing cuts 9 which are equal to each image size are provided such that the cuts do not reach a surface of a receptor layer 4. Thus, multi-images of various sizes can be recorded without damaging image quality and only image parts can be cut out easily so as to make seals.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image receptor for thermal transfer recording, and more particularly to an image receptor for thermal transfer recording capable of attaching an image receiving sheet to any article after image recording.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is an increasing demand for color printers for making hard copies of video images and color images from various image output devices. As a recording system of this color printer, a thermal transfer recording system is widely used in which an ink film coated with a sublimable or meltable color material (ink) is selectively heated by a thermal head to record an image on an image receiver. In particular, sublimation thermal transfer recording is becoming mainstream as a video printer because a high-quality full-color image comparable to a photograph can be obtained. However, in any of the thermal transfer recording methods, a dedicated image receiving body (image receiving paper) is required,
You cannot record on plain paper, heavy paper, or plastic that cannot be inserted into the printer. Therefore, as an image receptor with an adhesive that can be freely attached to various articles after recording on the image receptor, a so-called seal image receptor as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-64-82288 has been developed. The image receptor for sealing is composed of an image receiving sheet portion on the surface of which an image is formed and a supporting sheet portion (separator), and the image receiving sheet portion can be peeled from the supporting sheet portion. An adhesive layer is provided on the back surface of the image receiving sheet portion,
After transfer recording, peel the image receiving sheet from the support sheet,
It is configured so that it can be attached to various articles as a sticker. Further, in the above-mentioned known example, a half cut is provided in the support sheet portion or the image receiving sheet portion so that the image receiving sheet portion after recording can be easily separated from the support sheet portion.

On the other hand, one of the functions of the printer is that one screen is equally divided into 1/2, 1/4, 1/16 and the like, 2, 4, 1
There is a so-called multi-image recording function of recording a plurality of the same or different images such as six. This function is, for example, one A
This is a convenient function that can be used for such purposes as recording a large number (for example, 16) of small facial images on a 6-size sticker image receptor, and then separating them and attaching them to business cards or articles. However, in the conventional image receptor for sticker, after recording a multi-image, the image receptor is cut and separated with a knife or the like according to the size of a plurality of images, and then the image receiving sheet portion is peeled from the supporting sheet portion for each image. Since it is necessary to attach it, it is very troublesome, and it is difficult to cut accurately and there is a problem that it is easy to fail.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to easily make a seal suitable for each image size from a normal single image recording to a plurality of multi-image recordings, without affecting the recording image quality. Another object is to provide a thermal transfer recording image receptor.

[0005]

In order to facilitate the production of a multi-image seal, an image-receiving sheet is formed by previously forming cut lines (a cut line in the thickness direction) corresponding to the partition size of the multi-image. Top cut)
It is easy to divide by using a sealing image receptor with a mark, but if there is a notch in the receiving layer (layer that receives sublimable or meltable ink) provided on the surface of the image receiving sheet, unevenness will occur in that part, When an image larger than the size of one section is transferred and recorded, vertical or horizontal white streaks or uneven density occur along the score line, which deteriorates the image quality. Therefore, the use of the image receptor is limited to the production of a sticker of a certain size determined by the sectional shape of the score line, and is not versatile.

Therefore, in the image receptor of the present invention, in the seal substrate portion and the adhesive layer of the image receptor sheet, the outer periphery of the cut line is equal to the size of one image of the recording apparatus, and the vertical and horizontal sections are divided into a plurality of equal parts. Although notches are provided, the notches do not reach the surface of the receiving layer.

[0007]

In the image receptor for sealing of the present invention, the surface of the receptor layer is flat without scoring lines. Therefore, when a 16-dividable image receptor for sealing is used, in addition to recording 16 images, Even if recording is performed with a larger size such as a size (1 image), a 2-division size (2 images), a 4-division size (4 images), the image quality is not deteriorated. A notch for dividing is provided from the seal base material portion of the image receiving sheet to the adhesive layer, and since the receiving layer is thin, the image receiving sheet can be easily divided along the notch line after transfer recording. For example, if a sealable image receptor that can be divided into 16 parts is used, the cut line is shared,
It is possible to easily cut out only the image portion to create a sticker in a multi-image of any size of 1, 2, or 4. Further, if the number of divisions of the image receiving sheet is increased, it is possible to separate only a normal image that is not a multi-image by using an appropriate score line at a position where a person who wants to be a sticker is recorded. .

[0008]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of the image receptor for sealing of the present invention. The image receiving body 1 of the present invention comprises an image receiving sheet 2 and a supporting sheet (separator) 3. The image receiving sheet 2 is a part which is peeled from the supporting sheet 3 after transfer recording and is attached to various articles. The image receiving sheet 2 is composed of a laminated body of a receiving layer 4, a seal base material 5, and an adhesive layer 6, and the support sheet 3 is composed of a release layer 7 and a support base material 8. A plurality of cuts 9 are provided in both the seal base material 5 and the adhesive layer 6. The receiving layer 4 is a layer that receives a sublimable or fusible coloring material (ink) transferred from the ink film by heating during thermal transfer recording, and if the material is a resin that easily receives the coloring material, It is not limited, and any conventionally used one can be used. For example, polyester resin, polybutyral resin, polyurethane resin, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin and the like. Of course, among these, various plasticizers, antioxidants,
You may mix an ultraviolet absorber, a fluorescent whitening agent, etc. Further, if necessary, a layer for preventing abnormal transfer may be provided on the receiving layer 4. As the abnormal transfer prevention layer, for example, an ultraviolet curable silicone resin, a thermosetting silicone resin, a fluorine-containing resin or the like can be used. Alternatively, a method of mixing various modified silicone oils, fluorine oils, waxes, and various surfactants into the receiving layer 4 may be used. The receiving layer 4 has a thickness of 5 to 50 μm, preferably 15 to 30 μm. The seal substrate 5 and the supporting substrate 8 are polyester,
Polymer films such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polycarbonate, those in which additives such as fillers and softeners are mixed with the base materials, and laminates thereof or foams thereof can be used. The thickness of the base material is not particularly limited, but is 10 to 150 μm
Is preferred. For the adhesive layer 6, a usual rubber or acrylic adhesive can be used, and the coating thickness is 5
˜30 μm. The peeling layer 7 can be formed by applying an ordinary ultraviolet curable silicone resin or thermosetting silicone resin, and has a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 μm.

Next, the cut 9 will be described in detail.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the image receptor for sealing (A6 size) of the present invention, as seen from the surface of the image receiving sheet 2. The notch 9 is formed so that the planar shape thereof becomes a lattice-like notch line 10. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 shows an example in which the cut line 10 is provided in accordance with the size of the 16-division multi-image (determined by the recording device), and the outer circumference 11 of the cut line 10 is the size of one standard image. The vertical and horizontal sections are equally divided into 16 sections. Here, the notch 9 is provided over the seal base material 5 and the adhesive layer 6 of the image receiving sheet 2, and the notch line 10 is not visible on the surface of the receiving layer 4, so that it is shown by a broken line in FIG. 2. Since the receiving layer 4 is extremely thin, it is possible to separate the receiving sheet 4 together with the receiving layer 4 at the cut line 10 after the image receiving sheet 2 is peeled from the support 3. By using this image receptor, when 16 identical or different images are transferred and recorded by using the 16-division multi-recording function of the recording device, the image can be recorded in each of the sections that can be divided by the score line 10. After recording, by peeling the image receiving sheet from the support sheet and dividing from the score line,
It is possible to create 16 stickers corresponding to each image. For example, if the stickers are attached to a business card, a business card with a facial photograph can be easily produced. Further, in this embodiment, since the score line is divided into 16 equal parts, if the score line is used, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c), the standard 1 It is possible to easily create stickers of various sizes (image size is indicated by a thick line in FIG. 3) such as an image (a), a two-divided image (b) and a four-divided image (c) suitable for cards. it can. For example, even in normal single-image recording, the size of the recorded image is smaller than the size of the image receptor (recording paper) and there are margins on the top, bottom, left, and right. Therefore, it is unavoidable to cut out only the image part and attach the image. However, by using the image receptor of this embodiment, it is possible to easily create a seal without a blank space. Further, if the score line is used, as shown in FIG. 4, an image recorded at an arbitrary position (for example, a person who wants to be a sticker) is recorded even from a normal recorded image.
It is also possible to create a seal by cutting it into an appropriate size according to the position of.

In order to make the image receiving sheet easier to divide at the time of making a seal, for example, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 6, a guide notch in which a part of the notch line 10 reaches the end of the image receiving sheet 2. Line 12 or score line 1
It is better to provide a guide cut 13 leading to 0. The position of the guide score line 12 or the guide cut line 13,
The number and shape are not limited to those shown in FIGS. Further, since it is sufficient that the score line 10 is easy to cut, it is not always necessary that the entire score line be continuously cut, and a perforation line having a broken line shape may be used. Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example of the image receptor having the cut lines of 16 divisions is shown, but of course, the cut lines of each size may be provided according to the function of the recording apparatus, for example, 2 divisions, 4 divisions. Split, 9
It goes without saying that an image receptor provided with cut lines for division, 25 divisions, 36 divisions, etc. may be prepared. One section formed by the score line does not need to be a simple rectangle.
The corners may be rounded as shown in the example, and a curve such as a waveform may be used instead of the straight line. Further, as for the seal image receptor for exclusive use of a certain size, each partition may be surrounded by an independent frame-shaped cut line as shown in FIG. This also has an advantage that the deviation of the recorded image position can be absorbed. Further, various intentional cut line shapes such as an oval shape and a heart shape as shown in FIG. 9 may be used.

It should be noted that the recording position of the recorded image may be slightly displaced from the inside of the notch section formed in the image receptor for sealing of the present invention due to manufacturing variations of the recording device and the image receptor. On the other hand, the recording apparatus may be provided with a function of finely adjusting the position or recording size of a recorded image, or a function of putting a white frame at each image boundary so that an image can be accurately recorded in a section. Good.

The notch 9 of the image receptor of the present invention comprises, for example, a laminate comprising a seal substrate 5 and an adhesive layer 6 on which no receptor layer 4 is formed, and a support sheet 3 comprising a release layer 7 and a support substrate 8. After sticking, it can be formed by half-cutting both the seal substrate 5 and the adhesive layer 6.
The receiving layer 4 may be formed thereon by laminating or the like. Alternatively, after half-cutting the image receptor formed up to the receptor layer 4 by the usual method for producing an image receptor for sealing over the receptor layer 4, the seal substrate 5, and the adhesive layer 6, for example, heat such as passing through a heat roll. It is also conceivable to carry out a mechanical treatment to smooth out the cuts on the receiving layer 4 to flatten it. Also,
The receptive layer can be formed by thermal transfer using a thermal head of a recording device. In this case, an image receptor which is half-cut over both the seal substrate 5 and the adhesive layer 6 and has no receptor layer is used. This image receiver is placed in a recording device, and the transfer film, in which the material of the receiving layer is applied on the film instead of the color material (ink), is used to transfer the receiving layer from the transfer film to the seal substrate by the heat of the thermal head. After that, the receiving layer is formed, and then thermal transfer recording is performed using a normal ink film. Further, the image receptor half-cut over the receiving layer 4, the seal substrate 5, and the adhesive layer 6 is heated by a thermal head prior to recording, and the cuts on the receiving and dyeing layer 4 are leveled to be flattened. A method of doing it is also possible.

It should be noted that the notch 9 is not always required as long as the surface of the receiving layer 4 is flat.
Not only the above, but it may also extend to a part of the thickness of the receiving layer 4 or the support sheet 3 in the thickness direction.

Next, specific examples of the present invention will be given.

Specific Example 1 A polyethylene terephthalate film (white PET film) containing a filler was used as the seal base material and the support base material, and the base material thickness was 50 μm and 100 μm, respectively. First, the adhesive layer solution A prepared as described below was used as the seal substrate, and the dry thickness was 10
The adhesive layer was formed by coating so as to have a thickness of μm.

(Solution A) Acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive 15 parts by weight Trifunctional isocyanate 0.5 parts by weight Toluene 85 parts by weight On the other hand, on one surface of the supporting base material, the solution B prepared as follows was used to obtain a dry thickness. To have a release layer of about 0.1 μm.

(Solution B) Silicone resin (X-62-7223A) 0.5 part by weight Silicone resin (X-62-7223B) 0.5 part by weight Hexane 100 parts by weight Seal substrate obtained as described above Then, the supporting base material was laminated by a hand roller so that the adhesive layer and the release layer were in close contact with each other to obtain a laminated body a. Next, this laminated body a
Half-cut from the seal base material to the adhesive layer,
A laminate b was obtained. Next, a 15 μm-thick receiving layer formed from the solution C having the following composition was laminated on the seal base material of this laminate b to form an image receptor of the present invention. The lamination was performed via a 5 μm thick adhesive layer made of solution A.

(Solution C) Polyester resin (Vylon 200; manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) 50 parts by weight Toluene 120 parts by weight Methyl ethyl ketone 30 parts by weight [Specific Example 2] A laminate a was prepared in the same manner as in Specific Example 1,
Solution C of Example 1 was applied to the side of the seal base material of this laminate a to form a receptor layer having a dry thickness of 30 μm to obtain a laminate c. Next, half-cutting was performed from the receptor layer to the adhesive layer of this laminate c, and then the surface of the receptor layer was flattened by passing it through a rubber hot roll at 110 ° C. to obtain an image receptor of the present invention. The weight of the roll was about 5 kg, and the transport speed was about 10 mm / sec.

[0020]

When the image receptor for sealing of the present invention is used, since the surface of the receptor layer is flat, the image quality is not impaired even when images of various sizes are recorded. Since the seal base material portion and the adhesive layer of the image receiving sheet are provided with a plurality of notches for division according to the size of the recorded image, the image receiving sheet after transfer recording can be easily divided into a plurality along the notch line, It is possible to easily cut out only the image portion from a recorded image of various sizes to create a sticker. Further, even from a normal image that is not a multi-image, it is possible to separate only a portion in which a person or the like who wants to be a seal is recorded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a seal image receptor of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the image receptor for sealing of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an application example of the image receptor for sealing of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an application example of the same.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the image receptor for a seal of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the same.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the same.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image receiving body, 2 ... Image receiving sheet, 3 ... Supporting sheet (separator), 4 ... Receiving layer, 5 ... Seal base material, 6 ... Adhesive layer, 7 ... Release layer, 8 ... Supporting base material, 9 ... Notch, 10 … A score line.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Katayama 1-2 1-2 Shimohozumi, Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture Nitto Denko Corporation (72) Kenichiro Ito 1-2 1-2 Shimohozumi, Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture Within Nitto Denko Corporation

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image receptor for a thermal transfer recording apparatus which records an image by selectively heating an ink film coated with a sublimable or fusible color material, which comprises a receptor layer, a seal substrate and an adhesive layer. In an image receptor in which the image receiving sheet is releasable from a support sheet (separator) composed of a release layer and a supporting base material, a notch that allows the image receiving sheet to be divided into a plurality of parts according to recorded images of various sizes is formed on the seal substrate. An image receptor for thermal transfer recording, characterized in that it is provided over the material and the adhesive layer, and the notch does not reach the surface of the receptor layer. 2. A sectional shape (cutting line) formed on the image receiving sheet by the cutting is matched with an image size of a multi-image recording function of two or more divisions incorporated in a recording apparatus. The image receptor for thermal transfer recording according to claim 1. 3. The image receptor for thermal transfer recording according to claim 1, wherein a part of the score line is extended so as to reach an end portion of the image receiving sheet. 4. The image receptor for thermal transfer recording according to claim 1, wherein a guide slit is provided at an end portion of the image receiving sheet, the guide slit continuing to the score line. 5. The image receptor for thermal transfer recording according to claim 1, wherein the score lines are perforations. 6. The receiving layer surface of an image-receiving sheet provided with cuts over the receiving layer, the seal base material and the adhesive layer is smoothed by physical means such as heating to substantially eliminate the cuts on the surface of the receiving layer. The image receptor for thermal transfer recording according to claim 1. 7. A thermal transfer recording apparatus using the image receptor for thermal transfer recording according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. A thermal transfer characterized in that a recording position or a size of a recorded image can be finely adjusted in accordance with a score line provided in the thermal transfer recording image receptor according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Recording device. 9. A thermal transfer recording using an image receiving sheet composed of a seal base material and an adhesive layer so that the image receiving sheet can be peeled from a support sheet (separator) composed of a release layer and a support base material. The thermal transfer is characterized in that the image-receiving sheet is provided with a notch that allows the image-receiving sheet to be divided into a plurality of pieces, over the seal base material and the adhesive layer, and the image-receiving sheet is provided by thermal transfer of the image-receiving sheet prior to image recording and then image recording Recording method. 10. A thermal transfer recording using an image receptor comprising an image receiving sheet comprising a receiving layer, a seal base material and an adhesive layer which is peelable from a support sheet (separator) comprising a release layer and a supporting base material. A notch that allows the image receiving sheet to be divided into multiple parts according to the recorded image is leveled by the heat of the thermal head prior to image recording, and the surface of the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet provided over the receiving layer, the seal base material, and the adhesive layer is substantially A thermal transfer recording method, wherein an image is recorded after the notch on the surface of the receiving layer is eliminated.