JPH08108650A - Image receiving-sheet for thermal transfer ink, and label-printing cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink generat ing no fading even in the case of the long-term irradiation with ultraviolet rays, and a label-printing cassette using the same. CONSTITUTION: An image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink is constituted of a base material sheet 3, the color layer 2 formed on the single surface thereof, the image receiving layer 1 formed on the surface on the side opposite to the base material sheet 3 of the color layer 2, the self-adhesive layer 4 formed on the other surface of the base material sheet 3 and the separator 5 covering the self-adhesive layer 4. An ultraviolet absorber having an absorption peak within a wavelength range of 290-360nm is added to the image receiving layer 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet suitable for use in tape printers and the like, and a label-printing cassette using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, tape printers have a simple word processor function and a printer function. A tape-shaped image receptor wound in a pancake shape is accommodated in a printing cassette detachably attached to the tape printer, and while rewinding the tape-shaped image receptor, a character string input by the word processor function is stored. And the like are formed as a print image on the tape-shaped image receiving body by a printer function, the portion where the print image is formed is cut, and the cut pieces are attached to an object. This makes it possible to easily create a heading tape, a tape with a name, and the like.

A thermal transfer printer is usually used in the printer section of the tape printer because it can be easily miniaturized. Therefore, the ink ribbon used is also a thermal transfer ink ribbon.

As the tape-shaped image receptor contained in the printing cassette, a colored layer is provided on one surface of a base film such as a polyester film, and thermal transfer is performed on the surface of the colored layer opposite to the base film. It is known that an image receiving layer made of a polyester resin or the like having good ink fixability is provided, an adhesive layer is provided on the other surface of the base film as needed, and a separator covering the adhesive layer is laminated. . In this tape-shaped image receptor, an image is formed on the image receiving layer, the separator is peeled off, the adhesive layer is positioned on the object side, and the image receiving layer is attached.

[0005]

However, the conventional tape-shaped image receptor having a colored layer, such as a tape-shaped image receptor, is discolored by irradiation with light (ultraviolet rays), and has a long-term vivid appearance. It was difficult to preserve the color. Particularly in a label produced by a tape printer or the like, maintaining a beautiful appearance is an important factor.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink that does not fade even when it is irradiated with ultraviolet rays for a long period of time, and a label-printing cassette using the same. The purpose is to do.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet of the present invention is a thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet comprising a substrate film, a coloring layer and an image-receiving layer. An ultraviolet absorber having an absorption peak in the wavelength range of 360 nm is contained.

A colored layer may be formed on one surface of the base film, and the image receiving layer may be formed on the surface of the colored layer opposite to the base film.

It is desirable that an adhesive layer be provided on the surface of the base film opposite to the colored layer, and that a release layer be provided to cover the surface of the adhesive layer.

Further, the colored layer may be formed on one surface of the base film and the image receiving layer may be formed on the other surface of the base film.

It is desirable that an adhesive layer be provided on the surface of the colored layer opposite to the base film, and that a release layer covering the surface of the adhesive layer be provided.

Further, the label printing cassette of the present invention is
An image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink comprising a base film, a colored layer and an image receiving layer, wherein the image receiving layer contains an ultraviolet absorber having an absorption peak in the wavelength range of 290 to 360 nm.
It is installed in the cassette together with the thermal transfer ink ribbon.

[0013]

The thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure is a thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet comprising a substrate film, a coloring layer and an image-receiving layer.
Since the ultraviolet absorber having an absorption peak in the wavelength range of 0 to 360 nm is contained, the colored layer is not affected by ultraviolet rays and can prevent discoloration.

When a colored layer is formed on one side of the base film and the image receiving layer is formed on the side of the colored layer opposite to the base film, or on one side of the base film. In either structure in which the colored layer is formed and the image receiving layer is formed on the other surface of the base film, the colored layer is not affected by ultraviolet rays, and fading can be prevented.

Furthermore, since the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet of the present invention is provided with an adhesive layer and a release layer covering the adhesive layer, the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet can be easily attached to a desired location. it can.

Further, the label-printing cassette of the present invention having the above-mentioned constitution comprises a base film, a coloring layer and an image receiving layer, and the image receiving layer contains an ultraviolet absorber having an absorption peak in the wavelength range of 290 to 360 nm. Since the contained image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink is incorporated into the cassette together with the thermal transfer ink ribbon, when this label printing cassette is used in a tape printer or the like, a label that does not fade can be obtained.

[0017]

EXAMPLES Examples embodying the present invention will be described below.

First, the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet of this embodiment has a colored layer 2 formed on one side of a base sheet 3, and the colored layer 2 on the side opposite to the base sheet 3. The image receiving layer 1 formed on the surface, the adhesive layer 4 formed on the other surface of the base sheet 3, and the separator 5 covering the adhesive layer 4.

The above-mentioned base sheet 3 constitutes the base film of the present invention, and the separator 5 constitutes the release layer of the present invention.

Next, details of each layer will be described.

As the base material sheet 3, a plastic film is used. In particular, a polyester film such as a polyethylene terephthalate film is preferably used from the viewpoint of strength and good adhesion to the image receiving layer. A vinyl film, a polycarbonate film, a triacetyl cellulose film, a polyamide film, a polyimide film, an aramid film or the like can be used. The thickness of the base material sheet 3 is preferably about 25 to 150 μm from the viewpoint of handleability at the time of attaching the objects.

The image-receiving layer 1 is mainly composed of a polyester resin, and as the polyester resin to be used, a dicarboxylic acid component (usually an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid as a main component and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, an alicyclic dicarboxylic acid or the like may be contained). A linear saturated polyester obtained by reacting a diol component (which is usually alkylene glycol as a main component and may contain a polyalkylene glycol or the like) is preferable.

290 to 360 contained in the image receiving layer 1
UV absorbers with absorption peaks in the nm wavelength range include
For example, 2- (5-methyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) benzotriazole, 2- [2-hydroxy-3,5-bis (α, α-dimethylbenzyl) phenyl] -2H-benzotriazole, 2- (3,3 5-di-t-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) benzotriazole, 2- (3-t-butyl-
5-Methyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) -5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2- (3,5-di-t-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) -5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2-
(3,5-di-t-amyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) benzotriazole, 2-(-2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl) benzotriazole, 2- (2-hydroxy-3-t)
-Butyl-5-methylphenyl) -5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2- (2-hydroxy-3,5-t-butylphenyl) benzotriazole, 2- (2-hydroxy-5-t-
Octylphenyl) benzotriazole, and 2- (2-
And hydroxy-3,5-di-t-amylphenyl) benzotriazole.

Furthermore, dimethyl-1- (2-hydroxyethyl) -4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine succinate, poly [[6- (1,1,3,3-tetra- Methylbutyl) imino-1,3,5-triazine-2
4-diyl] [(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) imino] hexamethylene [[2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) imino], and 2- (3 , 5-the-
Examples thereof include t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) -2-n-butylmalonate bis (1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl).

Further, it is necessary to use a polyester resin having a glass transition point of 60 ° C. or lower. This is because if the glass transition point is higher than the above range, the fixability of the printed image when the thermal transfer ink is transferred to form the printed image deteriorates, and the abrasion resistance deteriorates accordingly.

Further, the polyester resin has a molecular weight (number average molecular weight, the same applies hereinafter) of 8 × 10 ^{3 to} 3 × 10 ^4.
Are preferred. When the molecular weight is smaller than the above range, the image fastness such as alcohol resistance tends to deteriorate. If the molecular weight is larger than the above range, the fixability of the printed image becomes poor,
Along with this, the printed image fastness tends to deteriorate.

The image-receiving layer 1 may be made of a mixture of a resin such as a melamine resin in addition to the polyester resin. The coating amount of the image receiving layer 1 is 0.8 g /
It is required to be m ² or more. This is a coating amount of 0.8g
This is because if it is less than / m ² , the fastness of the printed image is deteriorated.

The image receiving layer 1 can be formed by applying the solvent solution of the polyester resin as described above on the colored layer 2 and drying.

Next, as the coloring layer 2 and the adhesive layer 4, those conventionally used can be used as they are, and for the separator 5, a single-sided ordinary release paper is used.
Release paper that has been subjected to a double-sided release treatment is not preferable because it causes core loss.

As for the ink ribbon to be used, the resin-based ink ribbon is more excellent in abrasion resistance than the wax-based ink ribbon, and in particular, the polyester resin-based ink ribbon is more compatible with the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet.

Next, the characteristics of the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet of this embodiment will be described with reference to comparative examples.

First, an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink (hereinafter, referred to as
Sample A) was formed as follows.

Ink (DIC: CVL-PR grass) was applied to a polyethylene terephthalate film (MINEnex S, manufactured by ICI) having a thickness of 50 μm to a thickness of 2 μm to form a colored layer. Polyester resin (manufactured by Unitika: UE-330) on the surface of the colored layer opposite to the polyethylene terephthalate film.
0) was dissolved in a toluene-MEK mixed solvent (2: 3 weight ratio) to prepare a 10% solution, which was added with 2-
(2-Hydroxy-3-t-butyl-5-methylphenyl)-
A solution containing 1.5% by weight of 5-chlorobenzotriazole dissolved therein was dried and then coated and dried at a coating amount of 1 g / m ² to obtain an image receiving layer.

On the surface of the polyethylene terephthalate film opposite to the colored layer, a thickness of 15
A μm acrylic resin-based adhesive layer is formed, and a single-sided release separator (release paper in which one side of 75 μm-thick glassine paper is released with silicone fine particle resin) is released to cover the adhesive layer. The layers were laminated so that the surface was in contact with the adhesive layer.

As a comparative example (referred to as sample B), an image receiving layer was formed without mixing an ultraviolet absorber, and a base sheet, a coloring layer, an adhesive layer and a separator were formed in the same manner as in sample A. Is a comparative example.

Then, the results of evaluating the light resistance of each of the samples A and B by applying them to a light resistance tester are shown in FIG.

The test method is as follows:
It is performed by irradiating ultraviolet rays of 0 nm to 400 nm with a xenon lamp for a radiation intensity of 50 watt / square meter (W / m ² ) for 96 hours, and measuring the color difference ΔE between sample A and sample B every 24 hours. It was

Minolta CM2002 is used for the colorimeter,
Color measurement was performed under the following conditions.

-Light source: D65-Incorporation of specular reflection light-Aperture diameter: 8 mm-Color measurement value: L ^* a ^* b ^{* From} FIG. 2, this example (Sample A) is a comparative example. It can be seen that, as compared with (Sample B), there is less discoloration when irradiated with ultraviolet rays for a long time.

As described above, in the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet of this embodiment, since the image-receiving layer contains the ultraviolet absorber having an absorption peak in the wavelength range of 290 to 360 nm, the fading of the colored layer is suppressed. be able to. Further, since the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet of this embodiment includes the adhesive layer 4 and the separator 5, it can be easily attached to a desired place by removing the separator 5.

As another embodiment, the colored layer is formed on one surface of the base sheet, and the image receiving layer is formed on the other surface of the base sheet, and the colored layer is provided on the side opposite to the base sheet. Even if a thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet is formed by forming an adhesive layer and a separator that covers the adhesive layer on the surface, the same effects as in the above-described examples can be obtained.

Next, the label printing cassette of this embodiment using the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet of the above embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper cassette A of the label printing cassette of this embodiment is removed.

As shown in FIG. 3, cylindrical shafts 1 and 2 are erected on the inner bottom surface of the lower cassette B of the label printing cassette. The spools 3 and 4 are rotatably supported by these, respectively. Of these, the spool 3 is wound around an image receiving sheet 3a for thermal transfer ink, and the spool 4
Wound the thermal transfer ink ribbon 4a. The thermal transfer ink image receiving sheet 3a is the same as the thermal transfer ink image receiving sheet described in the above embodiment, and the thermal transfer ink ribbon 4a is a resin ink ribbon. The resin-based ink ribbon is more excellent in abrasion resistance than the wax-based ink ribbon, and in particular, the polyester resin-based ink ribbon has good compatibility with the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet.

On the inner bottom surface of the lower cassette B, a ribbon take-up spool 5 for taking up the used thermal transfer ink ribbon 4a and a tape feed roller 6 are rotatably supported.

Further, a roller entrance 33 is provided on the outer peripheral wall b of the lower cassette B to allow a movable roller portion (not shown) of the printer to enter from the outside. Printing is performed inside the roller entrance 33.

A guide shaft 45 is provided near the spool 4, and a holding spring 47 is provided on the outer peripheral wall b of the lower cassette B near the spool 3. A separator 43 is provided between the guide shaft 45 and the pressing spring 47.
Is located.

The path of the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet 3a is
It extends from the spool 3 between the separator 43 and the pressing spring 47 toward the roller entrance 33, and extends from the outer peripheral surface of the tape feeding roller 6 through the slit 53 to the outside.

The path of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 4a passes from the spool 4 between the separator 43 and the guide shaft 45, extends toward the roller entrance 33 in a state of overlapping with the thermal transfer ink ribbon 4a, and extends to the tape feed roller. 6
Change the traveling direction before the ribbon winding spool 5
Leading to. Therefore, between the guide shaft 45 and the roller entrance 33, the thermal transfer ink image receiving sheet 3a and the thermal transfer ink ribbon 4a are in an overlapping state.

When the label printing cassette configured as described above is mounted on the tape printer, and the operator operates the tape printer to execute printing, the heating element on the tape printer side causes a printing drive circuit (not shown). By the operation of, heat generation according to the print pattern is started. This heat is applied to the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet 3a and the thermal transfer ink ribbon 4a in an overlapping state, and the ink of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 4a is transferred to the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet 3 according to the print pattern.
Fix on the a side.

Then, the printed portion of the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet is cut out at the cassette printing portion through the slit 53, and is ejected to the outside of the tape printer. The cutting piece is
Since the adhesive layer and the separator are provided, the label can be easily attached to a desired place by peeling off the separator.

The thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet 3a used in the label-printing cassette of this embodiment has an image-receiving layer containing an ultraviolet absorber having an absorption peak in the wavelength range of 290 to 360 nm. Therefore, even if it is irradiated with ultraviolet rays for a long period of time, it is possible to suppress the discoloration of the colored layer, and thus the formed label can maintain a bright color for a long period of time in appearance.

[0054]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink of the present invention, since the image-receiving layer contains an ultraviolet absorber having an absorption peak in the wavelength range of 290 to 360 nm, fading of the colored layer due to irradiation with ultraviolet rays for a long period of time. Can be suppressed.

Further, according to the tape printing cassette of the present invention, it is possible to form a label capable of maintaining a vivid color for a long period of time in appearance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view showing the structure of an image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the results of evaluation of light resistance.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the tape printing cassette of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Receiving Layer 2 Colored Layer 3 Base Sheet 4 Adhesive Layer 5 Separator 3a Image Transfer Sheet for Thermal Transfer Ink 4a Thermal Transfer Ink Ribbon

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet comprising a substrate film, a coloring layer and an image-receiving layer, wherein the image-receiving layer comprises 2
An image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink, comprising an ultraviolet absorber having an absorption peak in the wavelength range of 90 to 360 nm. 2. The colored layer is formed on one surface of the base film, and the image receiving layer is formed on the surface of the colored layer opposite to the base film. Image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink. 3. The adhesive layer is provided on the surface of the base film opposite to the colored layer, and a release layer is provided to cover the surface of the adhesive layer. Image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink. 4. The image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink according to claim 1, wherein the colored layer is formed on one surface of the base film, and the image receiving layer is formed on the other surface of the base film. 5. The adhesive layer is provided on the surface of the colored layer opposite to the substrate film, and a release layer is provided to cover the surface of the adhesive layer. Image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink. 6. An image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink, comprising a base film, a colored layer and an image receiving layer, the image receiving layer containing an ultraviolet absorber having an absorption peak in the wavelength range of 290 to 360 nm, together with a thermal transfer ink ribbon. A label printing cassette characterized by being incorporated in the cassette.