JPH08108657A - 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 the image receiving layer 1 formed on the single surface of a base material sheet 2, the resin layer 3 formed on the other surface of the base material sheet 2, the color layer 4 formed on the surface on the side opposite to the base material sheet 2 of the resin layer 3, the self-adhesive layer 5 formed on the surface on the side opposite to the resin layer 3 of the color layer 4 and the separator 6 covering the self-adhesive layer 5. An ultraviolet absorber is added to the resin layer 3 and ultrafine particles with a particle size of 100nm or less are 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, and if necessary, an adhesive layer is provided on the other surface of the base film, and a separator covering the adhesive layer is laminated. There is. 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, in the case of a conventional tape-shaped image receiving body having an immediate layer, fading occurs due to irradiation with light (ultraviolet rays), and the appearance is vivid for a long period of time. It was difficult to save it in the same 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 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, an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink of the present invention is formed on one side of a base film and has an image-receiving layer containing ultrafine particles having a particle diameter of 100 nm or less, It is composed of a resin layer formed on the other surface of the base film and containing an ultraviolet absorber, and a colored layer formed on the surface of the resin layer opposite to the base film.

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

Further, the label-printing cassette of the present invention is formed on one side of a base film and has a particle size of 100 nm.
An image receiving layer containing the following ultrafine particles, a resin layer formed on the other surface of the substrate film, containing a UV absorber,
An image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink comprising a colored layer formed on the surface of the resin layer opposite to the base film is incorporated in a cassette together with a thermal transfer ink ribbon.

[0010]

The image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink of the present invention having the above-mentioned constitution is formed on one side of a substrate film and has a particle size of 1
An image-receiving layer containing ultrafine particles of 00 nm or less, a resin layer formed on the other surface of the base film, and containing a UV absorber, and a surface of the resin layer opposite to the base film. Since the colored layer is composed of a colored layer, the colored layer is not affected by ultraviolet rays and can prevent discoloration.

Further, an adhesive layer is provided on the surface of the colored layer opposite to the resin layer, and a release layer is provided to cover the surface of the adhesive layer, so that the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet can be easily formed. It can be attached to a desired place.

Further, the label-printing cassette of the present invention having the above structure is formed on one side of the base film,
An image receiving layer containing ultrafine particles having a particle size of 100 nm or less;
An image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink, which is formed on the other surface of the base film and comprises a resin layer containing an ultraviolet absorber and a colored layer formed on the surface of the resin layer opposite to the base film. Since it is incorporated in the cassette together with the thermal transfer ink ribbon, when the label printing cassette is used in a tape printer or the like, it is possible to obtain a label that does not fade.

[0013]

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 an image-receiving layer 1 formed on one side of a base sheet 2 and a resin layer 3 formed on the other side of the base sheet 2. A colored layer 4 formed on the surface of the resin layer 3 opposite to the base sheet 2, an adhesive layer 5 formed on the surface of the colored layer 4 opposite to the resin layer 3, and It is composed of a separator 6 that covers the adhesive layer 5.

The above-mentioned base sheet 2 constitutes the base film of the present invention, and the separator 6 constitutes the release layer of the present invention.

Next, the details of each layer will be described.

A plastic film is used for the base sheet 2, and a polyester film such as a polyethylene terephthalate film is particularly preferably used in terms 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 sheet 2 is preferably about 25 to 150 μm from the viewpoint of handleability at the time of sticking 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, an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, an alicyclic dicarboxylic acid, etc., may be contained). Good) and diol component (usually composed mainly of alkylene glycol and may contain polyalkylene glycol, etc.)
It is a linear saturated polyester obtained by reacting with.

The particle size contained in the image receiving layer 1 is 100 n.
Examples of the ultrafine particles of m or less include silica, cerium oxide, iron oxide, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, magnesium oxide, titanium oxide, zircon oxide,
Examples include calcium carbonate.

By using ultrafine particles having a particle size of 100 nm or less, the image receiving layer 1 can be provided with transparency, and in order to reflect ultraviolet rays efficiently, the particle size is 1
Those of 00 nm or less are suitable.

As the polyester resin, it is necessary to use one 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.

Further, the image receiving layer 1 may be made by blending a resin such as a melamine resin in addition to the above 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 above-mentioned polyester resin on the base sheet 2 and drying it.

The resin layer 3 can be formed by applying a solvent solution of a polyester resin containing ultrafine particles having a particle diameter of 100 nm or less on the colored layer 4 and drying it.

Here, examples of the ultraviolet absorber include benzoic acid ester and its derivative, cinnamic acid ester and its derivative, salicylic acid derivative, benzophenones, benzaldehyde derivative, coumarins, carbostyrils, benzotriazoles, acrylonitriles. , Benzalazines, and benzimidazole derivatives.

Next, as the coloring layer 4 and the adhesive layer 5, those conventionally used can be used as they are, and for the separator 6, an ordinary release paper subjected to a one-side release treatment 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 particularly, 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.

One side of a polyethylene terephthalate film (ICI: Melinex S) having a thickness of 50 μm was prepared by dissolving a polyester resin (Unitika: UE-3300) in a toluene-MEK mixed solvent (2: 3 weight ratio). Titanium oxide (made by KEMIRA: UV-
TITAN, particle size 30 to 35 nm) 0.2% by weight is applied and dried to form an image receiving layer of 1 μm, and a polyester resin (Unitika: UE-3300 manufactured by Unitika) is formed on the other surface of the polyethylene terephthalate film. Was dissolved in a toluene-MEK mixed solvent (2: 3 weight ratio) to prepare a 10% solution, and an ultraviolet absorber (Sumitomo Chemical: SUMI
SORB300) 0.5 wt% dissolved in 1μ
m coating and drying to form a resin layer, and the gravure ink (DIC: CVL-PR) is formed on the surface of the resin layer opposite to the polyethylene terephthalate film.
Grass) was applied to a thickness of 2 μm to obtain a colored layer.

An acrylic resin adhesive layer having a thickness of 15 μm is formed on the surface of the colored layer opposite to the resin layer, and a single-sided releasable separator (having a thickness of 75 μm) is formed so as to cover the adhesive layer. On one surface of the glassine paper, a release paper treated with a silicon fine particle resin was laminated so that the release-treated surface was in contact with the adhesive layer.

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

Then, the results of evaluating the light resistance of each of the sample A and the sample B by applying the 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 having a radiant intensity of 50 watt / square meter (W / m ² ) for 40 hours, and measuring the color difference ΔE between sample A and sample B every 10 hours. It was

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

-Light source: D65-Regular reflection light incorporation-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.

This is because the particle size contained in the image receiving layer 1 is 100.
Ultra-fine particles with a wavelength of nm or less emit light in the ultraviolet region (wavelength 200 to 4
This is because the coloring layer 4 is not affected by the ultraviolet rays because the ultraviolet ray absorbent contained in the resin layer 3 absorbs the scattered ultraviolet rays.

As described above, according to the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet of this embodiment, since the resin layer 3 contains the ultraviolet absorber and the image-receiving layer 1 contains the ultrafine particles having a particle diameter of 100 nm or less, It is possible to suppress fading of the colored layer 4. Further, since the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet of the present example is provided with the adhesive layer 5 and the separator 6, it can be easily stuck to a desired place by peeling off the separator 6.

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 an ink ribbon having a resin diameter. 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 being overlapped 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 perform 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 the overlapping state, and the ink of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 4a is fixed to the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet according to the print pattern.

The printed image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink passes through the slit 53, the cassette printing portion is cut, and the printed sheet is taken out of the tape printer. The cutting piece is
Since the release layer and the separator are provided, the label can be easily attached to a desired place by removing the separator.

Here, the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet 3a used in the label-printing cassette of this embodiment has a resin layer containing an ultraviolet absorber, and the image-receiving layer has a particle size of 100 n.
Since the ultra fine particles of m or less are contained, it is possible to suppress the discoloration of the colored layer due to the irradiation of ultraviolet rays for a long period of time.

[0052]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the thermal transfer ink image-receiving sheet of the present invention, the resin layer contains an ultraviolet absorber, and the image-receiving layer has a particle size of 100 n.
Since the ultra fine particles of m or less are contained, it is possible to suppress the discoloration of the colored layer due to the irradiation of ultraviolet rays for a long period of time.

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 Base Sheet 3 Resin Layer 4 Coloring Layer 5 Adhesive Layer 6 Separator 3a Image Transfer Sheet for Thermal Transfer Ink 4a Thermal Transfer Ink Ribbon

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image-receiving layer formed on one surface of a base film, containing ultrafine particles having a particle size of 100 nm or less, and a resin layer formed on the other surface of the base film, containing an ultraviolet absorber. An image receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink, comprising a colored layer formed on a surface of the resin layer opposite to the base film. 2. The thermal transfer according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive layer is provided on the surface of the colored layer opposite to the resin layer, and a release layer is provided to cover the surface of the adhesive layer. Image receiving sheet for ink. 3. An image receiving layer formed on one surface of a base film, containing ultrafine particles having a particle size of 100 nm or less, and a resin layer formed on the other surface of the base film, containing an ultraviolet absorber. A label-printing cassette, characterized in that an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer ink, which comprises a colored layer formed on the surface of the resin layer opposite to the substrate film, is incorporated into the cassette together with the thermal transfer ink ribbon.