JPH08142365A - Thermal transfer recording method using intermediate recording member - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To well transfer a recording layer to an image receiving material, to reduce the adhesion of waste refuse to an intermediate transfer member and to make it less apt to generate dyeing even at the time of the contact with an ink sheet at room temp. CONSTITUTION: A recording layer 2 is transferred to an intermediate transfer member 4 from a recording layer supply element 1 wherein the recording layer 2 is provided on an A-base material 3 and, next, an ink sheet 8 is used to thermally transfer a dye to the recording layer 2 on the intermediate transfer member 4. The transferred recording layer is transferred to an image receiving material 13 from the intermediate transfer member 4 to perform recording. At this time, the intermediate transfer member 4 constituted by arranging a C-base material 7 and a resin film 5 through a flexible layer 6 is used to perform recording.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording method using an intermediate transfer member for recording on a paper or the like by a recording means such as a thermal head using an ink material containing a dye as a coloring material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a thermal transfer recording method for recording by sublimation or diffusion of a dye, which is a coloring material, is a thermal transfer recording method using an intermediate transfer member capable of obtaining a recorded image on various kinds of paper including copy paper. Methods are known (JP-A-4-141486, JP-A-4-156384, JP-A-5).
-131764).

In this thermal transfer recording method, a recording layer is transferred from a recording layer supplier having a recording layer to an intermediate transfer member, and then a dye is thermally transferred to the recording layer on the intermediate transfer member by using an ink sheet, and then the intermediate transfer member is transferred. A recording image is obtained on the image receiving body by transferring the dyed recording layer from the transfer body to the image receiving body.

An example of the conventional thermal transfer recording method described above will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a main part of a thermal transfer recording apparatus for carrying out a conventional thermal transfer recording method using an intermediate transfer member. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording layer supplier, which has a recording layer provided on a base material. An intermediate transfer member 4 has a release layer provided on a drum-shaped substrate. Reference numeral 8 is an ink sheet, and an ink material layer containing a dye as a coloring material is provided on a base material. Further, 11 and 12 are thermal heads, 13 is an image receptor, and 14 is a heating roller.

The operation of the thermal transfer recording method using the intermediate transfer member constructed as described above will be described below.

First, the recording layer supply member 1 is sandwiched between the drum-shaped intermediate transfer member 4 and the thermal head 11, and the recording layer is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 4. Next, by using the ink sheet 8 and the thermal head 12, the dye in the ink material layer on the ink sheet 8 is thermally recorded on the recording layer transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 4. Then, the dyed recording layer is transferred from the intermediate transfer member 4 onto the image receiving member 13 using the heating roller 14.

As the intermediate transfer member 4 used in the thermal transfer recording method using the conventional intermediate transfer member, a metal drum or a polymer film may be used as it is, or a metal drum or a resin film provided with a release layer on the surface thereof. Was used. As the release layer, a rubber-like layer formed by thinly forming a silicone resin or a fluororesin, or a general resin mixed with a release agent such as a silicone-based lubricant or a fluorosurfactant is known. .

[0009]

However, in the thermal transfer recording method having the above-mentioned structure, when the rubber-like release layer is provided as the intermediate transfer member, dust adheres to the surface of the rubber-like release layer. It's easy to do. The dust adhering to the release layer of the intermediate transfer member mixes with the recording layer transferred from the recording layer supplying member, and this recording layer is transferred onto the image receiving member, resulting in a defect on the image. Had.

Further, in the case where a release layer in which a release agent is mixed with a general resin is provided as an intermediate transfer member, since the release agent which is a low molecular component has a dyeing property, the intermediate transfer member has a dyeing property. There is a problem in that the release layer is dyed with a dye only when it contacts the color material layer of the ink sheet at room temperature.

Further, when a metal drum or a resin film is used as it is as an intermediate transfer member, it is good for dust adhesion and dyeing due to contact with an ink sheet. However, when the recording layer is transferred onto the image receptor, the fixability of the recording layer is poor, and the recording layer easily peels off from the image receptor.

In view of the above problems, the present invention is capable of favorably transferring a recording layer onto an image receiving body, has less dust attached to an intermediate transfer body, and is dyed even when contacted with an ink sheet at room temperature. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer recording method using an intermediate transfer member having an excellent property of being difficult.

[0013]

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention transfers the recording layer from a recording layer supplier having a recording layer to an intermediate transfer member, and then an ink sheet In the thermal transfer recording method, in which the dye is thermally transferred to the recording layer on the intermediate transfer body by using the recording layer, and the recording layer dyed from the intermediate transfer body to the image receptor is transferred to perform recording, the substrate and the resin film are Recording is performed using an intermediate transfer member having a configuration in which a flexible layer is arranged.

An intermediate transfer member is used in which the recording layer contains butyral resin and the resin film is made of polyethylene terephthalate.

Further, an intermediate transfer member whose flexible layer is made of a silicone adhesive is used.

When the recording layer is made of a thermoplastic resin and the recording layer dyed from the intermediate transfer member to the image receptor is transferred, the intermediate transfer member is heated at a temperature lower than the flow softening point of the thermoplastic resin. And the image receptor.

[0017]

According to the present invention, the resin film is arranged on the surface of the intermediate transfer member, and the adhesion of dust to the resin film and the dyeing due to contact with the ink sheet at room temperature are small. In addition, since the flexible layer is disposed between the resin film and the substrate, the flexible layer is easily deformed when the recording layer is transferred onto the image receptor, so that the recording layer is transferred onto the image receptor. In addition, the transfer can be performed by following the unevenness of the surface of the image receiver.

Further, since the recording layer contains a butyral resin and the resin film is made of polyethylene terephthalate, good adhesiveness or releasability between the recording layer and the resin film can be obtained.

Further, since the flexible layer is made of a silicone adhesive material, good flexibility can be obtained.

When the recording layer is transferred onto the image receptor, the intermediate transfer body and the image receptor are separated at a temperature lower than the flow softening point of the thermoplastic resin contained in the recording layer, whereby the recording layer is aggregated. The force becomes high, and good transfer without cohesive failure of the recording layer becomes possible.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention and specific examples thereof will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the arrangement of the main parts of a thermal transfer recording apparatus for carrying out the thermal transfer recording method using an intermediate transfer member in the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a recording layer supplier, and a recording layer 2 is provided on an A base material 3. An intermediate transfer member 4 has a resin film 5 arranged on a C substrate 7 with a flexible layer 6 interposed therebetween. Reference numeral 8 is an ink sheet, and an ink material layer 9 is provided on a B base material 10. 11
Reference numerals 12 and 13 are thermal heads, 13 is an image receiving member, 14 is a heating roller, 15 is a supply member winding roller of the recording layer supplying member 1, and 16 is an ink sheet winding roller of the ink sheet 8.

A thermal transfer recording method of the thermal transfer recording apparatus using the intermediate transfer member constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the recording layer 2 of the recording layer supply body 1 is pressed against the resin film 5 of the intermediate transfer body 4 by using the thermal head 11. In this state, the recording signal source 22
A recording signal is applied to the thermal head 11 to heat the thermal head 11 to transfer at least a part of the recording layer 2 onto the resin film 5 of the intermediate transfer member 4. The recording layer supply body 1 is wound around the supply body winding roller 15 in the direction of arrow 18 by the rotation of the intermediate transfer body 4 in the direction of arrow 17.

At this time, the recording layer 2 sticks to the resin film 5 due to the adhesiveness caused by softening due to the heat generated by the thermal head 11. The interface between the A base material 3 of the recording layer supply body 1 and the recording layer 2 serves as a peeling surface, and the recording layer 2 is peeled from the A base material 3 and transferred onto the resin film 5. Therefore, only the A base material 3 is wound around the supply body winding roller 15 in the arrow 18 direction.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2B, the ink sheet 8 is pressed against the recording layer 2 transferred onto the resin film 5 by using the thermal head 12. In this state, a recording signal is applied from the recording signal source 23 to the thermal head 12 to cause the thermal head 12 to selectively generate heat to transfer at least a part of the color material of the ink material layer 9 to the surface of the recording layer 2, Primary recording image corresponding to recording signal
Forming 24. The intermediate transfer member 4 rotates in the direction of arrow 17, and the ink sheet 8 is rotated by the ink sheet take-up roller 16
It is wound up in the direction of arrow 19.

At this time, the recording layer 2 is stably held on the resin film 5 by the adhesiveness with the resin film 5. For this reason, shearing force is applied to the recording layer 2 due to fusing of the ink material layer 9 and the recording layer 2 or fluctuations in the traveling speed of the intermediate transfer member 4 and the traveling speed of the ink sheet 8. However, the recording layer 2 does not peel off from the resin film 5 or shift on the resin film 5.

Further, since the flexible layer 6 has flexibility, the flexible layer 6 is deformed in accordance with the unevenness of the surface of the ink sheet 8 or the thermal head 12, so that the thermal head 12 and the ink sheet 8 are , The mutual contact with the recording layer 2 on the resin film 5 becomes uniform. Therefore, a high quality primary recording image 24 can be stably formed on the recording layer 2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2C, the intermediate transfer member 4
The image receptor 13 is pressed against the heat roller 14 and the heat roller 14 is rotated in the direction of arrow 21, and the image receptor 13 is rotated by the heat roller 14.
When is heated, the recording layer 2 adheres to the surface of the image receptor 13. Therefore, when the image receiving body 13 is peeled off from the intermediate transfer body 4, the recording layer 2 in the portion where the pressure is applied is transferred to the image receiving body 13 side,
The primary recorded image 24 is transferred onto the surface of the image receiver 13 to form a transferred image 25. The image receiving body 13 is sent in the direction of arrow 20 by the rotation of the heating roller 14 and the intermediate transfer body 4.

At this time, even if the surface of the image receptor 13 is uneven due to fibers or the like, since the flexible layer 6 has flexibility, the flexible layer 6 is deformed following the unevenness of the image receptor 13, The recording layer 2 is filled up to the concave portion of the image receptor 13. When the pressure is further applied, the soft flexible layer 6 penetrates into the recesses on the surface of the image receptor 13, and the recording layer 2 is pushed into the finer inside of the fiber.

Then, when the adhesive force of the recording layer 2 to the image receiving member 13 becomes larger than the adhesive force of the recording layer 2 to the resin film 5, the image receiving member 13 is peeled off from the intermediate transfer member 4, and the softened recording layer 2 is left. It is released from the resin film 5 and transferred onto the image receptor 13. Therefore, the recording layer 2 and the primary recording image 24 are easily transferred onto the surface of the image receptor 13 at a temperature at which the recording layer 2 is softened, and at the same time, are fixed well.

Since the transferred image 25 is an inverted image of the primary recorded image 24, the recording signal source 23 normally generates a signal for recording the inverted image of the transferred image 25 with the thermal head 12.

For color recording, ink material layers of three primary colors of dyes cyan, magenta, and yellow, and four primary colors including black are arranged on the B substrate 10 in a frame-sequential manner. By using the sheet 8 and superposing them on the recording layer 2 on the resin film 5 in a frame-sequential manner, a recorded image can be colored.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the essential parts of a thermal transfer recording apparatus for carrying out the thermal transfer recording method using the intermediate transfer member in the second embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration that an image receptor peeling roller 26 is provided in order to peel the image receptor 13 from the intermediate transfer member 4 at a position apart from the heating roller 14. Others are the same as the configuration of FIG.

The operation of the thermal transfer recording method of the thermal transfer recording apparatus using the intermediate transfer member constructed as described above is recorded through the steps shown in FIG. 2 as in FIG.

In this embodiment, since the image receiving member peeling roller 26 is provided, the image receiving member 13 is separated from the intermediate transfer member 4 at a position away from the heating roller 14, so that the image receiving member 13 is separated from the intermediate transfer member 4. Regardless of the temperature of the heating roller 14, the temperature of the recording layer 2 at the time of peeling can be lower than the flow softening point of the thermoplastic resin contained in the recording layer 2.

Here, in the configuration shown in FIG.
Is peeled off from the intermediate transfer body 4 in the vicinity of the heating roller 14, the temperature of the recording layer 2 when the image receiving body 13 is peeled off from the intermediate transfer body 4 is about the temperature of the heating roller 14.

The recording layer 2 is formed on the resin film 5 from the image receptor.
Whether or not it is properly transferred onto 13 depends on whether the temperature of the recording layer 2 is higher or lower than the flow softening point (flow starting point) of the thermoplastic resin contained in the recording layer 2.

When the temperature of the recording layer 2 is lower than the flow softening point of the thermoplastic resin contained in the recording layer 2, the recording layer 2
Has a high cohesive force and is satisfactorily transferred from the resin film 5 to the image receiver 13. On the other hand, when the temperature of the recording layer 2 is higher than the flow softening point of the thermoplastic resin contained in the recording layer 2, the recording layer 2 undergoes cohesive failure and the entire recording layer 2 receives the image receptor 13.
May not be transferred to. This is because when the thermoplastic resin contained in the recording layer 2 is heated to a temperature higher than the flow softening point, the viscosity becomes low enough to allow it to flow, and the force received from both the resin film 5 and the image receptor 13 causes recording. This is because the layer 2 itself is divided.

Therefore, in the structure shown in FIG. 1, the temperature of the heating roller 14 fluctuates and becomes high, and the temperature of the recording layer 2 when the image receiving body 13 is separated from the intermediate transfer body 4 is the same as that of the recording layer 2.
When the temperature is higher than the flow softening point of the thermoplastic resin contained in, good transfer may not be possible.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, by providing the image receiving member peeling roller 26, the image receiving member 13 is separated from the intermediate transfer member 4 at a position apart from the heating roller 14, so that the intermediate transfer is performed. The temperature of the recording layer 2 when the image receiving body 13 is peeled from the body 4 can be made lower than the flow softening point of the thermoplastic resin contained in the recording layer 2 regardless of the temperature of the heating roller 14.

As described above, since the image receiving member peeling roller 26 is provided in order to peel the image receiving member 13 from the intermediate transfer member 4 at a position away from the heating roller 14, the recording layer 2 causes cohesive failure. Therefore, the recording layer 2 and the primary recording image 24 can be satisfactorily transferred onto the surface of the image receiving body 13.

In FIG. 3, a peeling claw may be provided on the transfer image side of the image receiving body 13 in order to easily peel off the image receiving body 13 from the intermediate transfer body 4.

The method of performing thermal transfer recording is not limited to the method using the thermal heads 11 and 12 as in this embodiment.
In addition to the thermal head, a thermal transfer recording method using an energizing head that generates heat by energizing a resistance layer from a plurality of recording electrode needles, an optical head that converts light into heat by a photothermal conversion layer, or the like may be used. .

As the transfer method, the heating roller 14 is used, but other than that, heat and pressure may be applied.
The heating roller 14 is a roller having a heat generating portion inside or on the outer periphery thereof, and can control the amount of electricity supplied to the heat generating portion and the amount of heat transmitted to the intermediate transfer body side by heat conduction from the surface thereof. A light source such as a halogen lamp that emits a large amount of radiant heat may be used as the heat generating portion. As the material of the heating roller 14, for example, a rubber (rubber coating) roller, a plastic roller, a metal roller, or the like is useful. It is also possible to transfer only a necessary portion of the recording layer (for example, only a portion of the primary recording image of the recording layer) onto the image receptor by using a head for thermal recording such as a thermal head or an energizing head. .

Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the present embodiment, the recording layer supply body 1 can also be constructed as a cassette wound around an unwinding roller and a winding roller.
The same applies to the ink sheet 8.

Image receptor peeling roller 26 in the second embodiment.
Does not have to have the shape of a roller as shown in FIG. 3, and may have any structure as long as the image receiving body 13 can be peeled off. For example, a peeling claw used in a fixing device or the like may be used in place of the roller, or an end portion of a thin plate-shaped object may be used.

When the A base material 3 of the recording layer supplying body 3 and the B base material 10 of the ink sheet 8 have a slipping layer or a slip heat resistant layer on at least one surface thereof, the running stability with a recording head or the like is high. It is particularly desirable because it is good. And the A base material 3
Of the release layer on the surface contacting the recording layer 2 depending on the characteristics of the recording layer 2.
(Peeling layer) may be provided. As a material used for the release layer, a silicone resin, a fluororesin, a melamine resin, or a wax material can be used.

It is desirable to provide an adhesive layer (anchor coat layer) on the surface of the B base material 10 that is in contact with the ink material layer 9 depending on the characteristics of the ink material layer 9.

As the A substrate 3 and the B substrate 10, various polymer films or various polymer films surface-treated by coating or the like can be used.

Examples of various polymer films include polyolefin-based, polyamide-based, polyester-based, polyimide-based, polyether-based, cellulose-based, polyparabanic acid-based, polyoxadiazole-based, polystyrene-based and fluorine-based films. In particular, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate, aramid, triacetyl cellulose, polypropylene, cellophane, and other films are useful.

The thickness of the polymer film is usually 3 μm-100
The μm position is useful, and 3 to 30 μm is particularly preferable. Various polymer films may be provided on one surface with a heat-resistant layer or an antistatic layer made of a thermosetting resin or the like for reinforcing heat resistance such as thermal deformation of the film, or if necessary, various coating layers. .

The ink material layer 9 is composed of at least a coloring material and a binder material. The color material is not particularly limited as long as it contains a dye capable of thermal transfer. Disperse dyes, basic dyes, color formers, etc. are useful as the coloring material. The binder material is not particularly limited, and various polymer materials and various waxes can be used. Further, the ink material layer 9 may have a multi-layered structure. Then, a slipping layer or various coating layers may be provided on the ink material layer 9. Further, various additives such as various silicone materials and various fluorine materials may be added to the ink material layer 9.

The recording layer 2 is made of at least a polymer material. Since the ink material layer 9 contains a dye as a coloring material, the recording layer 2 needs to have a dyeing property. Therefore, a polymer material that is easily dyed with a disperse dye or the like is suitable. For example, polyester, polyacetal resin, Acrylic resins, urethane resins, nylon resins, vinyl acetate resins, polyvinyl butyral, etc. are useful. Polyester and polyvinyl butyral are ones that satisfy the dyeability of dyes and the adhesiveness to paper.

Since the recording layer 2 is required to have adhesiveness with the image receiving body 13 when transferred onto the image receiving body 13, the heating roller 14 is required.
The flow softening point of the recording layer 2 is preferably in the range of 50 ° C. to 200 ° C. so that the recording layer 2 is relatively easily softened by heating. Generally, the flow softening point (flow starting point) of the recording layer 2 is measured by a flow tester.

As the material for forming the recording layer 2, in addition to the above-mentioned polymer materials, for example, hot-melt materials such as waxes and resins can be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds, if necessary. . When the recording layer 2 is composed of only one of the above-mentioned polymer materials, the flow softening point has a value indicating the characteristic of the material. On the other hand, when the recording layer 2 is formed by mixing plural kinds of materials, the flow softening point is a value indicating the fluidity of the recording layer 2,
It is a value that indicates the characteristics of the materials that are mixed.

In the thermal transfer recording method of the present invention, since the recording layer 2 is transferred onto the image receptor 13 to form an image, the recording layer 2 needs to be light transmissive, and a colorless transparent polymer material is desirable. .

In order to prevent heat fusion with the ink material layer 9, various additives such as various silicone-based, fluorine-based materials, fatty acid-based compounds, various surfactants, and various particles are added to the recording layer 2 as additives. May be included.

The image receptor 13 is a film such as high quality paper, plain paper (for copying), uncoated paper such as bond paper, coated paper, polyethylene, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), aluminum foil and the like. Type, PP, PE
Synthetic paper mainly composed of T, polyvinyl chloride, etc., continuous image receiver or cut image receiver, especially its material, paper quality,
It can be used without being limited to the form.

Further, in the embodiment, the recording layer 2 on the recording layer supplying body 1 is coated on the A base material 3 in advance and supplied, and after the recording layer 2 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 4, the A layer is formed. Although the material 3 is disposed of, the A base material 3 is endlessly circulated,
The recording layer may be repeatedly supplied by the recording layer supplying means.

The intermediate transfer member 4 is used in this embodiment.
As for the constitution, a constitution in which a flexible layer is directly provided on a drum-shaped base material made of a metal or a plastic material and a resin film is arranged on the flexible layer is used. The structure of the intermediate transfer member is not limited to that of this embodiment. A sheet-like base material made of a plastic material or the like may be provided with a flexible layer, and a resin film may be arranged on the flexible layer to prepare a product, which may be attached to a drum-shaped base material.

An intermediate transfer member may be formed by attaching a resin film to a flexible sheet-shaped base material. In this case, the C base material 7 is not particularly necessary. As the flexible sheet-shaped heat-resistant substrate, for example, fluorine-based or silicone-based film can be used.
Further, instead of the roller-shaped support material such as the C base material 7, a belt-shaped support material having a non-circumferential end may be used.

In the embodiment, the entire surface of the C base material 7 is
Intermediate transfer member 4 having resin film 5 and flexible layer 6
However, the structure of the intermediate transfer member is not limited to this. It is also possible to use an intermediate transfer member having a structure in which the resin film 5 and the flexible layer 6 are provided only on the portion required for recording on the C substrate 7. Further, the structure of the intermediate transfer member may be such that the flexible layer 6 is formed on the entire surface of the C substrate 7 and the surface of the flexible layer 6 used for recording is covered with the resin film 5. On the contrary, the resin film 5 may be arranged on the entire surface of the C substrate 7, and the flexible layer 6 may be provided only under the portion of the resin film used for recording.

Further, the resin film 5 or the flexible layer 6
By using a material that does not transmit light,
It can be used as a means for finding the recording start position by a transmissive or reflective optical sensor.

The flexible layer 6 has sufficient flexibility,
It is desirable that the flexibility does not change significantly even when pressure and heat are applied. In particular, a silicone material having an advantage of high heat resistance is useful, and an elastomer-like, gel-like, or flexible resin-like silicone material can be used. Particularly, by using an elastomer-like silicone rubber, good rubber elasticity excellent in heat resistance, weather resistance and chemical resistance can be obtained.

As such a silicone rubber, an organopolysiloxane having several alkoxyl groups at its terminals becomes a rubber elastic body by dealcoholization condensation with moisture in the air, and several acetoxyl groups at its terminals, etc. There are some organopolysiloxanes that cure by a condensation reaction, such as those that become a rubber elastic body by deacetic acid condensation with water in the air, but in addition, vinyl bonded to the silicon atom constituting the organopolysiloxane. In some cases, an aliphatic unsaturated group such as a group and another organohydrogenpolysiloxane are cured by an addition reaction with a precious metal-based catalyst such as a platinum group compound catalyst. The latter is excellent in productivity because it cures at low temperature in a short time, and by-products are not generated during curing, and is an excellent silicone rubber.

Using such a silicone material, the image receptor 13
By providing the flexible layer 6 capable of fixing the recording layer 2 in accordance with the unevenness of the surface of the recording layer 2, the recording layer 2 is filled in the concave portion of the image receptor 13 and the adhesive force is increased to improve the fixing property. You can As for the rubber elasticity of the flexible layer 6, a good fixing property can be obtained by setting the rubber hardness to 5 ° to 70 °, and particularly, if the rubber hardness is 5 ° to 20 °, the image receptor
Excellent fixability can be obtained even when the surface of 13 has large irregularities. When a silicone material is used as the flexible layer 6,
Silicone for release paper, which has low rubber hardness and is easily cured, is suitable.

As the flexible layer 6, a flexible material having adhesiveness can be used. When using an adhesive material in order to impart flexibility and adhesiveness to the flexible layer, a rubber-based, acrylic-based or silicone-based adhesive material is useful.

As the rubber-based adhesive material, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, thermoplastic rubber, butyl rubber or the like is used as a rubber component, and rosin, rosin derivative, terpene resin or the like is added as a tackifying resin. be able to.

As the acrylic adhesive material, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, etc. are the main components, and methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, vinyl acetate, etc., acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, etc. The thing which copolymerized the derivative, hydroxyethyl acrylate, glycidyl acrylate, etc. can be used.

The silicone adhesive material comprises silicone raw rubber which is a film forming substance, silicone resin which is an adhesive substance, a filler, a plasticizer, an additive, etc., and has high heat resistance, flexibility, and excellent adhesive properties. Therefore, it is suitable for use as a material for the flexible layer.

As the silicone raw rubber, dimethylsiloxane, diphenylsiloxane, methylvinylsiloxane, phenylmethylsiloxane, or a highly polymerized organopolysiloxane containing a monomer unit such as a halogenated product thereof, or a highly polymerized organopolysiloxane thereof. A degree of polymerization organopolysiloxane having a functional group such as a hydroxyl group at the terminal is used.

As the silicone resin, a diorganopolysiloxane having a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a vinyl group, a phenyl group, or a halogenated product thereof, or a terminal of these diorganopolysiloxanes is used. Those having a hydroxyl group or a trimethylsiloxyl group are used.

Among these silicone adhesive compositions, an aliphatic unsaturated group such as a vinyl group bonded to a silicon atom constituting the organopolysiloxane and another organohydrogenpolysiloxane are platinum group compound catalysts, etc. The one which is cured by an addition reaction with the above noble metal catalyst has good productivity because it is cured at low temperature in a short time, and by-products are not generated during curing, and is an excellent silicone adhesive.

The silicone adhesive material has various characteristics such as flexibility, adhesive strength, cohesive strength and adhesiveness, by changing the ratio of the raw silicone rubber and the silicone resin, and by changing the kind and amount of the additive. Can be variously changed, and by using a silicone adhesive material, not only rubber elasticity but also adhesiveness can be obtained.

It is also effective to add an additive to the flexible layer 6 in order to increase the mechanical strength and heat resistance or to control the surface characteristics. As the additive, inorganic fine particles such as silica, alumina, red iron oxide, and titanium oxide, or a relatively low molecular weight organic material such as silicone oil can be used.

It is desirable that the thickness of the flexible layer 6 be as thick as possible because it is necessary that the flexible layer 6 can be sufficiently deformed following the irregularities on the surface of the image receiving body 13. In a paper having a relatively rough surface such as bond paper, the depth of the recess is about 10 μm, and the depth of the deepest recess is about 25 μm. Therefore, if the thickness of the flexible layer 6 is 10 μm or more, the receiver 13 Transfer is possible even if the surface irregularities are large, and if it is 25 μm or more, good fixability can be obtained. On the other hand, in the case of plain paper, the depth of the surface recess is shallower than that of bond paper, so the thickness of the flexible layer is 10 μm.
Sufficient fixability can be obtained even at a certain level.

As the resin film 5, various polymer films or various polymer films surface-treated by coating or the like can be used. As various polymer films,
For example, polyolefin type, polyamide type, polyester type, polyimide type, polyether type, cellulose type,
Polyparabanic acid-based, polyoxadiazole-based, polystyrene-based, and fluorine-based films are available. In particular, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate, aramid, triacetyl cellulose, polypropylene, cellophane, and other films are useful.

The thickness of the polymer film is usually 1 μm to 50 μm.
The μm position is useful, and 1 to 10 μm is particularly preferable. thickness
A polymer film of about 0.1 μm is also useful. Various polymer films may be provided on one surface with a heat-resistant layer such as a thermosetting resin for reinforcing heat resistance such as thermal deformation of the film, an antistatic layer, or various coating layers if necessary. Good.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the recording layer 2 is provided on the image receptor 13
Heat is applied from the side of the image receptor 13 by the heating roller 14 at the time of transfer to C. However, a heater is provided inside the C substrate 7,
The heating may be performed only from the base material 7 side, or the heating may be performed from both sides of the image receptor 13 side and the C base material 7 side.
If a material that adheres to the image receptor 13 at room temperature is used as the recording layer 2, the recording layer 2 is transferred to the image receptor 13 only by pressure, so that heating is not necessary. In this case, the power consumed by the heater of the heating roller 14 can be saved, and the power consumption of the entire device can be reduced.

Next, some specific examples will be described.

(Specific Example 1) First, a polyimide film having a thickness of about 12 μm was used as the resin film 5, and a styrene-butadiene latex (Nipo
A coating material containing LX415A Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.) was applied with a wire bar and dried to form a flexible layer 6 having a thickness of about 20 μm to prepare a functional portion of the intermediate transfer member 4. This soft layer 6
Had excellent flexibility.

Next, on the metal roller having a diameter of 30 mm, the flexible layer 6 was in contact with the metal roller surface, and the functional portion of the intermediate transfer member 4 was bonded to the metal roller, and this was used as the intermediate transfer member 4. I was there. The polyimide film on the surface did not easily attach dust, and even if dust was attached, it could be easily removed with a cloth or the like.

To prepare the recording layer supply body 1,
A 25 μm polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film containing a release paper silicone (SD7328 Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) as a release layer and a catalyst (SRX212 Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) added. Is coated with a wire bar, and it is 3 at 130 ℃
It was dried for a minute to form a release layer having a thickness of about 0.5 μm. A coating containing polyvinyl butyral (BL-S Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) was coated on the release layer with a wire bar and dried to form a recording layer 2 having a thickness of about 3 μm. Using.

First, the recording layer supply member 1 is superposed on the intermediate transfer member 4 so that the recording layer 2 of the recording layer supply member 1 contacts the resin film 5 of the intermediate transfer member 4, and the recording of the recording layer supply member 4 is performed. Partial heat was applied from the opposite side of layer 2 with a small heater heated to about 180 ° C. When the PET film of the recording layer supply body 1 was peeled off from the intermediate transfer body 4, a resin film 5
The recording layer 2 could be transferred on top.

An ink sheet for a commercially available video printer (NV-MP1 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.) was used as the ink sheet 8, and the cyan color material layer of the ink sheet 8 was used as the recording layer 2 on the intermediate transfer member 4. The ink sheet 8 was superposed on the intermediate transfer member 4 so as to be in contact with each other, and heat was partially applied from a side opposite to the color material layer of the ink sheet 8 by a small heater heated to about 180 ° C. Then, when the ink sheet 8 was peeled off from the intermediate transfer member 4, the cyan dye was found to have migrated to the recording layer 2 where heat was applied by the heater.

Then, the recording layer 2 on the intermediate transfer member 4
Then, a copy paper having a Beck smoothness of 35 seconds was superposed as the image receiver 13 and heated by a small heater heated to about 180 ° C. from the image receiver 13 side. When the intermediate transfer body 4 and the copy paper were cooled to room temperature and the copy paper was peeled from the intermediate transfer body 4, the heated portion of the recording layer 2 was transferred onto the copy paper.

When a color sheet was brought into contact with the polyimide film, which is the resin film 5 of the intermediate transfer member 4, at room temperature, no dye transfer from the ink sheet 8 was observed on the polyimide film and no fog occurred. .

(Specific Example 2) A PET film having a thickness of about 6 μm was used as the resin film 5, and a silicone adhesive (SD4580 Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) was contained on this PET film and a catalyst (SRX212 Toray Dow) was used. A coating to which Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) was added was applied with a wire bar and dried at 130 ° C. for 3 minutes to form a flexible layer 6, and a functional portion of the intermediate transfer member 4 having a thickness of about 20 μm was prepared. This flexible layer 6 had excellent flexibility.

Then, in the same manner as in Example 1, a functional roller of the intermediate transfer member 4 was laminated on a metal roller, and this was used as the intermediate transfer member 4. The PET film on the surface of the intermediate transfer body 4 was not easily attached with dust, and even if dust was attached, it could be easily removed with a cloth or the like.

The same recording layer supply member 1 as that used in Example 1 was used. First, the recording layer supply member 1 was contacted with the resin film 5 of the intermediate transfer member 4 to supply the recording layer. When the body 1 was stuck on the intermediate transfer body 4 and the PET film of the recording layer supply body 1 was peeled off from the intermediate transfer body 4, the recording layer 2 could be transferred onto the PET film which was the resin film 5.

Next, using the same ink sheet 8 as that used in Example 1, the ink sheet 8 and the intermediate transfer member 4 were superposed in the same manner as in Example 1, and the color material layer of the ink sheet 8 was laminated. When heat was partially applied from the opposite side, the dye migrated to the recording layer 2 in the heat applied portion.

On the recording layer 2 of the intermediate transfer member 4, a copy sheet similar to that of Example 1 was overlaid and heated in the same manner as in Example 1, and the recording layer 2 was transferred onto the copy sheet. . Compared to Specific Example 1, it was easier to peel the copy sheet from the intermediate transfer member 4.

(Specific Example 3) A PET film having a thickness of about 1.5 μm was used as the resin film 5, and a silicone adhesive (SD4580 Toray Dow Corning.
Silicone Co., Ltd.) and a catalyst (SRX212 Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) added coating with a wire bar and drying for 3 minutes at 130 ° C.
To form a functional portion of the intermediate transfer member 4 having a thickness of about 50 μm. This flexible layer 6 had excellent flexibility.

Then, in the same manner as in Example 1, a functional roller of the intermediate transfer member 4 was laminated on a metal roller, and this was used as the intermediate transfer member 4. As with Example 2, the PET film on the surface of the intermediate transfer member 4 was less likely to have dust attached, and even if dust was attached, it could be easily removed with a cloth or the like.

As the A base material 3 of the recording layer supply body 1, a PET film having a slip heat resistant layer on the lower surface and having a thickness of about 4 μm was used. First, a coating containing a silicone (SD7328 Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) as a release layer and a catalyst (SRX212 Toray Dow Corning Silicone Co., Ltd.) added partially on this PET film. It was coated with a wire bar and dried at 130 ° C. for 3 minutes to form a release layer having a thickness of about 0.5 μm. On top of this release layer,
A coating material containing polyvinyl butyral (BL-S Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) was applied by a wire bar and dried to form a recording layer 2 having a thickness of about 3 μm, to prepare a recording layer supply body 1.

For the ink sheet 8, a coating film containing an azo disperse dye, a saturated polyester resin, and a silicone release agent is applied to a PET film having a slip heat resistant layer on the lower surface and a thickness of about 4 μm by a wire bar and dried. And was formed by forming an ink material layer 9 having a thickness of about 1 μm.

First, the recording layer 2 of the recording layer supplier 1 is arranged so that the recording layer 2 of the intermediate transfer member 4 is in contact with the surface of the resin film 5.
Using a thermal head from the smooth heat resistant layer side of the recording layer supply body 1
It was pressed at 50 N and recorded under the following recording conditions. When the PET film of the recording layer supplying body 1 was peeled from the intermediate transfer body 4, the recording layer 2 could be transferred onto the PET film which was the resin film 5.

Recording speed: 8 ms / line, maximum recording pulse width: 4 ms, maximum recording energy: 7 J / cm ² .

Next, the intermediate transfer member 4 on which the recording layer 2 is transferred
The ink material layer 9 on the recording layer surface on the intermediate transfer member 4.
The ink sheets 8 stacked so as to face each other were pressed with a thermal head at about 50 N and recorded under the following recording conditions.

Recording speed: 8 ms / line, maximum recording pulse width: 4 ms, maximum recording energy: 7 J / cm ² .

After recording, when the intermediate transfer body 4 and the ink sheet 8 were cooled to room temperature and then the ink sheet 8 was separated from the intermediate transfer body 4, a gradation pattern was clearly recorded on the recording layer 2. Particularly, the dot reproducibility in the highlight portion is excellent, and the thermal head, the ink sheet 8, and the intermediate transfer member 4 are
It was found that the contact with the upper recording layer 2 was good. Further, recording could be stably performed without the recording layer 2 peeling off from the resin film 5.

Next, with respect to the intermediate transfer member 4 after recording, the image receiving member 13 is superposed on the recording layer 2 on which the gradation pattern is recorded,
It was pressed by a heated metal roller from the copy paper side. Then, after the intermediate transfer body 4 and the image receiving body 13 were taken out and cooled to room temperature, the image receiving body 13 was peeled off from the intermediate transfer body 4, and the recording layer 2 was transferred onto the image receiving body 13. The metal roller had a diameter of about 30 mm and a temperature of about 160 ° C. Also, a load of about 150 N was applied to the metal roller.

As the image receptor 13, three types of bond paper having a Beck smoothness of 7 seconds, copy paper having a Beck smoothness of 35 seconds, and PET film having a thickness of 100 μm were used. The recording layer 2 was transferred onto 13.

The transferred images obtained on the image receiving body 13 were all of high quality, and the fixing property was also good. On the other hand, the gloss of the recording layer 2 increased in the order of bond paper, copy paper, and PET film, and well reflected the surface condition of the image receptor 13. Concrete Example 2 for Recording Layer 2 on Copy Paper
Compared with the recording layer 2 on the copy paper obtained in 1., the surface condition of the paper was reproduced more faithfully, and the discomfort in image quality was further reduced.

Further, the surfaces of the recording layer 2 of the bond paper and the copy paper had sufficient writability. The image of the recording layer transferred onto the copy paper had high quality because it had dots of uniform shape from low recording density to high recording density. Further, the gloss of the recording layer 2 was the same as that of the surface of the paper, and there was almost no discomfort in terms of image quality. The surface of the recording layer had writability and good fixability.

(Specific Example 4) In the same manner as in Specific Example 3, PET was used.
Intermediate transfer member 4 coated with silicone adhesive on film
The functional parts of the
Was produced.

Then, a release layer and a recording layer were formed on the PET film in the same manner as in Example 3, and used as the recording layer supply body 1.

Then, in the same manner as in Example 3, the ink material layer 9 was applied onto the PET film having the slip heat-resistant layer and used as the ink sheet 8.

First, in the same manner as in Example 3, the intermediate transfer member 4 and the recording layer supply member 1 were combined, and the recording layer 2 was transferred from the recording layer supply member 1 to the intermediate transfer member 4 using a thermal head.

Then, in the same manner as in Example 3, the ink sheet 8 was overlaid on the intermediate transfer member 4, and the dye was thermally transferred from the ink sheet 8 to the recording layer 2 on the intermediate transfer member 4 using a thermal head.

After recording, the intermediate transfer member 4 to the ink sheet 8
When it was separated, the gradation pattern was clearly recorded on the recording layer 2 as in Example 3.

Next, in the same manner as in Example 3, a copy sheet was superposed on the recording layer 2 on which this gradation pattern was recorded, and the recording layer 2 was transferred onto the copy sheet using a heated metal roller. .

At this time, the temperature of the recording layer 2 is the flow softening point of the polyvinyl butyral used for the recording layer 110.
When the intermediate transfer member 4 was peeled off from the copy paper at a temperature of about 90 ° C., which is lower than 0 ° C., the recording layer 2 was satisfactorily transferred onto the copy paper.

The transfer image on the copy paper obtained was a high quality image having dots of uniform shape from low recording density to high recording density, as in Example 3. Further, the gloss of the recording layer 2 was the same as that of the surface of the paper, and there was no discomfort in terms of image quality. And the surface of the recording layer has writability,
The fixability was also good.

On the other hand, when the temperature of the recording layer 2 is about 160 ° C., which is higher than the flow softening point of polyvinyl butyral used for the recording layer 2 of 110 ° C., the intermediate transfer member 4 is peeled from the copy paper. However, the recording layer 2 softened so as to be flowable was divided at the time of peeling and partially remained on the resin film, and the recording layer 2 could not be satisfactorily transferred onto the copy paper.

[0117]

As described above, according to the method of the present invention, an intermediate transfer member having a resin film on its surface is used, and dust is attached to the resin film or at room temperature with the ink sheet. There is little dyeing due to contact with. In addition, since the flexible layer is disposed between the resin film and the substrate, the flexible layer is easily deformed when the recording layer is transferred onto the image receptor, so that the recording layer is transferred onto the image receptor. In addition, the transfer can be performed by following the unevenness of the surface of the image receiver.

Further, since the recording layer contains a butyral resin and the resin film is made of polyethylene terephthalate, good adhesiveness or releasability between the recording layer and the resin film can be obtained.

Further, since the flexible layer is made of a silicone adhesive material, good flexibility can be obtained.

When the recording layer is transferred onto the image receiving body, the intermediate transfer body and the image receiving body are separated at a temperature lower than the flow softening point of the thermoplastic resin contained in the recording layer, whereby the recording layer is agglomerated. The force becomes high, and good transfer without cohesive failure of the recording layer becomes possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a thermal transfer recording apparatus that carries out a thermal transfer recording method using an intermediate transfer member according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a thermal transfer recording apparatus that carries out a thermal transfer recording method using an intermediate transfer member according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a thermal transfer recording apparatus that carries out a conventional thermal transfer recording method using an intermediate transfer member.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording layer supply body, 2 ... Recording layer, 3 ... A base material, 4
... Intermediate transfer member, 5 ... Resin film, 6 ... Flexible layer,
7 ... C base material, 8 ... Ink sheet, 9 ... Ink material layer, 10 ... B base material, 11, 12 ... Thermal head, 13 ... Image receptor, 14 ... Heating roller.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location 7416-2H B41M 5/26 101 B

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording layer supplier having a recording layer transfers the recording layer to an intermediate transfer member, and then an ink sheet is used to thermally transfer a dye to the recording layer on the intermediate transfer member, and the intermediate transfer member. In a thermal transfer recording method in which recording is performed by transferring a dyed recording layer from an ink to an image receiver, recording is performed using an intermediate transfer member having a structure in which a base material and a resin film are arranged via a flexible layer. A thermal transfer recording method using an intermediate transfer member. 2. The thermal transfer recording method using an intermediate transfer member according to claim 1, wherein the recording layer contains a butyral resin and the resin film is made of polyethylene terephthalate. 3. The thermal transfer recording method using an intermediate transfer member according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate transfer member having a flexible layer made of a silicone adhesive material is used. 4. The intermediate transfer member, wherein the recording layer is made of a thermoplastic resin, and at the time of transferring the dyed recording layer from the intermediate transfer member to the image receptor, at a temperature lower than the flow softening point of the thermoplastic resin. The thermal transfer recording method using an intermediate transfer member according to claim 1, wherein the image transfer member and the image receiving member are separated.