JPH1044630A - Reinking type thermal transfer recording medium and reinking type thermal transfer recording device using the medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To regenerate easily a reinking type thermal transfer recording medium by forming a substrate of a polymer material having the basic absorption edge wavelength of a specified value or less. SOLUTION: A substrate 22 is formed of a polymer material composed of a polymer resin of basic absorption edge wavelength of 250nm or less. Uncured ultraviolet curing heat-sensitive ink (UV ink) is applied on one face of the substrate 22, and the uncured UV ink is emitted from the back side (substrate 22 side) to cure and form the ink layer 23. As ultraviolet rays curing the ultraviolet curing ink heat-sensitive ink can be transmitted easzily through the substrate 22 by the arrangement, the curing rate at the time of curing uncured ultraviolet curing heatsensitive ink is improved and the regenerating rate of the ink layer 23 can also be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reinking type thermal transfer recording medium and a reinking type thermal transfer recording apparatus using the same. The present invention relates to a reinking-type thermal transfer recording apparatus using a reinking-type thermal transfer recording medium suitable as an output terminal device of an information processing device such as a word processor and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, as an output terminal device of an information processing apparatus such as a word processor, a facsimile, and a computer,
Various recording apparatuses such as an electrophotographic system, an inkjet system, a wire dot system, and a thermal transfer system are used. A thermal transfer type recording device (thermal transfer recording device) using a heating resistor element array called a thermal head as a recording means is quiet, low cost, adaptable to miniaturization, simple operability, high reliability, etc. In recent years, its use has been changed from business use to home use,
Furthermore, it is expanding to hobby use. The thermal transfer system can be roughly classified into two types, a fusion type transfer system and a sublimation type transfer system. At present, the fusion type thermal transfer system is mainly used in terms of price.

FIG. 11 shows the basic principle of the fusion type thermal transfer system and the basic configuration of the thermal transfer recording medium used therein. The thermal transfer recording medium 1 has one surface of a supporting substrate 2 (lower side in FIG. 11). Is formed by laminating an ink layer 3 on the substrate. This thermal transfer recording medium 1 is generally called an ink ribbon, an ink sheet, or the like.

[0004] The support substrate 2 is usually 1 to 12 µm.
A film or sheet made of a polymer material having a thickness of about m is used.
ET (polyethylene terephthalate), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), PI (polyimide), PEEK
Resins such as (polyetheretherketone) and aramid (aromatic polyamide) are used.

On the back surface (upper part in FIG. 11) of the supporting base material 2, wear of the thermal head 4 as recording means is reduced.
The lubricating layer 5 is generally formed for the purpose of stabilizing the running property of the thermal transfer recording medium, preventing fusion of the ink layer 3 to the ink surface when the thermal transfer recording medium is wound up, and the like.

The ink layer 3 is mainly composed of a heat-meltable resin having good adhesion between a heat-meltable substance such as a low-melting wax and a recording medium 6 such as plain paper, and has a coloring agent, a plasticizer, a dispersant and It is formed by blending an antioxidant and the like.

[0007] Examples of the low-melting wax as the heat-fusible substance include carnauba wax, candelilla wax, rice wax, paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, polyethylene wax and the like, and these are used alone or in combination. .

Examples of the heat-fusible resin include ethylene-based copolymers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl butyrate copolymer and ethylene-acrylic copolymer, and poly (meth) acrylates such as polyhexyl acrylate. Acrylic esters, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl chloride-based copolymers such as vinyl chloride-vinyl alcohol copolymers, and the like, and these resins can be used alone or as a mixture. Used.

The thermal transfer recording medium 1 thus constructed is first provided on the back side of the supporting base material 2, that is, the lubricating layer 5.
The ink layer 3 comes into close contact with the recording medium 6 by pressing the thermal head 4 from the side. Then, by selectively causing the plurality of heating resistor elements 4a arranged in the thermal head 4 to generate heat based on the recording information, the ink of the ink layer 3 at the position corresponding to the heated heating resistor element 4a is melted. Alternatively, it is softened and transferred to the recording medium 6,
With the ink 7 transferred to the recording medium 6, a desired ink image corresponding to the recording information can be obtained.

However, in the thermal transfer recording medium 1 of such a thermal transfer type, once the transfer is performed, the ink 7 at the portion corresponding to the ink image transferred to the recording medium 6 falls off the ink layer 3 due to the principle thereof. As a result, the thermal transfer recording medium 1 used for transfer once has to be discarded for one-time use, and there is a problem that the running cost required for recording is significantly increased.

In order to address such problems, a thermal transfer recording medium capable of performing recording a plurality of times and a reproducing method for reproducing a once used thermal transfer recording medium have been proposed.

The thermal transfer recording medium capable of recording a plurality of times is generally referred to as a multi-time ink ribbon. The ink layer is used sequentially from the surface side of the ink layer to enable recording a plurality of times.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a thermal transfer recording medium 1A called a multi-time ink ribbon of this type. An ink layer 3A is composed of an upper ink layer 3Aa and a lower ink layer 3A.
Ab and two layers. When such a thermal transfer recording medium 1A is used, the upper ink layer 3Aa is used for printing at the time of the first printing operation, and the upper ink layer 3Aa is not used at the time of the second printing operation. 3
The ink remaining portion 8 of Aa and the lower ink layer 3Ab are used for recording.

However, such a thermal transfer recording medium 1A
In the case where the recording operation is performed using, when the first recording operation is performed, the upper ink layer 3Aa becomes, as shown in FIG.
The ink deficient portion 9 where the ink 7 is transferred to the recording medium 6 (the portion where the ink 7 transferred to the recording medium 6 is located) and the ink remaining portion 8 where the ink 7 remains without being transferred to the recording medium 6 A step corresponding to the thickness of the ink layer 3Aa occurs, and the upper ink layer 3Aa becomes uneven.
The unevenness described above has a problem that, at the time of the second printing operation, the adhesion of the upper ink layer 3Aa to the printing medium 6 is reduced, and the printing quality is reduced.

That is, the thermal transfer recording medium 1A, which is called a multi-time ink ribbon, has a problem that the recording quality gradually decreases as the number of recordings increases, and it is possible to reduce the running cost while maintaining the recording quality. There was a problem that it was not possible.

Since the maximum number of recordable times is determined by the number of laminations of the ink layer 3A, unless measures are taken against irregularities of the ink layer 3A that occur after recording, the number of laminations of the ink layer 3A is naturally determined. There is also a problem that there is an acceptable limit and it is practically difficult to use it repeatedly many times.

An example of a reproducing method for reproducing the once used thermal transfer recording medium is proposed in, for example, JP-A-6-286333. That is, a corona charging process is performed on the ink layer side of the thermal transfer recording medium after being subjected to recording (not shown), and the toner of the ink layer is attached to the ink deficient portion detached by the transfer, and then, again in a subsequent process. The heat transfer recording medium is reproduced so that it can be used again by melting it with heat and performing a uniform flattening process.

However, since this reproducing system uses corona charging similar to that used in a normal electrophotographic system, a high-voltage power source is required, which results in an increase in the size of the recording apparatus and an increase in cost. There was no problem.

Further, since the toner used for regenerating the ink layer is a powder, it is difficult to make the particle size uniform, and further, the charge amount has a large humidity dependency, and the toner adheres. There was also a problem that it was extremely difficult to control the amount.

Further, since the average particle size of the toner is about 10 μm, the toner is filled with high precision into the ink deficient portion of the ink layer having a thickness of about several μm of a generally used thermal transfer recording medium. However, there is also a problem that it is difficult to perform such a process from the viewpoint of dimensions.

In order to address such a problem, the present applicant has disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-5276 a UV-curable heat-sensitive ink (hereinafter, referred to as a UV-curable ink) which is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays.
A new reinking type thermal transfer recording method using UV ink has been proposed.

FIG. 13 shows a reinking type thermal transfer recording method. The reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 1B used in the reinking type thermal transfer recording method is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), a single-layered ink layer 3B made of UV ink is formed on one surface of the support base material 2B, and the UV ink forming the ink layer 3B is
The composition is composed mainly of an ultraviolet curable resin that is cured by irradiating ultraviolet light as light, and contains about 0 to 10 parts by weight of an ultraviolet absorber, a coloring agent, and other trace additives as needed. I have.

The ultraviolet curable resin is mainly composed of three components, a photopolymerizable prepolymer, a photopolymerizable monomer, and a photoinitiator, and the photopolymerizable prepolymer among them has a skeleton of the ultraviolet curable resin. It is an important component to be added, and is usually added in a range of 99 parts by weight or less. The photopolymerizable prepolymer is a polymer that is further polymerized by a photochemical action, and is also called a photopolymerizable unsaturated polymer or a photopolymerizable oligomer.

The photopolymerizable monomer plays a role of a diluent for the photopolymerizable prepolymer, secures the practical workability of the ink, and itself participates in the polymerization reaction by the action of the terminal functional group at the time of ultraviolet irradiation. And usually 9
It is added in a range of 9 parts by weight or less.

The photoinitiator absorbs ultraviolet rays and triggers a polymerization reaction.

The ultraviolet-curing resin forming the ink layer 3B needs additives such as a sensitizer, a coloring agent, a filler, a leveling agent, and a viscoelasticity modifier in addition to the above three main components. It is blended according to.

Suitable examples of the photopolymerizable prepolymer include polyester acrylate, epoxy acrylate, urethane acrylate, polyether acrylate, and polyacrylate.

Examples of the photopolymerizable monomer include simple compounds such as 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate, and derivatives of tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate. Functional type, dicyclopentenyl acrylate, dicyclopentenyloxyethyl acrylate, 1,3-butanediol acrylate, 1,4-butanediol acrylate, 1,6-hexanediol acrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate,
Neopentyl glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol 400 diacrylate, hydroxypivalic acid ester neopentyl glycol diacrylate, tripropylene glycol diacrylate, 1,3-bis (3-acryloxyethoxy-2-hydroxypropyl) -5,5 Dimethylhydantoin, hydroxypivalic acid ester neopentyl glycol derivative diacrylate and other bifunctional types, and trimethylolpropane triacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate and other trifunctional or higher types are preferred. Can be exemplified.

Examples of the photoinitiator include biacetyl, acetophenone, benzophenone, Michler's ketone, benzyl, benzoin, benzoin isobutyl ether, benzyl dimethyl ketal, tetramethylthiuram sulfide, azobisisobutylnitrile, benzoyl peroxide, di-tert-butyl peroxide. Oxide, 1-hydroxycyclohexylphenyl ketone, 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one,
1- (4-isopropylphenyl) -2-hydroxy-
Suitable examples include 2-methylpropan-1-one, 2-chlorothioxanthone, and methylbenzoylformate.

Examples of suitable colorants include black pigments such as carbon black, acetylene black and oil black, and white pigments such as titania and calcium carbonate, as well as known dyes such as yellow, magenta and cyan. The color tone and the like can be adjusted to a desired state by appropriately changing the addition amount of these pigments and dyes.

In the reinking type thermal transfer recording method proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-5276, for example, the used reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 1B used for recording shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13B, the uncured UV
FIG. 13 shows a coating step of applying the ink 10 over the entire surface of the ink layer 3B of the support base 2B including the ink deficient portions 9B;
As shown in (c), the rear surface, which is the other surface of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 1B, that is, the supporting substrate 2B
FIG. 1 shows a curing step of curing the uncured UV ink 10 applied to the ink defective portion 9B by irradiating from the side.
As shown in FIG. 3 (d), it is formed by sequentially performing three steps of a cleaning step of removing extra uncured UV ink 10 applied to portions other than the ink defective portion 9 </ b> B,
In particular, when performing high-definition recording, after the cleaning step, the ink layer 1 reproduced as shown in FIG.
It is possible to perform an annealing step of melting and removing the boundary 12 between the remaining ink layer 3B and the remaining ink layer 8B of the ink layer 3B by melting the ink.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), the ink layer 3B of the used reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 1B used for recording contains the ink of the portion used for recording on the recording medium 6. It has a transferred ink defective portion 9B and an untransferred ink remaining portion 8B that remains without transferring ink on the recording medium 6. In order to reproduce the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 1B once used for recording so that it can be used again, first, FIG.
In the application step shown in (b), after the uncured UV ink 10 is applied to the entire surface including the ink deficient portion 9B on the ink layer 3B formed on one surface of the support base material 2B using a roller (not shown) or the like. The film thickness is made uniform by a film thickness control means 13 such as a knife, a blade or the like. Here, the film thickness of the uncured UV ink 10 to be applied is determined by the ink defect 9
Ideally, the film thickness is equal to the film thickness of B, but FIG.
As shown in (2), even if the amount of application is excessive and ink adheres to the surface of the untransferred ink remaining portion 8B remaining on the support base material 2B, there is no particular problem because there is a cleaning step. .

Next, in the curing step shown in FIG. 13C, the ultraviolet irradiation means is applied from the support substrate 2B side of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 1B on which the uncured UV ink 10 is coated on the entire surface, that is, from the back side. 14 irradiates ultraviolet rays. As a light source of the ultraviolet irradiation means 14, a light source that emits ultraviolet light such as a low-pressure or high-pressure mercury lamp, a mercury xenon lamp, and a metal halide lamp is used. Since the untransferred ink remaining portion 8B has already been cured, it does not change at all even when irradiated with ultraviolet light, but also blocks ultraviolet light emitted from the back side and emits ultraviolet light irradiated from the back side to the ink remaining portion 8B. The uncured UV ink 10 applied on the untransferred ink remaining portion 8B maintains the uncured state without causing a polymerization reaction due to ultraviolet rays.

On the other hand, the uncured UV ink 10 located in the ink deficient portion 9B is irradiated with ultraviolet light through the support base material 2B, so that a polymerization reaction is caused by the ultraviolet light, and the UV ink 10 is cured (solidified). It is reproduced as the ink layer 11.

That is, the applied uncured UV ink 1
It is possible to selectively cure only the coating ink 10 located in the ink deficient portion 8B within the area 0.

Therefore, after the curing step, the portion shown by hatching in FIG. 13C remains as the uncured residual coating ink portion 15.

The thickness of the ink layer 11 to be reproduced is:
Curing conditions such as irradiation time, power, and wavelength of ultraviolet light, and material characteristics of the UV ink 10 to be used can be controlled.

Next, in the cleaning step shown in FIG. 13 (d), the uncured residual coating ink portion 15 shown by oblique lines in FIG. The cleaning means 16 such as a cleaning roller wipes off and removes it, thereby completing one cycle of the regeneration process.

When the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 1B is reproduced for performing high-definition recording, the remaining ink remaining portion 8B and the newly reproduced ink layer 11 are used.
If it is necessary to further correct the boundary portion 12 between the ink layer 3B and the surface of the ink layer 3B using a heating means 17 having a halogen lamp or the like, as shown in FIG. By further adding an annealing step of performing the above, the boundary portion 12 may be dissolved to make the boundary portion 12 disappear. As the heating means 17 for performing the heat annealing treatment, besides the non-contact heating method using the halogen lamp light source or the like, a contact heating method using a thermal head (not shown) may be used.

This annealing step is effective as a means to be used together when extremely high-resolution recording of photographic images or the like is required, and may be omitted when ordinary character recording is performed.

According to the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 1B of the reinking type thermal transfer recording method adopting such a configuration, every time the recording operation is performed, new ink is added to the ink deficient portion 9B of the ink layer 3B used for recording. Since the ink layer 3B can be surely reproduced by forming the layer 11, there is an excellent effect that it can be used for a large number of recordings without deteriorating the recording quality.

[0042]

By the way, in the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 1B used in the reinking type thermal transfer recording method having the above-described structure, the supporting substrate 2
Since B is constantly exposed to ultraviolet light, the exposure time of ultraviolet light increases with repetition of the regeneration of the ink layer 3B, and the support base material 2B gradually becomes brittle, and can maintain a stable function for a long period of time. There was a problem that it was not possible.

This will be described in more detail.

First, the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 1B
Considering the absolutely necessary characteristics of the supporting base material 2B used for
In order to effectively reach the uncured UV ink 10 applied to the front surface, ultraviolet light irradiated from the back surface needs to have a high light transmittance and a short basic absorption edge wavelength. Therefore, it is necessary to have excellent weather resistance, which is not deteriorated by ultraviolet rays.

In addition, a thin film capable of thermal transfer can be formed, high thermal conductivity for transmitting heat applied to the back surface to the UV ink 10 on the front surface, and rotationally driven inside the reinking type thermal transfer recording apparatus. Therefore, it is necessary to have mechanical properties such as low elongation and high strength, high surface smoothness and low surface tension for smooth coating of the UV ink 10, dimensional stability of repetition, and heat deformation resistance.

However, when a polymer film formed of a polymer material having a high light transmittance is used as the supporting substrate 2B, the molecular chains of the polymer material are irradiated by the high-energy ultraviolet rays penetrating into the polymer film. Is cut and the polymer film is embrittled, thereby shortening the life of the support base material 2B.

Here, the life of the polymer film can be prolonged by increasing the basic absorption edge wavelength or mixing an ultraviolet absorber so that strong ultraviolet rays do not enter the polymer film. When the light transmittance is reduced, the curing speed at the time of curing the uncured UV ink 10 is reduced, so that the reproduction speed of the ink layer 3B is reduced.

That is, the back surface exposure to ultraviolet light shortens the service life of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 1B as the reproducing speed is improved by applying more short-wavelength, more powerful light energy to the uncured UV ink 10 to improve the reproduction speed. Have the contradictory characteristics of

Therefore, there is a need for a longer-life ink layer 3B that can be used for multiple recordings without lowering the reproduction speed.

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and a reinking type thermal transfer recording medium which can be used for a large number of recordings and has a stable function for a long period of time, and a reinking type thermal transfer recording medium It is an object of the present invention to provide a long-life reinking type thermal transfer recording apparatus which can easily realize the reproduction of a medium.

[0051]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present inventors have developed a reinking type thermal transfer recording medium which can be used for a large number of recordings and has a stable function for a long period of time. As a result of intensive studies, it was possible to improve the reproduction speed of the ink layer by forming the supporting substrate with a polymer material having a basic absorption edge wavelength of 250 nm or less, and at least one or more fluorine atoms were substituted. The present inventors have found that a stable function can be maintained for a long period of time by forming a supporting base material using a polymer material obtained by polymerizing ethylene units as basic units repeatedly, thereby completing the present invention.

That is, the features of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention described in claim 1 are as follows:
A reinking-type thermal transfer recording medium in which an ink layer is formed by applying an ultraviolet-curable heat-sensitive ink to one surface of a supporting base material and irradiating and curing the applied ultraviolet ray, wherein the supporting base material has a base absorption edge wavelength of 250 nm or less. It is formed of a polymer material.

By adopting such a configuration, the supporting base material can easily transmit ultraviolet rays for curing the ultraviolet curable thermal ink, so that the uncured ultraviolet curable thermal ink is cured. In this case, the curing speed can be improved, and the reproduction speed of the ink layer can be improved.

Further, a feature of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention described in claim 2 is that, in claim 1, the polymer material has at least one fluorine atom substituted. The point is that the polymer is made into a polymer by repeatedly using an ethylene unit as a basic unit.

By adopting such a configuration, the support base material is extremely excellent in weather resistance. Therefore, embrittlement due to exposure to ultraviolet light for curing the ultraviolet curable heat-sensitive ink is prevented, and the support base material can be used for a long time. It has a stable function over time and can be used for multiple recordings.

A feature of the reinking type thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention described in claim 3 is that a reinking type thermal transfer recording medium having an ink layer made of an ultraviolet curing type thermosensitive ink on one surface of a supporting substrate. 3. A reinking type thermal transfer recording device of a reinking type thermal transfer system for reproducing an ink layer in an ink deficient portion generated after use in a recording operation, the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium according to claim 1 or 2, A recording means for thermally transferring the ink of the ink layer of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium to the recording medium to form a recorded image on the recording medium; and an uncured portion at least after the ink has been used for the recording operation of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium. Coating means for applying the UV-curable thermal ink of the type described above, and the applied uncured UV-curable thermal ink. Curing means for forming an ink layer on the ink deficient portion by irradiating ultraviolet light from the other surface side of the support base material to form an ink layer on the ink deficient portion; Cleaning means for removing uncured UV-curable heat-sensitive ink.

By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to easily reproduce the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium and to obtain a long-life apparatus which maintains a stable function for a long time. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reinking-type thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, wherein the ink layer is formed from one side of the ink layer formed on one surface of the supporting base material. In that it has a heating means for heating.

By adopting such a configuration, higher-precision recording quality can be obtained.

[0060]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an example of an embodiment of a reinking type thermal transfer recording medium according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 of the present embodiment, an ink layer 23 is formed on one surface of a support base material 22 made of a polymer material.

As the polymer material for forming the support base material 22, a high molecular weight polymer obtained by repeatedly using an ethylene unit having a basic absorption edge wavelength of 250 nm or less and substituted by at least one fluorine atom as a basic unit is used. It is formed of a molecular resin. As this polymer resin, PFA
(Tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinyl ether), fluorine resin such as FEP (tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene) and ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene).

The ink layer 23 is formed by applying an uncured UV-curable heat-sensitive ink (UV ink) to one surface of the supporting substrate 22 and applying the uncured UV ink to the back side (the supporting substrate 22 side). It is formed by being cured by irradiating from above.

The UV ink forming the ink layer 23 is the same as that of the conventional reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 1B described above.
The same ink as the UV ink forming the ink layer 3B is used, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

As described above, the support base material 22 of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 according to the present embodiment is, as described above, first, the uncured U which is applied to the surface with the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the back.
In order to effectively reach the V ink, it is necessary to have a high light transmittance and a short basic absorption edge wavelength, and secondly, since it is always exposed to ultraviolet rays, it is necessary to have excellent weather resistance which is not deteriorated by ultraviolet rays. . In addition to this,
A heat transferable thin film can be formed, high thermal conductivity to transfer the heat applied to the back surface to the ink layer on the front surface, low elongation and high strength mechanical properties for rotational driving inside the reinking type thermal transfer recording device In addition, it requires characteristics such as high surface smoothness and low surface tension, dimensional stability of repetition, and heat deformation resistance so that the coating ink can be applied smoothly.

As for the ultraviolet light used for curing the UV ink, when sensitivity is required at a long wavelength in the design of the UV ink, a reaction in an ordinary environment becomes active and a problem arises in handling. Conversely, if sensitivity is required for short wavelengths, care must be taken in handling germicidal rays that are harmful to the human body. Therefore, ultraviolet rays (near ultraviolet rays) in the vicinity of 254 to 365 nm are generally used.

Next, the supporting base material 22 of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 of this embodiment is shown in FIGS.
This will be further described below.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between wavelength and light transmittance showing the spectral transmittance characteristics of polymer films formed of various polymer materials, and FIG. 3 is 365 nm irradiated with ultraviolet rays.
And FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the wavelength representing the emission spectrum of a high-pressure mercury lamp (illuminance: 10 mW / cm ² ) and the illuminance, and FIG. 4 shows the ultraviolet exposure degradation characteristics of polymer films formed of various polymer materials. FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the ultraviolet irradiation time and the tensile strength, and FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the ultraviolet irradiation time and the elongation at break showing the ultraviolet exposure deterioration characteristics of polymer films formed of various polymer materials. .

As shown in FIG. 2, polymer films (polymer sheets) such as PPS (polyphenylsulfone), PEN, PEI (polyetherimide), PEEK, aramid and PI have a fundamental absorption edge wavelength of 360 nm. From the above, it can be seen that ultraviolet rays effective for curing the UV ink are not transmitted, and cannot be used in the reinking type thermal transfer recording method.

On the other hand, polymer films made of fluororesin such as ETFE, PFA and FEP (fluoropolymer films), and polymer films such as methylpentene, PET, PSF (polysulfone) and PES (polyethersulfone) are available. , Relatively short fundamental absorption edge wavelength, 365n
It can be seen that UV ink can be cured with ultraviolet light of about m.

In the reinking type thermal transfer recording method, the support substrate 22 is exposed to ultraviolet rays, so that embrittlement becomes a problem.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, ETFE,
It is understood that a polymer film made of a fluororesin such as PFA and FEP has high weather resistance.

That is, PPS, PEI, PEEK, aramid, PI having a high fundamental absorption edge wavelength and a low ultraviolet transmittance.
Polymer films made of such materials absorb ultraviolet rays on the surface and do not reach the inside, so that no deterioration in tensile strength is observed, whereas methylpentene, PET, PSF, PES
It can be seen that a high-molecular film made of such a material transmits short-wavelength ultraviolet rays, and the high-energy ultraviolet rays that reach the inside cut the molecular chains, thereby lowering the tensile strength. In addition, PEN deteriorates despite its low ultraviolet transmittance because the thickness of the PEN polymer film used for measurement is as thin as 2 μm, so the surface deterioration directly reflects on the polymer film deterioration. It is thought that it was done.

However, since fluorine-based polymer films such as ETFE, PFA and FEP have a structure in which a fluorine-substituted ethylene unit is polymerized in a linear chain, as shown in FIG. It has the characteristics of extremely high light transmittance at a wavelength of 200 nm or less, and C-
Since the dissociation energy of F is extremely high, decomposition and embrittlement by ultraviolet rays are hardly observed, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
It turns out that it has extremely excellent weather resistance that can withstand exposure to ultraviolet light for 5 hours or more.

That is, a polymer film made of a fluororesin such as ETFE, PFA and FEP does not have a six-membered ring that absorbs ultraviolet light, and has a very high molecular weight because it is composed of an extremely high C—F bond. It has been found that the material has high transmittance and high weather resistance, and is preferable as the material of the support base material 22 of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 of the present embodiment, and improves the curing speed when uncured UV ink is cured. In addition, it is possible to improve the reproduction speed of the ink layer 23, prevent embrittlement due to exposure to ultraviolet light for curing the UV ink, and reliably maintain a stable function for a long period of time.

The material of the support substrate 22 will be further described with reference to specific experimental examples.

First, 2 parts by weight of Aronix M6100 (polyester acrylate: trade name, manufactured by Toagosei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) as a photopolymerizable prepolymer, and Aronix M-120 (2-ethylhexylacrylate: Toagosei Co., Ltd.) as a photopolymerizable monomer. 86 parts by weight of Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., 6 parts by weight of Elvacs EV210 (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer: trade name of Mitsui Dupont Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a thermoplastic component, and MA as a coloring component -100 (carbon black: trade name, manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) and 3 parts by weight of dilocure (2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one (benzoyl peroxide): Ciba Geigy Co., Ltd.) as a photoinitiator 3 parts by weight after mixing with 3 parts by weight (made by Kodaira) Tokoro Co., Ltd.: model number RIII -1RJ
-2) to prepare a UV ink.

Then, this UV ink was applied to a glass plate by a gravure coating method, and a 10 mW / cm ² high pressure mercury lamp (365 nm type ultraviolet lamp) having a strong light emission characteristic at 365 nm shown in FIG. 3 was used. Irradiation with ultraviolet light at illuminance revealed that the composition was cured (solidified) in about 10 seconds. In addition, it was found from a contact-type surface step meter that the ink film thickness after curing was 5 μm. Further, the UV ink after curing was found to be thermally softened at 70 ° C. by measurement using a tackiness tester (manufactured by Resca Corporation). By these things, U
It was found that the V ink was cured by ultraviolet rays and had thermoplasticity after the curing.

Next, the UV ink was applied to a thickness of 7.5 μm.
Upilex (PI: trade name, manufactured by Ube Industries, Ltd.)
The film was coated using the gravure coating method, and a curing experiment was performed by irradiating ultraviolet rays using the high-pressure mercury lamp from the opposite side of the ink-coated surface and irradiating the back surface of the UV ink, and several hours passed. After that, it was found that the UV ink did not cure. Then, when the light transmittance of the film of Upilex was measured using a spectral transmittance meter (manufactured by JASCO Corporation), as shown in FIG.
Iupirex (PI) has a fundamental absorption edge wavelength of 400 n
m or more and does not transmit ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 400 nm or less, and it has been found that the reason is that the UV ink cannot react.

Similarly, a 4 μm-thick Microtron (aramid (aromatic polyamide): trade name, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.), a 2 μm-thick Teonex (PEN: trade name, manufactured by Teijin Limited), and a 25 μm-thick Sumilite FS1400 ( PE
I: trade name, manufactured by Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.), 4 μm thick
Torelina (PPS: trade name, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.), film thickness 2
Using a film such as Sumilite FS-1100 (PEEK: trade name, manufactured by Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.) of 5 μm, the measurement of light transmittance and the curing experiment of UV ink were performed. As shown in FIG. It was also found that the basic absorption edge wavelength was 365 nm or more, and UV light having a wavelength of 365 nm was not transmitted, so that the UV ink could not be cured even when irradiated with ultraviolet light for several hours.

Next, the UV ink was subjected to a spectral transmittance and UV ink curing experiment using a film of Lumirror 4A (PET: trade name, manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) having a film thickness of 4 μm. As shown in FIG. 2, it was found that UV ink having a wavelength of 365 nm was transmitted by about 80%, so that the UV ink was cured in about 20 minutes.

However, by using the Lumirror 4A, the U
The coating of the V ink and the curing of the UV ink by ultraviolet rays are repeated, and the tensile strength (AS) with respect to the ultraviolet irradiation time is measured using an autograph (trade name, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation).
TM D882-61T) and the elongation at break were measured, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tensile strength and the elongation at break were significantly reduced by exposure to ultraviolet light for 1 hour. It was found that decomposition and deterioration proceeded remarkably (poor in weather resistance), and it was not possible to withstand repeated use a plurality of times continuously.

Similarly, a 25 μm-thick Sumilite FS-
1200 (PSF: trade name, manufactured by Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.), 25 μm-thick Sumilite FS-1300 (PE
S: Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. product name), film thickness 50μ
Using a film of Opulan (methylpentene: trade name, manufactured by Mitsui Petrochemical Industry Co., Ltd.), the measurement of the light transmittance, the curing experiment of the UV ink, and the measurement of the tensile strength and the elongation at break with respect to the ultraviolet irradiation time were performed. However, it has been found that these have almost the same characteristics as the Lumirror 4A, that is, they can cure the UV ink, but cannot withstand repeated continuous use a plurality of times.

Next, ETFE (ethylene-ethylene) obtained by alternately polymerizing ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene at a predetermined ratio.
A film having a film thickness of 12 μm was prepared by using a stretching method using tetrafluoroethylene) as a material. When the light transmittance of the ETFE film was measured, as shown in FIG. 2, it was found that the fundamental absorption edge wavelength was 200 nm or less, and that the ultraviolet light emission wavelength of the high-pressure mercury lamp was transmitted over the entire region. When the tensile strength and the breaking elongation of the ETFE film with respect to the ultraviolet irradiation time were measured using an autograph (trade name, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation), the initial tensile strength was measured as shown in FIGS. Is 20 kgf / mm ² and the initial elongation at break is 110%
10 mW / cm ² using the high-pressure mercury lamp.
It was found that the initial tensile strength and elongation at break were maintained even after 5 hours of ultraviolet irradiation when the ultraviolet irradiation was continuously performed at an illuminance of.

That is, it was found that the material had extremely high weather resistance in which no degradation was caused even when the ultraviolet irradiation time was long. Further, the ETFE film was coated with the UV ink using the gravure coating method, and then irradiated with ultraviolet light at an illuminance of 10 mW / cm ² from the opposite side of the ink-coated surface. It was found to cure in seconds. That is, it has been found that the curing speed of the UV ink is not reduced, in other words, the curing speed of the UV ink can be increased, so that the reproducing speed when reproducing the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium can be improved. In addition, ETFE obtained by curing UV ink
Was mounted on a thermal transfer printer (manufactured by Star Seimitsu Co., Ltd., model number SJ-144) and thermal transfer was performed. As a result, it was found that a good recorded image could be obtained due to the high thermal conductivity of ETFE. . FIG. 6 shows the infrared absorption spectrum of this ETFE.

Similarly, the light transmittance was measured using PFA and FEP films. As shown in FIG. 2, the basic absorption edge wavelength was 200 nm or less as in the case of the ETFE film. It was found that the wavelength of ultraviolet light emitted by the mercury lamp was transmitted over the entire range. The light transmittance of the PFA and FEP films is ETF
The film is almost equivalent to the film of E, and the plot curves of the light transmittance in FIG. 2 overlap. Then, when the tensile strength and the elongation at break of the PFA and FEP films with respect to the ultraviolet irradiation time were measured, the initial tensile strength was PFA and FEP as shown in FIGS.
Both were ² kgf / mm ² and the initial elongation at break was ² % for PFA.
70% and FEP were 190%. When the ultraviolet irradiation was continuously performed at an illuminance of 10 mW / cm ² using the high-pressure mercury lamp, the initial irradiation was performed even after 5 hours of ultraviolet irradiation similarly to the ETFE film. It was found that the tensile strength and the elongation at break were maintained.

That is, it has been found that the PFA and FEP films have extremely high weather resistance in which decomposition degradation does not occur even when the ultraviolet irradiation time is long, similarly to the ETFE film. In addition, the PFA and FE
Using the gravure coating apparatus on the P film,
Apply the ink and then 10 minutes from the opposite side of the
When irradiated with ultraviolet light at an illuminance of mW / cm ² ,
Both V inks were found to cure in about 20 seconds. Further, when the PFA and FEP films obtained by curing the UV inks were mounted on a thermal transfer printer (SJ-144: manufactured by Star Seimitsu Co., Ltd.) and thermal transfer was performed, it was found that good recording images could be obtained. . FIG. 7 shows the infrared absorption spectrum of this PFA, and FIG. 8 shows the infrared absorption spectrum of FEP.

Next, an example of an embodiment of a reinking type thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of an example of an embodiment of a reinking type thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention to which a reinking type thermal transfer recording medium according to the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 9, inside the printer main body 31 of the reinking-type thermal transfer recording apparatus 30 of the present embodiment, the above-mentioned reinking-type thermal transfer recording medium 21 has an endless shape having both ends connected. It is arranged. As described above, the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 is made of a polymer resin having a basic absorption edge wavelength of 250 nm or less, and a polymerized polymer obtained by repeating at least one fluorine atom-substituted ethylene unit as a basic unit. On one surface of the support base material 22 formed of a polymer material, U
An ink layer 23 made of V ink is laminated (see FIG. 1). In addition, the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 2
1 is arranged with the ink layer 23 facing outward (the ink layer 23 faces the inner surface of the printer main body 31).

The reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21
9 is maintained in a tensioned state by a backup roll 32 shown on the right side of FIG. 9, a tension roll 33 shown on the lower left side of FIG. 9, and a thermal head 34 as a recording means shown on the upper left side of FIG. The reinking-type thermal transfer recording medium 21 is configured to run in a clockwise direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 9 at a constant speed by a driving mechanism (not shown).

A gravure coating device 35 as a coating means is provided at the lower right side inside the printer main body 31. The gravure coating device 35 is used to remove the uncured U in the ink deficient portions 24 of the ink layer 23 generated at least after use in the recording operation of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21.
A coating roll called a gravure roll for applying the V ink 25 and applying the uncured UV ink 25 to the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 in a predetermined thickness including the ink deficient portions 24. 36, and a supply roll 37 for supplying the uncured UV ink 25 to the surface of the coating roll 36. The coating roll 36 and the supply roll 37 are arranged in parallel with each other so that the outer peripheral surfaces thereof come into contact with a desired contact force. Further, the coating roll 36 is disposed so as to be in contact with the backup roller 32 via the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 so that the axis thereof is perpendicular to the running direction of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21. ing. Further, the surface of the coating roll 36 is coated with the coating roll 3.
The tip of a blade (not shown) for controlling the film thickness of the uncured UV ink 25 supplied to the surface of No. 6 to a predetermined thickness is abutted. The coating roll 36 is configured to rotate in a counterclockwise direction indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 9 at a constant speed by a driving mechanism (not shown). A storage pan 38 for storing the uncured UV ink 25 is provided below the supply roll 36.
The liquid surface of the uncured UV ink 25 stored in 8 is in contact with the lower part of the outer peripheral surface of the supply roll 36.

That is, the uncured UV ink 25 stored in the storage pan 38 is configured to be sequentially transmitted on the surfaces of the supply roll 37 and the coating roll 36 and supplied onto the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21. I have.

The position where the uncured UV ink 25 is applied onto the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 is a coating position C.
P.

Incidentally, at least the coating roll 36 of the gravure coating apparatus 35 may be configured so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21.

Examples of coating means include known microgravure coating devices, die coating devices, knife coating devices, reverse coating devices, wire bar coating devices, kiss coating devices, dip coating devices, and the like. It can be selected as necessary from a spin coating device, an air knife coating device, or the like.

At the intermediate position between the backup roll 32 and the tension roll 33 inside the printer main body 31 and inside the running path of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21, the gravure coating device 35 is used to place the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 on the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21. UV ink 2 applied to the surface
An ultraviolet irradiation device 39 is provided as a curing means for forming a new ink layer 26 on the ink deficient portion 24 by irradiating the support 5 with ultraviolet rays from the support base material 22 side and curing the same. This ultraviolet irradiation device 39 has at least one high-pressure mercury lamp (365 nm type ultraviolet lamp) 40 having an emission spectrum shown in FIG. 3 as a light source. The irradiation position of the ultraviolet light by the ultraviolet irradiation device 39 is a curing position RP. The high-pressure mercury lamp 40 is electrically connected to control means (not shown), and based on a control command sent from the control means, only the uncured UV ink 25 applied to the ink defective portion 24 is selected. It is constituted so that it may be hardened. As a light source for irradiating ultraviolet rays, a low-pressure mercury lamp, a mercury xenon lamp, a metal halide lamp, or the like can be selected as necessary.

A cleaning device 41 is disposed in the lower left portion of the inside of the printer main body 31 as cleaning means for removing excess uncured UV ink 25 that has not been cured without reacting after the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays. Have been. The cleaning device 41 has a cleaning blade 42 for sweeping the surface of the ink layer 23 of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21.
It is in contact with the surface of one ink layer 23. The position where the tip of the cleaning blade 42 contacts the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 is defined as the cleaning position WP.

An ink layer 23 formed on one surface of the supporting base material 22 is provided at an intermediate position between the left thermal head 34 and the tension roll 33 inside the printer main body 31 and outside the traveling path of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21. A heating device 43 is provided as heating means for heating the surface from the front side. The heating device 43 is driven at least at the time of performing high-definition recording, and is for dissolving the boundary portion 27 between the ink layer 23 and the new ink layer 26 to eliminate the boundary portion 27. As a source, a halogen lamp (not shown) or the like is used. The ink layer 23 of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 by the heating device 43
Is heated at the heating position HP. As the heating device 43, a contact heating method using a thermal head (not shown) or the like may be used.

The thermal head 34 as the recording means
A platen roll 44 also serving as a transport roller pressed at least during the recording operation via the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 is disposed above the recording medium 21. The contact position between the thermal head 34 and the platen roll 44 is recorded. Position P
P.

On the left side of the recording position PP, a plurality of recording media 45 are stacked and placed, and the recording media 45 are
A sheet feeding device 46 that can sequentially convey each sheet toward the recording position PP is provided. On the right side of the recording position PP, a recorded recording medium 45a on which a recording image is recorded at the recording position PP is provided. A paper discharge device (paper discharge tray) 47 for storing the information is provided.

Next, the reproducing operation of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium of this embodiment in the reinking type thermal transfer recording apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the reproducing operation of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium in the reinking type thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention to which the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium according to the present invention is applied.

First, the recording medium 45 is
And between the platen roll 44 and a thermal head 34 at a recording position PP as in a normal thermal transfer recording apparatus.
The ink layer 2 of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 between the platen roll 44 and the thermal head 34
The ink of No. 3 is thermally transferred, and recording of desired recording information is performed. When recording is performed on the recording medium 45, the used reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 2 used for recording is used.
In the first ink layer 23, as shown in FIG. 10A, the ink at the portion subjected to recording was transferred to the recording medium 45, and the ink was not transferred to the recording medium 45. It has the untransferred ink remaining portion 28.

Then, the ink deficient portion 24 of the ink layer 23 generated in the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 used for recording is applied to the coating roll located at the coating position CP by the subsequent traveling of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21. In this coating position CP, the uncured UV ink 25 contains the ink deficient portion 24 on the ink layer 23 of the support base 22 as shown in FIG. 10B. After the entire surface has been applied, it travels to the curing position, and the curing position R
In P, ultraviolet light is irradiated from the back side by the ultraviolet light irradiating device 39, and the uncured UV located in the ink defective portion 24
When the ink 25 is selectively cured (solidified), a new ink layer 26 is reproduced.

Then, the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 2
10 of the uncured UV ink 25 applied to the surface of the first supporting base material 22 other than the ink defective portion 24, that is, FIG.
(C) Excessive materials that have not been cured by ultraviolet irradiation, such as being applied to the surface of the ink remaining portion 28 indicated by the hatched portion, are removed by the cleaning device 41 at the cleaning position WP, and the film thickness is made uniform. After that, at the heating position HP, a heating process is performed by the heating device 43, and a boundary portion 2 between the newly reproduced ink layer 26 and the remaining ink remaining portion 28 shown in FIG.
7 (shown exaggeratedly in the figure), the reproduction of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 21 in one cycle is completed, and the reproduced reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 2
When 1 travels to the recording position PP, it is used for recording again.

As described above, according to the reinking-type thermal transfer recording apparatus 30 of the present embodiment, the reproduction of the reinking-type thermal transfer recording medium 21 can be realized with a simple structure. Can be performed.

Further, since the UV ink used in the present invention is excellent in weather resistance, the image (recorded information) recorded on the recording medium 45 has good long-term preservability, and the recording quality is hardly deteriorated.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified as needed.

[0111]

As described above, according to the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium of the present invention, since the ultraviolet ray can be surely transmitted, the reproduction speed at the time of performing the reproduction without lowering the curing speed of the UV ink. And has extremely excellent weather resistance that can withstand prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light, so that an extremely excellent curing of reliably maintaining a stable function over a long period of time is achieved.

Further, according to the reinking-type thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention, reproduction of the reinking-type thermal transfer recording medium can be easily realized, so that recording can be performed at a low running cost for a long time or a long time. And extremely excellent curing that the life can be reliably extended.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an example of an embodiment of a reinking type thermal transfer recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between wavelength and light transmittance showing the spectral transmittance characteristics of polymer films formed of various polymer materials.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between a wavelength representing an emission spectrum of a 365 nm type high-pressure mercury lamp (illuminance: 10 mW / cm ² ) irradiating ultraviolet rays and illuminance.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the ultraviolet irradiation time and the tensile strength, which indicates the ultraviolet exposure degradation characteristics of polymer films formed of various polymer materials.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the UV irradiation time and the elongation at break, which represents the UV exposure deterioration characteristics of polymer films formed of various polymer materials.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an infrared absorption spectrum of ETFE.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an infrared absorption spectrum of PFA.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an infrared absorption spectrum of FEP.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a main part of an example of an embodiment of a reinking type thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention to which a reinking type thermal transfer recording medium according to the present invention is applied.

FIGS. 10A to 10E are explanatory views showing a reproducing operation of a reinking type thermal transfer recording medium in a reinking type thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention to which the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium according to the present invention is applied; (a) shows the state after the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium has been subjected to recording, (b) shows the progress of the reproducing operation of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium following (a), and (c) shows the state after reinking type thermal transfer recording medium. (D) shows a halfway progress of the reproducing operation of the medium following (c), and (e) shows a halfway progress of the reproducing operation of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium. Explanatory diagram showing a reproduction end state following (d) of FIG.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic principle of a conventional fusion-type thermal transfer system and a basic configuration of a thermal transfer recording medium used therein.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing an example of a conventional thermal transfer recording medium capable of performing recording a plurality of times.

FIGS. 13A to 13E are explanatory views showing a reproducing operation of a conventional reinking type thermal transfer recording medium.
Shows a state after the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium has been subjected to recording, (b) shows an intermediate progress of the reproducing operation of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium following (a), and (c) shows a state of the reproducing operation of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium. (D) shows a halfway progress of the reproducing operation of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium following (b), and (e) shows a halfway progress of the reproducing operation of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium. Explanatory drawing showing the reproduction end state following d)

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Reinking type thermal transfer recording medium 22 Support base material 23 Ink layer 24 Ink defective part 25 (Uncured) ultraviolet curing type thermal ink 26 (New) ink layer 27 Boundary part 28 Ink remaining part 30 Reinking type thermal transfer recording device 34 ( Thermal head (as recording means) 35 Gravure coating device (as coating means) 39 UV irradiation device (as curing means) 41 Cleaning device (as cleaning means) 43 Heating device (as heating means)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A reinking-type thermal transfer recording medium in which an ink layer is formed by applying an ultraviolet-curable heat-sensitive ink to one surface of a support substrate and irradiating ultraviolet light to cure the ink, wherein the support substrate has a base absorbing end. A reinking type thermal transfer recording medium formed of a polymer material having a wavelength of 250 nm or less. 2. The reinking type according to claim 1, wherein the polymer material is obtained by polymerizing an ethylene unit in which at least one or more fluorine atoms are substituted as a repeating basic unit. Thermal transfer recording medium. 3. A reinking-type thermal transfer type reinking system for reproducing an ink layer in an ink-deficient portion generated after use in a recording operation of a reinking-type thermal transfer recording medium having an ink layer made of a UV-curable thermosensitive ink on one surface of a support base material. A thermal transfer recording apparatus, comprising: a reinking type thermal transfer recording medium according to claim 1 or 2; and a recording image formed on the recording medium by thermally transferring ink of an ink layer of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium to the recording medium. Recording means for performing, a coating means for applying an uncured ultraviolet-curable heat-sensitive ink to an ink defective portion generated at least after being used for a recording operation of the reinking type thermal transfer recording medium, and the applied uncured ultraviolet-curable ink By irradiating the heat-sensitive ink with ultraviolet rays from the other side of the supporting base material and curing it, the ink-deficient portions A reinking-type thermal transfer recording, comprising: a curing unit for forming an ink layer; and a cleaning unit for removing excess uncured ultraviolet-curable thermosensitive ink that has not been cured without reacting after being irradiated with the ultraviolet light. apparatus. 4. A reinking type thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a heating means for heating the ink layer from the front side of the ink layer formed on one surface of the support base. 5. The reinking type thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the support base is formed endless.